Vermont Soap
And this month’s ingredient of the month is…pthalates! Pthalates, (pronounced thalates) is a large family of molecules used in a variety of industries. Pthalates are used to flavor cheap whiskey, and they are what makes plastics flexible. The rule of thumb is; the more clear and flexible the plastic, the more pthalates it contains. So stretch wrap and clear water bottles contain a lot of the stuff. PET #1 plastic, which is considered safe for food, drugs and cosmetics, (and the ubiquitous water bottles) is also full of the stuff. Pthalates were not a part of our collective chemical exposure…
The Role of Saponified Systems as a Substitute for Ethoxylated and Sulfonated Surfactants and the Assembling of Safe and Sustainable Molecules in the Green Formulator’s Kit “Above all else, do no harm”, wrote Hippocrates 2400 years ago. This, more than anything else, defines Green Chemistry principals. Creating safe and nontoxic formulations is no longer the goal; it is now the starting point in formulating for a sustainable future. Our globalized society brings complex cultural overlays to the sourcing of chemical raw materials. While biologists and chemists are aware that molecules are endlessly recycled and reused in nature; most of the…
In this column we will continue to explore Green Chemistry and how it impacts the transition to a more sustainable society. This month’s focus is on antimicrobial chemicals. The word “antimicrobial” is regulated by the FDA. They control the meaning of most of the “anti” words out there: antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory etc. The legal definition of anti-microbial is called the “30 second kill rate”. This means that 99.99% (they aren’t allowed to say 100%) of all critters: fungus, bacteria, mold and virus must be dead within 30 seconds. This is a lot to ask for from a product. There are…
Welcome to another addition of our mini course in Green Chemistry. I cannot guarantee that paying attention to the synthetic chemicals around you will give you a longer or healthier life. I can however guarantee that if you do NOT pay attention to the molecules, you might really mess yourself up. Guess what? YOU are the guinea pig! The mix of synthetic chemicals in your body and your body’s reaction to them – right now – is unique upon the planet. If we think of ourselves as test tubes, the make up and mix of each one will be unique.…
Welcome to a new feature of VermontSoap.com; The Ingredient of the Month. In this space we will explore the relationship between natural and artificial ingredients that are ubiquitous in our modern lifestyles and their relationship to the biological systems that are we are an integrated part of. Organic Chemistry does not have to be a mysterious and arcane field. You shouldn’t need a PhD to read your toothpaste label. Large companies have a stake in our collective ignorance. The less we know, the more cheap crap they can sell us! Stay tuned to this column and you will begin to…
Potash is the byproduct of running water through ashes, and an essential ingredient in village soapmaking. For an in-depth article on making potash – click here.
This post was written from Tamale, Northern Region, Ghana. We are now into our third week in Ghana. Sandy has run around Tamale getting the forms to make the Nasia Women’s Cooperative official. They gave her the forms, but then she had to go somewhere else to get them copied. Fees are paid everywhere. Then a long hours drive to meet with the inspector. He claims we must pay for his gas, time, and processing fee, so he will come to meet with the women and explain the requirements (this turns out to be completely false, he is hitting us…
Sponsored by USAID Farmserve Program and OIC International Larry Plesent – Volunteer This solar shea nut drier, or drying tunnel, is based on the original work pioneered by Dr. Peter Lovett PhD., of Tamale, Ghana. Dr. Lovett is the world’s foremost technical expert on shea trees and shea butter, and I am grateful for his help and support on this project. Special thanks to USAID (your tax dollars at work) for contributing to our mission, and to OIC International, the local NGO that took care of us in Ghana. Many thanks go out to WATH; the West African Trade Hub…
This post was written from Tamale, Northern Region, Ghana. We arrived in Accra, Ghana one week ago via Amsterdam. Sandy, my life partner, Harry, my 18 year old nephew, Bob, a new friend and USDA Organic Inspector, and myself had managed to schedule three nights in this lovely city. There is something to be said about zoning building heights; the 7th story of our hotel had a magnificent view of the rooftops of the city. The city is set out in a roughly circular arrangement, and a healthy person can walk the diameter in three hours or less. We saw…
Note: This unit can also be used to purify drinking water Overview Essential oils are the aromatic oil based compounds produced by many common herbs, flowers and trees. EOs exhibit well documented anti fungal and anti microbial properties. They add value and help to preserve cosmetic products and soaps, and can aid in the daily battle against skin fungus in developing regions. The under $100USD EO distillation unit grew out of a USAID funded Farmer to Farmer assignment. Our mission was to increase the quality and marketability of locally produced Alata soap, made in villages through out West Africa. Locally…
