Making soap from goat's milk

As a veterinary nurse for eight years, Allison Spacek always felt most at home when she was among animals. But it was at home when it seemed she missed them the most.

Both she and her husband Norm grew up in the city in Spokane and never had the opportunity to have a lot of animals.

So when they moved to a 15-acre ranch near Harrison, she couldn't wait to fill it.

The Spaceks now have more than 50 animals at Sunset Lake Ranch that they raise and breed, including various breeds of goats, cows, ducks, chickens and the couple's "children," their three mastiffs.

"The ranch is really my thing and I love it," said Spacek, who works full time as a senior administrative assistant in Advising Services at North Idaho College. All this in addition to going to school full time, working toward a bachelor's degree at Lewis-Clark State College. "It's not as much work as you'd think."

Spacek spends at least a half hour each morning and night feeding her animals. But the most time and effort is spent bottle feeding two Angus cows that she's raising. All of the ranch maintenance - cleaning stalls to cleaning hooves - takes place on the weekends.

Spacek participates as an expert on several goat and dog breeder forums and even goes out to ranchers' homes to help others on their farms.

But the labor is not without rewards. In addition to the sheer pleasure she gains from the animals on her ranch, Spacek also uses meat, eggs and milk from her farm, all of which are 100 percent raw in an effort to stay as organic as possible.

"When we started this, we were researching ways to help my husband, who's diabetic, stay off of insulin," Spacek said. "With the natural products we use, we've been able to keep him off insulin for 4 1/2 years now."

In 2010, Spacek also began making soap from goat's milk through a cold process she learned from a friend. Goat's milk contains numerous natural vitamins and minerals to protect, moisturize and soften skin. The soap Spacek makes doesn't contain any harsh chemicals, so it can be used by those with even the most sensitive skin.

Spacek makes new batches of soaps every few days, made with her goat's milk and FDA approved oils and fragrances. Some of the most popular soaps include Oatmeal Milk and Honey, Cherry Almond and Butter Cream and Snickerdoodle. She has also prepared several scents especially for the holidays including Pumpkin Spice and Christmas Splendor.

Many soaps are sold before they're even poured, Spacek said. The soaps have become so popular that Spacek has launched a new website called SLR Naturals and Necessities, an online store with soap, soap molds and other products available for sale.

"I really enjoy making the soaps and experimenting with the colors, scents and molds," Spacek said. "And the health benefits are amazing."

Those interested in ordering special goat's milk soaps can visit www.slrnaturalsandnecessities.com or contact Spacek at (509) 499-5828 or allison@slrnaturalsandnecessities.com.