RIDGELAND, Wis. — My name is Erin Link, owner of EB Ranch LLC. I will be launching a Kickstarter campaign starting in October 2017 to upgrade and expand production of my unique goat milk soap made with the milk from the critically endangered San Clemente Island goat.
In 2013 I found out about the critically endangered San Clemente Island Goats through the Livestock Conservancy. At that time the total population of these goats was only 450. I was able to find and bring in a breeding pair of these lovely SCI goats. A year later I bought a few more and have been growing my own herd of San Clemente Island Goats. I am currently the only person in Wisconsin that has them. I soon realized that making soap with their milk was a great way for me to promote this lovely goat breed.
In 2014 I created a bar of goat milk soap that was moisturizing, lathered well, smelled nice, and other people loved using. Then I started selling at Menomonie Market Food Co-op as well as creating a website for online sales. The soap business has slowly grown over the years. To cultivate that demand I decided to step it up a notch in 2017. I created accounts other local retail locations as well as participating in the Menomonie Farmer’s Market. With increased goat milk soap sales I have had a difficult time keeping up with demand. To keep up with this growing demand I need to invest in the bulk raw ingredients and expand on the shelving required to hold back stock. With a successful Kickstarter campaign I will be able to invest in these essential materials that would have been impossible for myself to buy before. A successful Kickstarter campaign would mean being able to create inventory.That will help me be confident in taking on bigger retail stores, mostly co-operative grocery stores in Minneapolis as well as offering more and consistent selections at my online store and at farmer’s markets and lowering soap prices.
The EB Ranch Kickstarter will offer a fragrant variety of goat milk soap rewards and even the chance to name future kids born on the farm as well as picking a soap scent. When you support this Kickstarter you become an active participant of a diverse farm that raises the critically endangered San Clemente Island Goats.
On EB Ranch I have a small but diverse group of heritage breed animals that consist of Cayuga and Swedish ducks, chocolate turkeys, pilgrim and Toulouse geese, and a motley crew of chickens. I also use pasture rotation and am constantly learning about healthy and sustainable land and animal management. I am also working on a breeding program where San Clemente Island goats will be available to people in Wisconsin and in the Midwest that are interested in raising them. EB Ranch already offers goat milk soap shares and a varied selection of goat milk soap including tea tree oil, eucalyptus, sweet orange, geranium & sweet orange, lavender, patchouli, spearmint, rosemary & lemon, lemon, white pine, chocolate, dragons blood, coconut, and clary sage as well as seasonal variations. Any colorants I use are natural, such as activated charcoal, cocoa powder, and dried paprika. With the scents I use both essential oils and fragrance oils. I am always educating myself and learning to grow from my successes and failures. I listen and value the feedback I get from people and am always willing to experiment with new scent suggestions.
You can purchase EB Ranch LLC Goat Milk Soap at the following locations: www.ebranch.weebly.com, Menomonie Market Food Co-op www.mmfc.coop, The Raw Deal www.rawdeal-wi.com Crimson Heart Tattoo and Design www.crimsonheartdesigns.com as well as visiting me at the Menomonie Farmer’s Market www.menomoniefam.org You can visit the kickstarter at: https://www.kickstarter.com/pr
— EB Ranch LLC
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