Meet Gemini

Frog Hill Farm Gossamer Gemini

DOB: 3/30/2006
Dam: Rosasharn's Twinkle Twinkle
Sire: Rosasharn CH Uproar +*S

Gemini came to us earlier this year with her sister Cassie. She was owned by Barbara Schultz, born on Frog Hill Farm in Foster RI.  Her birth story is tragic and heart warming at the same time. Gemini’s dam (mother) Twinkle came from Rosasharn Farm in Rehobeth MA. She was a beautiful doe with a mild temperament. Rosasharn Farm is an amazing goat farm where many of our top of the line goats in New England have been born. Due to Twinkle’s gentle nature she was easily pushed around by the many goats raised on Rosasharn Farm. Twinkle had trouble making it to full term in her pregnancies possibly due to the stress she was under. 

Rosasharn Farm sold a once again pregnant Twinkle to Barbara knowing she was going to a loving home. Barbara was starting a small goat farm so there was less chance of Twinkle being bullied by other goats.  Twinkle thrived on Barbara’s farm but when it came time for her to kid although she made it to full term in her pregnancy she had a difficult birthing. She was unable to deliver her kids on her own. The veterinarian had to be called. When the Vet arrived he had to assist the birth of Gemini and Cassie and in the process, Twinkle was injured and a few days later had to be put down.  Ann from Rosasharn Farm told Barbara she would come stay with her while they put Twinkle down if she could. Ann was awaiting births on her farm and wanted to first make sure none of her does looked like they might kid that morning. Everyone seemed fine so she went to be with Barbara. On the same day that Barbara lost Twinkle back on Rosasharn farm Twinkle's dam Eclipse who was not suppose to be bred gave birth to a gorgeous little doeling that looked just like Twinkle. They named her Twinkle Luna. I am telling you this story as an example of how farmers support each other. Farming is very rewarding most of the time but there are times when farming is tragic and difficult. This story is also an example of natures balance while Twinkle was leaving this world Twinkle Luna life began. And before Twinkle left she gave us Gemini and Cassie.

Gemini is a very sweet goat and like her mother a calm disposition. She came to me in milk. She was a very easy milker and very well behaved on the milk stand. When Gemini came into heat in early August we bred her to Percy. She is due to kid any time after Christmas Eve! Her kids will be the first winter babies born on our farm. We are anxiously awaiting her kids. What a wonderful Christmas present they will be!

HOW I BECAME A GOAT FARMER

My first time bottle feeding Shelby

I thought some of you might like to know about why I started raising dairy goats. My first passions in life are cooking and food. There is nothing better in the world to me than to have my house filled with my family and a comforting meal that I spent all day cooking in my kitchen. When my girls were younger I spent a lot of time in my kitchen preparing meals from scratch in an effort to save money and feed my family healthy foods. I made everything from my own breads to homemade tortilla chips.  I decided one day that I needed to learn how to make cheese.  In 2007 I took a cheese making class offered by Brianna from Terra Firma Farm in Connecticut. I came home after taking the class and said to my family "I think that I need a cow". Looking at me like I had lost my mind, they all said in unison “You cannot have a cow!” And my story begins.

Being the determined and (for the most part) rational person that I am, I agreed in that raising a cow on our small piece of land would not be very feasible, but how about a goat? I spent the following year learning as much as I could about goats from various books and the internet.

In 2008 I met my now close friend Melinda, who raised Nubian dairy goats.  I was able to visit her farm one morning in February. I showed up with a pad, a pencil and about one hundred questions. What I remember most about that day is the distinct feeling I had. I felt so peaceful there, and I didn't want to leave. Mel spent the next hour and a half with me answering every question I had from what veterinarian to use to where to buy a milk stand.  She was so patient with me, and before I left that day I had given her a deposit for two kids to be born in the Spring. I decided I would start with a doe and a wether (a fixed male).

April 2008 I brought home Shelby and Rusty, two Nubian kids. Shelby  was rejected by her mother, so I was able to take her when she was only two weeks old. I bottle-fed both Shelby and Rusty, and drove thirty minutes away to purchase raw goat milk for them. From the day I picked up my new kids Mel mentored me in goat husbandry; she was always only a phone call away. Mel taught me everything from disbudding my kids to having to assist in deliveries. I would not be where I am today with my goats without her. I am very grateful to her for her guidance and friendship.

Rusty

Shelby

Raising goats and farming became my way of life. I found it very grounding and rewarding. I was also very drawn to the people you meet and the connections that you make. In my experience, farmers are some of the best people I have ever had the opportunity to meet. They are hardworking, loyal, and generous people. I just fell in love with everything about farm life. I knew with everything in my heart that this is what I was supposed to do with my life. My journey raising goats and becoming self-sustaining began.

