A little more on our proposed milk shares, etc.

As some of you already know, Rosemary and I are planning to begin offering diary products for sale in the near future. This post is intended to give any potential customers a little more information.

Why Goat Milk, and Why Raw?

Since dairy cows are ubiquitous here, it might come as a surprise that goats produce 65% of the milk consumed worldwide. Goat milk is actually easier for humans to digest than cow milk and rarely causes symptoms for people who are lactose intolerant or who have allergic reactions to cow milk. We drink it raw for the nutritional and health benefits--there is plenty of evidence, for example, that the consumption of raw milk helps prevent allergies and immunodefficiencies. While it is true that pasteurization kills harmful bacteria, especially in huge factory-style farms, our own small-scale operation is very clean, and in our estimation the benefits far outweigh the risks. And then, of course, there's the taste--the rich creaminess of Nigerian and Saanen milk that is better sampled than described.

Our Dairy Herd

We've been milking Nigerian dwarf goats since purchasing Kleinshire more than a year ago, and currently we have four Nigerian does in milk producing more than enough for our own needs. Our dairy herd is soon to increase dramatically--we also have a Nigerian doeling that we kept from our last kidding season, a Saanen-Nubian-Nigerian mix doeling, and a year-old Alpine doe, all of whom will be bred this coming fall. We also purchased a Saanen doeling who will be bred a little later on. For breeding purposes we have two Nigerian bucks, both of whom have stellar pedigrees, in a separate pen. While our Nigerian does currently yield a little more than a half-gallon per day, that amount is steadily increasing as we transition the herd from alfalfa pellets to a richer goat feed. After next spring's kidding season, we're anticipating that the herd will be consistently producing more than two gallons per day.

Proposed Dairy Products

Milk Shares

Our primary product, of course, will be the milk itself. Although the sale of raw milk is illegal in North Carolina, the state legislature is currently considering a law that would legalize purchasing a "share" in an animal. Following a common practice here in N.C., however, we're actually going to circumvent the unfortunate legal situation by selling milk--the same milk we ourselves drink--with the label "for animal consumption only." Our milk share program is tentatively slated to begin after next spring's kidding season whenever the kids are ready to be taken off their mothers, probably

sometime in March. Though we're still researching others' practices, we anticipate offering shares, and maybe half-shares, with a semi-annual commitment, perhaps with an option for monthly payments. A full share would entitle the purchaser to one gallon of fresh milk per week, with weekly drop-offs available in North Raleigh and Wake Forest. The price for a share will likely revolve around a $10/gallon price point, perhaps with a discount for those willing to pick up their own milk weekly.

Goat Milk Soap

We are also looking at various products we can make with the milk. One product that provides few logistical hurdles is goat milk soap, which has a great scent and excellent moisturizing properties. We're currently purchasing the various oils, lye, and other ingredients--besides the milk, that is--to make our first batch. There is a months-long curing process, so look for an announcement when the goat milk soap is ready for sale.

Cheese, Kefir 

For the last year, we've been producing and drinking goat milk kefir. Its production is the result of the fermenting action of a yeast culture known as the kefir "grain" or "crystal." The milk ferments for a day with the kefir grain, transforming into a tangy drink with many healthy probiotic qualities. In short, it's like yogurt, only better tasting and better for you. As our milk yield increases this summer, we are also planning to experiment with a fresh-milk goat cheeses. Since the law requires these types of products to be produced in commercial kitchens, at this point we're sadly not going to be offering them for sale. But do feel free to stop by and sample some some kefir or cheese.

Contact Us!

We are currently putting together a mailing list. If you are interested in the milk shares or goat milk soap, please get in contact with us so that we can add your address. In regard to the milk shares, we'll ask potential customers for some sort of commitment next February to establish a waiting list. 

Part three: travels to Wisconsin

After lunch at the Martyn's in Chicago I rounded up kiddos. Making sure everyone had gone to the bathroom and little's had their diapers changed. We then headed to Madison WI. My brother his wife and three children live there. Matt and Julie and kids also were driving there as well.

The drive was pretty nice, as all three of the younger ones napped most of the way. Once at Joe's and Jen's we let all the kids run wild, biking, tryking, and running. Pizza was ordered and all the kids ate outside enjoying all the sunshine they could soak up. Note: this was the third night in a row we ate pizza. There was only one decent accident. Involving my godson and a neighbor boy to my brother colliding on their bikes. The neighbor boy then ran into Cletus. Thankfully only a few scraps and bruises were the result. It was a good thing that those biking were also wearing helmets.

Cyprian and Josie biking.

It was getting later and there was still a couple hour drive to my parents farm. Once again I rounded up my boys. The drive to my parents was a bit slow. Cyprian had to go to the bathroom twice. Once I pulled over on and exit and had Cyprian pee on the side of the road. Second time I happened to pull of on an exit that does not have a exit to get right back on the interstate. Very annoying! Finally though as we got closer to my parents, I started asking do you recognize anything boys. Which they responded, "No." Finally when my parents house came into view they recognized Grampers and Grammers house. Grampers and Grammer is what Cletus affectionately call his grandparents.

At my parents it was already 9:30. The boys were a bit wound up with all the excitement. So after letting them play just a bit we all went to bed. Overall the experience driving by myself with four little boys was not bad. I am sure it was all the prayers. Because thinking back on it, I am CRAZY! 

