Ditch the Itch

About this time every year, our winter skin starts feeling parched, rough and downright itchy.  Most people reach for the lotion, but there's so much more you can do to keep your skin soft and supple. Besides, most commercial lotions contain harmful petroleum based synthetic ingredients which can easily be avoided.  Follow these easy tips to help ditch the itch:

*Use a high quality moisturizing all natural soap and leave those harsh detergent bars on the grocery store shelf.  Many people find this is all they need to do to find relief year round.

*Exfoliate weekly with a gentle homemade scrub to buff away dull dry skin.  Stir a little sugar or salt into a handful of mayonnaise or yogurt, apply in circular motions, rinse with warm water and pat dry.

*Apply a protective oil based all natural body balm to damp skin after your bath or shower instead of water based chemical laden lotion.

*Turn down the heat.  Keep your rooms between 68-72 degrees and use warm bath water, never hot.

*Run a vaporizer periodically to humidify the dry indoor air.

*Avoid the cold winter wind and mid-day sun.  Don't forget, sun protection is needed even in the winter.

*Wear soft natural fibers like cotton and silk next to your skin.  Even though they're warm, winter woolens can feel scratchy and make matters worse. 

*Consume healthy foods containing omega-3 fatty acids or take supplements such as fish oil or flax seed which help maintain soft, supple skin.

*Drink 6-8  glasses of filtered water every day.  Not only will your skin feel better, but your health will be dramatically improved as well.

Merry Christmas!

You heard me... I said Christmas!  Thanks to all of our patrons, friends, and family who made this a very good year. Merry Merry! Happy Happy!  Peace, Love & Understanding.

From all the little a wild soap bar elves...(L-R) Aubrey Hanus, Cael Hanus, Tina Hanus, Jackie Campbell & Jory Hanus + Maggie & Mike Hanus, the grand elves (not shown).  See you here next year!

What Will You Accomplish Today?

I haven't posted much lately, but we've been burning the midnight oil.  Tis the Season, and oh....what a Season!  Here's Jory washing dishes one evening after cutting & stacking 150 lbs. of the previous day's soap, cutting labels, taking inventory, filling beaucoup orders before the UPS man comes at 5pm (I believe there were 31 on this day), and then whipping up no less than 150 lbs of new soap stacked up on the table, all while building his own house after hours and starting a sustainable farm! Jory is an incredible cross between the Energizer bunny and a Timex watch.  He takes a licking and keeps on ticking ....day....after day...after day.

I hope our other son Cael and his wife Tina will be able to join us out here some day too, cause I know they'll work just as hard! Our grand daughter Aubrey sweeps impeccably and she puts on a mean body balm label. I'll bet our new grandson Caden will help out here when he grows up too. Well, first he's got to be born, but I digress...

On this particular evening I was in the office doing paperwork ...the never ending, nagging, brain-numbing paperwork.  My typical work day begins around 5am when I get on Twitter and Facebook on my home computer, catching up on the news of the day and interacting with fans while slowly sipping my only cup a joe.  By 7am you can usually find me in the soap shop office answering emails and sifting through junk mail for an hour or two.  Next I type up the sales orders of the day so that Jory (and lately Jory's girlfriend Jackie) can start filling them around 10am or so.  After 9 the phone begins ringing, setting off a steady cycle of customer inquiries, phone orders, and annoying unsolicited calls.  (If Leapfish calls me one more time, I swear I'm going to hurt somebody!)

In between calls I'm pecking away at designing labels and custom soap formulas for private label and custom order clients, meeting deadlines, landing new accounts, maintaining 2 websites, 2 blogs, 2 Twitter and 2 Facebook accounts, printing product labels (there's never enough), plus ordering supplies, keeping the shop reasonably tidy and organized, and addressing the other routine problems and golden opportunities that arise each and every day. I much prefer the golden opportunities, but problem solving can be rewarding too.

Somehow, I also manage to wash the pile of dishes at home on lunch break, swipe the vacuum across the floor, hang out a load or two of wash, or sweep the mud and leaves off the sidewalk.  All the little daily tasks that life requires.  Our home and lawn are far from immaculate by the way, but we do keep them down to a dull roar.  Some of the time.  My husband does the cooking and the grocery shopping, thank goodness!  He also runs errands for my business, picks up local supplies, handcarves our soap rocks, gardens, and acts as a general fixer upper and handy man for our 20 acre kingdom.  He has his own full time lawn maintenance business too, so it's not like he's sitting around twiddling his thumbs. No siree.

By the time I walk the narrow wooded trail back home, usually well after dark (and I always booger myself), about all I can do is have a glass of wine (or not), enjoy a little conversation and a home cooked family meal (a priority), and vegetate for a short while in the overstuffed recliner before falling asleep during a netflix movie or PBS show.  I never ever skip the overstuffed recliner. It's got to be one of life's most marvelous inventions!

