We grow a huge garden both for our family and to supplement the goats diet, and use the garden
space as part of our pasture rotation plan.
Keeping goats is amazingly educational and fits into our
schooling on a daily basis. Our kids know how to monitor body
condition, prepare and examine fecals and provide parasite load
analysis, they understand about food quality and how it affects
health, they learn about putting the needs of others before
themselves (such as when we have goats kidding on Christmas
morning and spend Christmas in the barn). They learn how to
care for the animals and not to take anything for granted.
It is very rewarding to see them respond to waste in a restaurant,
commenting on how much labor went into the production and
preparation of the food and how sad it is when people just throw
it out. When they eat cheese, they understand that it took hours
of labor to make the cheese, and then months to age it, and they
know how much milk it took to make a single pound of cheese,
and they realize it is a special food that should be treasured and
treated like gold. If we did not have a farm and livestock our
children would have such a different understanding of the world and food! Not to mention the pride
they take in showing off their milking skills and hard work when we have guests.
Being at home with my children and tending the farm has led to additional pursuits to keep my brain
and body busy. I am an avid woodworker and enjoy creating structures for the animals and home.
Since we manage our goats holistically I also do a lot with herbals and teaching others. I have also
become very interested in photography, trying to capture the essence of the animals and record this
time in our children's lives. Not only does it give us a way to remember special moments, it serves as
education for others and can be a source of income. A lot of people ask about the photography, it
captivates them and they want to try it for themselves. In another issue I plan to cover some details
about getting pictures of animals and children yourself and show you the different equipment
options available.
All photos credit Jordana Heath
FEB 2015 31