GO(a)T MILK?

So, many years ago I sold my beloved goat herd because of milk allergies stemming from MY TICK BITE and the subsequent contraction of Alpha-Gal.  Then, this year, through a great blesssing from the Lord, I discovered CULTURED FOOD.

This led to my milk allergy (among MANY other allergies) DISAPPEARING!!

So, I tried some goat milk kefir from the health food store: LOVED IT!!   Then this week it dawned on me to find a local source of goat milk.  It didn't take long to find a goat dairy only a few miles from my farm.  And, they keep the very breed of goat that I'd been thinking about buying.  NIGERIAN DWARF.

So, since we are all in quarantine (COVID19), I made arrangements to pick up the milk via a cooler on the porch!! (Entrepreneurs are so innovative.)  I sent my husband on this errand with instructions to keep an eye out for the GOATS!!!  I'd seen their videos on the dairy's Facebook page:  CUTENESS PERSONIFIED.

Now, just let me say: there's goat milk and there's GOAT MILK!!!   Some milk is horrible.  In fact, most milk I've had the displeasure of drinking is horrible.  Smell and Taste.  Milk from my goat herd was sweet and delicious.  So, my standards are high.

FarmBoy Gary brings home the milk; I'm waiting with glass in hand.  I take off the lid and sniff. Ahhh....sweet!   I smile.   I raise the milk to my lips trying not to get my hopes up.  I sip. Realization slowly dawns. Excitement sparks within!!  The milk is delicious!!!! :)   FINALLY, after years of abstinence, goat milk begins to nourish me.

A huge shout out to CLM Premium Goats & Goat Milk Products.  You can find her on Facebook.  My husband did not see any goats but he proudly snapped a pic of a PLAYSET --originally for children, but works great for goat kids.  He said it was one of several.  Now, really.  In my mind anyone who sets up"toys" for their goats is GREAT!!!

Dirt Farmer Fudge

Oh, even though the weather is BEAUTIFUL outside, I MUST make this fudge today. (Actually, it was yesterday--I couldn't get my pics to load until this morning!) I got this recipe from one of my gardening mentors. His advice on propagating is propelling me into the nursery side of my farm. CLICK HERE TO TAKE A PEEK

I started it last year; this year it's going to blossom. Pun intended. I envision scores--hundreds?--of plants for sale. Stay tuned on that score. But, now, HERE'S THE FUDGE!

First, a few tips: I don't use cocoa on a regular basis so I always sift before I use. Hate those lumps.

USE YOUR LARGEST PAN! It will boil high and higher. Regardless of how much you stir (and you need to stir) it will rise VERY HIGH in your pan. If you have selcected a pan that's too small YOU WILL HAVE A MESS TO CLEAN UP. Not fun.

You may or may not use a cooking thermometer. I used one here just to show you that it is often ready BEFORE the thermomenter registers soft-ball stage.

The remedy is simple. Have a small bowl of water at the ready. To test the hot seething mass for fudgey readiness simply dribble a bit of chocolatey goodness into your bowl. If it congeals into a little ball of sweetness and you can pick it up with your fingers IT'S DONE. Turn off the heat!!!

Into your LARGEST PAN put cocoa, sugar, salt and milk. And can I just say how it pained me to have to use milk from the grocery store?!!! All my goats are dry right now in preparation for having babies.

Heat and stir and stir and stir--today mine took a half hour-- until you have arrived at soft-ball stage.

It's hard to see but the temp is still about 10 degrees below SB stage. But, as you can see by the photo above, the fudge in the bowl of water is holding together like a champ.

I turned off the heat and set the timer for 10 min. Then stir in the butter, p-nut butter, vanilla and nuts. Well, truthfully, I forgot to add the vanilla DRATS. But, once you start adding you HAVE TO BE QUICK as the fudge will begin to set up.

YIKES! You have to stir like the energizer bunny. Not even time for pics. I should have had FarmBoy Gary standing by with camera but he was busy putting in a wood stove!

