Soap Making session

Each week I try to have at least one day dedicated to my soap making endeavors.  This fall the weeks seem especially busy, still trying to harvest the last of our garden, plant garlic and clean up the beds before the snow flies; still trying to finish canning the last jams, making applesauce, drying herbs; not to mention the huge barn renovation that is still looming over us in the backyard - trying to make the most of these long fall days to get it all done.  But soap is what I do as well, so I try to eke out time each week to make a few batches, getting things ready for the holiday sales that are fast approaching. 

Here are a few photos of the process - measuring, weighing, heating, cooling, taking temperatures, mixing, blending, adding essential oils and botanicals, pouring into molds, and then curing...

This is what my day looked like today, 4 batches made and 2 more to go.  All made in small batches on the kitchen stove, measuring and prepared by hand.  A few new varieties today as well, just for the holiday season - a Honey-Ginger soap; and a Winter Forest soap (lemongrass, lavender, balsam fir, cedar); and a few new men's bars coming to the etsy store soon.  Please check out our soaps there or plan to come to the Oct 21 market at Fertile Ground CSA pick up from 3:45-6:15 pm (right in this neighbourhood) or our Little City Farm handmade holiday sale Nov 29 from 10 am-2 pm!