Getting Your Goat: A Two-Part Series on Goat Husbandry, Dairy and Soap

Name: Getting Your Goat: A Two-Part Series on Goat Husbandry, Dairy and Soap
Start: 2024-07-20T09:00:00-05:00
Location: 15715 River Rd, North Branch, MN, United States, Minnesota 55056

Schedule

Sat Jul 20 2024 at 09:00 am

UTC-05:00

Location

15715 River Rd, North Branch, MN, United States, Minnesota 55056 | North Branch, MN

This is a two-part series on two consecutive Saturdays (July 20th and 27th).
The first half of the course (July 20th) will be a practical, hands-on introduction to goat care and will help you make informed decisions about getting and caring for goats on your property. We will cover goat selection and uses, housing, fencing, zoning concerns, feeding, basic health care, bio-security, and breeding. The course will be taught partly at WEI with a significant part at nearby Wild Haven Farm, hands-on with the goats. *If you’re unsure if goats can be kept where you live, email George with your question: [email protected]
Erin Link of EB Ranch Farmstead and her San Clemente goats will lead the second half of this course (July 27th), and demonstrate goat milk soap and cheese-making basics including hands-on milking, milk handling, and goat chevre making. The class will introduce you to best practices, milk and food safety, and the hands-on fun of goat dairy!
The course will also help you network with other would-be or current goat owners and build community with people that can be there for you when you have questions in the future. Join us to prepare for the next big and fun steps in goat ownership!
All are welcome – WEI classes are open to everyone.
Instructor Bios:
George Sawyer stewards a 20-acre diversified, certified organic farm with his wife Mandi. Together, they care for several breeds of heritage goats and chickens as well as an apiary, wild harvest, and Livestock Guardian Dogs. The farm is operated regeneratively using rotational grazing and other permaculture techniques.
Erin Link moved back to her small hometown to pursue farming and dabble in a self-reliant lifestyle. Erin was highly inspired to get her own goats by Tom Robbin’s book, Even Cowgirls Get the Blues. She got her first herd of 6 goats, and in 2013 she decided to start raising the critically endangered San Clemente Island goat breed, with a focus on bringing recognition to the breed as well as showcasing their multi-purpose nature. She bases her farm enterprises on the goats and offering goat milk soap, goat rental, goat meat shares, and other San Clemente Island goat products.