4H Project Leads to Successful Local Business

Following her son's 4H project, which largely centered on raising and caring for goats, Nancy Butler wanted to find a purpose for the animals now on her property.

"They're cute, entertaining and interesting," Butler said of her goats.

After making cheese from the goat milk, Butler brought forward another idea she wanted to try out – organic, locally made goat soap.

After some background work, testing and surveys of family and friends, Butler found a formula for making soap that works for her and her business, Granby's Lyric Hill Farm.

“I’ve learned along the way,” she said.

That soap formula is now used to make about 20 different varieties, including herbal, lavender mint, lemon vanilla, rose geranium, sweet Earth and citrus basil. An unscented version made with local honey as a natural preservative is also available. Butler sticks to all natural ingredients, sometimes grown on her own farm, and only uses plant-based materials.

Her product line has expanded during Lyric Hill’s four years of operation to include bath salts, sugar scrubs and body butters, along with handmade washcloths.

Her operations have expanded as well, as she sells soaps through a number of local outlets including the , , and two Hartford-based locations, the Connecticut Historical Society museum store, and the Noah Webster House.

“Every year it gets a little bigger,” Butler said. “I can support my goat habit.”

Although Butler didn’t want to jinx a process that hasn’t yet been completely finalized, a local customer will likely be bringing Lyric Hill Farm soaps to be sold in an international location many thousands of miles away from Granby.

“People have been so receptive and helpful,” she said.

A transplant from upstate New York, Butler has been very happy to live and operate her own business in Granby so far.

“Granby is such a great town and community,” she said. “We’ve met so many wonderful people.”

Butler donates part of her proceeds to Heifer International, . She also produces private-label soap for the Jubilee Market, another non-profit that works to stop human trafficking.

Butler’s favorite parts of her work are the creativity involved and the interpersonal aspects of the work, along with the chance to simply participate in happy events.

“I like interacting with other people and having people like what I make,” she said.

To learn more about Lyric Hill Farm, visit its website.