This blog post comes from a cross-collaboration with Janine from Wheat & Wildflower Handmade in Manitoba. We thought it would be fun to interview each other and share each other's websites.
Having a community of other makers is so vital to the success to our businesses so please go check out https://wheatandwildflower.ca/ to see Janine's beautiful work and to also see the ten interview questions I had for her!
From Janine:
I met Jess a couple years ago through the Trailblazher Inner Circle Collective and I’m so glad I did! I have been so inspired by her, her brand story and her business! Jess is a farm mom to two boys and they live in Red Deer County, Alberta. I feel like we have so much in common and look forward to meeting her in person one day soon!
Jess is the owner of Prairie Soap Shack and she makes amazing soaps, balms and salves that are free from synthetic fragrances and colours. As someone who has become more and more sensitive to artificial scents in the past few years, I have loved every product that I’ve tried from Jess. Her soap bars last our family for months. But her solid bar shampoo and conditioner has made the biggest difference for me, eliminating a continuous scalp irritation that I had for years and hadn’t connected to the bottled shampoo and conditioner until after I tried hers.
I was so excited when Jess suggested asking each other a few questions.
Here’s 10 questions I have for Jess:
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What is your favourite season and why? I'd have to say that Spring is my favourite season. The excitement, joy, hope and faith that comes when the snow melts away and all the plants bringing their energy back up for us to see. I love that! Not to mention the babies being born in Spring and rain (hopefully!). Also- getting my garden going!
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What is the one thing that you love most about life on the farm? Wide open spaces. Having that peace and quiet, solitude in nature feeling. Space for my kids to roam.
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What is your favourite thing to do with your boys? We go quadding (ATV'ing) together in the river valley a lot. Take some snacks, maybe have a weiner roast, do some foraging, exploring in the trees, looking for dinosaur bones or antler sheds.
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What are your top 3 favourite foods to eat? Fresh saskatoon berries, warm sourdough bread, and coffee (does coffee count as a food?)
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Is there a prairie plant you’d love to see in real life that you are always watching for? I have never seen a wild orchid before.
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What is a book you’ve read recently that you loved and would recommend? I just finished reading "Big Magic" by Elizabeth Gilbert and really enjoyed her thoughts on where our creativity comes from and how to live a creative life.
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What is the best investment that you’ve made in your business? Hiring local help. I have had three different teenagers hired over the past few years to come over regularly and help with packaging products, beveling and stamping soap and help to pack orders.
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If I was to visit your local area, which 3 spots are must sees? Dry Island Buffalo Jump along the Red Deer River, Royal Tyrell Museum in Drumheller, AB and Elk Island National Park to see bison and other wildlife with great camping nearby too.
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What is your favourite product to make that you love to use for yourself? My Rejuvenate Face Serum! I use it twice a day, every day on my face. And I love making it because it's made with wildcrafted fireweed and yarrow and reminds me of summer memories so much.
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What is your best-selling product and does it surprise you? My best selling soap is "Saskatoon Lemon Pie" soap which doesn't surprise me... it smells delicious and is made with pureed prairie saskatoon berries... a prairie classic!
Thanks again Janine for the interview questions and I hope you get a chance to go see her website https://wheatandwildflower.ca/ . She is a lovely woman who has created a great business from her farm in Arnes, Manitoba.
Janine designs and sews cute and comfy clothes that fit growing kids for 3 sizes. I know first hand that the quality is superb and my picky kids love how her clothes fit them! You can also find Janine on instagram @wheatandwildflower.ca