Turn into a greased 9x12 pan and let cool for 24 hrs. I use coconut oil for greasing all my baking pans.

It will be crunchy on the outside and gooey on the inside. Pure heaven. At leastFarmBoy Gary enjoyed licking the pan for his after lunch dessert!

DIRT FARMER FUDGE 6 cups sugar 1 1/3 c cocoa 1/4 t sea salt 3 c milk Put in LARGE pan, bring to boil and stir, stir, stir until comes to soft ball stage. QUICKLY add 2 t vanilla 1 1/2 c p-nut butter, smooth 1 stick butter 1/2 to 3/4 lb walnuts Chill 24 hrs. Enjoy.

Rainy Day

Oh I'm so happy---Daylight Savings Time is OVER. Whewww. Made it through another summer. I'm a lark, you see. Larks love mornings. This lark loves doing chores in the daylight. This lark loves having more time in the a.m. to get things done. When daylight is delayed, chores are delayed, tasks are delayed. And, don't even get me started on evening snaffus because of the extended daylight. Enough on that subject.

So, it's been a while since I've been here. My little fingers have been busy with other farm related stuff; but I'm going to make a valiant effort to journal my journey. After all, I know a lot of you keep checking and checking to see what's new.

Milking is full swing. Customers just love my sweet sweet goat milk. I have four fresh but until this morning I was only milking three and letting my darling little Chloe (4 months old) have all she wanted. She is a twin and was super tiny so I didn't mind her drinking her fill every day. But, she's a fine little future milker now and has to grow up a little bit. I will still let her nurse all day, pen her mom, Polly, up at night, milk Polly in the mornings and let Chloe run with her mom all day. I learned this neat once a day milking procedure from Molly--a delightful lady who shares all she knows on her website.CLICK HERE TO CHECK HER OUT

Chloe-one hour old. Isn't she a beauty?

Yesterday I cleaned the chicken house, goat barn and rabbitry or as I like to call it Briar Patch. I have four gorgeous Angora rabbit does--Cherry Blossom, Nutmeg, Thumbalina and Pepper, one buck, Paddy, and one adorable little male of unkown origin--S'mores. Brair Patch is an ingenious creation of my farmboy husband, Gary. It has apartments, sunporches and ramps down to the yards. The rabbits love it.

So it's raining this morning so I am going to make my grand daughter a birthday dress, make a Master Tonic CLICK HERE FOR THE RECIPE and do up the rest of the pears a friend of mine gave me. The Master Tonic is similar to the Fire Cider I used to make. I'll let you know how much of this to do today list I actually get done!

Have an herbalicious day.

The Goat Herd

I have been waiting for MILK GOATS for years. My last one was in 1977--that's a long time between goats! I purchased Daisy and her daughter, Button, about two weeks ago. She's a Saanen--a white breed which produces copious amounts of milk. Hilda (my 70's goat) gave over a gallon a day, so I have high hopes for Daisy. She has had a few health problems: parasites, bleeding, iron deficiency, poor coat but I have a good start on getting her healthy. I put her on an involved mineral and herbal protocol and she is showing marked improvement.

Daisy

Daisy is in "training" for milking; she's not too happy about it, but she does love her carrot and apple treats with mollasses! FarmBoy Gary got the milking stanchion just right for her and me so milking time will be a happy time.

Her kid is just adorable. Since she is cute as a button, I thought it an appropriate name.

Button - three weeks old


The other goats weren't too sure about the new additions to the family, but they are adjusting. Although Belle is disgruntled at being replaced as First Queen of the Barn Yard, Willie is delighted to have another female. He has already gotten in trouble for pestering Daisy with his bites on her legs. Cocoa Puff likes having someone her size to romp with. I hope they remain friends when Button outgrows her two or three times over!

Willie is a black Nigerian whether (neutered) and Cocoa Puff (short and brown) is a Pygmie

Belle is a Boar goat and has the sweetest personality ever.

I have several breeds so my goat classes will have a nice variety.

I am so excited to have started my milking "herd" and have only tasted one squirt but it was delicious!