Monicas Cococastile Soap

02/01/2026

Good morning, it’s 28 degrees here in Florida and I thought we could use this to release some soaps from their molds! https://www.soapmakermonica.com/product/cococastile-bar-soap/?v=0b3b97fa6688

01/14/2026

🍊Cold Hardy Citrus 🍊 While North Florida gardeners can’t grow some tropical fruits that South Florida enjoys, luckily citrus is not one of them. Kumquats, calamondins, and two types of mandarins are hardy enough to withstand chilly winters.

This new Gardening Solutions article has cultivar recommendations and planting advice that holds for all citrus. https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/edibles/fruits/cold-hardy-citrus.html

Info on 🍊Satsumas 🍊Sugar Belle 🍊 Kumquat 🍊Calamondin

Read more on each citrus on our website:
🍊Satsumas https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/ch116

🍊Sugar Belle https://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/hort/2021/11/22/sugar-belle-mandarin-a-great-choice-for-the-florida-panhandle/

🍊Kumquats https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/edibles/fruits/kumquat/

🍊Calamondin https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/wakullaco/2019/12/18/calamondin-citrofortunella-microcarpa-ii/

icicles on citrus tree photo by Erin Ward Backyard Florida Fruitscapes

March 2024 repost💗 ~ Carolina Madera

01/14/2026

Savor the season by choosing food at its peak. 🥬 In Alachua County, a long growing season and more than 1,700 farms result in a bountiful variety of food. Weekly farmers markets bring it all together, connecting the community with fresh produce that’s often grown just miles from the table.

🗓️ MONDAYS

Grove Street Farmers Market
1001 NW 4th St. Gainesville, FL 32601
Mondays, 4 p.m. – 7 p.m.

🗓️ TUESDAYS

Archer Farmers Market
16994 SW 134th Ave, Archer, FL
Tuesdays, 3 p.m. – 7 p.m.
(352) 374-8240

🗓️ WEDNESDAYS

Florida School of Massage Farmers Market
6421 Southwest 13th Street, Gainesville, FL 32608
Wednesdays, 4 p.m. – 7 p.m.

San Felasco Market
13900 Tech City Cir, Alachua, FL 32615
Wednesdays, 4:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.

🗓️ FRIDAYS

High Springs Farmers Market
23666 NW 185th Rd. High Springs, FL 32643
Fridays, 3 p.m. – 7 p.m.
(352) 275-6346

🗓️SATURDAYS

Alachua County Farmers' Market
13900 Tech City Cir, Alachua, FL 32615
Saturdays, 8:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
(352) 371-8236

Alachua Farmers Market on Main
15000 Bob Hitchcock’s Main St., Alachua, FL
Saturdays (October – March)
9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Saturdays (April – September)
5 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Haile Farmers Market
Haile Farmer's Market
5213 SW 91st Terrace, Gainesville, FL
Saturdays, 8:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Sweet Roots Organic Farm & Nursery
16919 SW 15th Ave, Newberry, FL
Saturdays (October – mid July), 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
(352) 451-3756

Waldo Farmer's and Flea Market
17805 US-301, Waldo, FL 32694
Saturdays & Sundays, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
(352) 468-2255

📷Pictured: Seed packets from Working Food with illustrations by Seed & Garden Director Melissa DeSa

01/13/2026

Fulfilling orders, restocking stores and grinding the ends for the next batch of Monica’s CocoCastile shampoo bars! This next batch is going to be extra special!

01/12/2026

Making the Rosemary peppermint Aloe Horsetail Oatmilk shampoo! The blender helps release more of the nourishment of these ingredients added into CocoCastile soap formula of French milled unscented bars!

01/09/2026

Restocked at Sunflower Health food stores in Gainesville and Lake City and then went to Kanappaha botanical gardens for much needed plant’spiration!
If you know what I mean and the gardens are indeed inspiring!
Thank you for your love and support of Monica’s CocoCastile products! Some of you have been buying them since the beginning; when we were only at the Farmers Market at Bo Diddly square! Big hugs and here’s to another fantastic year of great looking skin and hair! 😘

01/01/2026

And a large section of Monica’s CocoCastile products too!
Happy New Year 🎊🎈🎆

Don't miss out on the last of 2025's deals! 🍾🎆

On sale this week: Louis Perdrier brut sparkling is $8.99, boneless New York strip steaks are $12.99/lb, fresh ground pork is $2.99/lb, locally grown bunch greens are $4.49/each, Ward's black eyed peas with ham hocks are $4.49/lb, and more! 🥂🥩🥬

12/30/2025

Wrapping up the year! Filling out store orders and shipping out online orders! WOW! Thank You so much for your support and love ❤️ xoxo 😘 You’re the difference maker in this world and keeping my company gainfully employed is also keeping all the other companies that we utilize to help us create our products and get those products to you guys! A Big Giant Chain of Love! All because you decided to purchase our organic, handmade products! Have a wonderful week and Fabulous New Year ahead!

12/27/2025

“Many of us have fond memories of receiving an orange in our Christmas stocking? Where does that tradition come from?

While I can trace my roots back to 3 A.D. (see below), and stockings became popular in the 1800s, citrus in stockings really took off in the United States during the Great Depression. Money was tight and getting a special orange on Christmas morning in your stocking was a real treat and something that a family could afford to splurge on.

I hear you have special relationship with St. Nicholas. Can you tell me about it?

We go way back. The legend is that the real St. Nicholas, the Bishop of Myra, gave sacks of gold to a poor man whose three daughters could not marry because he could not afford their dowries. The tale goes that St. Nick threw the sacks down the man’s chimney where they landed in the daughters stockings drying by the fire. Over the years, people honored the story by giving oranges – natural spheres of gold—in stockings.”

Excerpt from “Get to know…..Holiday Citrus” by Ruth Hohl Borger
https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/crec/2020/12/11/get-to-know-holiday-citrus/

Credits: Carolina’s FreePik premium membership stock images. Orange pomander balls image and cranberries, popcorn, and orange garlands image by Mariana Tulips and Twill

12/23/2025

Peek a boo, I see you! A morning visit from some of my neighbors!

12/22/2025

Monica’s CocoCastile Aloe Shampoo is unlike anything else! Customers rave about the way it feels, smells, works wonders on hair and how healthy their scalp and hair feels!
Available at Sunflower health food stores in Gainesville and Lake City!