Earlier this month we celebrated the tenth anniversary of when we started The Freckled Farm Soap Company. This time ten years ago we were in the last stages of perfecting our goat milk soap recipe after a year of tiny tweaks and starting all of the paperwork to make our business official. We had the desire to create a high quality, eco friendly, affordable product but more than anything we had the desire to work and be together as a family.
This anniversary is a huge milestone. While we hoped this is where the business would be ten years later we felt it was a long shot. We have gone through so many changes over the years and after our biggest change, during covid when we went from depending mostly on farmers markets for sales to depending on online sales, our customers adjusted and changed with us. We are forever grateful for those of you who have helped get us here.
Thank you to all of you who have held us up and helped us grow over the last decade.
As we become more conscious of what we put in and on our bodies, natural soaps are gaining popularity. Traditional soaps that are widely available in stores often contain harsh chemicals and synthetic fragrances that can be harmful to both our skin and the environment. Switching to natural soaps is not only better for our health but also for the planet. In this blog post, we will explore the reasons why you should consider using natural soaps.
1. No Harsh Chemicals
The majority of commercial soaps contain harsh chemicals that can cause skin irritation, allergic reactions, and even contribute to chronic health problems. Many of these chemicals are synthetic, and when they are washed down the drain, they can contaminate waterways and harm aquatic life. Natural soaps, on the other hand, are made from plant-based ingredients, such as coconut oil, olive oil, and shea butter. They contain no artificial colors, fragrances, or preservatives.
2. Better for Sensitive Skin
If you have sensitive skin, you know how challenging it can be to find a soap that won’t cause irritation. Natural soaps are often gentler on the skin because they contain nourishing ingredients that help moisturize and soothe dry or irritated skin. Additionally, natural soaps are often unscented, which means that they are less likely to cause allergic reactions.
3. Environmental Benefits
The chemicals found in commercial soaps can have a significant impact on the environment. When these chemicals are washed down the drain, they can end up in waterways, polluting rivers and oceans. Natural soaps, on the other hand, are biodegradable, which means that they break down easily and don’t harm the environment.
4. Supporting Small Businesses
Many natural soap makers, like us, are small businesses that rely on local ingredients and suppliers. By purchasing natural soaps, you are not only supporting small businesses but also helping to reduce the carbon footprint associated with shipping products long distances.
In conclusion, natural soaps are a safer, healthier, and more eco-friendly alternative to traditional soaps. By making the switch to natural soaps, you can take care of your skin while also taking care of the planet. So, next time you’re shopping for soap, consider opting for a natural option – your skin and the environment will thank you!
Spring is my favorite time of year. The air is full of energy and the farm is full of new life with baby goats and the garden sprouting. I prefer to be outside, and after months of being huddled up in the house or (being my stubborn self) trying to get things done outside in spite of the cold, I am thrilled to shake my cabin fever and spend some time in the sun.
About halfway through winter I start to feel restless and it can feel like spring will never arrive. Why is it that winter feels so incredibly long, but all the other seasons go by in a flash? My one saving grace is that our soaps have to cure for at least six weeks, so come the end of January it’s time to begin making our Spring and Secret Spring Goat Milk Soaps. This will allow for cure date before the season change. On the winter days when we make these two seasonal soaps the fresh floral scents fill the soap facility and reassure me that warmer weather is on the horizon… just a curing session away. It’s a pick me up that (usually) pushes me through the rest of the cold, dark season that is winter.
Spring Products
Our Spring products all come in the robust floral scent of lavender and geranium. It’s a lovely, bright scent that is sure to lift your spirits. It is only around while supplies last, so don’t wait to pick some up for yourself. You can find this amazing scent in a Goat Milk Soap, Goat Milk Lotion, Beeswax Candle, Gift Set, and …
New This Year
We added a brand new product to our Spring line this year, our Spring Essential Oil Roller. Last year we added a few seasonal rollers to our line but it was after spring had come and gone. We finally have the opportunity now to add this uplifting scented roller to our line. Roll this bright floral scent on your skin and smell like spring all day long!
