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24
Jun 15

Alabu In The News

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 Alabu is in the news again.  Out of the blue we got a call from a reporter; Vince Gallagher. He asked to do an interview about our company for the local newspaper “The Express Newspaper“. So we set a date and he came to visit and check us out.

Vince was surprised to hear that we have been doing this since 2000 and he had never heard of us before. But In this day and age of technology it is very easy for a small internet company like us to go unnoticed by the local community. Vince is really easy to talk to, we had an informative chat and he wrote a really nice article about us. Thank you Vince for the great story.

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30
May 15

View From My Window-Ticked Off

4.Black legged tickI’m getting ticked off! But I’m not mad, I’m trying to tick proof or at least reduce our exposure to them. With Spring everything is waking up; including ticks. I grew up in an area with dog ticks and it didn’t bother me. But now there are tiny black legged ticks ( also know as deer ticks) that can transmit diseases like Lyme disease and anaplasmosis. Black legged ticks are prolific here is the northeast, especially the Hudson Valley region where we live. Researchers says about 40% of the ticks in our area carry the bacteria that causes lyme disease and it takes at least 24 hours to be transmitted. So every time you get bit does not mean you will be infected.

Ticks live in shady, moist areas at ground level and are more active in the Spring and Fall. Their first blood meal comes curtesy of field mice where they can pick up the bacteria that causes lyme disease. They drop off and will cling to tall grass, brush and shrubs, usually no more than 18-24 inches off the ground. Waiting for their next host to pass by.

Fighting the urge to hide inside I try to wear light-colored clothing and check my clothes for ticks periodically. If I’m going into the woods I may use an insect repellant, like OFF!. I have also had some success with Tea Tree oil, Lemon eucalyptus oil and Neem( Chia is not a big fan of them though) diluted on my clothes or skin.

If I know ticks are active where I have been I’ll take a shower and check for ticks as soon as I get in. But since our home is on the edge of the woods, I pretty much try to check for ticks every night. When we do find a tick, we try to evaluate how long it has been attached. If we think it is longer than 24 hours we might go to the Doctor. One thing I have started doing is saving the tick and using clear tape, attaching it to a card with the name of the person it was found on,  where it was found and the date. If we have questionable symptoms within the next 30 days we can have the saved tick tested.

Another thing I have been working on is reducing mice since they are the source of lyme disease.

If you haven’t already read more than you wanted on ticks and lyme disease here is a great resource. Tick Encounter Resource Center

 

General / Unconventional Wisdom — No Comments
29
May 15

Where is the Alabu Shampoo?

neem bar soap for shampooMany people have asked us where is the Alabu shampoo?  We have thought, researched and even made different formulations of shampoo, but have come to the conclusion that we prefer to stick with our bar soaps. So I’ll try to explain why we don’t make Shampoo:

Liquid Shampoo in general has a very short shelf life. Most manufacturers remedy this by adding preservatives. A preservative is just a chemical that kills bacteria and doesn’t allow it to grow. The problem with these chemicals is that they are also very harsh to your skin and that is one thing we have always strived to avoid.

But that doesn’t mean you can’t shampoo your hair with Alabu.  First pick your favorite bar of Alabu. If your favorite is Baby Me or Buttermilk, you may want to consider something that doesn’t have such a thick lather. Personally I like the neem or tea tree for my hair. Next, wash your hair with the bar soap. Try to rinse it out completely, but you don’t have to spend too much time on it. Finally, rinse your hair with this special rinse (you probably want to prepare this beforehand).

Add 1/4 cup  of apple cider vinegar to 1 cup of water and use that to rinse your hair.  You can leave the vinegar solution in your hair and let it dry if you choose. Vinegar removes residue from hair shafts and closes the cuticles. Since residue coats the hair causing it to look dull, removing residue gives your hair more shine. By closing the cuticles, the hair slides more easily and there will be fewer tangles.

When your hair is dry it won’t smell like vinegar.  You can also add a few drops of honey to the solution if you have particularly dry hair, as this may help replenish it.

 

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30
Apr 15

Why Goat Milk

Why Goat Milk

Have you ever wondered why all of our soaps are made with goat milk instead of water? I have always been a fan of goat milk. I knew it was good to drink and had a lot of qualities that made it more digestible. While allergies and sensitivities to goat milk are possible, they are extremely rare. I also knew it was recommended for treating ulcers and as a mother’s milk replacement for babies and orphan animals.

The first soap I ever made was from goat milk and I was amazed the first time I used. I knew I would never be going back to commercial soaps. I was curious though, if it was so good because it was handmade or did the goat milk really make it better.  Over the next few years I did a lot of research and tried other handmade soaps. What I found was that personally, I didn’t find any soaps as moisturizing as Alabu.  So what makes goat milk soap so special?  

Goat milk has special qualities—some that are still not fully understood. Fresh goat milk is loaded with vitamins (D, B6, C, E), milk sugars, proteins, & butterfat. Goat milk creates a thicker lather than soap made with water. It is a natural source of Alpha-hydroxy acids. Plus we formulate our soaps to be super-fatted to about 10%, which translate into more moisture for your skin. Our goat milk comes from a friend’s farm less than 10 miles from us. We visit the farm regularly and the goats are well cared for and very happy!   If you would like to see the process of making our soap you can check out our video here.

General / My Life and Family — No Comments
28
Apr 15

View From My Window: A Dog Story

Chia ready for rain I hope you don’t mind another dog story about our dog Chia. A few years back I wrote that she is getting a little more neurotic with each passing year. Chia will be turning 9 this summer. Last night around 1:30 Chia was up and scratching on the door. Sometimes it is just that she heard a cat outside the door and she goes back to sleep.

I knew she had gone out as usual before bed, but after she scratched a few times, I felt compelled to get up and take her out. She is not a big fan of the dark and patiently waited for me to turn on the flashlight so we could walk out to her “spot”. But it was soon apparent nature wasn’t calling her. Chia happily complied  when I suggested we go back to the house. Then I heard the reason for her restlessness, thunder. I hadn’t heard it before but now I understood her anxiety. We headed up the stairs to our bedroom but she stopped halfway up and wouldn’t budge, more thunder. I decided to see if she would settle down if we stayed downstairs.  But as I tried to get comfortable, I watched her pace as the storm grew closer, getting louder with lightening filling up the room.  I decided to go to bed and see what happens. By this time Dean was awake and I could tell Chia “no” when she scratched on the door a few more times. Finally she decided to sleep by the door until 3:30 when the storm finally passed over.

So spring is here and so are thunderstorms. We seem to get a lot of them here. I have learned a few things over the years that distracts her from her fears.  During the day I can play fetch with her; but in the middle of the night, not so much. I will have to remember to keep my Rescue Remedy in the bedroom this time of year.

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