Class with Oak Leaf Goat Farm Students; Creating Goats Milk Lotions and Creams

Recently I had the pleasure of hosting a private consulting class with Jackie Reynolds and her niece Crystal from Oak Leaf Dairy in Lebanon, Connecticut. Oak Leaf Dairy has a milking herd of 75 goats which graze on pasture with no chemicals added. They produce over 400 gallons of goats milk a week at peak season!

The farm has been in the family since 1922. It sits on over 150 acres. It began initially as a cow dairy farm, and in 2006 Jackie and her husband decided to farm the land again with animals, and chose goats (for easy handling and child friendliness).
In February 2007 Jackie began making cold process soap. She is lucky to have the help of her neice, Crystal (shown above holding a body balm that she made in class). Together at home they make cold process soap batches together. Jackie tends to the lye/water, while Crystal measures and melts oils. The two work together harmoneously with hardly a word between them.

Even in class, I find them a very synergetic team. They drove up to Duxbury, Mass. for a private class to learn how to make various complementary bath and body products to add to their soap line.

Jackie, shown here, is melting oils as a step in making goats milk body cream. Jackie explains that goats milk is naturally protein rich, which makes in wonderful for delicate complexions. The milk makes the soap rich and creamy, and very moisturizing. She has had customers rave that it the soap has helped clear up skin conditions such as exzema, psoriasis and acne.

Crystal creating her own sugar scrub concoction with a secret oil ingredient! Crystal's favorite fragrance from our selection was Balinese Coconut - a nice tropical scent!

Jackie creating sea salt soaks with chamomile buds. Her favorite fragrance is almond.

If you are in the Connecticut area, look for Oak Leaf Dairy at local farmer's markets. Or email Jackie directly to purchase some of her wonderful handmade goats milk soaps.

If you would like to learn how to make cold process soap, lotions, balms, scrubs, or any bath and body product, check out my upcoming classes. You can sign up for my newsletter

as well.
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Ideal for those looking for Maine Soap Making Classes, New Hampshire Soap Making Classes, Vermont Soap Making Classes, Rhode Island Soap Making Classes, Connecticut Soap Making Classes, New York Soap Making Classes, New York City Soap Making Classes

Making Soap with Jedwards Employees: Talking Handmade Soap & Organic Trends

I received an email about a month ago to teach a soap making class to a group of employees at Jedwards in Quincy, Massachusetts. At that time I wasn't familiar with the company.

Little did I know that Jedwards is also known as bulknaturaloils.com. Wow. How did I miss this one?

For all of your local soap makers in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine and even Connecticut, here is a money saving tip for you! You can place your order in advance on their website and confirm pickup. Their prices are incredibly competitive - and you save on shipping!

Jedwards has a vast variety of soap making supplies. They are even organic certified. From coconut oil to Babasou, you'll be amazed at the variety of oils they carry. Lotion and candle makers will be thrilled to know that they also carry beeswax in several varieties.

The class of eight students made two batches of cold process soap using palm oil, coconut oil and olive oil - all provided by Jedwards. Both batches traced perfectly and they added lemongrass essential oil to one, and Bulgarian lavender to the other. While waiting for the soap to traced we discussed trends in the handmade soap industry as well as organic trends.

If your company would like to learn how to make cold process soap, lotions, balms, scrubs, or any bath and body product, please email me. You can sign up for my newsletter as well.