All of our soaps and other skin care products are produced in small batches right here at South of Sanity Farms. We take pride in finding the best organic oils and butters, natural herbs, and pure essential oils to mix with our own raw goat milk that we hand milk every day to make a wonderful, chemical free product that we believe in and stand behind. We don’t, however, use goat milk in our body butters, salves, and lip balms. Doing so would require the use of a preservative which would go against our goal of living a more chemical free life. Our goat milk soaps and skin care products are a substantial part of our farm, but our goals, reasoning, and inspirations go much deeper. First, as a landscaper, I am around chemicals all day long. While I am conscientious and use very little chemicals, I have no control how other companies use them. We are all breathing these particles in every day. There are many people on both sides of the issue that make their claim that there is definitive proof that these chemicals either do or do not cause harm to the environment or human body. I am under the opinion that they do and so our family makes a conscious effort to minimize our exposure. The second reason for our farm is to live a more self-sustaining lifestyle. There are actually two parts to this. The first being that we are living in an advancing technological world. What this means is that my generation and the generations to follow are not going to be able to do, or even be aware of many valuable skills that I consider to already be a lost art. Things like crocheting, growing your own food, building and using a smokehouse, or even an uninterrupted family dinner. Don’t misunderstand me. Our world offers some great new inventions that can make life easier. I have my smart phone linked to my Wi-Fi as I type this on a laptop. As my wife would say, “There’s a balance”. The other reason being the expensive cost of healthy, non-processed food and a rising cost of living. As things like insurance rates and gas prices go up, along with kids braces and supporting what they show interest in, top that off with a mortgage and home repairs. It’s no wonder that most families feel the need for two full time incomes. Living a more self-sustaining lifestyle greatly lowers this cost of living. Here at South of Sanity Farms, besides making soaps and skin care products, we raise chickens for eggs, goats for milk to drink and make butter and cheese, raise small breed heritage hogs, and grow as much of our fruits and vegetables as our land allows. Our list of future endeavors is still pretty long. Not only does this reduce our expenses but they also give our family countless opportunities to grow closer as we work together. This leads into the third and most important reason for our farm. It’s a ministry for families. We have been blessed in many ways and want to share these gifts with everyone. As the beginning of our mission statement says, ”Our mission is to help families grow closer to each other and to God…”, that’s our main focus. Based on my own experience I know the challenges that families face. I remember being driven more by the success in my job than unity in my family. I remember working long hours and giving my family whatever I had left instead of serving them first. I know what it’s like to be a failure, but now I know what it’s like to be a father. I know what it’s like to be a husband. Life may be hard, but it’s simple. If you serve God first, everything else will fall into place. Here at South of Sanity Farms we serve each other and reach out to serve whoever God places in our lives by sharing our gifts. This is how we live out the calling from 1 Peter 4:10 which says,” As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace”.
