We’re introducing several new soaps handcrafted for us by Lisa Dzimianski. Here’s the story of how she learned her skill.

In 1999 our family bought registered dairy goats in order to have our own milk source. The goats we fell in love with were an all-white breed of dairy goat called Saanens. They  just happened to be registered animals, so that fall (since we had learned how to show goats in 4-H) we decided to take our animals to the dairy goat show at a nearby fair.

At the end of the day, we came home with First Place ribbons in every showmanship class we had entered, and a Reserve Grand Champion ribbon in the conformation classes. With our success that day, the goat-showing bug bit. Over the next several years, we traveled all over the Southeast, showing our dairy goats at different fairs.  We also competed a couple of times at the national level in both youth events and goat conformation classes.

When I was about sixteen, I wanted to find a way to make a little extra money doing something besides babysitting. That fall at a fair in Florida, I saw some of our friends who made and sold goat milk soap, and realized that was one way I could use the resources we had (goat milk) to make some income. I began studying the ins and outs of soap making (thanks to my sister, who had already purchased books on the subject and then decided not to pursue it), but it took me a couple of years before I actually got up the courage to try making soap. I also hesitated because I had to dish out money for the starting ingredients and equipment, plus find the ingredients I needed!

Finally, in 2008, I made my first batch of soap. It was different than the soap we were used to using (and my family made jokes about it being really slippery), but it was really moisturizing. That summer I made a few more batches for our family and got a little more comfortable with the process. The next year I began expanding my line up, perfecting my recipes, named my business, and learned more efficient methods of making soap. I also sold my first bars of soap that year.

Saanen goats grazing at Pony Trail Farm

The following year I began selling soap at a small local farmers market, and in 2012 I began selling goat milk soap at the Athens Farmers Market, the biggest market in our area. Since that time I have seen business growth and have found loyal customers who always come back to my products. I am grateful for the new opportunity this year to begin working with Steph (whom I’ve known nearly my whole life), Steve, and the rest of the Beeyoutiful team by producing goat milk soap for them.

One of my favorite things about soap making is the ability to control what goes into the soap (which eventually goes into the skin). I enjoy researching the benefits of different ingredients and how they affect the skin. I keep you, the consumer, in mind as I make my soaps; my goal is that you will find them to be products that meet your skin care needs!

See all of our bar soaps, including Lisa’s Summer Days and Clearly Gentle, here.