Never a dull moment...

I'll bet someone back east is going, 'Now why don't she write?'

:-P

I'll have you know that I am writing here and there but by then it's after dark and I can't run the internet and by morning the farm takes over... So I've wound up with almost two months of stories piled up begging to be paired with pictures and posted.

I'll also have you know I'm not doing either of those things right now. The thing is, kidding season began two weeks early (more on that later) and with babies comes bottle feeding three times a day and milking twice a day. It's fun and fantastic, but on top of other farm chores it eats up most of my days as of late, not to mention added randomness. Like, oh, I don't know...today.

I checked on all the pregnant girls and no babies were happening today. Turns out nothing much was happening today...other than fence repairs turning morning chores into afternoon chores with a minute amount of rest until 2nd feeding before evening chores begin. It's one on those days... The wild (and tame) pigs are driving me bonkers with their complete and utter disregard for goat fences...the nerve...
So I'm wandering through the three acre paddock the goats currently reside in and along the lower perimeter of the property I hear my bucks (who are in the adjacent leased acres). They were squawking, I thought, about how I hadn't come down to see them yet. I wasn't having any luck finding the yearlings, so I figured I'd check on the boys while I was down there and then resume my search. Turns out, that's where the yearlings were and the bucks had been yelling "MOM! They're down here and they're totally throwing off our bachelor vibe! Do something!"
My goats are awesome. They rat each other out so they rest don't get into trouble. Not the first of the last time that's happened!

Oh and three of the yearlings and Jack, resident eunuch, just had to be in the middle of all the fence repair.
Jack: What are you doing? Got a t-post pounder? That looks heavy and manly and I'm only one of those anymore...
Ume: T-post clips! My favorite! nomnomnom (not really, she just liked to gum them like an idiot)
Adrienne: Mom, your tag is sticking out, let me chew it off for you.
Cheryl: I WANT TO GO OUT! *shove* DON'T FIX THE HOLE! GOD! YOU'RE RUINING MY LIFE!

Even with all that craziness...in the morning, while I was milking one of the girls, I thought "I could think of worse ways to spend my morning...". And yes, I'm tired a lot, and yes, I wish I had more time for hobbies (like blogging) but it's kidding season, which mean there's an end in sight. In the meantime, I have baby kids to cuddle and there's no way in hell I can stay sad or angry with a baby goat in my arms. They're just too damn cute!


I hope to have time later to post my back-log of things that have been going on lately.

Dairy Query!

It's a new year and it's time to go big or go home. The Mad Scientist and The Goat Mama have thought long and hard. Planned and gone back to the drawing board...and come up with a plan for a future for their farm. It's been studied with OCD efficiency...

We're heading down the long path to a certified Grade A goat dairy!

We would love to hear what you think about it!
Please take our poll on the right and if you want to help us out even more, complete the short questionnaire below and send it to us. Mahalo!

• Name/Pseudonym/Nickname:
• Would you enjoy a goat dairy based in Papa'aloa?
• May we quote you?
• Email/contact (if you would like updates):
• What goat product(s) would you be interested in?
  • fresh cheese (chevre, cottage cheese, feta, mozzarella)
  • aged cheese (Gouda, cheddar, Camembert, Swiss)
  • yogurt/kefir
  • ice cream
  • butter
  • milk
  • chevon
  • mutton
  • milk soap
  • other :

Our Crowdfunding Adventure: The GoFundMe Chapter

Hey all,

We've started a crowdfunding campaign on GoFundMe! Please go check it out and share and share alike.

"Fence For Goat Milk Soap Adventure"

Serena, Lessa and Apricot are waiting with anticipation.

They want to know if you helped. :-P

10 years later

I kept trying to think of something profound to say on the 10^th anniversary of my move to the Big Island, but my muses are all out eating grass, so I'd better keep it simple.

Ten years ago, today, I left a crowded plane and muttered a fatigued hello to Hawaii. It was the first time aircraft was involved in one of my many, many moves and the first time I'd shipped my belongings hoping they'd arrive soon after I did. (spoiler: they did)

Much has changed. I used to live in the city, on the hot, dry side of the island. Now I live on the cool, rainy side. I have 2.5 herds under my management. 22 goats, 19 pigs, one baby bull. They drive my crazy and keep me sane at the same time.

I've learned, loved and lost (animals, that is). I've had injuries along the way, some insignificant, some with lasting damage, and on two occasions required the ER and stitches. Yet having said that, my quality of life has much improved over the years. Farm work is hard, with long hours, but I have fallen in love with the simple, sweet rewards. I found the love of my life and we work this hobby farm together. We both have our strengths and weaknesses, favorite and least-favorite tasks and, as I type, he's in the kitchen making johnny cakes. Cause why the hell not?

I have a better understanding of the difference between preferred amenities and absolute necessities. It wasn't all by choice and I'm not boycotting anything, (aside from the occasional abomination of a movie), but you may be surprised what one can live without.

For example, roughin' it in a tent on a small plot of land made this abundantly clear:

Top 3 necessities

1. air

2. water

3. food

(and in Hawaii, shelter is optional)

amenities I wish I had today

1. generator

(the power to run the router and laptop requires sunshine to please the solar array gods. Until stated otherwise, posts are weather-permitting)

2. clothes washer

(yes, that means I do our laundry by hand. I do have a kickass clothes wringer, though. Before that laundry day sucked. You ever wring out a pair of jeans in a door jam?)

Why a blog?

In the past, I needed to walk five miles (down over a thousand feet elevation) to my local library to use their internet, then turn around and hike five miles back up to my home. It was inconvenient. I once went 3 months without using an internet connection because I had injured my knee. I'll admit I went a little nuts during that time, but I digress.

As of last fall, we now have internet on the farm and it's time to shed some light on the crazy shenanigans that happens here.

This blog is under construction. My hobby farm is under construction, as well. Stay tuned, misadventures ahead! 

Sincerely,

The Goat Mama