Long Winter Farm started in 2007 when my youngest daughter, Lucy, was born with red hair and the skin to go with it. Everything made her break out in a rash, which led me to seriously distrust commercial products and revert to my soaping skills to create a recipe she could touch.

Five years later, it's a full time gig. I get up at 6, make coffee, answer convos, get the kids to school (sometimes on time!), answer more convos, pack orders, make stuff, pack more orders, hit up the post office, make more stuff, pack more orders, make peanut butter and jelly sammies, answer more convos, take a pee break, make more stuff... You get the idea.

How is this stuff made? I think the most interesting is the soap. I use the cold process method, which means I take sodium hydroxide (lye), mix it with a liquid, then mix the lye + liquid with a special blend of vegetable oils. I mix all of that until it thickens, add scent and color and all that fun stuff, then pour it into a big long mold. The soap sets up overnight, then is cut into bars and allowed to sit for 4-6 weeks until it's nice and hard and the pH is nice and chill.