Don't get me wrong, I'm certainly not complaining about our hectic schedule and we do manage to get away every now and then for a short escape (usually as a family, but sometimes individually).  No, I'm lucky. I absolutely LOVE what I do.  In fact I end each day by looking forward to what tomorrow will bring.  Burning the midnight oil is a way of life for the Hanus family.  While we don't actually work until midnight, we DO put in a good honest days work (and then some).... and we're SO very thankful to be able to do so! Life is only as good as you make it. What will you accomplish today?

Fuzzy Wuzzy Cochineal

Fuzzy Wuzzy wasn't fuzzy, was he? I dunno...but this fluffy white stuff I find all over our prickly pear pads sure is interesting. It looks soft enough to line your pajamas with and emits a gorgeous deep red color when squished...but what exactly IS it?

Cochineal is the name of an insect, Dactylopius coccus, that lives on members of the Opuntia family (that's a type of cactus for all of you who aren't so proficient in Latin binomials). It's one of the few natural and water-soluble red colorants that resist degradation. The pigmentation comes from a bitter, astringent chemical called carminic acid (aka carmine), which is extremely effective in repelling potential predators, such as ants. Cochineal was the traditional fabric dye of the ancient Aztec and Maya peoples of Central and North America and it was highly prized for its beautiful shades. Carmine is still found in a wide range of products today...like cosmetics, food, alcoholic drinks, paints, and pharmaceuticals to name a few.

A new U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulation will require all foods and cosmetics containing cochineal to declare it on their ingredient labels as of January 5, 2011. OK, fair enough. I've always been a proponent of truth in labeling. But I've been wanting to make soap with it for the longest time, except I wonder what my customers would think? Too gross?  Or just another tool that Mother Nature has given us? What do you think? Would you use Fuzzy Wuzzy Soap?

Free Shipping + Free Lip Balm 11/27-11/30

Get FREE SHIPPING + ONE FREE LIP BALM Black Friday (11/27) through Cyber Monday (11/30) for all U.S. retail orders totaling $30 or more! Use discount code FREESHLIP at checkout. No discount code = no deal. Offer valid online only for U.S. addresses with standard shipping. Our usual free soap bar offer does not apply. This is our last free shipping offer of the year.... so order wildly and have a Happy Happy Merry Merry!

HUGE 1 Day Gift Set Sale - Hope Farmers Market

We just discovered a buried treasure of super cool all natural one-of-a-kind gift packaging items in our warehouse.  So what?  HUGE one day gift sale, that's what!  These items are not in our regular line, so we're filling them with our awesome products and letting them go for ridiculously low prices.  How does $10-15 each sound? Cheap!

Our premium, fragrant, moisturizing soaps and body balms make incredible gifts for just about anybody on your list so stock up now and figure out who to give them to later. If one of the recipients ends up being you....oh well.

Stop by our booth in the artisans depot at the new Hope Farmers Market in East Austin this Sunday, Nov. 22 from 11-3 to snatch up some of these incredible bargains before they're all gone.  I don't expect they'll hang around long so don't delay.  While you're there, wish me a happy birthday for an extra free gift with any purchase! See you at the market!

Who's Fault Is It? Who Can Do Something About It?

The biggest threat to America's sovereignty is NOT the government. The biggest threat to America's sovereignty is the ignorance of the American citizen on the US Constitution. The citizen can not claim what he does not know he lost - the unalienable Right to life, liberty, and property. And the American can not begin to know how to take back those liberties if he doesn't have the tools. You have the tools.

Regardless of how "perfect" the documents or actions that result from CC2009, without the massive awakening of the American to support this movement, or any other movement, tyranny will prevail. The news of Continental Congress 2009 is spreading, but not spreading as quickly as required to affect the impact necessary in Washington and at our state level.

Taxpayer funds pay for thousands of pocket sized US Constitutions every year. I appeal to you to contact your Congressmen (House Representative and Senators), go by their local office and pick up as many US Constitutions as you feel you can distribute. Put a dozen in your purse or briefcase every morning. Pass them out to anyone you come in contact with. Write a personal note inside the front cover with information to CC2009 - or other educational source you think may spark the fire of liberty in their soul. Give them my phone number if you don't want to put yours in there. Put a personal touch of some sort in your communication. Find a meeting in your area that will nurture the desire to learn the US Constitution. If there's not one - start your own. Reach out to a constitutional watchdog group and ask if they will bring in a speaker if you will host the event. This can be done at your local community center or library - usually at no charge.

Americans everywhere, every color, every religion, every age, know that something is wrong. Millions of Americans are looking for an answer. They are conditioned into looking for an elected official to enact another law to protect them, or worse - provide for them. Millions of American homes have two wage earners, 2 ½ kids, and a dog - or worse there is a single parent taking on the task of two parents. There is still only 24 hours in a day and not much left over after the workday ends and dinner has been served and cleaned up, or soccer practice runs late. This picture of the average American home is a picture in the making for over 100 years, which is coming to the final days of fruition. It is a picture painted successfully by tyrants.

It is not government's fault that this has happened. It is the fault of the inattentive individual to our government. It is the result of the American handing over his responsibilities and rights to the government. We are all guilty of this mindset, if not presently, at sometime in our past. It is the duty of each and every one of us that understands our right to liberty to educate those that don't yet understand this. The lack of your action to reach out to someone new and help them come along with us is an insult to my liberties.

