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Homegrown Collective Subscription Box Review – August 2014

Haley Faye
ByHaley FayeDec 8, 2016 | 15 comments

Homegrown Collective Subscription Box Review - August 2014 Box

UPDATE: This subscription is no longer sending boxes. DO NOT subscribe.

Homegrown Collective is a DIY eco-friendly subscription box. Each month has a different theme, and its a great way to learn about different healthy things you can make and use around your home.

Homegrown Collective sent us this box for review purposes. (Check out thereview process post to learn more about how we review boxes).

The Box: The Homegrown Collective GREENBOX

The Cost: $39 a month plus $9 shipping (Free shipping and free month with annual subscription)

The Products: Green products and projects that allow you to be more self-sufficient.

Ships to: US and Canada (additional costs for Canada shipping – pricing available upon request).

Check out all of my Homegrown Collective GREENBOX reviews, the DIY Subscription Box Directory and the Eco-Friendly Subscription Box Directory!

Homegrown Collective Subscription Box Review - August 2014 Coconut Oil

August’s theme is “the Beauty of Coconut Oil (part two).” Each project in the box comes with a sheet detailing how to use the items included, and providing background on the benefits of the eco-friendly approach. This month, the projects are coconut oil chap stick, coconut toothpaste, and coconut oil deodorant.

Homegrown Collective Subscription Box Review - August 2014 Plan

I’ve been a long-time lover of coconut oil and I missed out on Homegrown Collective’s original Beauty of Coconut Oil box, so I was really excited to see them do a Part Two box.

Homegrown Collective Subscription Box Review - August 2014 Items

DIY Coconut Oil Homegrown Lip Chap

Ingredients: Beeswax, coconut oil, shea butter, sweet almond oil, essential oils of choice (they included lemon and peppermint in this month’s kit).

I can never have too much chapstick – this project was my favorite in the box this month!

Making the chapstick was really simple and I liked the process (it’s really just melting ingredients all together and pouring them in the tubes). It’s supposed to be made last because using the dropper to put the chapstick in the tubes is supposed to ruin the dropper. I wish this fact was listed at the top of the instructions instead of at the bottom, because I definitely made this first (Oops! I should know to read ahead by now!). Fortunately, I was able to salvage the dropper (and I also had an extra from last month’s box to use, too).

However, my issue with this project is that I had a significant amount of excess in the mason jar after filling the chapstick tubes! Seriously, I had enough leftover to make probably eight more chapsticks. I didn’t want to dump so much extra product, but I know I probably won’t keep it around to refill these chapsticks (I don’t even think I’ve ever completely used up a whole tube before), so I just left it in the mason jar for now. I’m hoping to get some more chapstick tubes from a craft store and make use of it so it doesn’t go to waste.

Homegrown Collective Subscription Box Review - August 2014 Tools

DIY Coconut Deoderant

Ingredients: Coconut oil, baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), shea butter, maize starch, lemon essential oil, beeswax (optional as a hardener)

I’ve read about connections between deoderants and breast cancer before, but I haven’t actually tried natural deoderants yet – I guess that’s about to change!

There was only one mason jar in the kit and at this point mine was now full of extra chapstick. Fortunately, I had an extra from last month’s kit, so I was able to use that to make the deodorant. The process for this was very similar to the chapstick, and again I had a significant amount of extra leftover (even more than I actually poured into the container). So, I also have a mason jar half-full of perfectly good, natural deodorant formula.

Homegrown Collective Subscription Box Review - August 2014 Ingredients

DIY Coconut Toothpaste

Ingredients: coconut oil, baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), sea salt, peppermint essential oil

To be honest, I didn’t end up making the toothpaste. It’s supposed to be kept in a glass jar, which seems like it could be inconvenient, personally. Also, I was already extremely short on glass containers, so I didn’t have one to use to make or to hold the toothpaste in.

Homegrown Collective Subscription Box Review - August 2014 Final Product

(The finished chapsticks and deodorant)

Verdict:  Overall, I liked this Homegrown Collective box. I’m bummed that there was more excess chapstick and deodorant product than I actually needed for the projects (I could have easily halved the recipes for both and still have had a little extra, but it would have been a small enough amount that I wouldn’t feel bad tossing the remainder), and if I didn’t have an extra mason jar on hand, I don’t think I would have been able to complete more than one project. All in all, though, I liked the projects and look forward to trying out the things I made! Even something as simple as chapstick feels so much more cool when you know it’s something you’ve made, don’t you think? I’m already excited for the next box!

