Harmony Acres

About six years ago, when Cory and Dale Emmons decided to take a stab a making their own soap, they had no idea that it would eventually flourish into a business. They learned the art from one of their friends, who had been making her own soap for some time and inspired them to do the same. The first batch turned out beautifully. Honey oat. Then, they made a batch of peppermint soap. And then, coffee soap. They passed their creations out amongst their friends, who (to Cory's and Dale's surprise) kept coming back for more.

Despite the fact that quite a few people had developed a liking to their soaps, Cory and Dale didn't even consider starting a business at this point. Dale's career in the military had kept them on the road, moving from place to place. While this lifestyle was satisfying in its own way, Cory had always wanted to settle down on a farm somewhere and root their family.

This finally happened four years ago, when the Emmons family moved to the mountains of Western North Carolina. Soon after settling in, they met one of their neighbors. Upon meeting him, Cory noticed that he, who often worked in the fields, had poison ivy all over his hands. "I can make something for you that will help," she told him. And she did. Pleasantly surprised and incredibly grateful, her neighbor encouraged her to start a business for the making of soaps and creams and all things related. Remembering how much people liked her creations in the past, she decided to take this idea and run with it. In an act of bravery, Cory and Dale took the last bit of money they had in the bank, invested it in soap making ingredients and equipment, and thus gave birth to a brand new company... Harmony Acres.

Their first day at the Horn in the West Farmers' Market didn't bring the Harmony Acres gang (Cory, Dale, and their eight kids) much financial success, but it was enough to motivate them to keep going. Gradually, the family business grew and grew and grew, and now... Harmony Acres is a household name in Boone. Come to Green Mother Goods, and check out all of the Harmony Acres products we carry, from lip balms, to soaps, to lotions, and so much more.

And about that farm? It's flourishing too. The Emmons family grows vegetables, raises turkeys (during the Thanksgiving season), and raises chickens, the eggs from which you can purchase for $3.50 a dozen at Green Mother Goods every Saturday around one o'clock in the afternoon. Take this from someone who has tasted these eggs: They're worth every penny. But the taste isn't all that matters. When you purchase things from the Emmons family, you know exactly where you're money is going, and you know exactly what you're getting in the products you purchase.

So, support the local economy as much as you can. Your Boone needs it.

UPDATE!

The Emmons family only delivers eggs to Boone every Saturday if they know that people will buy them. So, e-mail them at get-smelly@harmonyacressoap.com, get on their mailing list, and let them know whenever you're interested in buying eggs. There is spinach available for purchase right now, too!

I will talk about this more as May approaches, but the Emmons family plans to regularly sell their produce at a couple farmers' markets around town this spring and summer. They're also a CSA farm, so if you're interested ask them about that too when you e-mail them.