Since Ohio completely skipped spring and went from winter to summer, it's almost time to start my garden! Last year, we had four large gardens. This year, we are only planting two gardens because the weeding is a little out of control. We only want non-GMO, organic plants, so we don't use chemicals. This will still give us enough food to preserve for the winter, but we won't be selling any this year. Trust me when I say that we get dirty working in the garden. The weeds can stain my skin, and the dirt seems to embed in my skin. I just made a few bars of my gardener's soap to help keep my hands clean. I carefully selected each ingredient in this recipe, and it's easy to make. I also love that I could use my leftover coffee grounds so they didn't end up in the trash!
Before we get to the recipe, I have a confession. Keep in mind that I've been making melt and pour soap recipes for about 10 years. I'm not a newbie to melt and pour.
I totally screwed up my first batch. I was out of suspension base, and I didn't want the coffee to melt in my base, so I let it sit to cool. I kinda let it cool way too long. This soap was originally going to have a scrubby side and a smoother side for dual purpose, but I had to remake it, so I combined it all the second time. So you'll see some variation in the photos because of this. Mistakes happen.
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Gardener's Soap Recipe
What You Need
- 8 ounces melt and pour soap
- 1 tablespoon cornmeal
- .5 tablespoon coffee grounds (I let mine dry out for a day)
- .5 tablespoons bentonite clay
- .5 tablespoons distilled water
- .5 tablespoons shea butter
- 1 teaspoon orange essential oil or lemon essential oil (I used lemon because I am allergic to orange EO. Orange would help cut grease better though)
- Pyrex measuring cup
- Soap mold
Directions
- Cut the melt and pour into chunks and melt in a Pyrex bowl. Set aside to cool slightly.
- If you want a scrubby side to the soap, add the cornmeal to the bottom of the soap mold. Otherwise, you'll add it to the soap later.
- Mix the bentonite clay with the distilled water to make a paste. It won't mix with the soap if you skip this step.
- When the soap has form a scum on the top, it's time to add the shea butter and clay.
- Next add the coffee grounds and cornmeal if you didn't line the mold with it.
- Add your essential oil if you are using it.
- Pour or spoon the soap in to the mold.
After it cools off and hardens, you'll have this beautiful bar of gardener's soap! Who knew used coffee grounds could turn into something so useful.
