 We're excited to be a part of FOUR markets this season! We'll be participating in the Granville Farmer's Market, Newark's Canal Market District, the Gahanna Farmer's Market, and the New Albany market. Farmers Markets in the state of Ohio are classified as an essential business. Even so, each market is adjusting its operating procedures to cooperate with safety recommendations. Please be flexible and patient as you attend the local markets. We appreciate your willingness to support local small businesses at these weekly markets.
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 Last month we discussed the differences between soap and detergent. We received some questions from some of you about our soap, so we thought we'd talk a bit about the chemistry of soap and why soap is so effective. We shared a video on our website about this that you can watch here. We should start by saying that when we speak of soap, we are not just talking about our brand, but true soap in general. The soap molecule is unique in its structure.  Here's a simplified graphic of a soap molecule. It has two ends -- one end is a negatively charged head which attracts water. The other end is a hydrocarbon chain (or tail) which attracts fats or impurities.  The coronavirus has a protective layer of protein and fat. The tail of the soap molecule is attracted to the fat, while the head of the soap molecule is attracted to water. The soap connects the water molecules with the fat molecules and causes the fat molecules to break apart.  The soap bonds the impurities with the water, and it is all safely rinsed down the drain when we wash our hands. Detergents work in the same way. Soap kills bacteria or viruses by breaking apart its structure. The soap does not have to have an "anti-bacterial" additive to do this -- in fact, anti-bacterial soaps have not been shown to be any more effective than regular soap, according to the FDA. Be sure to use the soap with warm water, and wash your hands for at least 20 seconds to give it time to work. This applies to any soap, not just Martha's soap. So now you know how soap destroys Covid-19!
 All changes in our lives -- whether good or bad -- bring on stress, and boy, have we had some changes lately! Add in the uncertainty of the economy, job loss, feelings of isolation, scarcity of supplies (those paper products!), and concern for loved ones, and it makes a perfect storm for anxiety and fear. We are purposefully making an effort to stay positive during this time. One issue we are dealing with in respect to our small business is that many of our suppliers are out of stock on some items we will need -- like lotion bottles, for example. We don't know if the supplies we have on hand will last until we can restock. Also, the retail locations where our products are sold are temporarily closed. However, we are so grateful that we have a website so customers can order online. Here's how we are handling the stress.  1. Getting Projects Done Around the HouseThere's a lot we can't do right now, so we are finding things we can do. Outdoor projects like cleaning out brush, trimming trees, and prepping flower beds are on our list, along with indoor projects like decluttering and organizing. We are also using this opportunity to better prepare for the summer farmers markets and make soap for the fall/Christmas season.  2. NOT Constantly Checking News and Social MediaWe've heard it said that the news was meant to be checked, not watched. We find that we can stay informed by checking the news in the morning and in the evening. A steady diet of doom and gloom, blame and anger, and heartbreaking stories is not healthy for our family. Here's some things we do instead.
 3. Looking for the GoodIn the evening, we will often name three things we're grateful for about our day before we go to bed. It can be something as simple as a conversation with a friend or a cup of hot cocoa. There's a lot of bad out there, but there's also a lot of good -- friends sewing masks for those who need them, neighbors supporting local small businesses, folks buying groceries for those who can't venture out, and the overall sense of community care and support.  4. Giving Ourselves Grace and SpaceEven though we may have more time, we may not have the brain-space to focus on tasks. We will have some off-days, and we are okay with that. Sometimes our souls have to do nothing. Sometimes we have potato chips and cold cereal for dinner. Sometimes we fall away from our schedules and routines. That's okay. We can get back to it. Also, having "alone time" has been something our family has done for a while. I can love someone but still need time to myself. A few moments of locking myself in my bedroom with a secret stash of chocolate can work wonders!  5. Staying GroundedIt's easy for us to get distracted and distraught by all of the craziness in this world. We try to be intentional about feeding our spirits and taking time for prayer and reflection. A Huge Thank You We are especially thankful for each of you that have placed online orders with us this last month. We so very much appreciate the support you've given our business during this uncertain time. We also want to remember those who are working tirelessly in essential areas -- the medical field, retail markets, the supply chain/transportation, and public safety. Thank you for taking care of us!   What a difference a month makes! It's safe to say that our lives look differently now than they did just a few short weeks ago. We hope you are all safe and well. Last month when we chatted about soap, we had no idea that the coronavirus, soap, and hand-washing would gain so much attention. So we thought we'd continue the conversation and extend our soap promo code another month, since that's one way our business can give value to our community. (The code is TRUESOAP25 for 25% off all soaps.)  You can find our foaming soap selection here, our bar soap selection here, and our body wash & shampoo selection here.  |
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March 2021
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