Page 38 Stories of the Heartland • Sunday, September 21, 2025 hometownsource. com / heartland /
goat milk soaps that do not contain essential oils or scents of any kind. As such, they smell like plain soap or mildly like the ingredients used, such as unrefined cocoa butter. The unscented goat milk soaps are ideal for those with sensitive or problematic skin, she said.
Taking pride in her product, Hakonson uses all organic products in making her goat milk soap. The animals are also fed organic grain. While some products are purchased outside of Red Pine Pastures, many of the ingredients are grown right at home. While the farm is not certified organic, the couple practice and adhere to most organic or better standards.
Haakonson fulfill special orders, as well of Mama Milk. As breastmilk contains vitamins, minerals and amino acids that can nourish and soothe the skin, some mothers ask Haakonson to make soaps using their breast milk. The process is no different than that of goatmilk soap.
Haakonson said people tend to be on either side of the fence when it comes to the idea of a soap bar made with breastmilk.
“ Some are like,‘ Oh, that’ s cool’ and others are like,‘ Oh, that’ s weird, but at the end of the day, it’ s either milk from a goat or it’ s from what fed your child,” she said.
As Mama Milk soap bars are becoming increasingly popular, Haakonson said she will likely add that option to her website next spring. For more information, visit www. redpinepastures. com
Sheila McCoy / Stories of the Heartland
Steph Haakonson created a variety of soap scents with goat milk harvested from the nannies on the farm.