A Little Taste of “Heaven”
By Francesca Bartolomey 
September 9, 2010 
13 Comments
Much of what we write about here at Appetite for Good is devoted to what we put in our bodies. This week I’m switching it up a little bit and writing about what we put on our bodies. But even though the topic isn’t food, take a look at some of these photos and tell me your mouth isn’t watering!
Meet Mary Harris (on left, pictured with her mother, Cathie Crist). She’s the founder of Heaven & Earth, LLC, a boutique on-line soap shop specializing in hand-made, all-natural products. The philosophy is simple, natural, healthy, and happy living, a philosophy Mary has sought to embody ever since her first exposure to one of nature’s most magnificent sights: the islands of Hawaii.
Mary moved to Hawaii after graduating from college. But home beckoned and one year later, she and her new husband settled down in Mary’s home state of New Jersey. Still unsure about where her life would take her, Mary went back to school and earned a Master’s degree. Soon after, she found herself employed as both a director of marketing and public relations and as an adjunct professor. Despite having both a happy home and a happy professional life, something still nagged at her. Entrepreneurs usually describe it as an itch incapable of being articulated further. As Mary described it, something was “missing.â€
One day, Mary’s mom e-mailed her an article about a successful marketing director for a large corporation who had one day up and sold her place and moved out to her grandfather’s farm to start a soap business. Inspired, Mary tracked down the woman and the two began corresponding. Armed with the encouragement of her family and hours of research, Mary registered Heaven & Earth, LLC and set to work making soaps.
Personally, I love Mary’s soaps. I’ve only recently gotten the bug to go all-natural when it comes to skin care, and it’s a gradual process. I learned of Heaven & Earth via their Facebook page and the soaps just looked so amazing, I decided to order my first batch. I began with one bar of each of the soaps available at the time: the Luxury Lavender Vanilla, the Island Coconut Lime, and the Whipped Lemon Sugar soaps.
As I pulled at the packing tape, good smells were already wafting up from the cardboard. Each soap was wrapped individually in 100% recycled paper and affixed on one side of each bar was the Heaven & Earth logo and on the other was a sticker detailing all the ingredients in that particular bar — for someone who likes to know exactly what is touching her skin, this was a very nice touch!
When I finished with each bar, I was hooked and ready to place my second order. I ordered the new Citrus Soap and the Sweet Apple Cobbler. The great thing about these soaps is that not only does my skin feel smooth and clean right after my shower, but my skin still smells of the soap all day long. I wouldn’t expect that of a soap that isn’t laden with chemicals, so it was a very pleasant surprise.
Simple, natural, healthy, and happy living – it’s a lifestyle that Mary tries to embody every day, whether it’s through her business, Heaven & Earth, or through her gardening, or through her home, where she seeks to emulate the urban homestead advocated for by the Dervaes family, or through her participation in the 100 Thing Challenge, a voluntary simplicity movement. Giving back is also an important value Mary holds; personally and through Heaven & Earth, Mary supports the following charities and non-profit organizations:
- The United States Armed Forces, especially the Marine Corps (of which her husband is a combat veteran)
- Soldiers’ Angels
- The Mission of Mercy in Uganda
- The World Wildlife Fund
- The Arbor Day Foundation
- Local firefighters and EMTs
On the horizon for Heaven & Earth are several exciting new product areas including beeswax candles, lip balm, laundry detergent, and shampoo bars. Mary has also begun to branch into hand-crocheted wash-cloths and a line of homemade dog treats and dog soap. Organic honey is in the works as well, as Mary’s husband Cody started two organic beehives earlier this year that he keeps at a New Jersey CSA called Three Pines Farm. (For those who are unaware, CSA stands for community-supported agriculture; you can get more information here.)
Heaven & Earth soaps make great gifts for birthdays, holidays, and even special events. For more information, please check out Heaven & Earth on Facebook and follow them Twitter.
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Those look great. I’m not sure whether I want to eat them or wash my hands with them!
Yeah, and when you smell them it doesn’t help. I really wanted to lick the lemon sugar one. I was like, well, it IS all natural…
Beautiful photos. Now I see why they call it a “cake” of soap. Delectable!
Haha, I didn’t make that connection — that’s right!
It’s gorgeous. Of course, since I have my own home made soap supplier, I didn’t see this and you didn’t see me here. Shhhhhh
I won’t tell.
Wonderful post and great-looking soap!
Thanks for stopping by!
I received two kinds of Heaven and Earth soaps as a gift and they are wonderful!!! I use them on my body, face and my 8 year old son. He loves the smell of the lemon-poppy seed. Try them.
They’re great aren’t they? Thanks for coming by Appetite for Good!
Thank you, everyone! We are currently working on a pumpkin soap for the fall/winter. =)
Yum!! Can’t wait to try it!
whats soap? do ppl actually use this thing you call “soap”?