Happy Halloween!

Happy halloween to everyone!

Apologies I have nearly disappeared - this blog will be changing soon, going back to what it was once supposed to be about: soap!

See you again soon!

Tomato blahs

So, yesterday wasn't as stellar as one might have hoped, given the hurricane weather all weekend and whatnot. But the day was saved by the bottle of Black Dirt Red enjoyed on site at Warwick Valley Winery & Distillery. Delicious for a New York wine, really. Made entirely with Baco Noir grapes, very fruity for a red.

Reminds me of that time I tried to make soap with wine. And beer. And all those other things I thought would be "interesting"! Do you have those memories too? How did yours come out? For me, I'll stick to the occasional experiment. I do not, however, miss losing sleep over whether or not my soap was creeping out of its mold from overheating!

Rogowski Farms Tomato Fest '09!

We'll be in Pine Island, NY, this Sunday for this year's Tomato Fest! If you've been in the area markets at all, you know the blight has taken out one too many tomatoes this season, and I'm looking forward to delicious heirloom tomatoes this weekend. Yum.

We'll be vending our full line, including some of our new kids items! If you need something to do Sunday, take a trip up Rt. 23!

Mini Hiatus to end soon!

Just a quick blurb to say I'm almost on my way back to Jersey. I've been in Grapevine, Texas, since the 2nd officiating for the United States Fencing Association - it's been a lot of work! And non-stop, too.

I will be glad to be home next week, although I hear my sister has been doing a great job at the farmers' market! We will be back in Chatham on the 27th - come see us then!

It's June, Right?

Because it has been cold and pouring here. Wasn't weather supposed to be like this two months ago? And it should be sunny and warm by now?

This rain has been relentless. I am not looking forward to putting up the sides of the tent this weekend - BUT - I am totally looking forward to our first weekend in Chatham! Next Saturday!

Hopefully the rain will be long gone by then.

And happy father's day to the dads out there! My dad is celebrating his birthday tomorrow, and we will be grilling come dinnertime - rain or shine!

Time for a bath!

Hello's Herbal Bath Soak is back with a vengeance and delicious blends of essential oils. New this summer? Bergamot Ylang. Light, summery, bright and flowery. I do love it!

The website is still undergoing maintenance, but just trying to keep you guys on your toes! :)

Follower Love

Yeah! Some love for my followers! My sister and I randomly drew someone's name and this week's winner is Kim from the Cooler by the Sea blog!

Thanks for reading, Kim - get in touch for your special gift, it is a bit of a grab bag, but I am certain you will enjoy it!
Please get in touch with your mailing information! Thanks :)

What's going on, Peppermint?

Prices in the US have spiked since earlier this year - I haven't a real clue why. I have kept my eyes peeled for information, to no avail. I have heard that more uncommon areas of the world are taking up peppermint farming - and that is spreading further and wider in India. In my quest for information, I found an interesting article at New Tang Dynasty which presents peppermint farming as a new and lucrative option for Indian farmers. The article goes on to quote one of the farmers, who talks about selling his peppermint oil at market for 535 rupees per kilo - that's roughly $5USD per pound! Of course, after importing and all costs added, it would still be much more than that once in the US. But it seems like a viable option.

I know I am paying much more than that right now, but I am still buying and using American. How do you guys feel about Indian Peppermint? Do you have a preference? Or maybe you have inside information that I'm missing out on! Let me know!