Dandelion Creek offers artisanal soaps made with milk from their goat herd
by Sara Schafer | sschafer@ruralmissouri.coop
About 10 years ago, Mathias Nelson carefully wrapped a bar of goat milk soap to present to his sweetheart, Lori, for Christmas. She loved it so much that she dreamed of making her own someday. What began as a few batches stirred up in their kitchen has grown into Dandelion Creek Co., a Plattsburg shop where the couple now makes soaps using milk from their own goats.
Before becoming a goat farmer and soapmaker in 2022, Lori’s career ranged from police work to jewelry sales to financial advising. Creative by nature and a people person at heart, she was ready for something that would let her make and share something beautiful. Plus, she’d always had a soft spot for goats.
After buying a few goats and learning all the ins and outs of milking and caring for them, Lori dove into the interesting and complex world of soapmaking. She turned to YouTube, watching countless tutorials, and found others in the area who made soap. For a while, production centered on her kitchen table, but before long, her production needs outgrew the space. The Nelsons moved the operation into a charming storefront in downtown Plattsburg, where Lori’s creativity could really take root.
The name Dandelion Creek carries its own story. It comes from Lori’s parents’ farm, where one rainy day she and her father watched the creek swell while dandelions bloomed on both sides. Naming her business after that special family place was an easy decision.
Family continues to be at the heart of Dandelion Creek. After her daughter passed away in 2018 and her father a few years later, Lori honored them both with special soap varieties. She knows they’d be proud to see how she’s serving others through her small business.
The Nelsons’ soaps start with milk from their Alpine and Saanen goats. They will soon add LaMancha goats to their milking herd. Lori and her family milk the herd twice a day, freezing the milk into cubes for soap making. They also love to drink it. The herd now numbers about 20 goats, and if you visit the shop during kidding season, you might even get to cuddle one of the babies who all have adorable names such as Tinkerbell, Olive Oil and Pixie.
Depending on the season, Dandelion Creek offers dozens of soap scents — from pumpkin spice to strawberry wine to lavender and sage to coffee scrub. Lori also crafts beard oils, lip balms and other bath products.
The Nelsons, members of Platte-Clay Electric Cooperative, produce thousands of bars each year. They use simple ingredients that complement their herd’s milk. Lori starts by heating a blend of saturated and unsaturated fats and then adds frozen goat milk cubes and lye. “It’s a very chemical process,” she says. “I have to have my calculator with me the entire time.”
Next comes the fun part for Lori — adding fragrances and colors. Each bar becomes a small work of art, with swirls and layers of color. After a day in the molds, the soaps are cut, stamped and left to cure for about six weeks. “The longer they sit, the harder they get and the longer they last,” Lori says.
Over time, Lori has perfected her recipe through experimentation and customer feedback. “At one point I was testing four recipes,” she says. “I asked everyone who came into the shop to try a bar of each. Everyone picked recipe No. 2, which was also my favorite. When I do something, it has to meet my standards — and my customers have to love it.”
Lori is excited about the future of the business. With the expansion into a spacious new store, Lori and Mathias hope to expand their goat herd in order to keep up with their growing number of followers.
From caring for the goats to crafting the perfect swirl of color, Lori has loved every part of the journey. “I love the new friendships I’ve made from my customers,” she says. “I get tears in my eyes from their testimonies about how my soaps have helped their skin or made them happy.”
Dandelion Creek is located at 106 N. Main St. in Plattsburg. Find store hours and shop online at www.dandelion-creek.com.