I am appealing to your desire for your liberty. Please do something new tomorrow that you didn't do today. If not - then you will continue to see the same results you are seeing today. Helping one soul know how to take control of his liberties will not only help you but, every other man, woman, and child in this country and hopefully in this world. CC2009 is being webcast worldwide. We CAN make a difference - together. Please think about the effect you can have on someone you come into contact with tomorrow.

Thank you.

In Liberty,

Barbara Harless
Texas State Coordinator
Harless1@verizon.net
972 423-1414
GiveMeLiberty.org

Continental Congress '09 Archived Footage

Not able to watch the historic Continental Congress '09 live? Watch the archived footage here. Sadly, you won't see this on government controlled mainstream media. But that doesn't mean it's not important, it just means it's all the more necessary!

Continental Congress '09: The Next Step For a Free People Nov. 11-22

Liberty Bells from GiveMeLiberty.org on Vimeo.

(I'm taking a break from my usual posts to bring you these important messages for a few days. Sadly, you will see little or no mention of this on our government controlled media. I'll be covering this topic until the Congress adjourns.)

Wednesday, November 11, 2009 will one day be known as the day the American People convened, for the first time in over two centuries when they founded this great nation, an Assembly of representatives of the People in order to fully exercise the Petition clause of the First Amendment.

At approximately 3:00 pm Wednesday, WTP Chairman Bob Schulz convened the Assembly to begin the selection of Congress officers from the ranks of elected state Delegates who will preside over the 11-day long Assembly. Constitutional scholar and former Presidential candidate Michael Badnarik was selected as the presiding officer of the Congress while Delegate .

For over a decade, We The People Foundation has championed an intensive, well-researched and coherent effort to hold the Government accountable for its escalating violations of fundamental Rights and the Constitution through use of the Right of the People to “petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” Those ongoing abuses include violations of the Constitution’s tax, money, war, general welfare, privacy and other clauses that are at the heart of the conditions that now plague our nation. (Click here to read the Petitions for Redress)

Although the public has known little about the history or nature of the Right to Petition, scholarly and historical research has established without argument, that the Right, first articulated as the cornerstone of Western Law in Magna Carta (1215), provides the People an individual Right to hold Government peacefully accountable for its abuses.

Far beyond the right to merely send “complaints” to the government (which are virtually ignored by all officials), the Right of Petition embodies the profound Right to enforce the Right to Petition by withdrawing support from the Government until Redress is secured.

Continental Congress 2009 will take the process of holding Government accountable and restoring the Constitution to the next level by first creating a formal record of the vast violations of the Constitution and Individual Rights now suffered by the People. Next, the Congress will debate and decide upon a series of practical but strong “Civic Actions” the People may take in order to restore their Liberty.

The agenda for the CC2009 Assembly also provides for the development and adoption of formal “Remedial Instructions” to be served upon federal and state officials, in essence ordering them to cease and desist their official abuses and giving them formal Notice as to the “Civic Actions” of (peaceful) resistance the People may take, en masse, if those officials, yet again, choose to ignore the People’s Petitions for Redress.

Parts of the historical CC2009 event can be viewed live each day at CC2009. I urge everyone to please consider making a tax-deductible donation of any amount and support this critical initiative to restore our Founding Principles and protect the Light of Liberty.

New Black Walnut Shampoo & Body Bar

Ditch the plastic bottle and avoid all those harmful chemicals! Our new multi-purpose truly natural Black Walnut Shampoo & Body Bar is perfect for the gym, at home, or travel. Featuring black walnut extracts and neem oil and scented with an invigorating lemon eucalyptus essential oil blend, this solid shampoo bar is for those who like to keep it simple and healthy. Simply rub the bar on wet hair to work up a thick lather, then shampoo and rinse as usual. Follow your shampoo with a lemon juice and water or an apple cider vinegar and water rinse for added shine.

Native black walnut Juglans nigra is known to be anti-fungal, anti-parasitic, anti-bacterial and antiseptic and has many reputed health benefits. When rubbed on the skin, black walnut extract is said to be beneficial for eczema, psoriasis, and even skin parasites. External applications have also been known to kill ringworm. The brown stain found in the black walnut green husk contains iodine which has antiseptic and healing properties as well. Black walnut hulls can also be used to darken hair, but we're not claiming our soap will do any of this! We'd rather not bring on the wrath of the FDA or any other governmental body.

ps I tried to cover my gray at one point with black walnut hulls, and it was helpful (although not a miracle worker). Nowadays, I just let nature take it's course. Whatever will be will be.

My Bath Runneth Over!

Bird bath that is. Anybody else as tickled as I am that I don't have to fill up my bird bath anymore!!? Rain is a glorious thing! Here are some other cool bird baths in the Austin area, courtesy of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center's Master Gardener Tour. (Click the pic to get a better look.)  I bet they know what I'm talkin' bout!

