With the winter weather here in upstate New York we have not been out to THF for anything but quick trips.   Since Christmas the temps have been in single digits or the teens and most days the wind has made it even colder.  Along with most people up here, we have spent a lot more of our time indoors.  And I have been taking advantage of it.  It is the perfect time to do a bit playing around with things. To see what I can do with the plants we grow on THF. Those who know me;  know that I have been talking about making soap for years. Many, many years…..  Many years. Ron did research and found me a local connection for the lye I need and we drove out to pick up a bottle of it.  I bought books and printed up lots of recipes and directions.  Went to every soap making workshop at each Mother Earth Fair we attended.  I have most of the equipment that I need stashed in a box down cellar. But I just could not bring myself to take the plunge.
That has all changed now. Not only do I have fabulous calendula growing plans in the works but my wonderful friend, Josi made me a soap loaf cutter for Christmas. And she is going to come over to my house to make soap with me.  I am saving pictures of her soap cutter for that adventure.
Turns out was just the push I needed. I ordered a soap mold and started infusing olive oil with dried calendula flowers. That takes at least a month so it will be next week before we can make official plans. Soap making is longer process than just mixing it together and pouring it out. It has to cure which can take up to several months. As we are hoping to sell our soap at local events this summer, now is definitely the time to get started.
I also got busy looking for other things I can use my calendual infused oil for.  Once again I spent a good deal of time on Pinterest.  And they have so many good ideas.

I started with salves.  With both calendula and lavender, which we also grow on THF.   The people Ron and I work with are more than happy to be our test subjects.  You have to get not only the feel but the scent just right.  For most, lavender is a hit for hand lotion and salves.

Calendula lip balm is a bit more tricky.  Turns out lavender not so good on your mouth.  I tried a bit of orange essential oil, but was informed that peppermint would also be good.  You do have to keep it light as too much so close to your nose can be a real turn off.   If any of you have looked into making your own lip balm you know the list of oils you can add is long.  One does this, another that and one is not good at all.  Trial and error is the only way to go.  And lots of trying out on your test subjects.

Lotion bars were my next project.  I have been a fan of these for years;  a nice simple thing you can stash in your bag and carry with you anywhere.  But things have changed since I first bought one.  Now the molds you can use are amazing, all different shapes and sizes.  I used an old ice cube tray that I had handy for my first attempt.  I do have to admit that I grabbed it as I could not find the mini muffin pan I bought a few years ago. I was not going to let that stop my on going projects.

When I found the muffin tin under our dehydrator cart I was able to try a new variety.  This one had arrowroot powder added.  It is supposed to reduce the oil feeling.  Not so sure that works but I will try a few more batches and see what the end result is.

The next steps really are the harder ones.  Not only do we have to decide what shape I want the lotion bars to be, but have to decide what container to use at the same time.  And the label needs to be factored in.  We need ones that not only lists Tiny House Farm as made by, but the name of product and the ingredients.  And it turns out labels are costly.  And we have to fight about the containers.  What color they are, either gold or silver and what shape.  The graphic designer in Ron wants to make sure the whole thing pops.   Already decided we want to use screw top tin containers and amber colored jars with a black lid.   The jars will be for a calendula cream I made.  That was fabulous.  But it is water based and needs a preservative or it has to be kept in the frig at all times.  Which might not be a good selling point.  And that leads to another decision we need to make.  Which preservative do we use?  More research needed.  I am trying to keep our products as natural as I can which does tend to limit the choices.  Actually that is not a bad thing.  If I had twenty or more types to pick from, I would never get through that process.

All of this is very exciting and scary.  And I am having serious fun with it.  Ron always has to add his two cents in, which can be a good thing. I have been doing a pretty good job of taking photos for this blog.  But taking a photo of a jarred product in my kitchen is a bit tricky.  The light tends to throw a glare just where you don’t want it.  Ron told me I needed a large box with front cut out and then covered with background cloth.  I would then be able to use natural light.  I had been using an old beach towel on my stove but his box idea is much easier to work with.   The beach towel had to go though.  Ron thought denim would be prefect by giving me a slightly country look for any photos.  What we came up with is another connection to family for me.  Years ago Mom gave me her denim jumper and I love it.  It isn’t exactly big enough, but for now that I what I am using.  And don’t you agree that my photos look great?

I don’t know how well all my efforts will turn out.  Not even sure we will make any money on them.  There is so much more I have to do, number crunching at the top of the list.  It is a serious balancing act trying to figure out what we can charge.  But again we are having great fun with this.  Meeting lots of great people and learning so much along the way.  2018 is going to be exciting.

Wish me luck.