What did you think of the August Homegrown Collective box? Do you use 100% natural deodorant or toothpaste like this?

Haley Faye
Haley Faye
Haley Faye first discovered the wonderful world of subscription boxes in 2012 and began writing for MSA in 2014. Over the years, she has found many subscriptions to love. Now a mom of three, her favorite boxes are ones that dress her kids, help her get organized, feed her family, send her snacks, and offer educational fun for her children.

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15 comments

amanda

Do not subscribe to this company its a scam. They charged my card over $300 dollars after i tried to cancel. Their site does not have phone number or social media so they can be impossible to contact. The IRS is investigating them. Do not use them! DO NOT

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Lani

I’m so bummed to hear the negative reviews. I’ve been wanting this subscription for more than a year and was finally ready to order it, but am hesitant because of the negative customer service I’m hearing about. I wonder if, to be safe, I subscribe for 3 months (one credit card charge) will the subscription automatically stop? Their boxes look really nice, and would be fun to do with my (older) kids.

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Jo

@ Lani. I subscribe to my lemon crate and it is similar. Mia, one of the owners, is fantastic to deal with and extremely prompt to reply. I have made lots of fun things, hand wipes, lip gloss, lime salt and loads more. Will find the link and post it for you…

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PA Anna

Lani – I never had any customer services issues and been subscribing since July of this year. I did receive the wrong box this month which was quickly fixed by sending an email to Mitchell who sent out the correct box right away which I do have in my possession. It does bother me a bit that the customer service isn’t the same across the board, but I haven’t had any issues.

It’s a fun box. I’ve made boxes with my husband, with my sister, and even my 6 year old has helped in a safe way for a 6 year old. I do not know if a multiple month subscription autorenews.

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Kat

Unfortunately, I can’t say anything about the products, only the customer service.

I had a deal to receive a free Dead Sea Salt Scrub Kit as a trial membership. I signed up and got an e-mail stating the following “You will receive your Dead Sea Salt Scrub Kit in about 10 days and have the opportunity to become a full-time Member or cancel at that time.”

8 weeks later, no samples, no update/follow up email, nothing. The ONLY thing I have gotten from the company is a request to update my credit card number (my card was to expire 2 months after signing up). I could have followed up, though I see from other reviews that may have been rather pointless and only more frustrating.

I simply don’t feel right giving my credit card number to a company who not only didn’t send me the initial product as promised, but does not care enough about their product quality and customer satisfaction to follow up with an e-mail (automated even) stating the product has or has not been sent, or following up for customer input, etc.

I canceled my subscription, end of story.

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Shelley

HOW did you cancel your subscription? I’ve been emailing, calling, posting on their FB (which first they replied to and then deleted) all to no avail. I am ANGRY at this point.

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Julie

I canceled by email, continued to be charged, and eventually filed credit card dispute- that was the only remedy that worked. I posted on Facebook and emailed, but responses were empty promises.

PA Anna

My September box arrived today! Can’t wait to do it.

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margo

A lot of the health food stores carry the lip balm containers and other kinds of containers that come in handy!

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PA Anna

This is one of my favorite subscriptions. I enjoy making my own products and also garden which means I have extra glass and mason jars. I’ve been using the deodorant with no problems. It was fun making lip balm which I never made before and been using it too. Also, I made the toothpaste which I’ve been using with no problems. It looks pretty on my dresser in a glass jar. I wet my toothpaste and use a clean spoon to spoon out the toothpaste onto the brush. I’m hoping my September box will show up soon. The whole box took me maybe an hour to make with interruptions from the children. It’s fun and a great way to learn how to do things without investing in everything that is needed.

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Haley

Anna – I’ve been loving the lip balm in the couple days I’ve been using it! Also, I definitely picked up some extra mason jars today so I’m especially prepared for future boxes. ;]

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PA Anna

Great! I hope that means we will be seeing more reviews 🙂

Helene

I love Homegrown Collective! I already use a blend of coconut oil/baking soda/essential oils for a deodorant for my family, so this expanded project will be fun! The toothpaste project will be new for me, but welcome as I’ve always wanted to find a more natural, homegrown way to clean my teeth.

~Helene

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