Welcome, Spring!

Spring is here.  The pear trees are in bloom and the new almond has pink blossoms.  The first lambs are suckling.  The nanny goats are looking for a spot to have their kids, while keeping an eye out for watchful farm hands.  This should be a busy month, but we won’t count the lambs and kids until they have all arrived. 

The garden is full of new life from the fall, like robust kale and luscious egyptian onions (a gift that keeps growing from our friends at Satyrfield Dairy). 

Hopefully, the spring rains won’t dampen our sheep, as sheep-shearing is scheduled for the week of March 28th.

Countryside Organics Dairy Feed is on our spring menu!

Merry Christmas!

We know it is a few days early, but we are looking forward to a very Merry Christmas on the farm.  It might even be a White Christmas, as the weatherman is spreading rumors of possible snow.  

Four of Christmas’ puppies will be spending their holidays with their new owners.  The rest are still here, waiting for you with wagging tails and happy, muddy feet. 

During this holiday, you may have seen small straw goat figurines like the one pictured here.  These Christmas Goat figurines originated in Scandanavia, where they are still commonly used for decoration during the  Christmas season.  They symbolize the Julbock (pronounced Yule-buk), a mythical goat associated with Christmas caroling and the giving of Christmas gifts.  

Happy Holidays to everyone from Bethlehem Farms!

Chilly Days Are Here Again…

A chill is in the air, reminding everyone at Bethlehem Farms that winter and Christmas are almost here.  These days, we bundle up when we head outdoors.  As soon as we can, we hurry back to the farmhouse to spend cozy evenings beside the wood stove.  

Photo: Jenn Rhubright for Nelson County Life.

Last weekend, the Bethlehem Farms Living Nativity (a lovely bunch of people and critters) kicked off the holiday season by participating in the annual Nelson County Christmas Parade. We had a great time.  Thanks to our cheerful participants and to the brisk weather that kept us on our toes, we were awarded Second Place for the Most Entertaining Marching Unit.  Check us out in Nelson County Life. 

 Last minute shoppers, your search for the perfect holiday gift is over.  Our Christmas’ puppies are jolly fellows who make great stocking stuffers. Extra large stockings (big enough to hold Italian-Maremma/Great Pyrenees pups) not included. Email ridgely @ bethlehemfarms dot com for details.

Your Goat’s Anatomy

Some of us simply don’t have the slightest idea where to find a goat’s scapula or dewclaw. If you have always wanted to know more about the parts that comprise your goat, you will enjoy this animated online tutorial on goat anatomy.   It is part of Karin Christensen’s Biology of the Goat and is a great learning tool!  Click on the little hooves to learn anatomical terms or to test your own knowledge.  If you feel like exploring even more, there are lots of other fun things on the rest of the Goat Biology website as well.

Goats: the “Green” way to control weeds!

What’s better than living green and eco-friendly?  Why, living green and eco-friendly while feeding a hungry goat, of course.  We’ve always known that goats are great for clearing brush and weeds, especially from rough and hard to reach hilly areas.  But now the secret is out, and places like the Legacy Nature Preserve in Utah and eco-aware cities like Seattle, WA , Wilsonville, OR, and Los Angeles, CA have begun to hire goats as a means of environmentally-friendly weed control.  City Grazing and Goats R Us are two great examples of goat-powered, alternative, weed-solution companies.

Here are some of the Benefits of Goat Grazing, as pointed out in the Environmental Research Foundation article, “Goats to Clear Weeds”:

• No toxic chemicals are involved.
• Goats consume both weeds and seeds, thereby curbing future generations of weed growth.
• Goats do not leave fire-prone dry plant waste behind.
• Goats can access steep hills, rocky terrain, and obscure corners that are not readily accessible to people or machines.

4 Reasons to Love Goat’s Milk

4. Goat’s milk is trendy.

All the cool kids are drinking it.  Foodies call it “a gourmet beverage.” It’s talked about in the New York Times. It’s sold at grocery stores like Whole Foods, Pathmark, and Shop Rite, as well as various gourmet and health-food specialty stores. But we like it best when it comes from our own back yard.

3. Goat’s milk tastes udderly delicious…even without a side of cookies.

We know….we’ve tried it!  Goat’s milk is a treat for your palate.  Savory and sweet, it has its own unique verve.  It provides a refreshing flavor change that will awaken and delight your tastebuds.

2. Goat’s milk is healthy and nutritious, too.

It has all the dietary benefits of other milks: it strengthens bones, teeth, and muscles, and helps keep your metabolism healthy.  It has more protein, calcium and potassium than Cows’ milk.  It has lots of essential vitamins and minerals. Low in fat and easy to digest, it can even be enjoyed by people with sensitive tummies.

1. The Cows would like a vacation!

They’d like you to know that Goat’s milk is not just a yummy beverage.  It can also be used to make all kinds of dairy treats. Amazing cheeses, like feta, ricotta, and chevre, are made from goats’ milk.  Goats’ milk can be used to make tasty, healthy ice creams.  It can also be the base for flavorful yogurts and kefir.

An autumn update…

Hello all!  The crispness of fall is here and excitement is in the air.  We have a visitor, Cherry Glen’s Handle Edwardo, who will be siring spring kids for a lucky few of our elite registered does.  So far, he seems to be pretty popular with the girls, attracting lots of attention and turning a lot of heads.

We’ve also got a tumbling pile of ten new puppies.  Mama Christmas gave birth to the litter a few weeks ago.  The pups have been yipping, barking, and opening their eyes for a few days now, and are about to venture out in full force.  They have already developed a taste for fresh goat’s milk, which they love to drink straight from the pan.  Keep checking back, because soon, they will be large enough to begin looking for new homes.  And we all know that there’s nothing better than a brand new puppy for the Holiday season.