JEANNIE’S Goat Milk Soaps
I was raised on a ranch in Southern Oregon and enjoyed a very happy childhood surrounded by family and farm animals. My connection to good health began here even though I was not conscious of it. We had a very large garden and my mom canned fresh vegetables, fruit, and nuts to ensure nutritious food through the long winters. My siblings and I had the wide open spaces to run, ride bikes, and build forts. Being active continued into high school where I participated in many sports throughout the school year and worked in the hay fields during the summer. When I left home to attend college my career interests turned to science and health. I chose Dental Hygiene and have been a Registered Dental Hygienist for 38 years. It has been a perfect profession for me as it combines nutrition, science, and personal health. I work full time and volunteer with a mobile dental clinic for low income patients. Making Goat Milk Soap is my hobby that allows me to enjoy healthy skin and share this amazing natural skincare with others. My husband, Larry, was raised on a dairy in Central Washington and has his degrees in dairy science. He has been a 4-H leader for the past 12 years and started our grandson’s in dairy projects. Although our grandson’s are grown we have continued with the dairy goat project. Farm life is in our blood and we both enjoy the animals very much. Our Saanan goats are hand milked twice per day and fed quality hay, grain, and minerals. Because they are show animals they have top breeding and healthy bloodlines. Being hand milked allows us to watch for any signs of problems and take necessary action. I make goat milk soap in small batches using only oils; no tallow. I combine different oils such as Palm, Coconut, Olive, Avocado, and Almond. I buy natural essential oils for some aroma therapy and never use Fragrance. I use a cold press method and allow the soap to air dry for about 4-6 weeks for desired hardness. The preservative I use is Grapefruit seed extract so the soap has a shelf life of several years. The Sodium Hydroxide used to harden the soap has been minimized to allow for greatest benefits of the oils on the skin yet giving a good lasting quality to each bar. My life, which started out with a natural healthy lifestyle, has come full circle. I love to cook with fresh ingredients, I continue to be active and take care of my body through reasonable diet and exercise, and enjoy a profession which has kept me educated on changes in the world of health and medicine. My love of animals has never diminished as I spoil my two cats and name each goat so I know who is following me around the corral needing endless attention. I am very excited to share this soap with others. The health benefits of the ingredients are listed on my website.
