Li'l Sis Goat Milk Soap In the News

Great Passions

Karyn's two great passions - her goats and making soap of their milk

My Herd

Karyn lives with her husband and their animals, more than 20 goats, chickens, roosters and a dog, and 4 cats on a farm in Östergotland. Last week, she launched her new company, Li'l Sis Goat Milk Soap.

West African Dairy Goats

Karyn Stegenius in the stable with a tough little kid, a West African dairy goat. Karyn Stegenius who lives in Östergotland, produces soap from goat's milk from their own goats on the farm. The soaps are made of 100 percent natural ingredients and are gentle on irritated skin.

West African Dairy Goats

Karyn has about 20 West African dairy goats at the farm. She has carefully selected the race to find a breed whose milk is well suited to her soap making. The milk from these West African dairy goats are much fatter than milk from other breeds. It has a fat content of 35 percent compared to normal around 17 percent. In addition, milk from goats Karyn's very rich in vitamins and minerals.

Goat Milk

The high fat content along with more than 50 vitamins and minerals that make milk is very well suited to soap making.

Milking

The goats hand-milked twice a day and when it's time for milking, they one by one go up in a raised stand. It takes a long time to get the goats to being milked. I'm starting to train them about two months before it's time to start milking them. They may come up in the booth and get food and goodies there. In addition, the goats accustomed to touch their udders. I take my time when I get used to the new goats because I do not want them to become stressed and lose confidence in me.

Hard Work

Karyn has worked hard and long to establish and develop their business where it is today. She knew early on what she wanted, but it has taken a long time to get everything she wanted. Karyn has contacts all over the world that have contributed in different ways to her company. She has participated in courses on soap making in both the U.S. and the UK, her molds to soaps from Australia and a person in Canada has helped with her logo.

Skin Problems

The reason Karyn wanted to start producing its own soap is that she has long herself has had problems with the skin. She has eczema. She has tried a variety of treatments to relieve their skin problems without finding any treatment with long-lasting effect, but since she started using soaps made from goat's milk, her skin improved significantly. Karyn's soaps contain no chemical or artificial substances, they are 100 percent natural skin product.

Natural Soap

They soothes inflamed and irritated skin and Karyn emphasizes careful that they do not cure skin problems. It's not just the skin that thrives on the natural soaps but also our environment.

Eco-Friendly

Karyn is a very environmentally conscious person is careful to RECYCLE, REUSE & REDUCE as much as possible to avoid needlessly damaging our environment. Li'l Sis goat Milk Soap is an Eco-Friendly company.

Production

After milking, the milk freezes Karyn down into bite-sized portions, and when it's time to get started with the production, she takes up the milk and thaw it a little. Then she carefully measure the correct amount of lye and mix milk and lye. Then it's time to pour in the oil in the mixture. Karyn uses oil from various plants and herbs such as coconut oil, olive oil and essential oils of various flowers and fruits.

Production

    Karyn says that the soap manufacture requires a high degree of accuracy and precision. It is very important to measure all ingredients carefully to get the right proportions otherwise the whole production will be destroyed. The basic ingredients in soap making is fat and lye.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

"I would like to share my experiences with others" Karyn Stegenius started her own business late in life ENTREPRENEURSHIP. Karyn Stegenius, 59, knows what it means to be a woman, immigrant and self-employed. She calls for a greater commitment to immigrant women to start their own.

Lavender

She uses including lavender essential oil, which is a real challenge when it comes to getting the right color of that particular soap. When the mixture of milk, lye and oil is ready, it is poured into a mold where the mixture is allowed to rest and cure for two days and then poured into small boxes. The soap must mature for at least four weeks, preferably longer, before it is ready for use.

Production

     - It is important to guard carefully and keep clinically clean around them when dealing with soap manufacture. I have my own room where I make soaps and when I make my soaps, I bear a special coat, gloves and goggles to protect me against the caustic soda. For more information on soap making on Karyn's website or blog www.lilsisgoatmilksoap.com http://gullringstorpgoatsblog.wordpress.com Text and photo: PETRA BERGLIND

UPDATE!

We no longer have West African Dairy Goats at Gullringstorp. We have a new herd and a new milk source for Li'l Sis Friendly Goat Milk Soap. Please see "What's New at Li'l Sis Goat Milk Soap" page.