This Way to Oregon

I am a bit obsessed with pioneer stories. There is just something about the grit and determination it took to move through the harsh unknown that speaks to me. The Oregon Trail has always been one of my favorites. While the tral didn't make it as far out as the coast, I'm still close enough to know that I must hav e a soap made with an Oregon Trail Story.

This story, the one you are about to watch in my homemade video, is mostly the gold rush. But, the sign is from the Oregon Trail and the pioneer spirit is the same.

Here is the fable that lead to the soap, we will call it The Tale of "This Way to Oregon"

As the legend goes, sometime during the height of the Gold Rush (late 1840s to early 1850s), westward travelers on the Oregon Trail reached a fork near Raft River in Idaho. The pioneers were facing one of many decions that must be made on their travels. 

⬅️ One road pointed toward California, newly flooded with gold-seekers

➡️ The other pointed toward Oregon promising farmland, timber, and the chance to build a new life

The story says that at this fork, travelers came upon a handmade wooden sign

🪧The California direction was marked by a pile of glittering gold-painted rocks: enticing, showy, loud.

🪧The Oregon direction had a humble hand-painted message: “This Way to Oregon”

According to the legend, the contrast between the two paths was meant to reflect the choices of character:

• Those driven by greed, blinded by gold fever, followed the glittering path to California.

• Those who could see past the surface, who sought endurance, community, and quiet opportunity, chose the Oregon Trail.

The implication?

“Those who could read, chose Oregon.”

Our activated charcoal bar has always been made with a hot process. If you don't know that term, that's completely fine, and if you're interested I can make a post about the different ways soap can be made (let me know in the comments). The reason we have decided to keep this bar as a hot process bar is because it's a slow process, only a small amount can be made at a time, and this process gives the bar a bit of a "rough or rugid" look. We felt that these qualities held true for our "This Way to Oregon" bar.

If you would like to learn more about the Oregon Coast, or just want a good read, here are some of my favorite books.

Women's Voices from the Oregon Trail: The Times That Tried Women's Souls and a Guide to Women's History Along the Oregon Trail by Susan G Butrulle

Before this book, it never occurred to me to consider that women did not have a choice but to travel the Oregon Trail. The author also supplies recipes at the end of this book which is super cool. I do not own this book, I check it out from our local library, but this book is definitely on my wish list to own someday.

The Oregon Trail: A New American Journey by Rinker Buck

Rinker and his brother Nick buy some mules, a covered wagon, and they travel today's Oregon Trail. This book is full of history, sibling rivalry, and terrible language (if you do not care for foul language in your reads, this book is most definitely not for you).

A Big Sky Christmas

William W. Johnstone, J.A. Johnstone

This book is part of a Christmas series that I started a couple years ago. I only read one book at Christmas, so it's slow moving. This book isn't necessarily the Oregon Trail rather a "wagon train" but, same difference. It's a Christmas/Cowboy book, what more needs to be said? 

Great Pioneer Projects: You Can Build Yourself (Build It Yourself) by Rachel Dickinson (author), Shawn Braley (illustrator)

The children and I spent a year going through this book and recreating some of the projects they provide. I will have to come back and share some of our photos but I know we made a covered wagon, a travel bag, and a log cabin from sweets.

Apples to Oregon

Being the (Slightly) True Narrative of How a Brave Pioneer Father Brought Apples, Peaches, Pears, Plums, Grapes, and Cherries (and Children) Across the Plains by Deborah Hopkinson (author), Nancy Carpenter (illustrator)

This picture book is a "slightly" true story of a father who not only moved his family by the Oregon Trail, but his apple trees too! This is a fantastic read for my gardener friends. Warning: Best read with a slice of apple pie and some apple cider.