As I sit writing this newsletter, the air conditioners are all blasting full force as it is over 90 degrees outside. We’re enjoying the sunny weather and keeping hydrated as we work and play. This newsletter is on the long side, but since May’s newsletter was short, I suppose it all balances out.
Father’s Day
Father’s Day is coming up, so don’t forget to check out our nautical soap and shaving kits. You need to place your order by Monday 6/13 at midnight for us to ensure that your order arrives in time for Father’s Day.
Larger Lotion Sticks
Our lotion sticks are so popular that we’ve added a larger size. This large lotion stick holds a minimum of two ounces and is available in our most popular scents – OMH, Pink Sugar, and Unscented. The labels on them are the labels we use on the smaller sticks, so they say “min .5 oz.” but they actually hold 2 oz. These are the same stuff as the smaller sticks, just in a more economical size. We’ve put together a video on how to use the lotion sticks and lotion tubs. We hope you get a good laugh out of it while you also learn something
Jewelweed Soap
A reminder that we have a jewelweed soap that is great for poison ivy. Because we harvest our jewelweed annually and don’t buy it, once it is gone for the year, it’s gone. We’ll be making next year’s supply at the end of the summer. We just got a great testimonial about it that I thought I’d share:
“I live and work at an outdoor center in central Indiana, and am pretty allergic to poison ivy. In the past four years here, I have needed to go on steroids once a year to get rid of it (once it gets in your eyes and ears, there's just not much of a choice), though my preference is always to locate some nearby jewelweed to rub into it a few times a day. And let me tell you, I get poison ivy a lot.
Last weekend, I got a call to check on a fawn that was thought to perhaps be abandoned. Unsurprisingly, I had to make my way through A LOT of poison ivy to get close to the little one. Being my day off, I was a bit unprepared, and went through the stuff in a sundress and sandals...we're talking poison ivy brushing against my feet, legs, arms...it was everywhere.
As soon as I got home, I jumped in a cold shower with my jewelweed soap (and is it bad that I was a little excited to try it out?) and scrubbed away. I'm happy to report that not only did mom return for the fawn that afternoon, but I never saw a spot from the poison ivy! Couldn't believe how well it worked! I've cut a few pieces off my bar to carry in my first aid kit, keep in the office, etc.
I love your soaps in general and am absolutely thrilled with the jewelweed. Here's hoping I can stay away from the steroids this summer! :)”
Bath Bombs and Bath Fizzies
Due to the heat and humidity of summer, it is taking us twice as long to make bath bombs as it previously did. As a result, we’ve made some changes. We’re discontinuing the lemon verbena, cold relief, and purity in the bath bombs. These will still be available as a fizzy, but not as a bath bomb. We’ve also raised the prices on the bath bombs. Fortunately, we’ve been able to keep the bath fizzy price the same.
Bath bombs and bath fizzies are the exact same stuff. The bath bombs are just stuck together into a ball shape, while the fizzies are placed into a zip pouch. One fizzy is the equivalent of about four bath bombs, so the fizzies are now a better value for your money.
Liquid Soap
We are discontinuing the honeysuckle liquid soap and replacing it with rosemary mint. There are only a few honeysuckle liquid soaps left. They are being discounted to $8.
Chocolate Lotion Sticks
We still have several chocolate lotion sticks left from Valentine’s Day. They are discounted to $4 until they’re gone.
Fletcher
Fletcher’s video is now available and it is wonderful. It captures his personality very well. We hope you enjoy getting to know him better.
Distributor Program
Fall Festivals will be here before you know it. Just a reminder that if you’re a lover of all things Goat Milk Stuff, we have a Distributor Program available:
New Property
Many of you know that we are trying to purchase a new piece of property and have it rezoned. The City Council needs to vote “yes” three times for the rezoning to be approved. We have received two of our three “yes” votes. The last vote will be mid June. We’re praying hard for our third “yes” so we can move forward with purchasing this new property.
Our plan is to build the new soap room first. It will have more space, which will allow us to operate more efficiently and to make some of the new stuff that we’ve been planning.
Brett wanted me to include these two photos to show you the changes in our current soap room over the past two years. This photo was included in the June 2009 newsletter and shows the soap room shortly after it was finished:
This is that same space now:
As you can see, we’ve filled up every available inch. We’re looking forward to filling up the new facility too.
Homestead Happenings
The heat has hit hard here in Indiana. Colter and Emery shaved all the goats so they can handle the heat better. The goats from Idaho are definitely not used to this kind of heat this early in the year, so they really appreciated their summer buzz cut
In the front yard, the fruit trees and bushes are bursting with fruit. We’ve got peaches, apples, pears, cherries, elderberries, gooseberries, blueberries, and blackberries. Everyone is watching anxiously waiting for something to become ripe so they can be the first to pick them and eat them!
Newsletter Special
For the month of June, you can receive a free limited edition bar with a minimum purchase of $20. To receive the discount, use the code "berries" and please follow these steps:
1. If you are a new customer, register by clicking on the "Register / Login" link at the top of the website.
2. If you are an existing customer, log in to your account by clicking "Register / Login" at the top of the website. (Note: If it says "My Account" then you are already logged in.)
3. Go shopping and make sure you add a limited edition bar to your shopping cart.
4. If your subtotal is $20 or greater, go to the shopping cart page, and scroll to the bottom of the page. Under where it says "Clear Cart" "Update" and "Checkout" in orange ovals, it will say "Redeem a Coupon Code". In this box enter the code "berries" (do not use quotation marks).
5. This coupon expires midnight June 30th. It will not work after that date.
Troubleshooting:
If it does not say "Redeem a Coupon Code" then you are not registered and logged in. If it says "coupon invalid" then you did not add a limited edition bar, your subtotal is not $20 or greater, or you've already used the coupon code.
Please check these things before emailing or calling. If you've checked these and you still can't get the coupon to work, in the "notes" section of the shopping cart, please write something like, "I was unable to get the code "berries" to work and I would like cucumber melon for my free limited edition bar". (Make sure you have removed the cucumber melon from the cart so you are not charged for it.)
We thank you so much for all of your support of our family and our business. We thrive on hearing from happy customers who enjoy everything we make!
The Jonas Family
Jim, PJ, Brett, Colter, Emery, Fletcher, Greyden, Hewitt, Indigo, and Jade
