What are you bringing to Black Market?
I am bringing handmade soap, candles, lip balm, body butter, and a children’s book I wrote and illustrated. It’s a colorful story all in rhyme about a farmer and his daughter. At the end of the book the farmer gives his daughter a bag of seeds, so the book comes with 7 heirloom seed packs so parent + child can grow a garden together… perfect for Spring!

The children’s book, A Day in the Fields

How did you get started with soap making?
The soap making actually stems from my love for food and creating. Being a chef and a gardener, I care about quality ingredients and things that are from the earth; I want to know where my food is coming from and that it was grown with love. Same thing goes for products I put on my body.

I would love to teach children the importance of vegetables, insects, healthy bodies, and soil. My connection with the earth has been strongest when I’m barefoot in my garden, picking homegrown tomatoes from my happy plants.

What materials do you use?
I use ingredients you can recognize: organic olive oil, coconut oil, essential oils, and beeswax. Made with love of course.

Backyard Soap Company’s full line of products

Where did the name “Backyard Soap Company” come from?
I made my first batch of soap outside in my backyard with fresh lemon verbena from my garden… hence Backyard Soap Company.

What bath products/brands do you personally use?
I’ve been making soap for four years now, and it’s is all I use on my skin. The skin is our largest organ, and we should be aware of not only what we put inside our bodies, but what goes on the outside as well.

Why do you encourage people to shop local?
Supporting local business is important because we vote with our dollars. When we buy local, we are supporting our community. We are sustaining an environment where creativity and dreams are important. It’s a beautiful thing to know who grows your vegetables or who makes your soap — the people behind the product. It’s a piece of people’s lives and expression of their heart.

Where can people learn more about Backyard Soap Company?
If you would like to know more about Backyard Soap Company you can find me at the Black Market on April 2nd! Or follow us on Instagram and Facebook. But seriously just come by, buy something local & talk with the makers!