The goats are always looking for something to eat… whether they are hungry, or not. One of their all-time favorite snacks is oak leaves and they will go to great lengths to snag a leaf. They are excellent at trimming a tree “goat high”, which is about five feet from the ground (or as high as they can reach on their hide legs).
The four goats on the side of the shed in the picture for this post are all the same age, almost two years old. Although they are from different mothers, they often hang around together.
The girls just found some new oak leaves to munch on
Every spring, we have the alpacas sheared. It’s a job for a professional because it’s a bit dangerous (controlling that large an animal is tough) and it has to be done correctly to get the best fiber yeild.
So, last Wednesday was the day for it. Although the alpacas object strenuously to the whole process, they get over it quickly and I think they feel much better without that thick coat. They certainly have spent much more time out in the sun since the shearing.
It is amazing how much different the alpacas look after shearing, very sleek, sporting very long necks! They look a bit like ET with long necks and big eyes.
We got the word on Tuesday that we were accepted into the Colonial Heights Farmer’s Market. Because of Covid, last year most farmer’s markets were either closed down or running at reduced capacity. Most were not accepting new vendors. So, we put our plans on hold last year, and decided to wait and try this year. We have also been accepted for the Dorey Park Farmer’s Market starting in June.
So, all week was a rush to get everything together to sell at the farmer’s market this weekend. We have most products already made, but they all needed to be labeled in accordance with the state requirements. And then we had to make up some signage and figure out how to keep the eggs cool. We had to get the right size tent and decide on tables. We got it all together and made it to the market in time. I think we did well for our first time. And we have a list of things to do to improve next time.
I failed to take a picture of the market, so I am including a picture of the arrangement I made today with our lilacs. Each week, I try to make an arrangement using flowers from our yard all spring and summer.
Yesterday afternoon, we were returning home after some errands and we got a call from the guy who was fixing one of our rooves. He said a tree had fallen in our goat paddock, across the fencing. He was standing guard to make sure the goats didn’t get out. Fortunately, we were only about 5 minutes away!
There is a very large oak tree in the buck paddock and the trunk splits into two sections about 15 feet off the ground. The smaller of these two sections broke away and fell unto the back section of fencing. We lost at least six sections of cattle panel fencing, several posts and a four foot gate. you can see the damage in the picture for this post.
Fortunately, all the goats are fine, in fact, the bucks are loving having all those oak leaves to munch on. There was some mistletoe on the branches and we had to remove it all because it can be toxic for goats (although, the goat love it even more than oak leaves!).
Chuck secured the fencing temporarily and we will start the cleanup soon. It was an oak tree and so we will split the wood, stack it, and use it for firewood next year.
We have 15 Nubian goats in our herd. 4 bucks and 11 does. In the picture for today, all the does are waiting on Chuck and I to finish with the bucks so they can get dinner.
Two of our does are pregnant and due to deliver in May. I can’t wait! There really very few creatures cuter than a newborn nubian kid… perhaps our 10 grandchildren 🙂
I am back to blogging and will try to send a message at least weekly… we will see how that goes. We have been very busy getting things set up at the farm. We have been at it for just over a year and things are moving along. We had a sign made by a local artist and old friend and just put it up about a week ago. We planted a few knockout roses and holly shrubs around it, I will get a picture of that soon. Makes us feel like the farm is getting real!
