Hearts + Hands for Japan

"Now join your hands, and with your hands your hearts." (Shakespeare)

Milk and Honey is proud to be part of a long list of over 80 independent studios, artists and businesses contributing to the Hearts + Hands raffle to help Japan. This effort, organized by letterpress artist Lynn Russell of Satsuma Press, will sell $10 raffle tickets from now until April 6. 100% of the proceeds will go to relief efforts for Japan via Save the Children and Shelter Box.

Lynn says, "What has happened and is happening in Japan is heartbreaking – and I believe there are ways, both big and small, to help. There are so many people doing all they can to help. This is just what I think I can do, with the help of these amazing, talented friends – from the heart, made by our hands. I believe that what we can to together is more than what each one of us can do alone. "

I encourage you to buy many raffle tickets, peruse the links to all the incredible participating artists, spread the word about the raffle, or be inspired to create your own unique fundraiser to support the people of Japan.

You can also buy a raffle ticket by using this direct link to paypal.

Our Products can help Psoriasis & Excema

Research has shown that the magic combination of honey, beeswax and olive oil may relieve the symptoms of psoriasis and eczema--this is consistent with feedback from our own customers who have used our Honeybee Lotion Bars particularly, but of course our Nanny Goat Milk Soaps are made of this natural combination as well.

Alan France, who retails my lotion bars at his store El Rancho de Nambe, says they have helped his partner with psoriasis:

"We're using less of his expensive medications because your lotion bar is helping so much."

See our blog post from 9/4/10, "Lotion Bar helps Girl with Eczema."

Here are some of the findings from this research as reported by the Bastyr Center for Natural Health:

"The participants with eczema who had had no prior treatment applied a mixture of honey, olive oil, and beeswax to the affected areas on one half of the body, and Vaseline to the affected areas on the other side of the body three times per day for two weeks. Those with eczema who were using corticosteroids prior to the study applied a combination of a steroid cream and the honey mixture to one side of the body, and a Vaseline and steroid cream mixture to the other side of the body three times per day for two weeks. . . Among the participants with eczema who had used no prior treatment, 80% had a significant improvement using the honey mixture; the amounts of itching, scaling, and oozing had the most profound improvements. Among those participants with eczema who had used a steroid cream prior to the study, a combination of the honey mixture and steroid cream led to substantial reductions in steroid doses in almost half of the participants. The honey mixture resulted in a marked improvement in 63% of the participants with psoriasis who had had no prior treatment.

Honey has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties that help to decrease pain and the appearance of scars, and that lead to faster wound healing. Olive oil also has antibacterial properties and the ability to inhibit substances that lead to inflammation. Olive oil and honey both contain flavonoids that help protect cells and inhibit histamine (a substance involved in allergic reactions). Beeswax has anti-inflammatory properties and is often included in formulas to treat burns and other skin conditions."

No wonder honey, beeswax and olive oil make such yummy and soothing skin care products!

I had a whirlwind weekend selling at the Santa Fe Farmers Market on Saturday morning, heading down to Albuquerque to demo at Whole Foods in the afternoon; then another demo at the Indian School WF on Sunday--Maria Bustamante, Marketing Specialist for WFM sent out this email and link:


"Take a look at the raw video we shot today at our Whole Body /Bakery/Meal local vendor fair today on the floor! Thank you to Daven Lee for the beautiful interview—we love your products!"

Whole Foods Indian School Facebook Page

"Homegrown: Woman sees goat-milk soap business boom"

In the Santa Fe New Mexican today:

"As milkmaid Daven Lee looks forward to her sixth season at the Santa Fe Farmers' Market and copes with the sudden growth of her wholesale business, she barely has time to catch a breath. She's a single mother of two who for the last few years has single-handedly run her lotion bar and soap business, Milk and Honey. On top of that, Lee also milks her two Nubian goats daily to provide the most important ingredient in her products. "

Read the whole article!

I'm giving a marketing workshop tonight!

Effectively Marketing Yourself and Your Products
Farmers Market Institute Workshop
Co-presented by Daven Lee

The Farmers Market Institute will be presenting a free workshop on "effectively marketing yourself and your products at the Market" to be held TONIGHT at 6pm at the FM Pavillion.
Co-presenters include T.C Gritt, former produce manager for Whole Foods Market and Deborah Madison, well-known chef and cookbook author.

Getting customer attention through product presentation and consumer interaction

Daven's presentation will include:

Why do people shop at the Farmers Market and how can vendors help them?

Products do not sell themselves:

* Use language
* Tell the story of your products/business
* show your human side
* connect with your customer

How to do it

* Use body language to project success
* attract people into your booth
* keep them in your booth
* multiply your customers

Tonight!
For more information, contact David Henderson at the Santa Fe Farmers Market Institute, 505-983-7726.

Daven's presentation is based on the work of Bruce Baker, while using specific techniques and approaches that she has learned over five years of vending at the Santa Fe Farmers Market.

Valentine's Foot Rub for your Sweetie!

I'm speaking from experience, here--ahem--that using my lotion bar to give your sweetie a foot massage, is a lovely, sensual & romantic thing to do on a special day like today!

Also, found this in the March 2011 issue of Whole Living:

Why do my heels crack in winter?

Fissures are a severe form of dry skin. Cold air outside and dry heat inside allow water to escape faster than in the summer, says Neil Sadick, M.D., a dermatologiest in NYC. We may also neglect our feet when they're covered. To heal and prevent cracks, apply a heavy cream with shea butter or ointment with glycerine [OR MILK AND HONEY LOTION BAR WITH BEESWAX AND CALENDULA] right after a shower, and seal it in with socks.

I recommend you do this before bed so the lotion bar can soak in overnight; or apply as described, with sweetheart.

Introducing Nina!

Yesterday, President Obama called on American businesses to "Ask yourselves what you can do to hire American workers, to support the American economy, and to invest in this nation." Well it so happens, Milk and Honey is growing and hiring American workers! I am having the pleasure of employing two wonderful women, Nina and Elyzabeth to help not only with selling at Market, but actually making product, and learning about every aspect of production. Here is Nina's story:

"I imagine most of you readers have by now seen Milk and Honey’s booth at the Santa Fe Farmers’ Market. If so, you can recall the large crowd always surrounding it. Well about 3 years ago, I had to see for myself what all the fuss was about. I started with one of her lavender-rosemary soaps. It was more creamy and hydrating than any other bath product I’d tried. I had really no idea soap could be like that. The smell was heavenly. I felt genuinely pampered. It made my own little shower feel like a decedent spa. The yummy essential oils left a therapeutic perfume on my skin that was not over powering, but soothing and lasting. I was instantly hooked and it didn’t take me long to move onto the lotion bars.

"Daven took me under her wing last fall. We had been working at the Saturday and Tuesday Farmers’ Markets together for the last few years, and we’d built a sweet friendship. (I was the one selling the coffee and burritos and haggling with her 8-year-old son). I found myself to be natural sales person for Milk and Honey, due to my grand enthusiasm of the products. I started working the Tuesday markets for Daven and couldn’t wait to meet the goats and get into the lab.

"I have now been acquainted with all aspects of the business. The more I learn, the more my enthusiasm grows. Daven’s lab/office/home is where we spend most of our time. There, with her two kitties and two fabulous children. Usually with a fire going and the radio on, “fueled” as Daven would say by chocolate covered almonds. It’s a nurturing, fun, organized, and inspiring environment to work in. It’s sincerely a treat to work for such a together and conscientious proprietor. As Daven mentions in her mission statement, “the passion to create a meaningful life will inspire others to do the same.” I can say with pleasure that this has been achieved."