Secret Spring
Each season we make a special batch of soap that is just for our subscription customers. They are not available on the website or in stores. We don’t even promote the scent publicly. All I can say is that it features one of my absolute favorite scents. It is bright and fresh… and my personal favorite among the Secret Scents.
We wanted to give customers a little sneak peek into our soap making process though photos. I hope you enjoy.
Making Soap with The Freckled Farm Soap Company
First we measure out all of the solid oils. These oils need to be melted, so they are added to a container that is wrapped in a warming device. The warmer melts the solid oils over several hours. We normally measure out the solid oils the night before and turn on the warmers at 5am when we are beginning farm chores, that way the oils are melted when we come out to make soap after farm chores are done and we have eaten breakfast. Once the oils are melted we move them into the large stock pot that the soap is made in. We run the oils through a filter to catch anything that might fall into the soap.
We freeze our milk in a solid block. It takes less time to set up and takes up less space in the freezer. Once frozen we use an icepick to break up the milk into smaller chunks that are easier to measure and to mix the lye into. We return the measured milk to the freezer until we are ready for it later in the process.
Next, the oils in liquid form are measured out:
They too are run through the filter as they are added to the other melted oils:
Once all the oils are measured and added to the stock pot we start preparing the milk/lye mixture. Because the milk is frozen when the lye is added the temperature never rises above 76-80 degrees and the milk maintains it’s light color. If lye is added to room temperature milk the milk will turn brown and potentially take on a burnt scent. When the milk and lye are well mixed they are added to the oil. It too is run through the filter (a larger one) but this time it is to break up and catch any fat clumps that may have formed.
We push the remaining milk through the strainer to break up the fat clumps.
We then mix everything together with an industrial sized stick blender.
Once the oils reach the light trace stage the essential oils are added
The mixture is then poured into the molds.
We then scrap off the excess on top of the molds to fill the remaining molds and to smooth the top of the soap.
This particular batch is the topped version of our Lavender Goat Milk Soap. We add the lavender buds last.
Finally, the soap sits for at least 24 hours while it firms up. It is cut and placed on the curing racks, where it will stay for 4-6 weeks while it cures.
It’s time for our biggest sale of the year! All this weekend (Friday-Monday) enjoy 20% off everything on our website and few shipping on all orders $50+!
This time of year we always feel extraordinarily grateful. We are about to close out another successful year and it is all because of our wonderful loyal customers… like you! Because of you we are able to continue doing what we love, so every year we do this big holiday sale to give back to our amazing customers. Its a great time to do your holiday shopping or stock up for yourself! Head over to our website now and take advantage of our sale!
At The Freckled Farm Soap Company we are committed to making the most earth conscious decisions possible for our farm and business. Our oils are organic and from certified sustainable sources. The vast majority of the packaging for our products is made with recycled materials and/or is compostable. Our products are safer for the water system than their commercial counterparts. The grain for our goats is sourced from a local farm. The hay we feed them is also local and is spray free (this essentially means organic but lacks the certification). Our barn is solar powered and we hope to eventually move our entire operation to solar. These options are not the cheapest or the easiest, but taking care of the world around us and offering a product that gives our customers a more eco-friendly option is incredibly important to us. Happy Earth Day everyone!
Where did the year go? It feels like 2018 just started and here we are saying hello to 2019!
It has been a really wonderful year! The business has grown on all fronts thanks to our wonderful customers. We appreciate each and every one of you. We are forever grateful that you help us to live this amazing life when you purchase our products. We have a lot in store for 2019 and we are excited to share it all with you!
Well, not actually… but our Winter Goat Milk Soap is here!
Our Winter Goat Milk Soap is our most popular seasonal soap. This awesome bar contains molasses and is scented with cinnamon, clove, and ginger… just like a ginger bread cookie! The scent is warm, crisp, and fresh, a true representation of winter. This soaps sells out super fast so pick some up before they are all gone!
