A New Season All Around

Fall is our favorite time of year on the farm.  As New England transplants to the south, we start wishing for leaf weather on the first humid, summer day.  This particular season, though, brings more than cooler weather for us, but a new venture in goat milk soap.  Raising goats for over 10 years has taught us the value of family - the importance of investment - and the need for individual attention.  You can learn a lot from goats!  And as our family has grown and changed, we've realized that caring for yourself - for your body - can be just as vital as caring for those around you.  Red Clay Soap was born from the idea that you should know what goes on your skin. We're excited about sharing our passion for healthy living, and hope that our goat milk soap makes your skin feel at its best.

To christen our inaugural post, we wanted to share some answers to questions we've been asked - questions about the goat milk soap, the farm, and our family.

Q:  Why did you start raising goats?

A:  We found out in 1997 that John and Stephen were allergic to cow milk.  After trying rice, soy, and almond milks - and knowing we could never make an alfredo sauce with soy milk - we started looking at goats.

Q:  So you've been raising goats since '97...?

A:  1998.  We purchased our first goat in '98 and found out she was pregnant.  Two goats for the price of one!  So we decided to name our farm Double Blessing Farm.

Q:  How many kids do you have?  Do they help on the farm?

A:  We have new kids in the spring and summer.  Oh, our own...we have four boys - Daniel (now married to Alisha), Stephen, Theo, and Anthony.  All of them have helped on the farm when needed.  Stephen and Theo were notorious for doing chores in boxers and muck boots.

Q:  What's your favorite thing about the farm?

A:  Location.  The creek, Paris Mountain, the gardens in the summer.  We love our homestead.

Q: Who is your favorite animal on the farm?

A: Actually, our favorites are probably the dogs - does that make us bad goat herders?! John loves Moo (husky cross).  I love Molly (border collie).  Moo is just a big baby with blue eyes.  Molly is the brains.

Q:  Do you have a favorite soap?

A:  John: Cinnamon Clove, Rachel: Herbal Wild 

Q:  What's the most rewarding part of making the goat milk soap?

A:  Rachel: Hearing how it has helped someone's skin.  The testimonials are priceless.  As a nurse, there's nothing better than helping someone.