In a bid to reduce the huge amount of plastics in the world and as a bit of a home science project, some 13 community members joined Friends of the Farm on Saturday 18 November to learn how to make eco body products. The workshop aimed to show participants how to make deodorant, lip balm and toothpaste, using mostly household ingredients. By making our own products, we'd be reducing the need for packaged products in our homes and could add our personal touch to what we were making.
As we got started melting beeswax and coconut oil and mixing everything together, workshop participants had a chance to get to know each other and talk about other ways they could be waste wise. The first product we tried was the lip balm. We poured the mixture into silicon moulds and put them in the fridge so we ended up with lots of 'lollipops' of lip balm.
Next we made deodorant, starting with the same beeswax and coconut oil base and adding arrowroot powder, baking soda and a selection of flavours. Vanilla and rose geranium were on offer at the workshop, and many more flavours could be added at home.
The final product we tackled was the toothpaste. It was definitely not like your shop bought toothpaste but fabulous none-the-less. This was the easiest to make, using only coconut oil, baking soda and peppermint flavour.
All in all, the workshop and experiments were very successful. Everyone came away with new ideas and skills. New friends were made and lots of fun had by all. And the barn kitchen had a pleasant lingering odour of rose geranium, mixed with a pinch of peppermint and vanilla, and just a smidge of coffee and brownies (morning tea!).
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