Hi everyone!
Our visit with Margaret Hathaway, author of Year of the Goat and Living With Goats, is here! She'll be happy to talk about goats, travel, or writing, and any combination of the three topics.
Margaret visited my blog last week, and we had a great time. You can click here to read all about it.
I'll post separate discussions where you can post a comment to win a copy of one of her books!
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I'll see if there are any cheesemakers that my mom has encountered who are close to you. She just sent me the card of someone from Green Dirt Farm in Weston, MO, but I think she found their cheese at The Better Cheddar in KC. Do you have a copy of Ricky Carroll's book, Home Cheese Making? I've found that to be the most helpful book as I've started making cheese. I was really reluctant at first--I think I was scared--but I found that once I had ordered some packets of various cultures and rennet, the fear went away. Most of the cheesemaking supplies keep for a long time in the freezer, so even if you guys don't start this year, maybe next? Hope this finds you well and warm,
M
Dianea Fay said:
Small world I live just a few miles west of Emporia. I go to Wichita every once in a while. Mostly Topeka as I work there. We too are just trying to break even. Would someday like to have a large dairy. My oldest would be the work hand he is 31. Does most of feeding now and I milk on my days off and he on the other 3 days. I work 12 hour night shifts. My youngest would like to try his hand a cheese. He has a number of books. Just have not tried yet. Maybe in spring with more milking. Again Thanks for doing this.
Margaret Hathaway said:
Dianea, thanks for your concern about Karl! Even though he's fine, all I can think of are the "what ifs?"
Where in Kansas are you? I'm from Wichita originally, and my mom is always sending me cards of cheesemakers she's met at the farmers' markets. If you're near there, I'll try to find the latest batch from her and give you their info. We are definitely just trying to live sustainably and responsibly--Karl has a regular day job and I stay home with our daughters (and write when they go to bed), so we're not trying to make a living at farming. We're completely "on the grid"--our homestead is ringed by subdivisions, and even though we have ten acres, our house is pretty close to the neighbors. I think that one thing we learned in our travels was that farming had to be a lifestyle choice for us, not a business decision. We try to break even with the animals, and to grow and raise as much of our food as we can, but we don't try to make money from the farm.
We learned so much from cheesemakers in our travels, but think the most important lesson was to think of cheese as something that's living. How you care for a cheese matters, but because it's alive, it's always changing. I love that!
At this point, I'm fiddling around with a lot of cheeses, from fresh chevre to aged manchego, and we're having fun experimenting, mixing in various herbs and ash, aging cheeses in our basement, that sort of thing. We teach occasional homesteading workshops on our farm--from bread baking to chicken processing to cheesemaking. The cheese is nothing fancy, just showing people how we, as amateurs, do things on our home stove--and we're finding that a lot of people are hungry to learn the basics. There are some great cheesemaking classes in our area that are taught by professionals (Ricki Carroll in Massachusetts, Caitlin Hunter in Maine), and I'm hoping to take one soon that focuses on bloomy rind cheeses.
Thanks so much for your questions! M
Dianea Fay said:
So sorry the car got hit but very Thank ful that your husband was not injured at all. It could of been very ugly very fast. While on your travels did you ever doubt yourslef about the validity of embarking on a life on the farm? Sustaining oneslef in todays workd is tough. Just trying to break even is difficult. The inital investments to "live off grid" is so high that it takes years to recoup cost. I think living responsible is a more reallistic event in todays society. In your travels talking with cheesmakers what intresting things did you learn. Here in Ks not a lot of cheesmakers to learn from so all ways intrested in what you gleaned from them. Are you currently making cheese? I am so sorry if I have miss spelled workdss but I am typing through my cat and can not even see screen. you have a good week and thanks for doing this It is a intresting process.
Margaret Hathaway said:
Hi everyone,
Sorry for the delay in replying--Karl just came home from work and a snowplow broke off the driver's side mirror on his way. So blessed that he wasn't hurt, but the car wasn't so lucky. Ugh.
Dianea, thanks for asking! I became interested in goats when Karl and I were living in New York City, dreaming of leaving for an agricultural life. For some reason, goats appealed to us, even before we'd actually had any experience with them. The Year of the Goat is a memoir that chronicles a year that we spent driving around the country, living off our savings and interviewing people in the goat world (farmers, cheesemakers, butchers, chefs, goat-packers, circus trainers, you name it), exploring whether we really wanted to raise goats. At the end, we decided that we did, and in 2005 we bought our farm. My publisher was interested in adding goats to the "Living With" series, and since I had already done a lot of research on the subject, they approached me to write it. I'm actually starting to work on another project, but it's more about sustainability and homesteading than strictly goats.