Lovely Lantana

I can't believe how profusely our lantanas are blooming right now.  They have a spicy pungent aroma that I like, but some people find it fairly obnoxious.  Drought resistant Lantana urticoides is one of those plants with scarce and conflicting reports on it's usefulness in herbal medicine, so to be safe, I'm only going to discuss its topical uses here.  The berries are toxic and the spiny nature of the plants can cause dermatitis, but surprisingly, the leaf has actually been known to soothe insect bites, stings, cuts, scrapes, and rashes.  I can't say that I've ever seen a lantana leaf salve, but I'd like to stir one up someday.  Lantana leaf tea has traditionally been used in the bath to relieve rheumatism, arthritis, and other minor aches and pains.  Plus dried lantana leaves can also be burned as an incense that safely repels mosquitoes and other biting insects.  

Mostly, I'm just sayin they look lovely in the native landscape.

Symbiotic Relationship

What did the little green seedling say to the leaf?
"There's a fungus among us."

(I found this outside the soap shop front door....that seedling is actually growing up through the mushroom!  Awesome!)


But look what Jackie & Jory found this morning!  They one-upped me!!!

Global Handwashing Day Oct. 15

 The driving theme for Global Handwashing Day is children and schools, and the main objectives of this global celebration are: 

* Foster and support a global and local culture of handwashing with soap.

 * Shine a spotlight on the state of handwashing in each country. 

*  Raise awareness about the benefits of handwashing with soap. 

Although people around the world wash their hands with water, very few wash their hands with soap at the critical occasions.  More handwashing with soap means lower rates of infectious disease.  

Clean Hands Saves Lives!

To Market To Market

I've been sinking a lot of time lately into the Manor Farmers Market, not because I think I'm going to get rich there or anything...but because I firmly believe that local sustainable agriculture and strong communities are our best bets for the future. Forget what crooked politicians and greedy ceo's are doing. They're going to do it anyway. I've decided to focus my energy closer to home because that's where I stand to make the biggest impact. That's where I can actually make a difference.

So here's Jackie and Jory and I selling soap at our market. There's only about 6 or 8 vendors there right now and maybe two dozen shoppers (on a good day!), but that's OK. I know that it takes time and commitment to build anything worthwhile.

Visit your farmers market, find out about your local harvest, and get out and meet and greet your neighbors. Communities working together for a positive future is what it's all about these days. Don't you think?

Easy Fall Fundraisers

Our unique, easy Fall fundraisers are an eco-friendly way to reap big profits for your organization. You'll feel good about promoting our family owned, handmade natural soaps and body balms and your parents, neighbors, coworkers and friends will feel even better about receiving them! Choose from 2 easy fundraiser programs.

Easy Resale Fundraiser Program

Your group purchases our products up front for 40% off the retail cost. You get a special discount code to use online. We ship one large order to your designated address. You resell the products at your fundraising events and keep all the proceeds!

Super Easy Online Fundrasier Program

Your group simply passes out the business cards that we provide and your supporters go online to place their orders using the special group discount code on the card that earmarks the sale for your group. At the end of the fundraiser you'll receive a check for 30% of the sales (before shipping) plus copies of all orders placed using your code. We ship the orders to the individuals as they are placed. You sit back and pat yourself on the back. Sound too easy? Well.... it is!

Visit the fundrasier page on our website to learn more.

Sappanwood Sapped Out

By the time I got around to making the soap (about 8 hours after mixing the wood chips with the lye water), the vibrant red pigment (shown in the previous post) had already morphed to a muddy reddish brown.  When I reluctantly mixed it into the oils....I fully expected what I got.  Creamy caramel brown.  Like many other natural colorants....so...very...disappointing.  Sappanwood still might have potential for melt and pour soap and lip balms and the like, but it's plain to see there's not much future for it in cold process soapmaking.  The hunt for a nice natural red pigment goes on. Any bright ideas?

Sappanwood....sappan what?

While leafing through GCI (now that's some exciting reading) I stumbled upon a listing for Caesalpinia sappan aka sappanwood in the new colorants section. Natural red dyes are mighty hard to come by so you can imagine my excitement at the prospect of unearthing a "new" one. What was this? In almost 15 years of soapmaking, I'd never heard of it before.

I finally located some at an online chinese herb store (pricey stuff by the way) and as soon as it arrived, I immediately threw a couple of little chunks into a small jar of hot lye water. In case you didn't see Fight Club, lye is what turns fats and oils into soap and all real bar soaps are made with lye so don't freak out...OK?

Holy moly! An instant explosion of gorgeous red pigment! I'm on to something. In an effort to educate myself I found that sure enough, sappanwood produces a reddish dye called brazilin, used for dyeing fabric as well as making red paints and inks. In an acidic solution brazilin will appear yellow, but in an alkaline solution (such as lye water) it will appear red.  The plant possesses astringent, anti-bacterial and pain relieving properties among others, which are pretty nice attributes for a soap colorant, wouldn't you say?

I haven't actually tried any in cold process soapmaking mind you, that's another day, but according to my lye test, it's promising. What do you think? Anybody else tried sappanwood? Will it eventually fade to brown?  Has red sandalwood met its match?

