Thank you so much to Homegrown Collective for providing me with product in exchange for review. All opinions are my own.
*NOTE* this review reflected our honest experience in September of 2015. However, many people seem to be getting charged by Homegrown for their subscription, but are not getting boxes anymore. It looks like the service has went out of business, but nobody is answering calls or emails to cancel their payments. If you have been taken advantage of by Homegrown I recommend contacting your debit card or credit card company to cancel your automatic payments. Or if you paid via paypal you can go into the payment settings in your Paypal account to cancel those as well.*
I love the idea of self sustainability. Its something I’ve always dreamed of perfecting and I try my best to at least follow through with it as much as it readily presents its self in my life. I don’t have a lot of family to receive handed down traditions from, which means I have to research everything as I go. I think we all know researching can be helpful and also a burden as well at times.
Homegrown Collective is like a great grandmother who comes to your house monthly to warmly teach you a new way of sustaining your household/family, all without the pinch on the cheeks! Homegrown collective’s mission is to seasonally inspire you to be more eco-conscious, local, and self sufficient. Each box contains everything needed to create useful and meaningful products to use within your home.
I received a Greenbox which included everything to make homemade soap! I was given everything needed to make 3 different kinds of soap. The types of soap I was able to make were Charcoal Soap, Rosemary Mint Soap, and Cocao Chocolate Soap. I was so excited to make this kit as were my two children who watched and asked many questions during the whole process.
The first soap I made was The Activated Charcoal Soap (the black one pictured). Why Charcoal you might ask? This soap attracts toxins from the surface and within the pores of your skin, talk about bye, bye, blackheads! Each soap is given a few variations that you get to decide, as well as some encouragement to stray from the recipe! I really felt like I created each ah-mazing soap!
First step was choosing a base soap and melting it in the Ball jar provided. I chose to microwave mine at the recommended 10 second intervals. For complete liquid it took my microwave about 4 tries.
Next up was choosing and adding the essential oil of my choice. My choice of essential oil was lemongrass and cedar wood. After adding the oils, I mixed until combined.
Adding in the activated charcoal and melted Cocoa /Shea butter is the next step in beautiful handmade soap. Considering the messy-ness often associated with activated charcoal, this went so smoothy!
Followed by luffa trimming and placing into mold.
Final step was pouring slowly (to avoid bubbles) the soap mixture into the mold and letting it set on the counter for several hours or in the fridge for one. The way this soap turned out was simply amazing, I love everything about it. The smell of this soap is so earthy and captivating. The visual aspect is one part I am very proud of, if I saw this in store I would feel compelled to buy it on appearance alone.
Cocao Chocolate Soap
My son was ecstatic about using real cocoa to make a soap. I did have to strongly convince him it was not edible. The beginning steps are all very similar (which made following directions a cinch). You get the required soap base and melt it inside the Ball jar given.
After melting you choose your essential oil, this time knowing we would have a more food type scent because of the cocoa I went with Cedarwood and light lemongrass.
Adding the dry cocoa powder and melted Cocoa/Shea butter was next. The scent during this process was heavenly. I found myself daydreaming about a cup of hot cocoa.
It was highly recommended to use the remaining amount of luffa for this soap recipe so I trimmed it to fit into my mold. It was at this point I realized I had 3 cinnamon stick that were not mentioned in the recipe.
I stuffed one inside of the luffa and then grabbed the grater that was provided in the box and grated some fresh cinnamon to sprinkle atop the soap. Pouring slowly again I filled the mold and covered completely the luffa. Afterwards I toped the mold with the before mentioned fresh cinnamon. The smells at this point were out of this world, my son expressed that this soap smelled just like cake!
My last and final soap recipe was the Rosemary Mint. I was so excited for the appliance of this soap as well as I knew it would have an herb, earth like vibe to it. So starting off again I unwrapped the goat milk soap bar and melted it down.
I chose peppermint essential oils to compliment the other herbs to be used.
My dry ingredients this time were organic spearmint and organic rosemary, both of which I was given a large amount of to be used in other future recipes. I used about two tablespoon of each as I knew I really wanted to see and feel the texture of these herbs while soaping. I also chose to add in the cocoa/shea butter to this recipe as well.
