Crying over spilled milk...................

Lately this has been happening a lot.  I literally feel sick to my stomach when I dump out the morning milking.  Honestly that is what we have been doing.  Because of our unlicensed status we can't sell our milk or cheese.     Because we can't advertise our products its very hard for us to get the word out that we have it...when we do in fact have it, a lot of it in fact....I was milking 6 goats and have cut back to 4 and soon enough will be 3.  I will be going from 4 gallons a day to 2 which I think will be a bit more manageable.  Still I can't drink or make 14 gallons of cheese products in a week.  So what do I do...I can't keep throwing it in the compost pile.....The investment of the grain in  these ladies milk production is not cheap....so I must devise a plan of action.  Part of this plan is in the works, and I hope to reveal it in the spring when I return from Ireland.  But one part of the plan is this......If you want to try some goats milk and cheese, and you are going by the farm or out for a drive...you should let me know and stop in.  We are now going to be giving away to people who are interested our milk and cheese and sometimes ice cream.  I feel like if we begin to develop our clientele while we work towards getting licensed then we will be all the better off when we are able to go public with our products.  I want so much to feed people and make them happy and I know that the people who have tried our cheese and ice cream, and yes even our milk are thoroughly satisfied.  I have even gotten some people who "hate" goat cheese to try it and have been converted to fresh goat cheese lovers.  This is a wonderful feeling.  So if you read this, and you have been wanting to try some cheese.  Let me know.  Get in touch with me......

the friendly female farmer.

You can find me on facebook as Beth Walker or on my farm page....Smiling Goat Farm

whoot whoot...i'm back in business!!!!

Well hello....I'm so sorry to have left you hanging...the honest truth is, that my computer was on the fritz, or at least the connection was and me being a not so savvy person in regards to computer problems it sat on the side table without a hope.  Thank goodness for my friend Joe and his awesome computer capabilities....we are back at it now.
All I can say is that I have been so busy I have barely any time to think, let alone blog, so its been a good thing the computer has been down.
I have been working down the hill at my friend Tiffany's business, guiding trail rides....along with working here at our farm, doing whatever I can to keep the place presentable. Dealing with devious, escape artist goats, and the fact that we are getting a new horse...putting in a few veggies for nibbling before I leave for my trip to Ireland....No big garden this year, because I won't be home to do all the canning....
I'm so glad to be back doing this....I have missed it a great deal and now that the computer is all fixed...we can move on to our cute and entertaining stories...
Hope to see you back and reading and sharing the blog...Its a big help to get me out into the mainstream....
Love you all and appreciate you reading...
Have a wonderful night, stay cool and chat with you all again soon.

the friendly female farmer.....

Where do you go???????

Where do you go in the evening, when the lights in the house are all off and everyone but you has gone to bed?  Do you sit up and watch the TV, Do you sit on your stoop, or on the back deck?  Very simply for me its out in the barn watching the sun set, or when its all dark, listening to the peepers, and slowly walking back to the house in the dark.  I thought I loved "places" before, but it wasn't the same as now.  The simplest things make me smile, the noises you hear, when you are actually "listening" are incredible...knowing you are not alone in the dark is a comfort.  Having this place to go to is my personal therapy sessions, where I take stock of my body and how I am feeling at the end of the day.  The last few days my hands have been hurting....Just so you know, milking 6 goats by hand twice a day is hard on your body...My my friend Aimee's husband  JOhn says I will be able to crush walnuts by the end of the summer...
 I take a minute and say thank you, for all that I have and continue to receive.  I listen for a minute longer and usually head into the house....
I usually go to bed refreshed and renewed for the coming of the next day..... The barn is my church and I worship there everyday.....
Thanks Ya'll have a wonderful evening and take a moment to worship in the church of nature...it will do your soul good. 
love ya
the friendly female farmer