Soap Gone Wild?

Can you believe we caught our prickly pear soap perched atop a cactus?  That's mighty risky behavior ya know!  How about you?  Have you ever noticed our soap mingling with a wildflower? Or maybe even partying with a local weed?

If you think your soap's gone wild, then document it with a photo! Use this contact form to let us know. Upon submission, we'll send you a few guidelines and where to email your photo showing our soap running loose in the wild. If we use it on our website (keep it clean!), we'll send you a special discount code for 50% off your next online retail order at a wild soap bar!

Soap gone wild.  How do you feel about that?

The Succulent Green Stuff Returns!

I realize this may not be a big deal to YOU....but to the parched and scorched desert dwellers of Central Texas (like me and most of my friends and family) who have grown weary during the extended drought (brown and crunchy is NOT my favorite shade of anything)...the sight of newly sprouted green grass, fresh white rain lillies, juicy plump purslane, and tiny blue day flowers is a big deal.  A really big deal.  After almost six inches of the glorious wet stuff falling steadily from the sky, fresh new life is emerging daily.  Relief is here at last.  AMEN!

AWSB Joins the Manor Farmers Market!

In an effort to connect with our growing community and to support local agriculture, A Wild Soap Bar will be selling our handmade soaps & body balms at the Manor Farmers Market each Wed. from 4-7 pm at Jennie Lane Park, between Lexington and Rector streets in downtown Manor.  Enjoy local foods, unique handcrafts, and plenty of good conversation plus our exclusive, discounted, low farmers market prices.  Come on out, chat with the soapmakers, meet your neighbors and get involved.  Then stay for dinner at one of Manor's many fine restaurants.  The Manor Farmers Market is a Texas Department of Agriculture certified farmers market that operates weekly from January through December.  A Wild Soap Bar is committed to working within our community.  Isn't it time you came out to support your local farmer's market? 

Letrah Avery Won Free Soap!

Letrah Avery with Deep South Bath Co. won 2 free natural soaps from the wild!  Thanks to everyone for your participation.  Stay tuned for more good things to come from a year in the wild.

Manor's Most Wanted - Win Free Soap!

Have you seen this wild man? I caught him lurking just outside our kitchen door several years ago and he's been hanging around here ever since!  Wood  you believe it?  Neighbors describe him as tall, thin, quiet and reserved, with a rough weathered exterior and tossled hair.  His appearance changes with the seasons but don't be fooled by his docile demeanor.  His underground roots run deep!   If you've seen this shady character, please leave your tips here.  You can remain anonymous if you'd like, but if your comment is chosen at random on Sept 8, you could win 2 FREE BARS OF SOAP (so we don't really recommend the anonymous thing).  Beware people!  Law enforcement officers believe he's attempting to branch out to other areas. We need your help to stop this guy now, before he sows any more seeds.  Whatever you do, don't attempt to round up this perpetrator yourself.  Leaf him alone!

Pokeweed You're Such A Tease!

Every year this giant pokeweed (Phytolacca americana) sprouts up next to our sidewalk, the seed presumably deposited there long ago by a wandering bird. It's an impressive plant, albeit a dangerous one. Pokeweeds grow up to 12 ft. tall with large broad leaves and the stems are often pink or red. The flowers are greenish-white, born in long drooping clusters at the ends of the stems which develop into beautiful dark purple berries.

Since pioneer times pokeweed, also known as inkberry or poke salat, has been used as a folk remedy to treat many ailments. Internal uses include tonsilitis, swollen glands, arthritis and weight loss. Topical treatments have been used for acne, inflammations and rashes. Modern day researchers are investigating phytolacca's use in treating AIDS and cancer patients and the preliminary results are promising.

All parts of pokeweed are toxic except the above ground leaves sprouting in the early spring. The poisonous principles are found in highest concentrations in the roots, less in the mature leaves and stems, and least in the fruits. Young leaves, if collected before acquiring a red color, are edible if boiled for 5 minutes, rinsed, reboiled in fresh water, rinsed again, and then all of the water discarded. Extreme caution should be taken because pokeweed is considered dangerous and possibly even deadly if not handled properly. The berries are toxic when raw but edible when cooked.

The berries yield a beautiful red ink or dye. In fact, the Declaration of Independence was written in fermented pokeberry juice, hence the common name inkberry. Many letters written home during the American Civil War were also written with the abundant pokeberry ink, the rich red color long ago fading to brown.

The cultural importance of pokeweed can be found in the 1969 hit song Polk Salad Annie... the gators got your granny...chomp...chomp, chomp.  (I promise that's a real song....really... it is!)  If I get brave, I might chomp down on this "health food" type recipe next spring. Although I don't eat it often, bacon can make almost anything taste fabulous, right?  The young poke shoots are highly nutritious and many old timers swear by them.

We tried writing with poke berry juice way back when I was a cub scout leader, so I know that works pretty well. So today I threw 12 ripe berries into an ounce of lye water to see if poke berries might be a good natural colorant for cold process soap. Soon as I smashed them up and they released their juice the water instantly turned a greenish yellow. This would probably yield a soft yellow green soap, but not the stunning dark purple I was hoping for, so don't think I'll even bother.

