Written by Penelope Lorraine Cronk and Michelle Cascio
Amidst the dusty smells of a local flea market, is a pocket of olfactory indulgence created by homemade, chemical-free soaps and body products.
When entering Judsonia’s local flea market Thackerland, one’s senses are taken hostage by an eclectic range of stimuli. From old dusty VHS tapes to puppies, beef jerky to pickled eggs, no shopper can predict or control the odor-attack the atmosphere launches; however, mother-daughter team Pamela Williams, 37, and McKenzie Jones, 13, provide solace to the offended nose with their own line of body products,El Shaddai Acres.
“Her products are wonderful,” William’s mother, Nina Shaw, said. “I’m not biased. That’s just the way they are.”
Williams began investigating the ingredients of commercial soaps a little over three years ago and was amazed to find toxic chemicals with damaging side effects and misleading labeling. According to Shaw, the government allows producers to call a product natural if 50% or more of the ingredients are natural, regardless of the volume. Williams wanted a more natural alternative.
“Our bodies are God’s temple and we are all learning to take care of it,” Williams said.
Already goat farmers, they had an abundance of goat milk, and with some advice, they began to use it as the main ingredient in soaps.
“The lady that I bought my goats from taught me how to make the soap and I formulated it into my own thing,” Williams said.
After Williams became comfortable making soaps, she expanded her line to include body sprays, lotions, toothpaste, scrubs and other beauty products, recently launching a make-up line, beginning with eye shadow.
“Our product line is growing by what our customers needs are,” Williams said.
Although Williams does sell her soaps at two stores in Searcy, she said she sells more at Thackerland.
“I sell more here then at the store because stores set their prices where they want it, which is always several dollars higher, and here I set it to the price I want it, which is lower,” Williams said.
With ubiquitous chemical-laden products, a natural substitute is literally a breath of fresh air hidden beneath the debris of Thackerland.
