Monday, March 19, 2012

Sunshine Farmgirl Co-op Team Spotlight Member

Snowflake: Welcome! to this weeks spotlight addition. Let's check-in with our roaming reporter to see who is in the spotlight this week.

Sunshine: I'm here with owner Melissa Carr of HoneybeeHolistics and see what she had to say in our interview.



1. Why did you start your business?
I started my business 5 years ago in anticipation of starting my family & being a Work-at-Home-Mom! I had a need for Organic bath & beauty products, so I started to make my own! I joined in with the Farmers Market in my small town and Honey Bee Holistics was born! I saw it as a way to help others with the same issues I had with main stream bath&beauty products, AND a way to grow a business so I would be able to provide for my family while raising my daughter!
2. How long have you been in business? 
    5 years

                                        
3. Can you share a diy project with our readers? 
I make my own Organic Laundry Detergent in a 5 gallon bucket. It lasts SO much longer & it is less expensive & doesnt contain all of the harsh chemicals that the most popular detergents such as Tide & All (even the so called "Free" versions still contain harmful chemicals that are absorbed into the body viz the skin & intimate parts).
Recipe:
Get a 5 gallon bucket from Home Depot with a lid
1 - Box of 20 Mule Team Borax
1- Box of Arm&Hammer Washing Soda
1- box of baking soda
1- 3oz bar of Organic Soap, shredded with a cheese grater (I make my own handmade soap & have some available that is plain for this reason www.honeybeeholistics.com ) just fine to use one you use for cheese as it will only clean it & is not harmful)
1- bottle of Lavender Essential Oil

Using an empty gallon container (milk container/vinegar container) fill up the bucket with 3 gallons of the hottest water from your tap. Fill up your 5 gallon bucket. Now add in 2 cups of each : borax, washing soda & baking soda. Stir well. Usually count to 60 & that will work. 

                                     
While you are doing this add the soap shreds to a large spaghetti pot with water to cover & let it simmer until the shreds dissolve(approx. 20 min) When all of the shreds are dissolved, add it to the bucket. Stir well again. Then add your last gallon of hot water. Stir well. Its ready to use.
When it cools down & you go to use it again it will separate a little. Just give it a quick stir & you are all set! I use a recycled pickle jar to scoop out what I need. Approx. a 28-32oz jar works well if you dont have a pickle jar. I use 2 jar fulls for my diaper loads.

                                             

Now for the essential oil...... After the soap is in the load of diapers. add in 2 capfuls of lavender essential oil. Lavender Essential oil not only smells great but is a natural anti-bacterial & anti-fungal.....What you need for your diapers!! You can find it inexpensively here at www.supersup.com

After the load is complete, I reset it to the rinse cycle & add in 1 cup of white distilled vinegar. This also is a natural anitbacterial & helps fight the odors, plus is a natural softener!

I have used this on not only my cloth diapers, but on my regular clothes as well. They smell great & are soft....WITHOUT all of the chemicals & brighteners that the main stream detergents have in them. Good for your family AND the environment. All ingredients used are naturally found in the earth, so nothing chemically about it!


4. Where can folks find you online?

Snowflake: Visit our Calender of Events at the top of the page for the location of our online craft show. You'll be able to shop with Honeybeeholistics and our other Etsy team members.

Tune in next week.....Same co-op time! Same co-op Blog!

9 comments:

  1. Thank you for sharing your DIY Project!! Love this one for sure!

    Joanna

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  2. I never thought of making this with an organic bar of soap. I will be trying it out for sure. I really like all of the soap I get from Melissa's shop. Great lotions and lip balm too.

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  3. LOL! You are such a hoot! Thanks so much for such an awesome interview! Both Joanne & Marsha always keep things up-beat and fun☺ I am so excited to be the features shop for the week! Look for more traffic & sales for sure! Love the whole idea of it all! I believe having a blog helps keep us on track and connected....Thought miles apart we are connected by heart! The love of crafting & creating!
    Visit my Etsy shop & take 15% off with the coupon code : SUNSHINEBLOG18 for 18% off!!! This is an exclusive discount available to blog readers, hopefully followers, for the duration of my feature week 3-19/3-25!
    Yours Truly,
    Melissa Carr
    Honey Bee Holistics

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    Replies
    1. Sorry for the confusion!! It is for 18% off with the SUNSHINEBLOG18 code!

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  4. Woo Hoo! A coupon just for our blog readers! Woot! Let's see how many take advantage of this special deal for this week only!

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  5. Love, love, love Melissa's products! Her lotions and lip balms are wonderful! Keep up the good work Melissa!

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  6. I'm heading back to your etsy shop (my cart already has lots of stuff in it) - but is the coupon SUNSHINEBLOG18 for 18% or 15%. This seems a bit unclear ...

    Melissa wrote:
    Visit my Etsy shop & take 15% off with the coupon code : SUNSHINEBLOG18 for 18% off!!! This is an exclusive discount available to blog readers, hopefully followers, for the duration of my feature week 3-19/3-25!

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  7. The discount is for 18% off. Each shop offers discounts so be sure to check out each one.

    Here are some for you to make it easier to shop with them.

    1. Jeanpatchbymk-bns10 for 10% off
    2. Vintage50streasures-art20 for 20% off
    3. Reflectionsofkayla-save10 for 10% off

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  8. We had a great week of sales and fun!!! Get ready for this weeks next spotlight featured member post! You'll want to join in the fun with this bunch too!!! Lots of great specials for our blog readers only!!

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