Pokeweed, you're such a tease!  While useful for many things, soapmaking doesn't appear to be one of them.  What do you think?

ooh baby baby it's a wild world

I am STILL so incredibly moved by his music ... to this day. wow.

testing testing 1...2...3

I got to play with soap!!! This is a big deal cause I'm usually stuck typing up invoices, answering phone calls and emails, shipping packages, problem solving, formulating custom soap recipes...and the ever popular (and never ending) bookkeeping. Yuck.

But I do know how to have fun, and this proves it. (Well, it proves it if you think making soap is fun like I do.) This post has nothing to do with living in the wild mind you, or even acting wild ... but bear with me. After all, I am a soapmaker.

Here I'm testing 3 new natural liquid colorants in one bar. Exciting stuff huh? The bottom layer is marigold (aka calendula) which produced a rousing good yellow, don't you think?



The middle layer is caramel. I forgot to photograph it when I poured it because...well...it was brown. Nothing terribly exciting there, but it's a nice enough brown. And some of my best soaps are brown. Nuff said.

(visualize a soft brown color here in my nifty Soap Hutch test mold)

The top layer is paprika. You know, the spice. The color was so freakin neon bright I had to wear shades!



The tones did mellow out a little in the final bar, which suits my "natural" tastes a tad better. That's Moroccan red clay sprinkled between each whipped up layer to give the soap an exotic flair. Then I topped it off with some broken anise seed pods. I mean... what else are you gonna do with broken anise seed pods?

All in all, I think it turned out pretty darned cool. What do you think?

Begging For Balm?

Why are there 100+ perfectly luscious all natural lip lube tubes still sitting in our shop refrigerator (with no labels mind you) when I made this batch from freshly picked mustang grapes over a month ago? I dunno...but I'm gonna do something about it. Today. No, right now.

Place any order on our website through September and write begging for balm in the comments section at checkout and you will be the proud new owner of our limited edition Vine Lip Balm! It may or may not have a label by the time it gets to you, but hey, beggars can't be choosy.

And just so you'll know, this is an unflavored lip balm, sweetened only with a touch of honey, and even though it's a gorgeous shade of salmon red (from alkanet root), it doesn't add any color, just shine. So if any he-man-guy-dudes are reading this, go ahead and try it. They'll never know. And it's FREE!

This offer is good until a. we run out b. we come to our senses or c. we decide to hoard what's left for ourselves! Soapmakers need lip love too.

I Heart Cactus

No, I really "heart" cactus...especially prickly pear cactus! I suppose this is the result of damage done by a hungry animal early on, but it's not uncommon to see heart shaped prickly pear pads like this one all over our property.

Exactly why do I love this cactus so much? After all, it's not a very lovable plant on first encounter! Prickly pears, members of the genus Opuntia, are the cacti most widely used for food. The pads (which are actually, stems), flowers and fruits provide tasty and nutritious treats. The young pads or napolitos make an excellent cooked vegetable. The large flowers are edible as well, but the most delightful part is the ripe pear or tuna which can be eaten raw or used to make jelly, candy, and much more. Of course the spines must be burned or scraped off first, and the fruit should be peeled if eaten raw. The new spineless varieties are by far the easiest to work with. Prickly pear tunas ripen in late summer through early fall.

Prickly pears also provide food for hungry deer and javelinas, and even cattle relish the succulent pads. In times of drought they become a plentiful source of food and water.

Prickly pear fruits have been used as a dye as well, producing spectacular pinks and magentas. The pads harbor cochineal, tiny furry white insects that also make excellent pink or red dyes. Prickly pears have value as windbreaks and soil stabilizers too.

I'm saving the best for last though. Prickly pears have been used medicinally for centuries to heal wounds, burns, bruises and swellings. The soothing mucilagenous gel found inside the pads acts much like aloe vera. Prickly pear cacti have also been used to treat diabetes and to lower cholesterol. Now studies have revealed that it can protect the immune system and prevent oxidative stress by acting as a scavenger of free radicals! Its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory action actually helps protect cells and organs making it extremely useful as a sports remedy, a hangover preventative, and an anti-aging compound, both internally and topically.

Ever wonder why prickly pears can survive some of the harshest climates in the world? They possess the ability to shield themselves from the damaging effects! Whats not to love about this remarkable ancient plant?

Try our Prickly Pear Soap and our vegan Prickly Pear Body Balm. We don't make outrageous medical claims for our products, but you'll get the idea.

The Daily Grind

This hollowed out rock caught my eye when I was on a walk and I wondered if it was ever used as a molcajete? Archaeological evidence suggests that the molcajete was developed around 4,000 BC. The early utensil was probably related to the metate, a stone grinder which was even older. Molcajetes and metates were used by early Americans to grind herbs, seeds, and spices, prepare pureed foods, and to crush corn and other grains. They're still used today to prepare many Mexican dishes.