M
Dianea Fay said:
Intresting topics thus far. That being said can you tell me why you choose goats for a topic to write abot. As you can tell I have not have the chance to buy your books. I also wanted to Thank You for being willing to do this. I think it is pretty cool that this can happen would never 10 years ago. Thanks for taking you time to do this .
I'm so happy to hear that you enjoyed The Year of the Goat! We did have a great adventure, and life with goats continues the wild ride! I can't imagine having new kids in weather that cold--you're a brave woman. I hope everyone stays warm and healthy!
M
Carla James said:
Margaret, Year of the Goat was such a joy to read; what an adventure you and Karl had! We are in NW Montana and have Nigerian Dwarf goats. It has been very COLD here - yesterday morning it was 10 below! And of course we had a doe kid Saturday so we are bringing the kids
in at night and part of the day. They would probably be fine except if one got "lost" in their
pen in the night so it's just easier on us to do it this way.
Dianea, thanks for your concern about Karl! Even though he's fine, all I can think of are the "what ifs?"
Where in Kansas are you? I'm from Wichita originally, and my mom is always sending me cards of cheesemakers she's met at the farmers' markets. If you're near there, I'll try to find the latest batch from her and give you their info. We are definitely just trying to live sustainably and responsibly--Karl has a regular day job and I stay home with our daughters (and write when they go to bed), so we're not trying to make a living at farming. We're completely "on the grid"--our homestead is ringed by subdivisions, and even though we have ten acres, our house is pretty close to the neighbors. I think that one thing we learned in our travels was that farming had to be a lifestyle choice for us, not a business decision. We try to break even with the animals, and to grow and raise as much of our food as we can, but we don't try to make money from the farm.
We learned so much from cheesemakers in our travels, but think the most important lesson was to think of cheese as something that's living. How you care for a cheese matters, but because it's alive, it's always changing. I love that!
At this point, I'm fiddling around with a lot of cheeses, from fresh chevre to aged manchego, and we're having fun experimenting, mixing in various herbs and ash, aging cheeses in our basement, that sort of thing. We teach occasional homesteading workshops on our farm--from bread baking to chicken processing to cheesemaking. The cheese is nothing fancy, just showing people how we, as amateurs, do things on our home stove--and we're finding that a lot of people are hungry to learn the basics. There are some great cheesemaking classes in our area that are taught by professionals (Ricki Carroll in Massachusetts, Caitlin Hunter in Maine), and I'm hoping to take one soon that focuses on bloomy rind cheeses.
Thanks so much for your questions!
M
Dianea Fay said:
So sorry the car got hit but very Thank ful that your husband was not injured at all. It could of been very ugly very fast. While on your travels did you ever doubt yourslef about the validity of embarking on a life on the farm? Sustaining oneslef in todays workd is tough. Just trying to break even is difficult. The inital investments to "live off grid" is so high that it takes years to recoup cost. I think living responsible is a more reallistic event in todays society. In your travels talking with cheesmakers what intresting things did you learn. Here in Ks not a lot of cheesmakers to learn from so all ways intrested in what you gleaned from them. Are you currently making cheese? I am so sorry if I have miss spelled workdss but I am typing through my cat and can not even see screen. you have a good week and thanks for doing this It is a intresting process.
Margaret Hathaway said:
Hi everyone,
Sorry for the delay in replying--Karl just came home from work and a snowplow broke off the driver's side mirror on his way. So blessed that he wasn't hurt, but the car wasn't so lucky. Ugh.
Dianea, thanks for asking! I became interested in goats when Karl and I were living in New York City, dreaming of leaving for an agricultural life. For some reason, goats appealed to us, even before we'd actually had any experience with them. The Year of the Goat is a memoir that chronicles a year that we spent driving around the country, living off our savings and interviewing people in the goat world (farmers, cheesemakers, butchers, chefs, goat-packers, circus trainers, you name it), exploring whether we really wanted to raise goats. At the end, we decided that we did, and in 2005 we bought our farm. My publisher was interested in adding goats to the "Living With" series, and since I had already done a lot of research on the subject, they approached me to write it. I'm actually starting to work on another project, but it's more about sustainability and homesteading than strictly goats.
M
Dianea Fay said:
Intresting topics thus far. That being said can you tell me why you choose goats for a topic to write abot. As you can tell I have not have the chance to buy your books. I also wanted to Thank You for being willing to do this. I think it is pretty cool that this can happen would never 10 years ago. Thanks for taking you time to do this .
I'm so happy to hear that you enjoyed The Year of the Goat! Thanks for letting me know! I hope your critters are okay in the weather,
M
Kathy Parham said:
I'm sorry I missed most of the discussion today. With the flooding yesterday and high winds overnight and this morning -- and temps expected in the teens tonight, I spent all afternoon outside with the animals, weatherproofing, adding extra layers of straw to the bedding and repairing a door that had been torn off the chicken house in the wind.
