tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post8952913742017319653..comments2024-03-29T21:11:37.724+10:00Comments on down to earth: Homemade gifts - luffas and soapUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-8070986040364872132008-10-03T11:37:00.000+10:002008-10-03T11:37:00.000+10:00Hi Rhonda, I was inspired by this post a while bac...Hi Rhonda, <BR/><BR/>I was inspired by this post a while back and panted luffas this past Spring. I live in Michigan and they do grow here! <BR/>I'll be picking, peeling and drying them this week! <BR/><BR/>Thanks for all the good info!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-56661870653588745662008-02-18T09:02:00.000+10:002008-02-18T09:02:00.000+10:00Your soap recipe looks lovely. do you have an onli...Your soap recipe looks lovely. do you have an online catalog or price list? i would love to have it. I'm collecting <A HREF="http://www.maplelane.org/" REL="nofollow"><B>soap recipes</B></A> here. thanks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-79249833396282157952007-12-19T05:23:00.000+10:002007-12-19T05:23:00.000+10:00wow - that is so cool! I never realized where a l...wow - that is so cool! I never realized where a loofah comes from.She-Rahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13005169910588857005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-59496308212811157762007-12-19T00:35:00.000+10:002007-12-19T00:35:00.000+10:00Thank you for sharing about the loofa's, how inter...Thank you for sharing about the loofa's, how interestingmonARThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18325496703859751856noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-833612967483755532007-12-19T00:22:00.000+10:002007-12-19T00:22:00.000+10:00oohh now I'm reading about your e- book. That's a ...oohh now I'm reading about your e- book. That's a great idea :-)Lucyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07993337841578012623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-50555816012593348552007-12-19T00:20:00.000+10:002007-12-19T00:20:00.000+10:00I have to give it a try to make home made soap one...I have to give it a try to make home made soap one day! Do you have intructions for it on your blog?Lucyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07993337841578012623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-42296886312761000932007-12-17T10:47:00.000+10:002007-12-17T10:47:00.000+10:00Could I be a pest and ask for a link in Aus for lo...Could I be a pest and ask for a link in Aus for loofa seeds please :)<BR/>I think it would be great fun to grow them and they make a wonderful gift.Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16907021712935423492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-41998390238802915942007-12-17T06:59:00.000+10:002007-12-17T06:59:00.000+10:00Thanks Rhonda-:0) I am looking forward to your e-...Thanks Rhonda-:0) I am looking forward to your e-book!! Have a great day!Sharonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03314290576757837045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-78846715544057148022007-12-17T06:21:00.000+10:002007-12-17T06:21:00.000+10:00Oh my goodness, I had no idea you could grow your ...Oh my goodness, I had no idea you could grow your own luffas...I guess that's coming from England and knowing there's no way you could grow a luffa here, with all the rain we get!!<BR/>What a lovely and thoughtful gift.<BR/><BR/>JaneAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-41019635205186873212007-12-17T06:16:00.000+10:002007-12-17T06:16:00.000+10:00HI Sharon. : ) Yes, you can add any fragrant or ...HI Sharon. : ) Yes, you can add any fragrant or medicinal oil. Do that at trace, and mix it in well.Rhonda Jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00175785349529109084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-12025975628989762582007-12-17T05:05:00.000+10:002007-12-17T05:05:00.000+10:00Rhonda, Thank-you for the way to get loofa seeds-I...Rhonda, Thank-you for the way to get loofa seeds-I have been looking for them. Can you make an olive oil soap using a bit of tea tree oil in it? I use tea tree oil for cuts and scrapes and all sorts of things.Sharonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03314290576757837045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-29835766863082857322007-12-17T04:49:00.000+10:002007-12-17T04:49:00.000+10:00thanks everyone. : )Dot, If they were to grow dow...thanks everyone. : )<BR/><BR/>Dot, If they were to grow down there, you'd have to have the seedlings ready to go in October or early November and plant in a protected area where they got maximum heat.<BR/><BR/>I'm in zone 4, so if you are also, or if you're in zone 5 or 6, luffas will grow in your area. I'd also try them in zone 3.<BR/><BR/>If you're in USA, you can buy seeds here: http://www.localharvest.org/store/item.jsp?id=3379<BR/><BR/>UK, Scandanavian and European readers:<BR/>http://www.seedfest.co.uk/seeds/luffa/luffa.html<BR/><BR/>My soap making tutorial is here:<BR/>http://down---to---earth.blogspot.com/2007/07/how-to-make-cold-pressed-soap.html<BR/><BR/>Good luck with the growing and soap making!Rhonda Jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00175785349529109084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-66551971508390967232007-12-17T03:56:00.000+10:002007-12-17T03:56:00.000+10:00RJ, those luffas look great! Do you make your own ...RJ, those luffas look great! Do you make your own soap? If you do, have you ever posted a soap tutorial, and could you drop a link here? ;)<BR/><BR/>It's not urgent, though. Holiday seasons here in Israel are different. :) <BR/><BR/>I hope you're having a joyful and pleasant holiday season!Mrs. Anna Thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15377583333000789903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-7277070002213060162007-12-17T01:28:00.000+10:002007-12-17T01:28:00.000+10:00So, you grow the luffa in your garden, then harves...So, you grow the luffa in your garden, then harvest them? I see seeds-is this what you plant? How do I get some? How do you know when to harvest them?