loofah soap

[annette]

This looks great. Can't wait for my loofahs to ripen so I can try it.


http://candleandsoap.about.com/od/so...loofahsoap.htm

[eco4560]

I love making soap. I went through a stage where I made so much of it that I had to stop and I'm still using it all up! Cold process soap making (where you add lye to oil) is really interesting. I have used loofah chopped up small in soaps, but haven't tried making the whole rings like this. I wonder how hard it is to cut it so it looks that good?

When I get access to someone who has just killed a cow I want to have a go a 'real' soap - lye water made from ashes and rendered fat. A bit like my desire to kill a chook - it would be nice to know how to do it in case that's my only option at some point.

[annette]

Wow I've never made soap so just taking baby steps. I have read a while ago about making soap from cow fat and lye. i even bought a soapwort plant too to see how that would go but when I went overseas the babysitter let it die.

[mischief]

Dont you guys have 'home kill' butchers over there?
They cant give/sell you meat but can give/sell non food or not for human consumption bits.
My daughter wants to have a go at soap making too, I would love to but I'm just too busy for that right now.

[Michaelangelica]

Soap making class here 27 May
http://www.permaculturecc.org.au/

[annette]

That would be fun. Shame it's so far away for me.

[eco4560]

I think there's a home kill butcher in Woombye actually - never thought of that.... Thanks mischief.

[annette]

Hi Echo

I was discussing this thread with an ex butcher yesterday. He said that you may be able to find a local butcher that can supply it if the home kill butcher doesn't work out. He said as long as they get the carcasses in and not in boxes they would be able to do it. He also said it is the fat around the kidneys and liver (i think). He used to have it when he was a butcher.

[briansworms]

I use Sunlight Soap in my bait traps to catch fish to feed my turtles. Apparantly it is full of animal fat. Works very well too.

[eco4560]

Pity the turtles don't eat Sunlight soap. It could save you all that effort landing fish!