I was reminded of the prehistoric "kitchen table" in the rock shelter at Seminole Canyon State Park we visited last year where ancient peoples probably ground grains in a hollowed out bowl (below). As I ran my fingers over the smooth rock, I couldn't help but wonder. We think we have it so much easier these days...but do we really? Sometimes I almost think I'd rather be peacefully grinding grains on a stone all day than juggling everything I have to do in a day!

How about you?

A Year in the Wild Gift Set

Our new fragrant 12 bar gift collection showcases some of North America's most useful native plants. Each month a new one emerges, reminding us of the seasonality of all life. The set includes twelve best selling 4 oz. soaps from the wild in a kraft gift box tied up with muslin ribbon, a descriptive tag, and a rustic twig. You save $12 when you purchase this gift set ($1 per bar!) Share A Year In The Wild with someone you love or keep it all to yourself.

Dried Up Stuff

Look what I picked up on my morning walk today? The basis for this unusual arrangement was a large prickly pear cactus skeleton. To that I added some frilly lichen covered branches and a few stalks of dried sunflowers that were hanging out behind the soap shop. While it may not be the most succulent piece, I found it interesting enough to place beside my desk for a while, but then, fresh flowers from the florist were never really my thing.

Here's a close up of a skeletonized cactus leaf. Pretty cool huh?


To make your own skeleton leaves, follow these simple steps. Don’t let kids do this without adult supervision, ok? While it doesn't emit toxic fumes, washing soda is very alkaline so wear gloves and take care not to get any on your skin or in your eyes. You can probably find washing soda in the laundry section of your grocery store. It's also known as sodium carbonate. (Not sodium bicarbonate dude, that's baking soda!) So here's how you do it:

1. Press large sturdy leaves between old telephone books for several weeks. (I'm not sure this would work on fleshy cactus pads, but it's worth a try. Look for dried up ones and press them longer. Or maybe you don't need to press them at all, just put them in the solution. I never said I had ALL the answers here.)
2. Make a solution of washing soda and gently lay the pressed leaves into the solution. You could also try a strong bleach solution instead.
3. When the flesh becomes soft and pulpy, take the leaves out and rinse them carefully in cold water.
4. Gently brush away the soft pulp with an old toothbrush.
5. Let your skeleton leaves dry before using them to decorate a package or tuck inside a nature journal.

To try our prickly pear cactus soap, go here.

It's Raining!!! (isn't it?)

Since it hasn't rained here in eons...this is the next best thing I guess.

Into The Wild

We live and work on 20 secluded rural acres but recently our family traveled into the wild...for real...well sorta. This was the panoramic view from our rustic stone cabin perched atop the nearly 1000 foot deep Palo Duro Canyon in the sprawling Texas Panhandle. Breathtaking, to say the least! Our grand-daughter took a moment to pose for this shot, but mostly, she was busy being a bona fide cowgirl. From her first rugged trail ride to dining at the infamous Big Texan Steak Ranch, she experienced the grandeur and the legend that IS Texas. We attended a performance of the 44th season of the outdoor musical "Texas", performed right there in the canyon, which told the heart warming story of the early Texas settlers and the hardships they overcame....a first class production. I highly recommend it! With plenty of hiking trails, rugged vistas, and wide open spaces, Palo Duro Canyon is truly one of our state's finest gems. Get your wild on and go there some day. It's definitely worth the drive.

Muddin' It Up

Here's what happens when a bunch of wild soapmakers get together in a posh hotel for a soap centered weekend in Dallas. They MUD themselves! You guessed it, I'm the one front and center. The guy with the Pebbles hairdo? That's my friend Robert with Round Top Natural Soap and behind me is Kathy Jones of Mama Says Wash. You should have seen the guy spew as he stepped off the elevator just as Robert and I were getting on! We couldn't resist roaming around just a little. Most of the people in the lobby couldn't even bring themselves to look at us. :o)

Now this is no ordinary mud you see. This is Dead Sea Mud, shipped all the way over here from the Dead Sea in Israel by none other than...The Mud Queen, Tammy Doering. Her daughter Jessica is to my left who we met for the first time. (Notice her gorgeous skin!) If you've never mudded up, you have NO IDEA how smooth and soft your skin can be! No joke. And if you've never goofed around with good friends, well, you need to lighten up a little.

Into the Carboy

More than 4-6 days have passed and I've been negligent about posting. (OK. So I was in Dallas partying with my soapin' friends....so what?) Jory strained out most of the solids, racked the fermenting wine into the carboy (left), and added 10 pounds of sugar for the secondary fermentation phase. The magnificent magenta brew's been fermenting for 6 days and will be ready to strain again when the bubbles stop rising to the top of the airlock (below). It's mesmerizing watching them glub glub glub to the surface like a laid-back little lava lamp. :o)

Homegrown Tomatoes

Juicy, red, ripe ... HOMEGROWN! We got over 300 pounds off our 12 plants so far (and it wasn't a particularly good season either!). Right now they're taking a hiatus, but they'll be back in the fall. This doesn't have much to do with living in the wild, but if you aren't growing your own, you should seriously reconsider your game plan and avoid that culinary bummer.

