On a stormy July afternoon, the Uplands hosted a community soap making class with Amanda Conkling of Olive Greene Naturals. Participants arrived under threatening skies, taking shelter in the art room overlooking the rock garden. Circling up around a set of tables, the guests were introduced to one another and got ready to start mixing.

Because making soap from scratch requires careful use of lye, a chemical that if not used properly can cause skin burns, Amanda brought along a premade goat milk soap base. The class was focused on “the artistic side of soap making”; adding essential oils, dyes, flowers and other goodies into the melted soap and then pouring into molds. The guests customized each soap with ingredients such as poppy seeds, oats, and dried flowers; many of which were sourced from Catskills farms and vendors. Delicious smells wafted out from the art room and down the halls from the unfolding alchemy as the soap makers stirred, swirled, sprinkled, and poured their masterpieces.

The big reveals were saved for the next morning at the participants’ homes, as the soap needed time to harden overnight before removing from their molds. A lovely array of smells, colors, and textures were represented in the finished products. 

Thank you, Amanda from Olive Greene Naturals for your guidance and expertise!