<BR/>So many questions-but this is fascinating!!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-88079306451176633092007-12-17T01:11:00.000+10:002007-12-17T01:11:00.000+10:00I too make handmade soap and find it to be a wonde...I too make handmade soap and find it to be a wonderful gift to give.<BR/>I didn't know that you could grow luffas... I wonder if I could grow them here in southern California?<BR/>I am going to look into that!<BR/><BR/>As usual a wonderful post!<BR/><BR/>Have a wonderful day!Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17422774455264292510noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-14548064592439427942007-12-16T23:08:00.000+10:002007-12-16T23:08:00.000+10:00I've never seen real loofas grown and prepared bef...I've never seen real loofas grown and prepared before, how interesting and what a useful crop!<BR/>I love my homemade soap as well it's wonderful.Nikihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05943301163903634325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-86853250833344193462007-12-16T22:21:00.000+10:002007-12-16T22:21:00.000+10:00I never knew that is what luffas were. How inform...I never knew that is what luffas were. How informative. Thanks!<BR/>Your soap is very pretty too.<BR/>Becky K.Becky K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/10531485758141842829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-7713325255065293892007-12-16T19:14:00.000+10:002007-12-16T19:14:00.000+10:00Saw your bit re homemade olive oil soap - looked b...Saw your bit re homemade olive oil soap - looked back through your blog a ways and couldnt find directions as to how to make it.<BR/><BR/>Could you point me in the right direction please?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-82835354610301223642007-12-16T17:21:00.000+10:002007-12-16T17:21:00.000+10:00This is an amazing post. I've never seen a luffa i...This is an amazing post. I've never seen a luffa in its original state. Beautiful gifts. Oh, Rhonda it would be wonderful if you started a camp to teach all these wonderful techniques. This would be much more fun than laying around in a fancy resort. You are so inspiring. Thanks.I Am: Anna Lovely Dayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00234975371534880616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-43362242826570260852007-12-16T14:43:00.000+10:002007-12-16T14:43:00.000+10:00you're very industrious! you always have ways of m...you're very industrious! you always have ways of making things out of scratch..Hailey's Beats and Bitshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13406072210991647906noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-12362273930018376212007-12-16T14:31:00.000+10:002007-12-16T14:31:00.000+10:00Wow! What an interesting post!Wow! What an interesting post!Angie @ Many Little Blessingshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13846708503551936348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-76207927979691542292007-12-16T13:25:00.000+10:002007-12-16T13:25:00.000+10:00Do you think luffa's would grow in Victoria?I look...Do you think luffa's would grow in Victoria?<BR/><BR/>I look forward to your ebook becoming available. I find you inspirational Rhonda. :o)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-43594823626389886632007-12-16T11:41:00.000+10:002007-12-16T11:41:00.000+10:00Thanks for all your great comments. I really love...Thanks for all your great comments. I really love reading them. Lyn, I will answer your question in my post tomorrow.<BR/><BR/>Here is the recipe used for the soap in the photo:<BR/>Olive Oil - 460 grams<BR/>Rice Bran Oil - 600 grams<BR/>Coconut Oil - 440 grams<BR/>Rain water - 570 mls<BR/>Lye (caustic soda) - 230 grams<BR/>Essential or fragrant oil (optional)<BR/><BR/>I also make this one:<BR/>Olive Oil - 900 grams<BR/>Coconut Oil - 600 grams<BR/>Rain water - 570 mls<BR/>Lye (caustic soda) - 230 grams<BR/>Essential or fragrant oil (optional) Mixing the other oils with the olive oil gives you a soap that lathers better.<BR/><BR/>I am almost finished my first ebook and hope to have it ready for sale the week after Christmas. It will cost $10 Australian (approx $8.60 US, $8.75 Canadian, 4.25 UK pounds or 6 Euros. It contains an easy to print out soap making tutorial and bread making tutorial, plus a lot more. Sorry for the advert, everyone but I thought it was relevant.Rhonda Jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00175785349529109084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-83394343658002152022007-12-16T11:15:00.000+10:002007-12-16T11:15:00.000+10:00I had no idea you could actually eat Loofahs. The ...I had no idea you could actually eat Loofahs. The things one learns! Thanks!<BR/>http://creativeportal.spaces.live.comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-59747986997152938202007-12-16T10:52:00.000+10:002007-12-16T10:52:00.000+10:00we did that once as kids. So neat! I think I am g...we did that once as kids. So neat! I think I am going to try and attempt growning some this summer (I'm in the USA)<BR/>I too am curious about the soap. That is one thing I've never tried making!mama khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05070909433011566246noreply@blogger.com