I've always wanted to try something like this, but never got up the courage. Then one day my company lost the contract that provided my job, I lost my job, and suddenly I didn't have any more excuses not to try it.

Things are going pretty well so far. I may not be making as much money as I did, but I'm worlds happier.

I believe in sustainable agriculture and changing the way our industrial systems treat the earth. Here at Holy Goats, the goats are an integrated part of our micro-farm. Garden waste and forage crops go to the goats (and chickens) for food, and then the animals' bedding is composted to become soil for the garden. We hot-compost, meaning that the internal temperature of our pile is above 100F, to kill any pathogens that might remain in the bedding and prevent them from contaminating the soil and water or sickening wild animals. We prefer to discourage predators who would like a chicken dinner rather than shooting them. Careful monitoring of our animals' conditions means that we can use a minimum of medications and dewormers, and we keep resistance to disease and the local parasite population in mind when breeding. Because I do test my goats for disease, I can allow them to raise their own babies rather than separating them at birth. Because my chickens are healthy and canny free-rangers, I can likewise allow hens who are so inclined to set a nest and raise their brood. My goats are allowed to stop giving milk before I breed them, and the hens are allowed to naturally stop or slow down laying in the winter. None of them are ever treated with hormones or artificial lighting systems to force them to continue producing during times their bodies would naturally stop.

Part of my commitment to sustainable agriculture is a commitment to local agriculture. All the feed we buy for our livestock is grown within 100 miles of us and the grain is processed at the local farmers' coop, reducing the carbon burden of our farm. To further shrink our footprint, I use intensive mob grazing methods with my goats that encourage carbon sequestration and organic soil improvement. I do not use synthetic fertilizers or herbicides that may run off into the water supply; the Chesapeake bay has enough problems without me adding to them.

Finally, I strive to take care of all the living things on the farm, from the tiny microbes in the soil that nourish plants and the microbes in the rumens of my goats that nourish them up to the oak trees that give us shade, leaves for composting, and acorns for forage for the animals (I make sure to leave a plentiful supply for the squirrels and deer). Viewing my tiny farm as a holistic system lets me make choices that reduce pollution and maximize production. It is probably harder work than drenching everything from the soil to the goats in various drugs and synthetics, but it lets me keep my soul and more importantly it ensures that the land keeps its soul, too.

I treat making my soaps and lotions the same way as I treat farming. Nothing is wasted – the scrapings of my soap bowl go into a pile to be melted down and made into soap for my family to use (even the dogs!) and the scrapings from the lotion bowl go into my personal jar of lotion for use. This prevents things like the lye I use for soap-making and the preservative I use in lotion going into our septic system and from there into the ground water. I carefully choose ingredients that are the safest and most affordable I can find. This means that sometimes I use synthetic fragrance vice essential oils, but I'd also urge customers to keep in mind that “natural” doesn't always mean “safe” and essential oils contain compounds beyond those that make them smell pretty. When I do buy essential oils, I look for sustainably farmed and fair trade oils. I refuse to use “wildcrafted” oils, meaning those made from plants that are taken from the wild, as there's more than enough habitat destruction going on worldwide without the soap industry contributing to it.

When you buy from me, you're supporting my dream of a way of agriculture that leaves the earth a better place than it was before, rather than a destructive system. You're supporting unconventional methods of raising livestock that respect the natural instincts and life cycles of the animals involved. I am deeply and humbly grateful for the support of customers; I know that you have a choice as to where you spend your money and I am so happy when you choose to support my efforts.