Keeping The Family Tradition Alive

Wow! That's all I can say! We have had a whirlwind of a week at the farm (in addition to school starting back and the stress of having a middle schooler and a kindergartener in the mix). This week marked the start of molasses season at Ellis Farms. Harvest time came two weeks early due to all the rain we've had so by the end of last week, it was time to begin harvesting our sorghum cane. On Friday, we had the pleasure of a visit by a reporter and a photographer from The Lincoln Times News, our local newspaper. They wanted to do a story on our molasses and the history of the farm. They took some great pictures and wrote an absolutely wonderful story about the Ellis family farm. You can read it here. We aren't finished cooking yet. Our first batch yielded just over 16 gallons. We are cooking the second batch this coming Saturday and will likely have two more batches after that. We love visitors, so if you want to come see this process, feel free to come on by. You can have some molasses of your very own for $8 a quart. Just stop by the farm.

Another very cool thing that's happened is that we were contact yesterday by a Chef who currently operates a restaurant in Charlotte, NC. They are in the process of starting a new restaurant in Lincolnton that will feature locally grown goods on their menu. They want to purchase molasses from us! Check out their Facebook page Farmer Baker Sausage Maker. We are so excited about the possibility of our molasses being used in a local restaurant. Who knows where this could lead! I'm game for just about anything! Til next time.....

Homemade Liquid Laundry Detergent

About a year ago, we began making our own liquid laundry detergent. What a savings!!!! We're talking that it costs only a FEW CENTS per load of laundry. When I bought our initial supplies to make the first batch, it cost around $7- $8. We are still using the original box of Borax and box of Washing Soda. The only thing I have had to restock was the Fels-Naptha Soap and it's $1 a bar. I've bought 3 bars in a year. My husband is who actually makes it each time. It takes him about 20 minutes. It makes 2 gallons of liquid each time. That 2 gallons lasts our family of 4 approximately two months. I've got you thinkin', haven't I?
YES!!! My clothes are clean! YES!!! They smell good. YES!!! It's worth the extra effort. The $$$$$ savings ALONE should convince you!!! If you buy it in the store....This stuff ain't cheap!!!

Here is our recipe:

Get a pot that is large enough to hold 6 cups of liquid. Get it on the stovetop at around Medium temp.
Grate 1/3 of a bar of Fels-Naptha Soap into 4 cups of hot water (NOT BOILING). Stir until it's dissolved.
Add 1 cup Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda. Stir until it's dissolved.
Add 1/2 cup 20 Mule Team Borax. Stir until it's dissolved.
In a two gallon container (we use an old laundry detergent container that we had saved), add two cups of WARM water then pour the dissolved liquid mixture into the container. *I suggest using a funnel and another set of hands to help with this.
Fill the remaining space in the container up with more warm water. Then let it cool.
*Some folks will add essential oils like lavender for added scent, but we don't. I like the natural clean smell just from the original ingredients.

About a 1/2 cup per load is what you would need.

NOTE: Each time you use the detergent, you will need to shake the jug because the gel settles out when it sits.

It is safe for HE washers (this is what we have). This recipe does not "suds up". It cleans. It doesn't make bubbles.

Now go get started!!!!