Margaret I loved your Year of the Goat book -- wish I could have made that trip with you!!!!!
Sorry for the delay in replying--Karl just came home from work and a snowplow broke off the driver's side mirror on his way. So blessed that he wasn't hurt, but the car wasn't so lucky. Ugh.
Dianea, thanks for asking! I became interested in goats when Karl and I were living in New York City, dreaming of leaving for an agricultural life. For some reason, goats appealed to us, even before we'd actually had any experience with them. The Year of the Goat is a memoir that chronicles a year that we spent driving around the country, living off our savings and interviewing people in the goat world (farmers, cheesemakers, butchers, chefs, goat-packers, circus trainers, you name it), exploring whether we really wanted to raise goats. At the end, we decided that we did, and in 2005 we bought our farm. My publisher was interested in adding goats to the "Living With" series, and since I had already done a lot of research on the subject, they approached me to write it. I'm actually starting to work on another project, but it's more about sustainability and homesteading than strictly goats.
M
Dianea Fay said:
Intresting topics thus far. That being said can you tell me why you choose goats for a topic to write abot. As you can tell I have not have the chance to buy your books. I also wanted to Thank You for being willing to do this. I think it is pretty cool that this can happen would never 10 years ago. Thanks for taking you time to do this .
Okay, one more question and then I'm done - promise!!
I have a two year old wether (Hansel), whom I got when he was 6 months old. I most gave him attention when he was with the does and never by himself. Well, now after doing that I have a problem. He does not want to be apart from his three girls. He lived with his mother until I bought him. I own his mother's sister and he latched onto her very quickly. I bought his mother four months later and he doesn't even remember her!
And so my problem is that he hates to be seperated from his favorite doe (Goose), which makes training difficult. At shows, when he is in a different class, he practically pulls who is ever holding him around to get to Goose. He only likes me when Goose is present. He does like treats, so he will run to me for them, but if I have none, it's back to Goose. I have gotten a few suggestions from other breeders and owners, and was looking for second opinion, so to speak. Any suggestions? Ever experinced this behavior? (I know, I have strange behaving goats, with the one who hates dogs and now him!!)
Thanks so much for stopping by today! Really appreciate all of your answers!!
Have a nice night!
WG4
Thanks! This is very interesting, seeing how people call my goat a Pygmy! And I am always trying to showcase her as a dairy, rather than meat! Thanks so much for clearing that up!
WG4
Kathy Parham said:
I believe they are refering to agouti which isn't so much a color as a trait which causes a salt and pepper look to the hair of any color. You can have agouti black which looks grayish and agouti gold which looks pale tan.... pygmies are often agouti with frosted ears and muzzle -- which is kind of an undesireable trait for Nigerian breeders who want to differentiate between Nigerians being dairy type and and pygmy being meat type. But the gene can and does show up periodically in all types of goats -- just more prevalent in pygmies.
Hope that helps -- Kathy Parham
Margaret Hathaway said:
Wow! A forbidden color? I've never heard of that myth. Can you say what the color is, or would that curse us all?
M
WorkingGoats4 said:
Margaret,
I had one more question - A lady once told me of the forbidden color in goats and how breeders, except Pygmy breeders, don't breed does with that color. Ever heard of this myth during your travels?
Yes Deborah, you are correct! I believe she told it to me the year Goose won Grand Champion Junior Dairy Doe and Fairy took Reserve. But, I always wondered if this was a story exchanged among breeders or if it was something she made up! LOL Kind of funny though!
Deborah Niemann-Boehle said:
Was that the togg breeder? Just wondering ... Deborah
WorkingGoats4 said:
Margaret,
I had one more question - A lady once told me of the forbidden color in goats and how breeders, except Pygmy breeders, don't breed does with that color. Ever heard of this myth during your travels?
Was that the togg breeder? Just wondering ...
Deborah
WorkingGoats4 said:
Margaret,
I had one more question - A lady once told me of the forbidden color in goats and how breeders, except Pygmy breeders, don't breed does with that color. Ever heard of this myth during your travels?
No, it won't curse anyone. I don't believe in such things, but wondered if you'd ever heard that story before. Thought it was quite strange myself, seeing how the color resembles that of Pygmy!
Here is a picture.
Thought it might be good for laugh to exchange this story!
WG4
Margaret Hathaway said:
Wow! A forbidden color? I've never heard of that myth. Can you say what the color is, or would that curse us all?
M
WorkingGoats4 said:
Margaret,
I had one more question - A lady once told me of the forbidden color in goats and how breeders, except Pygmy breeders, don't breed does with that color. Ever heard of this myth during your travels?