Guy Clark sums it all up in his classic little ditty. "Only 2 things that money can't buy and that's true love and homegrown tomatoes!"

The Unofficial Grape Stomp

OK, so it's not your traditional grape stomp...nevertheless, soapmaker turned winemaker Jory is smushing grapes in this photo in preparation for our first ever wild mustang grape wine! He and his girlfriend Jackie gathered 20 lbs. of ripe grapes in hopes of getting about 23 liters of homemade wine. The next step was to pour boiling water over the smashed grapes, adding sugar and yeast, and stirring it all up in the primary fermenter (a seven gallon plastic bucket). Each day he stirs the concoction (called the must) until all the solids have floated to the top forming the cap (a crust of grape skins and pulp). In 4-6 days, he should be ready to strain out the solids and rack it (transfer it) into the carboy (a 6 gallon glass jug), leaving much of the sediment behind. We're on day 4 here, so we'll keep you posted. In the meantime, use some of the new winemaking terminology you learned here to impress your friends.

Peek-A-Boo

Wherever I go around here lately, I see these tiny little balsam gourds peeking out from the underbrush. They really stand out against the parched landscape, since they're one of the few plants that bloom and fruit during our extremely dry summers here in Central Texas. They look like miniature juicy cherry tomatoes, but I'm told they're neither poisonous nor edible. Ibervillea lindheimeri, also known as globe berry, is a trailing or climbing perennial vine who's showy fruit ripens in mid to late summer. Supposedly it has a very large tuber that makes it remarkably drought resistant, although I can't say I've ever dug one up to find out.

Birds and wildlife like this plant, but I can't help but believe it holds some undiscovered uses for humans too. There's a reason it calls out to me when I casually pass by.

Paisano Pete

I saw a roadrunner with a small snake dangling from its mouth on my morning walk today. I didn't have my camera so this isn't the actual photo (duh...there's no snake!). I just love roadrunners...they're super friendly and one of the most curious birds. And if that was one of our poisonous snakes he was about to dine on....then thanks Paisano Pete!

Don't you just love the way nature takes care of everything?

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Some of you may know that A Wild Soap Bar donates a portion of our profits each and every year to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center...but do you know why? The mission of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is to increase the sustainable use and conservation of native wildflowers, plants and landscapes. Native plants do much more than add beauty to the landscape. They help conserve water, reduce mowing costs, provide habitat for birds, butterflies and other wildlife, protect the soil and reduce the use of fertilizer and pesticides. They're also an important source of food and of traditional and new medicines and herbal remedies.

Lady Bird Johnson, our former first lady, and actress Helen Hayes founded an organization in 1982 to protect and preserve North America's native plants and natural landscapes. First as the National Wildflower Research Center and later as the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, this special place exists to introduce people to the beauty and diversity of wildflowers and other native plants. Every day, the Wildflower Center brings life to Mrs. Johnson's vision in its public gardens, its woodlands and sweeping meadows as well as in internationally influential research. In 2006, the Center became an Organized Research Unit of the University of Texas at Austin.

Decades ago, Mrs. Johnson recognized that our country was losing its natural landscapes and its natural beauty. As much as 30 percent of the world’s native flora is at risk of extinction now. The Wildflower Center was intended to help preserve and restore that beauty and the biological richness of North America. Since then, the Center has become one of the country’s most credible research institutions and effective advocates for native plants.

The Center’s gardens display the native plants of the Central Texas Hill Country, South and West Texas, while the Plant Conservation Program protects the ecological heritage of Texas by conserving its rare and endangered flora. The Native Plant Database contains information on more than 7,200 native species available online.

The Land Restoration Program applies knowledge of ecological processes to restoring damaged landscapes. The Center’s education programs for children and adults teach people about their natural surroundings and how to grow native plants in their own backyards.

We've been a member since they opened their doors in 1982 and we feel incredibly lucky that we can visit the world renowned Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center anytime. If you can donate $5, $10, $20 or more to this worthwhile cause, Mother Nature will thank you...and so will I.

Here's a brief video spotlight from Executive Director Susan Rieff.

Wild Grapes Anyone?

I gathered more wild grapes today to be used in our soaps. It reminded me that back when my kids were small, long before I became the soap bartender, I used to make fresh wild grape juice each summer. From my very first batch, I was amazed that it tasted so much like Welch's....only better! There was something distinctly satisfying about foraging organic wild grapes for my family, and what better way to spend the cooler morning hours than picking grapes with my kids. You had to watch out for rattlesnakes, but that was a given any time you ventured out during the warmer months.

Now... guess what? Our youngest son is planning to make wild mustang grape wine when he returns from his summer vacation in Colorado next week! I guess his tastes have matured just a bit over the years. But I'd like to think he got his inspiration from those early childhood memories. There's some things that just stand out in your mind, and fresh wild grape juice is one of them.

Here's a nice recipe for grape juice that uses California concord grapes, but I'm sure it'll work on any wild grapes in season. Drink up!