Meet the makers of the Dark Skies region

One of our places to visit in the PA Wilds is the Dark Skies region, but we also love to shop from the artisans there too! We put together a list of our favorites from each artisan in that region, and here they are.

If you’re heading to the Dark Skies region to camp out under the stars at Cherry Springs State Park, before you go pick up this better skin soap by Nonni and Papa Joe’s Homestead. Who says that when you go camping your skin has to rough it too? This soap is full of overall goodness, including a blend of skin softening oils, and a blend of essential oils of lavender, peppermint, and tea tree, making your skin smelling and feeling fresh. There are also no chemicals and additives to this soap, so it is free of those nasty chemicals. Even down to the packaging, which is a biodegradable shrink film, this soap is environmentally friendly, making it a great addition to your camping travel pack. Check out Nonni and Papa Joe’s Homestead on the Marketplace for other wonderful soaps.

If you have a sweet tooth, you’re definitely going to want to add this next item to your list of roaptrip  essentials. Take the sweet taste of maple syrup with you with this maple cotton candy by Patterson Farms. Don’t have a stack of pancakes? That’s okay, this cotton candy will appease your craving for maple syrup in its handy to go container. It’s big enough to share with a group of friends, so pass it around so everyone can get a taste of the homemade goodness that is Patterson's maple syrup. We promise you won’t be disappointed. They also have a whole line of other maple treats, delicious to the very last bite!

The student entrepreneurs at The Rustic Duck have quite the line of products, our favorite being the hand poured candle in a mason jar. Each candle is made from soy wax featuring a clean burn cotton wick, and are hand poured by students at Otto-Eldred High School Agriculture Science Department and FFA Chapter. They feature a variety of scents, including cinn apple berry, blueberry cobbler and honey suckle. When you purchase from The Rustic Duck, each product supports hands-on learning, creativity, and sustainable entrepreneurship, what a great cause!