About George McRae, the Soap Maker
I'm a professional actor. I received a degree in acting, but earned my living in photographics for most of my working life.
My father was a chemist and imparted to me a bit of the inquiring aspect of a scientific mind. And I also got from him my deep and undivided love of nature. I love messing about the kitchen and in a laboratory. In fact I have developed a character, as part of my improv work, who is a semi-mad scientist.
I learned to make soap as part of the "need to know" aspect of me. It can only be described as an impatient desire to understand how things work, and how things are made. My first soaps were made of lard and animal fats. They were fine soaps, having all the naturally occurring lanolin.
I learned that the soaps I really loved, the castile soaps, were olive oil based soaps. I found that my ethics also were changing. I needed to get away from animal exploitation as much as possible. Now, my soaps are entirely made of vegetable oils.
Besides soaps, I also have learned to make my own sourdough bread and have a starter that's now 5 years old. At one time I also made beer, and won a silver medal in 1988 at the Alameda County Fair. I have recently learned to make cheese.
I am an avid gardener, a native plant enthusiast, a father to 25 turtles and tortoises, a creek restoration advocate, and city council pest.
I have a web site focusing on my acting career www.voicewhiz.com which you can visit to learn more about this side of me.
I hope you enjoy our site and will consider trying our soaps!