About three years later I went through some life changes and I found myself needing to work full-time outside of the house. By then I had acquired a Mini-Nubian buck, Cooper, and I’d kept one of Shelby's does, Bailey, who was now two. Shelby had kidded three times and continued to reject her kids every kidding. She was a wonderful milker, but I became very concerned that I could not care for her and her kids properly while working full-time. I was fearful of missing her kidding and losing her kids because she didn't know how to care for them herself. I had additionally lost the flexibility to bottle feed four-to-six times a day. I sold Shelby that year to a wonderful family in Foster, R.I., and I also found good homes for Rusty, Cooper, and Bailey.  By this time Mel had started raising Nigerian Dwarf goats. She suggested I switch to this breed because they were a lot smaller, great mothers, and easier to handle. I was hesitant to do so, because I felt that because they produce about 1/2 the amount of milk that the full-size Nubian breed does you would have work twice as hard to collect enough milk.

2012, she convinced me and I started my herd of Nigerian Dwarf goats. I fell in love with them and their milk instantly. By the end of 2012 I had purchased four does and one buck. Soon after, I met Tom and we started farming together. About one year ago I left my job to pursue farming full time. I purchased four more does, a buck, and retained three of the kids born here on Silk Tree Farm. In the coming weeks I will be featuring one goat from my herd every week so you can meet them and hear their stories.

Must be Monday! Here Come The Fall Scents

Must be Monday!

Happy Monday everyone! We were at 4 farmers' markets this weekend and will now be attending Wakefield / Marina Park Farmers' market on Tuesdays. It was a long weekend but a great one! As always we thank everyone who supports their local farmers' markets! 

Here at Silk Tree Farm we started off our morning with the usual milking and feeding chores. As soon as everyone was happy and taken care of I went straight to work pouring candles. I poured a few more summer scents and my first batch of fall scents. In addition to the return of the favorite scents be on the look out for some new fall scents to hit the stores and markets. 

Here is sneak peak at one of the new scents coming soon!

POMEGRANATE CIDER:  A unique scent of sugared apples and clove with a tart tangy kick of pomegranate. 

Fall candles will be covered with this fabric!

Monday Menu!

Oven Roasted Turkey

Creamed Swiss Chard

Tomato Avocado Salad

www.silktreefarm.com

Education in Farming

 Today  and this past Tuesday we spent the morning at Hillandale Farm.  They host a summer camp for young kids where they gain a wealth of knowledge about food and farming. We brought along two of our does in milk. We talked with the kids about how to care for goats and they got a lesson in milking. What a rewarding experience. To be able to spend time with these children and show them exactly where healthy natural food comes from.  Thank you Hillandale Farm for allowing us to be included in such a wonderful program!

Hoof Trimming

Milking our doe Cake

What's Happening Wednesdays ~ Here come the Turkeys

Our morning started out with the arrival of our baby turkeys which are now settled in nicely to their new home. There is nothing better than the sounds of baby chicks. One of our customers stopped by to visit just in time for her young son to see the baby turkeys and help us get them settled. He was so excited to learn how to hold them and give them water and food. It was a great experience.

Later in the afternoon our Veterinarian came out and vaccinated all our goat with their yearly rabies shots. This went a lot smoother than I thought it would. Each goat hopped up on the milk stand and enjoyed a late afternoon snack of Alfalfa pellets while she administered their shots. It could not have been easier. 

Wednesday's Meal:

Our Own Farm Raised Pork Chops 

(with sage from our herb garden)

Cabbage Leaves Sauteed in Butter

and

Tomato and Cucumber Basil Salad

Must Be Monday- Lets Play in the dirt!

Must Be Monday!

Weeding the garden consumed most of my Monday. Weeding is always very calming to me. I try to look at it as time to clear my head and just enjoy playing in the dirt. Once the weeds were under control I had time to plant the rest of my green beans, another row of beets and turnips. Life is Good!

Putting up Kale!

I also had time to get some kale harvested and stored for this winter.

The kale was blanched for 3 minutes and plunged into an ice bath then weighed out to 10 oz portions and packed in ziplock bags ready for the freezer.

I'm watching you.

Tomorrow I will spend my morning at HILLANDALE farm. They provide  a summer camp for young kids.  I will visit with the goats and talk about the value of goats on a farm and show the kids how to milk.

Monday's Miracles 

Monday's Menu:

Burgers (from local beef)
Roasted Root Veggies with rosemary and thyme
Arugula Salad with homemade feta and walnuts

Why I began making Silk Tree Farm's Goat Milk Soap.

I started making goat milk soap about 3 years ago. I have always tended to have dry skin, but I started having sensitivity issues to different products and I began suffering from eczema, so my journey in soap making began. I wanted to avoid commercial soap products, so I became determined to learn how to make my own laundry detergent and started researching how to make goat milk soap on the internet. I had heard that goat milk soap was wonderful for your skin and I had plenty of extra milk from my goats. I found a very informative YouTube video on how to make soap. I started with the cold process method but once I tried the hot process method I was hooked. I love the bars of soap it produced. Since I started making my own soap I have not had anymore problems with eczema and my skin is a lot healthier. the goat milk soap is very nurturing to your skin. Customers have mentioned that it has helped their children who also suffer from eczema.

I am now making soap twice a week for sales at the farmers' markets and for the local stores who carry Silk Tee Farm's Handcrafted Goat Milk Soaps. The sales of these soaps are assisting in my future plans of expanding Silk Tree Farm. I want to thank all of the customers and stores who support us.