Products and Marketing - Raising Sheep - page 364

between the blades of grass instead of lying on top, where it might smother
the vegetation.
Clean out the barn twice a year, in spring and fall — the wasted hay
and bedding left on the barn fl oor make great fertilizer because they have
absorbed much of the manure and contain valuable nutrients. Having been
inside the barn, these nutrients are undamaged by rain and sunshine and
are just waiting to be reclaimed. Spread a thick mulch of this on a portion of
the garden, and don't even dig it in — just set tomato, zucchini, and cabbage
plants in holes in the mulch. By mulching only half of the garden each year,
you always have one heavily mulched side for setting out plants and another
half to dig up and plant seeds.
Homemade Soap
Homemade soap is one of the “good things” of life — and a profi table small
item to add to any product line of sheep-related merchandise. You can make
a lot of soap with the fat from lamb or mutton that has been trimmed for
locker packaging. Have the slaughterhouse save all the fat trimmings. Some
places will grind them for you, which makes the rendering easier. The fi rst
step in soap making involves preparing the tallow.
1. Render the tallow. Cut up chunks of lamb or mutton fat (tallow), put
it in a large kettle, and cook it slowly over low heat. It will take several
hours for a large batch, so stir frequently and don't rush, or you'll risk
burning it. When the tallow is pretty well melted down, strain it through
a cloth.
2. Purify the tallow. Boil the fat that you've rendered in about twice its vol-
ume of water. Strain it using a collander, and set it aside to cool. The
clean fat will rise into a solid block. When it has cooled and hardened,
remove from the water, turn upside down, cut in wedges, and scrape off
the residue of impurities from the bottom. This purifi ed tallow keeps for
several weeks in the refrigerator.
Sophia Block's Lamb Tallow Soap Recipe
1. Measure 6 pounds of clean purifi ed tallow. Heat it slowly in a large
enamel pan to between 100 and 110°F (37.8 and 43.3°C).
2. Put 2½ pints (5 cups) of water in a smaller enamel pan. Put the pan on a
protected surface. Stand back, and slowly pour in one newly opened can
of lye (you must use lye, not a chemical drain opener). Turn your face
away to avoid breathing the caustic fumes. The lye will heat up the water;