The Walden Effect: Farming, simple living, permaculture, and invention.

Tough goat decisions

Brown-eyed goat

Several of you have asked about the future of our goats. Will they come with us or will they find a new home?

Although the decision is hard, we're opting for the latter. I regained some of the joy of goat grazing after Artemesia died, but I have to admit the experience has never been quite the same since my beloved goat left the farm. Since I also stopped being able to drink milk last summer, suddenly the animals that were intended to be dual-purpose livestock turned into moderately expensive pets.

Given that they are just as much companions as working animals, though, we're taking our time to find Aurora and Edgar just the right home. We have one potential lead on a family who might spoil them in the manner to which they've grown accustomed. Fingers crossed they'll find someone else excited about milk and grazing in the very near future!



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About us: Anna Hess and Mark Hamilton spent over a decade living self-sufficiently in the mountains of Virginia before moving north to start over from scratch in the foothills of Ohio. They've experimented with permaculture, no-till gardening, trailersteading, home-based microbusinesses and much more, writing about their adventures in both blogs and books.



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Even though we will miss not having you, as blood relatives, and friends in southwest Virginia, we understand your desire to move. We all grow and change. It is special that you two realize your present needs. You have had an amazing experience on your beautiful farm, but knowing when to move on is a wisdom that comes with the experience. Another family will find the joy you two experienced and you will leave a well loved project to continue to grow. We saw the property when you first bought the land and your years of love and attention surely is a part of what you leave behind. Sue Ella Kobak and Art Van Zee
Comment by Sue Ella Kobak Sat Jul 8 12:20:13 2017
Unless you have strong sentimental attachment, you can always find other goats once you get established at your new place. When the day comes and we move to another state, the house pets will come along but the chickens will find a new local home.
Comment by Eric Sat Jul 8 15:47:18 2017





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