3 reasons you'll want to use lard

A little background for you...

When we began building the ranch, shortly after the big decision to purchase it, we had to start thinking of how we would go about building it into a working ranch again.  We new that we needed to work a lot of extra hours to build outside of our existing businesses.  

It was a lot harder than we anticipated to maintain the businesses and build a ranch at the same time.  There were more struggles than I can count, but just as many joys and opportunities for growth.  The kids were 3, 4 and 5 years old when we started and the things they learned have been innumerable. 

Seth had a construction business and we moved from the home he beautifully built to the ranch house just a half mile up the road. 

​Shortly after I began a seasonal candle business where I made and sold soy wax candles.  I wanted so badly to somehow incorporate something natural from the ranch into my candles, but it just wasn't the right time, looking back.

Rhian's holding a newly crafted tray Liam just finished for sale in our store. It's loaded with our lard and beeswax candles.

(You can find Liam's new serving tray pictured above in our gift store here)

Do you ever get headaches from candles?

Well, we did.  After a few years, Seth and I started getting headaches from the burning wax and fragrance oils.  We definitely didn't want to keep providing a product that could potentially be causing head aches and adding toxins to our clients homes.  

Over the years, I never stopped making candles.  I just changed the way I made them.  Then the girls became a part of it.  We started experimenting with essential oils and waxes and burn times and making a years worth of candles each December before Christmas.

This year, we decided we were happy with the essential oils, but still not the wax.  We still didn't know how the plants were grown and what was going into our home. We LOVE Rise's natural cleaners - and have noticed an huge difference in how everyone feels after we clean.  ~ Why wouldn't we care about our candles now too? 

Some of our research showed that historically lard and tallow were cleaned and used for fuel in lighting (candles included) because it was

• clean burning -meaning it didn't' smoke and release soot into the air
• long lasting 

Eat your pie this winter!
We already render some of our pastured pork fat for lard because, not only does it have a pretty high smoke point (370 degrees - after oils reach their smoke point, the fats start to break down releasing free radicals), but 

• Lard from pastured hogs that see the sun regularly can have up to 500 IU of vitamin D per teaspoon (something we don't get enough of during the dark winter months)
•  It makes wonderful flaky pie crusts and biscuits and is great for frying. In fact , some research found that a slice of pie made with pastured lard could have up to 3,000 IU of vit D...So definitely eat your pie this Christmas ;) 
  

​You need vit. D to absorb Calcium and Phosphorus and supports a healthy immune system.

​Candles were just an extra step...

So we just went the next step and cleaned the lard more, then added local beeswax and essential oils.  They turned out so GOOD and I love how they burn.  
They Burn

• *CLEAN
  
• *EVENLY ACROSS THE TOP
  
• They have a REAL & CLEAN SCENT
  
• AND they LAST! ~ 27 to 30 hour burn time for a 6 ounce candle ~now that is good!

Now we have candles without the headache this Christmas!  

How to make Lard for Cooking & Candle Making

In this video, I want to help you understand how easy it is to make lard from our pastured pork fat and get a clear idea of what layers of rendered fat work best for: 

•  Pies, Biscuits, Sweets and Candles
•  Savory baked goods
  
•  Frying
  

Join me below and leave your questions/ comments below, or email/ text me.  I can't wait to help!

If you're not into the "do it yourself" stuff, or your just understandably too busy, I totally get it.  We are now stocking your clean candles in our store.  And we can even ship them.  We have two scents so far:

1. Forest Scent (find it in our store here)~ This one is really close to a Christmas tree smell.  We make it with fir essential oils along with a few other special oils that promote release and letting go of old negative emotions.  
2.  Christmas Scent (find it in our store here)~ While I'm dying to do a Frankincense and Myrrh candle, we decided to start with this wonderful cinnamon spice and citrus blend that is so good and promotes balance and relaxation.  Something much needed this time of year. But don't be surprised if we have a Frankincense and Myrrh soon.  

Thank you for always inspiring us to create new ways to help you provide healthier food and home for your family. Let me know how I can help you in the future, by commenting below or just email or text me anytime.

Have a wonderful Christmas! 

​-Raini