Each bar has a featured ingredient that is intentionally sourced from San Juan Island. I tend, harvest, and distill the lavender from private acreage that I lease from an island family. I harvest (legally, with license!), dry, and mill bladderwrack seaweed from among the many tidepools on the West Side. When I’m at the brewery for a chicken sandwich and pint, I’ll get an extra growler or two of their nitro stout. I buy fresh goat milk from a small family farm that raises goats, pigs, sheep and chickens. About a decade ago I got into beekeeping. I bought my bee packages from Brady, and he also shared his generous knowledge with me and many other island beekeepers. Now I buy my bulk sea salt from him, and admire his business model and local salt empire. As for the oils, butters, lye, micas, and essential oils, I look for vendors who are also mindful of being good humans to other humans, and to our one and only planet.

Other soapmakers avoid palm oil because the palm industry has earned a reputation as being really bad for the environment. It is true that until recently, their scorecard has been egregious and indefensible. I have given this A LOT of thought; I’ve gone back and forth, formulating recipes with and without palm oil. Soapmakers produce excellent bars with both using palm oil, and leaving it out. After doing some research, I have made a conscious choice to continue to include it in my recipes. Here is why:

a.) Palm oil has the highest yield per acre of plant oils; 

b.) Increasing demand from palm to alternative oils only shifts to other crops the impact to habitats, biodiversity and the environment;

c.) As the palm industry’s bad rap has gained attention, so has the demand increased for them to clean up their act. I believe that being a part of that demand, by buying only certified sustainably sourced oil, it compels existing plantations to abide by responsible farming practices, maintains and improves livelihoods for the workers and communities that are integral to their industry, and encourages restoration of damaged ecosystems. I believe that because palm oil has such a high yield, and combined with more demand for responsible oversight, the potential for positive improvements to the environment and social well-being are very encouraging. You can learn more at WWF.org and RSPO.org

d.) As a soapmaker, I think palm oil offers unique and beneficial qualities to soap in both feel and function. Palm oil contributes to a firmer and longer lasting bar, creates a creamy and moisturizing lather, and maintains a longer shelf life.

As I get my line going, I would like to place it in some of the Friday Harbor shops. Stay tuned!