The other two whole cinnamon sticks were added to the mold of this soap. I poured the herby soap mixture into the mold.
I decided that I would use the trimmings of the luffa as extra decor/scrub for this final soap.
Each one of these soaps has amazing benefits laced throughout each ingredient used in them. I am more than pleased with the way these turned out and feel so much more confidant in making future soaps. Making soaps is something I have always wanted to try but have never dipped my toes in. I procrastinated in fear of not knowing enough or having enough time to learn everything I needed to know. The Homegrown Collective box was the absolute perfect amount of structure and free reign to build my confidence for soap making on my own. I would absolutely purchase this subscription. A year subscription is definitely on my christmas list this year! The value of your box exceeds the amount spent as you start with quality products (things like glass containers and organic herbs) and finish with quite abundant leftovers that are easily transferred into your next box. The amazing team at Homegrown Collective is offering you readers a 25% discount when you use the code EMILY25. Not only is Homegrown Collective offering a discount on your first box but they are offering a free GREENBOX!
Win it! A GREENBOX from Homegrown Collective! To enter: Fill out the GT form below by 11:59pm EST on 9/25/2015.
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I am a stay at home mother of two, who loves to create in every form, from cooking, to henna, to painting or sculpting, creating with my hands is my passion! I love to dance and let loose when the music flows right. Being outside is a special kind of therapy I think humans need more of as well as mindfulness! I love all things new and adventurous and am always looking to experience more of life 🙂
This post currently has 20 responses.
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Deb E
*interested
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ella
I’d be interested in a peppermint themed box – I know the herb has a lot of uses, and I love the smell and taste!
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Jill
I would love to see something fermented. Kombuchi anyone?
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Sue Hull
I’d like to see a box on how to make natural deodorant and body scrub. I’d like to try the one that’s for cold/flu season. Thank you for the great review and info. It’s fun seeing you guys make something and how it turns out 🙂
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Stacy
I want to see a natural deodorant, perhaps made with coconut oil.
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Sarah L
I’d like to see a box that was about using essential oils for different purposes.
Thanks for the contest. -
Danielle Nantau
A coconut oil themed box would be cool! I know there’s many many many uses for it!
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DJ
Maybe a diy natural beauty products box.
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Raine
I’d like to see natural skin care products. Also possibly teas. Even herbs including cat grass for my kitties.
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Tari Lawson
Frustrated that when I click the Facebook link and am told I can get credit for the entry a message pops up and says I cannot :(.
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mycraftingworld
I would like to see something with products without fragrances or colors. For us with allergies.
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Sharon Rooney
I would like to see a body lotion box.
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I’d love to have some boxes that teach us to make various products from nature.
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Jessica Cyr
I would really like a peppermint themed box , i love the taste of peppermints certainly in the winter months and the pink ones are my favourite. 🙂
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Judy Thomas
I would love to see a wild flower or Bee box with things to attract or help bees in it 🙂
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debbie
It might seem odd but anise (aniseed) it has a lot going for it and smells amazing The B-complex vitamins found in aniseed are essential to overall health. Loaded with riboflavin, pyridoxine, niacin and thiamin,
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Robin
I would love to see body butter or face mask.
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Bev
Homegrown Collective kit looks awesome. I’ve always wanted to learn to make soap this looks like a great way to start.
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Linny
You should really update this post to help other people before they sign up for this collection! I joined before I looked at the Yelp reviews which was my own fault. Mitchell only helps you when the first mistake happens of them charging your card again pretending its your fault that you signed up for auto-renewal (I know for sure I didn’t), and acts like they will cancel your membership & refund you your money…..which they never do. Then they will charge you again & again & again…..and then you will never hear back from Mitchell again. Had to dispute the charge with my bank & cancel my card. This company is a scam & they are making a lot of money from innocent hard working people. Get the word out that they are crooks!
I’m always interesting in learning how to make my own infused vinegars and oils rather than buy them. I know there are safety concerns when bottling and haven’t tried it yet buy know their are so many options. It would be nice to get them all in this kind of a box.