Teach Soap

some people say fresh goat milk is better to use when making goat milk soap rather than can evaporated or homogenized. can anyone tell me why?

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JILLY

Untouched fresh goat's milk doesn't have anything removed from it like the others do. THAT said, when you look at what Lye does to the soap, I'm not sure it makes that much difference (my personal opinion) at the end of the day. I buy my goat's milk fresh as I like to support my local farmers.... and I get to pat cute goat's at the same time.

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The Soapinatrix! *whip-crack*
- Posting the trials and tribulations of my Soaping Journey!

I've never noticed a difference in the way the soap feels or behaves between the two.

But, I now only use fresh, but that's because my neighbor is a goat farmer and gives me the excess milk in exchange for a couple bars of soap

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Genny

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Linda

I learn so much when I can't leave well enough alone!

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Genny

I like to use the fresh goats milk and advertise that I use only fresh goats milk. Of course it is easier when you have goats. I have experimented with both canned and powdered and both work fine so in the long run if your don't have access to fresh from the goat milk your soaps will be just fine using canned.

hi Jethro, ive been considering getting a goat. do i buy one? or a male and a female? do i have to milk it twice a day and how long does that take?

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JILLY

Well the answer is probably more then a post here will cover but the basics are....

To get milk you need a doe in milk and the breed makes a difference on how much milk you will get. Our girls usually stay in milk for around 11 months after they have kids. That is milking twice a day.

Goats are very much a herd animal and you need at least two. A good way to start is with a doe in milk and a netured male for company. Starting off with a male is a challenge as they can be stinky and you usually house a male and female seperately. So the male won't bother the female all the time. The smaller breeds like the nigeran dwarf take up not a lot of room and are pretty cheap to keep but they produce less milk then a full sized goat.

Most goats especially the neutred males make great pets and will clean up the brush and weeds around your house but they will also eat your flowers and garden. The milling breeds are great escape artists so be aware that you need to fence them properly. Goats are great and if you were set on getting milk the best bet is to buy a doe already in milk and if you find you enjoy them pay to have her bred in the future as opposed to getting a male unless you find you get Goat Fever and just have to have more of them.

If you have any questions feel free to pm me here either I or my wife can probably answer them or direct you to the information you need.

This is a good resource on goats. It is definately not something for the faint of heart. There is the shots and wormings and hoof trimmings, on top of the daily feeding/milking schedule and all this after you fence a yard and build a shelter/barn for them.

htt

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Dawn

thank you so much on the goat info. ive been doing reserch for hours now and my head wants to explode. i will do a pro and con list before making this big comitment. im already invested in chickens and ive got a hive set up for bees next spring. i just love the benifets of goats milk and, use it in my soaps and lotions. i would love to make cheese, butter, and yogurt. there is a goat dairy near by. $8 per pint. is that too expensive?

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JILLY

8 a pint is pretty expensive. When I have enough milk to seel it usually goes for 6 a quart or 20 a gallon. Of course it all depends on your market. You can even buy goats milk in the stores here at around 4.50 a quart but of course farm fresh is worth the extra.

That is kinda steep...Around here I know they don't charge that much - it is still like 10 or 12 a GALLON though...the rules in TX are SO strict and such with the "grade A raw dairy goat stuff"...don't even get me started!

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Making soap one loaf at a time - it's better than bread 'cause soap doesn't have calories!

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Dawn