Who We Are
Hello! This is Ellen, the maker and owner behind Fat Chap Co.! I started this little soap adventure in early 2021. We specialize in creating handmade, natural bath and body products and my mission is to provide everyday people with the most high quality, nutrient dense, and affordable self-care luxury items.
I have been trained in all sorts of jobs and trades, from Drawing, Painting, Printmaking, Intaglio , Metal working, Ceramics, Machinery, to Production and Manufacturing, to Culinary and finally Butchery. I have stayed with butchery the longest; for six years and I think I finally found my forever career here. I currently work as a butcher for the Custom Processing shop at The Meating Place in Hillsboro Oregon. Previously, I worked at a hog processing plant, in Carlton, Oregon and I stayed there for 3 years as well, absorbing and learning as much of the trade as I could.
I like to see the “beginnings” of things, the raw form and experience the process of creating. ——— I think soap making celebrates that.
From working as a full time butcher , I see first hand the amount of perfectly loved and raised livestock that local farmers were ultimately unknowingly wasting. Most farmers have so much product after processing that something minor such a as organ fat, or suet would build up in our rendering buckets. Suet and fat make up 30% of the waste thrown into these buckets, then taken to rendering plants and also landfills.
I love that I have finally found a sustainable, resourceful way to use this fat to its fullest potential. Nourishing dry skin. Soothing cracked knuckles. The amount of fat I see from some animals that is unaccounted for is INSANE. Fat Chap Co. utilizes, supports and promotes WHOLE ANIMAL BUTCHERY and here’s why that is important….
Utilizing the whole animal in butchery is important for a variety of reasons, including:
Reducing waste: When a butcher utilizes the whole animal, it helps to reduce waste by ensuring that all parts of the animal are utilized. This can include using bones for broth, organs for pâté, and fat for rendering.
Maximizing value: By utilizing the whole animal, butchers can maximize the value of each animal, making it more economical for both the butcher and the consumer. This can help to reduce the overall cost of meat and make it more accessible to a wider range of people.
Supporting sustainable practices: Utilizing the whole animal is an important part of sustainable butchery practices. It helps to reduce the environmental impact of meat production by ensuring that all parts of the animal are used, rather than simply discarding certain parts.
Preserving traditional skills: Butchery is an ancient skill that has been passed down through generations. By utilizing the whole animal, butchers can help to preserve these traditional skills and ensure that they are not lost over time.
Overall, utilizing the whole animal in butchery is important for reducing waste, maximizing value, supporting sustainable practices, and preserving traditional skills.