Replies
I'll see if there are any cheesemakers that my mom has encountered who are close to you. She just sent me the card of someone from Green Dirt Farm in Weston, MO, but I think she found their cheese at The Better Cheddar in KC. Do you have a copy of Ricky Carroll's book, Home Cheese Making? I've found that to be the most helpful book as I've started making cheese. I was really reluctant at first--I think I was scared--but I found that once I had ordered some packets of various cultures and rennet, the fear went away. Most of the cheesemaking supplies keep for a long time in the freezer, so even if you guys don't start this year, maybe next? Hope this finds you well and warm,
M
Dianea Fay said:
I'm so happy to hear that you enjoyed The Year of the Goat! We did have a great adventure, and life with goats continues the wild ride! I can't imagine having new kids in weather that cold--you're a brave woman. I hope everyone stays warm and healthy!
M
Carla James said:
Where in Kansas are you? I'm from Wichita originally, and my mom is always sending me cards of cheesemakers she's met at the farmers' markets. If you're near there, I'll try to find the latest batch from her and give you their info. We are definitely just trying to live sustainably and responsibly--Karl has a regular day job and I stay home with our daughters (and write when they go to bed), so we're not trying to make a living at farming. We're completely "on the grid"--our homestead is ringed by subdivisions, and even though we have ten acres, our house is pretty close to the neighbors. I think that one thing we learned in our travels was that farming had to be a lifestyle choice for us, not a business decision. We try to break even with the animals, and to grow and raise as much of our food as we can, but we don't try to make money from the farm.
We learned so much from cheesemakers in our travels, but think the most important lesson was to think of cheese as something that's living. How you care for a cheese matters, but because it's alive, it's always changing. I love that!
At this point, I'm fiddling around with a lot of cheeses, from fresh chevre to aged manchego, and we're having fun experimenting, mixing in various herbs and ash, aging cheeses in our basement, that sort of thing. We teach occasional homesteading workshops on our farm--from bread baking to chicken processing to cheesemaking. The cheese is nothing fancy, just showing people how we, as amateurs, do things on our home stove--and we're finding that a lot of people are hungry to learn the basics. There are some great cheesemaking classes in our area that are taught by professionals (Ricki Carroll in Massachusetts, Caitlin Hunter in Maine), and I'm hoping to take one soon that focuses on bloomy rind cheeses.
Thanks so much for your questions!
M
Dianea Fay said:
I'm so happy to hear that you enjoyed The Year of the Goat! Thanks for letting me know! I hope your critters are okay in the weather,
M
Kathy Parham said:
Sorry for the delay in replying--Karl just came home from work and a snowplow broke off the driver's side mirror on his way. So blessed that he wasn't hurt, but the car wasn't so lucky. Ugh.
Dianea, thanks for asking! I became interested in goats when Karl and I were living in New York City, dreaming of leaving for an agricultural life. For some reason, goats appealed to us, even before we'd actually had any experience with them. The Year of the Goat is a memoir that chronicles a year that we spent driving around the country, living off our savings and interviewing people in the goat world (farmers, cheesemakers, butchers, chefs, goat-packers, circus trainers, you name it), exploring whether we really wanted to raise goats. At the end, we decided that we did, and in 2005 we bought our farm. My publisher was interested in adding goats to the "Living With" series, and since I had already done a lot of research on the subject, they approached me to write it. I'm actually starting to work on another project, but it's more about sustainability and homesteading than strictly goats.
M
Dianea Fay said:
I have a two year old wether (Hansel), whom I got when he was 6 months old. I most gave him attention when he was with the does and never by himself. Well, now after doing that I have a problem. He does not want to be apart from his three girls. He lived with his mother until I bought him. I own his mother's sister and he latched onto her very quickly. I bought his mother four months later and he doesn't even remember her!
And so my problem is that he hates to be seperated from his favorite doe (Goose), which makes training difficult. At shows, when he is in a different class, he practically pulls who is ever holding him around to get to Goose. He only likes me when Goose is present. He does like treats, so he will run to me for them, but if I have none, it's back to Goose. I have gotten a few suggestions from other breeders and owners, and was looking for second opinion, so to speak. Any suggestions? Ever experinced this behavior? (I know, I have strange behaving goats, with the one who hates dogs and now him!!)
Thanks so much for stopping by today! Really appreciate all of your answers!!
Have a nice night!
WG4
Thanks! This is very interesting, seeing how people call my goat a Pygmy! And I am always trying to showcase her as a dairy, rather than meat! Thanks so much for clearing that up!
WG4
Kathy Parham said:
Deborah Niemann-Boehle said:
Deborah
WorkingGoats4 said:
Here is a picture.
Thought it might be good for laugh to exchange this story!
WG4
Margaret Hathaway said:
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