Published June 16 2020

When Covid-19 hit the Haliburton Highlands Lea Bartlett of Treehouse Soap began looking for a way to give back to the community she lives in to help people get through the pandemic.  A soap maker for more than seven years Bartlett thought what better way to help than to create a special bar of soap that would promote washing your hands and do something good at the same time.

“I wanted to do something for the community … of course soap is front and centre in a lot of conversations right now” she said.

Since the end of April all the money from sales of Bartlett’s Bee 4 U soap have been donated to SIRCH’s Community Kitchen. To date 88 bars have been sold resulting in a $792 donation to the organization. “When I tallied it up I had no idea” she said.

“It’s nice to be able to contribute. People want to contribute. They’re getting something back in return but they are also giving to a wonderful cause.”

Bartlett’s goal is to sell 200 bars of the soap.

The force behind Treehouse Soap Bartlett was inspired by the work SIRCH was doing with their Community Kitchen during the pandemic – work which includes giving out more than 5700 free nutritious meals as well as thousands of soups and servings of fruit since the start of the pandemic.

The Bee 4 U soap includes an imprint of a bee based on a wood stamp her 94-year-old father created. The ingredients of the soap include Haliburton honey and Ontario beeswax and pollen.  All of Bartlett’s soaps are made in small batches and in her home-based studio. She makes and sells more than 30 varieties. “I love the process” she says.

Bartlett believes sales of the Bee 4 U soap have been going well because people want to give back in any way they can during such a challenging time. “I looked at my dad and said look at this bar of soap this bar of soap almost pays for two meals. Think about it” she said. “Doesn’t that just blow you away? And if that’s a little thing that I can do I’m happy to do that.”

For more information about Treehouse Soap and how to purchase a bar of Bee 4 U soap visit www.treehousesoap.ca.

Submitted by Angelica Ingram