Or A-Day as it is known locally, actually is Friday through Sunday. It's an annual fundraiser and part science fair, part livestock show, and part folk festival. We were selling plenty of soap and talking to lots of people who were interested in what we are doing with recycling used cooking oil into biodiesel and our handmade glycerin soap! It was a tiring weekend for us but worth it.
We'll be at a Green Fair in Souderton PA this coming Saturday at the Care & Share Shoppe from 10am - 5pm http://www.thereporteronline.com/articles/2009/04/27/news/srv0000005137194.txt
Monday, April 27, 2009
Thursday, April 23, 2009
What is Soap and Why is Ours Better?
Soap is the oldest cleaner around, dating back to 2800 BC in Ancient Babylon. It is created by a chemical reaction between oils, water and lye. Although lye is used to make soap there is no lye left after saponification (the chemical reaction that makes soap) is complete. Different oils can be used- both plant and animal- which yields soap with different properties.
Soaps can be made with either lye (NAOH) or potassium hydroxide (KOH). We make our bar soap with lye and liquid soap with KOH.
Most commercial soaps sold today are made with detergents (a petroleum based product- yuck!) and stripped of glycerin which is a natural by-product, so the glycerin can be sold and put in lotions and other products. So once again we see corporate commercialization put profit ahead of whats best for the consumer! That is why people often complain of dry skin and the need to purchase additional lotions, as well as having reactions from the various chemicals that are used like alkali, DEA, and isopropyl alcohol.
Handmade soaps have been around for a long time, and their popularity is growing due to consumers looking for products that are not only good for their bodies, but good for the environment. There is plenty of evidence about the healing properties of handmade soap, from helping conditions like eczema or psoriasis as well as people with sensitive or hypoallergenic skin.
Glycerin is a compound derived from oils that absorbs water from the air and is very helpful in keeping skin soft & healthy. Since skin is our largest organ at approximately 20 ft2 of the human body you can reap enormous health benefits by keeping it nourished.
Our glycerin soaps are unlike others in that they are a differing shade of brown. This is because our glycerin comes as the by-product of making biodiesel which is a biodegradeable diesel fuel made from vegetable oil. We add natural ingrediants such as shea butter, olive oil & beeswax and scents to produce bars that smell good, lather well, are good for your skin, and clean exceptionally well. Best of all they are made from a carbon-neutral recycled, mostly vegan natural product!
Our soaps are a little softer than most because we add no chemical hardeners and contain more glycerin than a typical store-bought glycerin soap. For best value you should use a soap dish that allows the bars to dry between uses. For shower use we recommend that you do not keep bars in the shower but on a dish outside the shower.
Our liquid soap is an amazing degreaser that is very mild to your skin with no toxic odors! It can be used for everthing from kitchen cleaning to use as shampoo. It will take grease off your hands in cold water.
Please try our soaps! They are available on our website or at local craft shows and fairs- please check our website to see where we will be next.
Handmade in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
Soaps can be made with either lye (NAOH) or potassium hydroxide (KOH). We make our bar soap with lye and liquid soap with KOH.
Most commercial soaps sold today are made with detergents (a petroleum based product- yuck!) and stripped of glycerin which is a natural by-product, so the glycerin can be sold and put in lotions and other products. So once again we see corporate commercialization put profit ahead of whats best for the consumer! That is why people often complain of dry skin and the need to purchase additional lotions, as well as having reactions from the various chemicals that are used like alkali, DEA, and isopropyl alcohol.
Handmade soaps have been around for a long time, and their popularity is growing due to consumers looking for products that are not only good for their bodies, but good for the environment. There is plenty of evidence about the healing properties of handmade soap, from helping conditions like eczema or psoriasis as well as people with sensitive or hypoallergenic skin.
Glycerin is a compound derived from oils that absorbs water from the air and is very helpful in keeping skin soft & healthy. Since skin is our largest organ at approximately 20 ft2 of the human body you can reap enormous health benefits by keeping it nourished.
Our glycerin soaps are unlike others in that they are a differing shade of brown. This is because our glycerin comes as the by-product of making biodiesel which is a biodegradeable diesel fuel made from vegetable oil. We add natural ingrediants such as shea butter, olive oil & beeswax and scents to produce bars that smell good, lather well, are good for your skin, and clean exceptionally well. Best of all they are made from a carbon-neutral recycled, mostly vegan natural product!
Our soaps are a little softer than most because we add no chemical hardeners and contain more glycerin than a typical store-bought glycerin soap. For best value you should use a soap dish that allows the bars to dry between uses. For shower use we recommend that you do not keep bars in the shower but on a dish outside the shower.
Our liquid soap is an amazing degreaser that is very mild to your skin with no toxic odors! It can be used for everthing from kitchen cleaning to use as shampoo. It will take grease off your hands in cold water.
Please try our soaps! They are available on our website or at local craft shows and fairs- please check our website to see where we will be next.
Handmade in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Earth Day 2009
We had 2 tables at Bucks County Community College in Newtown PA for Earth Day. We sold a bunch of soap and are donating profits to the Environmental Club. We spoke with a lot of students who were very interested in what we are doing. Erin Maher who runs the cafeteria treated us to Moroccan pork loin and lentils for lunch which was really good.
Afterwards we stopped over at nearby George School to get a tour of their garden from Joe Ducati who heads up their culinary department. His wife Kate takes care of the garden with student help, the kids are really into it and they have a nice garden. I met Joe last year when calling around to find oil sources and he connected me with Culinart which is the company he works for. They provide dining services for schools like BCCC and George School and also for corporate centers and are very committed to sustainability and local food sourcing. Joe and Kate are terrific folks and we're blessed to have met them.
Afterwards we stopped over at nearby George School to get a tour of their garden from Joe Ducati who heads up their culinary department. His wife Kate takes care of the garden with student help, the kids are really into it and they have a nice garden. I met Joe last year when calling around to find oil sources and he connected me with Culinart which is the company he works for. They provide dining services for schools like BCCC and George School and also for corporate centers and are very committed to sustainability and local food sourcing. Joe and Kate are terrific folks and we're blessed to have met them.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
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