Welcome and enjoy your visit. As we grow, we'll be updating this webpage hopefully at least once a month with all of our new arrivals, new happenings and what shows we're planning to attend or have attended. Please check our What's New and For Sale pages each time you visit as I hope to make several additions to those pages as our herd grows and changes.
For everyone who has signed my guestbook, I'm thrilled and welcome! I would like to point out, though, that I cannot see your email address from what you leave on the guest book and so if you would like more information on anything you see here from goat care to babies for sale to milking and cheese-making instructions and help, please drop me an email so I can reply right back to you!
I am also going to be updating my LINKS page so if you know of any good goat links you think I should provide, please send them to me in an email and I'll see about adding them at my next update.
We don't generally attend too many shows as our main emphasis is on temperament and production in the milk pail but because I believe a goat's production in the pail is a reflection of correct conformation and adherence to the breed standard, we are confident that when we do show our goats should do rather well. We also are looking forward to several of our babies being sold to show homes and doing well for their new owners. UPDATE: as of 03/12/2008, several of our does have kidded and several more are due in the next few days, so be sure to check out our for sale page for pictures and details!
Lately I've been hearing a lot about 'Localvores' - people who choose to only consume products that are made or grown within a certain (100 miles??) radius of their home, both to support their communities and to cut down on the amount of toxic emissions from having to truck groceries and supplies several thousand miles to stores in distant towns and cities. I like to think that the web has made the world local; we can get whatever we want no matter where it is grown and we find out about these products through their exposure on the internet. That said I do also like to patronize my local farmers and craftspeople. I will in the future be listing several links to people who sell what they make or grow and are looking for local buyers as a way to enhance their communities as well as provide for their families in a way that doesn't put a lot of pressure on the environment. This is what Wikipedia has to say about Localvores and here is just ONE of the many informative links on this new old idea and while it may not seem practical for everyone, it is an interesting and fun way to get involved in your local community. I myself prefer to do as much of my business as I can using local artisans, craftspersons and skilled professionals, preferring to give my money to my neighbors whenever possible. I think being a producer (milk, eggs, livestock for food and brush-clearing, etc.) helps me meet many wonderful people that also prefer to look closer to home for their food.
One example of a locally-produced non-food item would be the wonderful 'Shawls From The Heart' produced at Take Heart Farm by Tina French. These items are not only gorgeous and extremely well-made, Tina also grows the goats (and other fiber animals) that the fiber comes from and then processes and dyes it herself or has it done locally in conjunction with other local fiber producers. The fiber then gets hand-spun and dyed by Tina herself (or Kathy or one of the other local ladies) and eventually becomes these lovely garments, craft and decorative items and other great things for the home. I urge you to check out Tina's shop and to make an effort to seek out your own local producers and give them your support.
Marla