The quest for a healthier life and products that are good for the body, good for the soul and good for the planet started with a little cabin in the woods.

The weekend getaway slowly turned into a new way of life with a mission and a purpose,  as we experimented with creating all natural products that could easily be incorporated into daily life and then started sharing those products with our friends at home and at the farmer’s markets. Tired of needing a dictionary and chemistry degree to decipher food and skincare labels, we initially concentrated on those two areas to create fresh and healthy food for our farm and our fresh, high quality goat’s milk soap and skin care line which quickly developed a huge following. As we talk the talk, we also try to walk the walk: the farm generates about half of its electricity with its own solar system; chemical fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides are absent from the farm; the animals live on pastures and their diet is mainly hay-based (which is locally sourced); the feed for the lactating goats is reviewed and approved by AWA, and consists of at least 50% of Alfalfa pellets to reduce GMO content; and the chickens are truly free-range. As a result of our sustainable practices, the farm has been Animal Welfare Approved Certified for 5 years and is also LilMamaApproved.

Our philosophy and desire to reduce the farm’s and our hoof print on Earth is now stronger than ever and is slowly reaching into other areas of the farm such as making our own dog-biscuits without preservatives, using all natural protective outdoor sprays and by using eco-responsible packaging with soy inks and recycled paper without glue; by producing products free of chemicals, artificial dyes, cancer causing preservatives or alcohols. To accomplish all this, of course we need help, and we have incorporated a program where we host, free of charge, like-minded people of all ages on the farm to pass on our knowledge and passion for a humane and healthy Earth.

We cannot all be born to greatness, but we are all unique, and we can all make small changes each, which combined and in unity, will make a huge difference for all of us.

For a glimpse into our farm life, check out this video about us, done by students of the G-Star School of the Arts in Florida. Serenity Acres Farm – Life By the Bucket

Meet Julia

Occupation: Founder & Owner of Serenity Skincare; Farmer; Goat Mother; Soapmaker; Customer Relations; Wife; Friend; Teacher;

Place of Residence: Pinetta, Florida

Background and Personal History: I grew up in Germany where ingredients are still natural, raw milk is available and eggs can be delivered to your house by the farmer. Family style dinners and home cooked meals where the norm. My mother used natural skincare and believed in simple and healthy ingredients. Have you ever taken the time to read the ingredients on your soap, shampoos, lotions and the foods you are eating? How many of those words and ingredients are you familiar with? Have you taken the time to look up some of those ingredients and been scared to death because you encountered terms such as “cancer causing”, and “endocrine disrupter”. Once you do, there is no turning back. I learned that up to 60 percent of what you apply to your skin is absorbed into your body. I learned that once something passes through any of the 5 million pores on your skin, it can enter your lymph and bloodstream and travel to your organs. If it’s a healthy substance, that can be a good thing. But with endocrine disrupters, cancer causing chemicals and other toxic ingredients found in many common products, this is not a good thing for us or the environment. After we started with the first few ingredients, we set out to minimize the poisons we up to then so voluntary put into and onto our bodies. Mindful living to be healthy and leave a healthy planet behind has become the goal of my life including teaching and passing on that passion and quest to the younger generation and anyone who is willing to listen. Starting and running a goat dairy was the first step to healthy dairy food and the creation and implementation of Serenity Skincare was the logical next step for me. I have many more lotion, mask and creme recipes still in my files and I can’t wait to try them and test them and bring them to you.

Current Projects: Developing, Testing, and Making Serenity Soaps and Skincare Products, Construction of the soap lab, and a never-ending stream of projects on the farm.

Other Fun Facts: I have been together with my husband since 1984, and I still am madly in love with him. I am passionate about animals and animal welfare, I love doing yoga, dancing, great food, and boutique hotels. My favorite movie is Secondhand Lions, my favorite TV show was Firefly, and I love to read Sci-fi/Fantasy books. I drive a car with 268,000 plus miles which transports everything from family to feed and stinky bucks.