Stella Soaps! – Jewelweed soap’s meow!
Our yard is yet to be exterminated of poison ivy. Why? I’d rather treat it with organic means. I’ve done plenty of reading on how high percentage vinegar does the trick. I’ve tried it! Works great in the full sun, otherwise you don’t hurt the plant AND expose yourself further to it. That’s a problem for folks like me who have been allergic to it since a kid. My husband did a bunch of work on it until now he’s able to get it too. I’m currently looking into a “rent-a-goat” program. Under rules of my subdivision, livestock are not allowed. Think I could get them to approve a couple of hours? Perhaps it’s worth a try! 😀
As I was reading the Big Green Purse, I noticed that one of her observations for Global warming was more prevalent poison ivy vines (p 12). Now that’s a very curious statement of which I’d really like to know more about. USA Today reported this last year. I know that Georgia and several other states have recently (2006) had their garden/climate zones changed. We used to be Zone 7b here and that’s been moved to Zone 8. Not sure if that is related to poison ivy or not but it’s related to the climate change without a doubt. If anyone reading this post has further information about this, by all means post a comment!
Now that my husband and I are both susceptible to the dreaded stuff, there is now a HUGE need for preventatives if either of us works in the yard near it. It’s taken 6 weeks of heavy drugs to put the rash as bay on my body this summer. In attempt to help my family and support independent soap makers, I found Stella Soaps on the web and promptly ordered both a bar of jewelweed soap and jewelweed salve in the heat of the summer! (and the heat of the rash…) I don’t get why jewelweed does not grow in my yard or why it wouldn’t flourish with the rising CO2 levels as well. I’ve read that the two of them usually grow side by side in nature. Guess I’ll be in the market for some jewelweed seeds next spring season.
I’m fairly certain that the heavy drugs I took were the eventual cure for the rash; however, the soap and salve were very calming. Mari at Stella soaps sent handwritten notes with my order to provide tips on storing the salve and how to use the soap to help sooth the itch from the rash. The soap had the same crinkle cut edge as I use with my own soaps, it had a very nice lather, and the lavender smell was very relaxing. Thanks Mari! Your soap was fabulous!