Part two: Travels to Wisconsin

We were headed out nice and early from Cleveland Tennessee. The boys were pretty quiet for the first two hours. Then we needed to stop for a bathroom break. The gas station we stopped at was somewhere in the mountains. It was pretty gross. I ended up changing diapers in the car. We were able to cruise at a good speed with out too much complaining. At lunch time we stopped and I let the boys run around and try to climb a tree.

After lunch the three youngest took a nap. When they awoke they were a bit crabby so I stopped at a rest area and let them stretch their legs. Cyprian climbed a tree and knocked a nest down. I was not happy with him and explained why he should not destroy the nest home of birds.

I was in contact with my sister and brother-in-law on my cell talking about our possible arrival time in Chicago. They mentioned that I should stop for a bathroom break before hitting Gary Indiana and East Chicago. I didn't want to stop because the kids were being good. So I gambled and kept driving. We made it through the East side of Chicago fine. But once we hit West on 90 the traffic was stopped. Cyprian had to go to the bathroom, Chrysogonus woke up and was not happy, Cletus was shouting, and Clement looked solemn. There was no way to get off with out getting bulldozed by crazy impatient drivers. So, in desperation I gave Cyprian a diaper to pee in. Chrysogonus was not pleased with me trying to soothe him by voice. Cletus kept on and off complaining. Clement thankfully stayed quiet till he too had to go to the bathroom and I passed him a diaper as well. Yep, the diapers were necessary in a pinch.

Two and a half hours it took us to go the last miles to our final destination. We were going to stay at a nice hotel that my brother-in-law was so kind to book for us in North Chicago. It was located close to his brother's home. Also, he ordered us a pizza sent to our room. My sister picked up a some Guiness and dark chocolate for me. As soon as I was able to get off on my exit. I pulled into a parking lot and nursed Chrysogonus. Then we made the last mile or so to the hotel. My sister, brother-in-law and kids, and my brother-in-laws brother, wife and kids met us at the hotel after I had checked in and we had eaten our pizza.

They visited for a short bit. Which was what the boys needed. After they left I got the boys ready for bed letting them watch some TV. Once all were in pj's and teeth brushed we turned off Ice Age and prayed the rosary. I was so tired that I did not drink my beer. So ended our longest stretch of driving which was about eleven and a half hours of actual driving time, including traffic.

Next morning I happily drank my beer while eating left over pizza. Franz asked me when I talked to him in good humor if I was okay:') "Yes," I replied. I took all the boys to the breakfast room and they had a light breakfast. Then we all got our bathing suits on and headed to the pool. My sister who was training for a triathlon came and also did some laps in the pool. After an hour swimming I bathed all the boys and dressed them. Then I let them watch cartoons while I took a shower. We packed up and I had a hotel cart to load our stuff and all the boys on. We got several comments of what a large cute load I was pushing.

We headed to my brother-in-laws brother's home. It is in a very nice neighborhood. They have a beautiful home with large fenced in yard with a fun kid playset. The whole basement is a play area as well. The boys were in heaven! There was also a huge brunch made. Another sister who lives in Chicago also came and visited. It was very pleasant for all. Everyone got to eat as much as he/she wanted and the kids happily played.

All together at the Martyn's in Chicago.

Our first two full-sized goats join the herd

For months now, Rosemary and I have been talking about increasing our milk production and beginning to offer milk and milk products for sale. There are a myriad of logistical hurdles to establishing a dairy, even on a small scale. But today we made a big investment toward making it a reality with the purchase of our first two full-sized goats--a year-old Alpine doe and a four-month-old Saanen doeling--both from Spinning Spider Creamery, north of Asheville.

Spinning Spider was recommended to us by the owner of Nigerian Meadows, near Wilson, who had also purchased Saanen does from the creamery. Saanens, which are fairly rare to find in this region, are a hardy full-sized goat breed that produces an immense quantity of milk--close to two gallons per day at their peak. Our idea, in short, is to establish a herd with a few full-sized goats, and then to cross-breed them with our Nigerian bucks. Mini-Saanens, we're told, can produce nearly as much as full-sized Saanens while eating less.

So, what we were in search of today was a Saanen doeling, or doelings, to establish our herd, and we traveled all the way across the state because of Spinning Spider's stellar reputation for show-quality Saanen milk goats both on the regional and national levels.

Rosemary suggested bringing along our (human) kids as we searched for these (goat) kids. We left at about six-thirty, after the morning chores, and it wasn't too long before Cyprian inquired whether we were almost to the mountains. "No mountains," Cletus insisted indignantly. And he was right; we weren't even to Raleigh yet. Eventually we did get to the mountains, though, passing through Asheville and heading north to Mars Hill. Winding country roads led us to the creamery, which boasts scores and scores of Saanen and Alpine goats--about seventy currently in milk--and award-winning cheeses that are shipped internationally.

We ended up leaving Spinning Spider with only one Saanen doeling, not two. But we were also "sold" on an year-old Alpine female whose sight is limited. Like the Saanen doeling, this Alpine has top-of-the-line genetics, and since there is no blindness known in the bloodline, every indication is that the partial blindness is not hereditary. This means that for a significant reduction in price, we got a doe who will be ready to breed as soon as this fall, and who will most likely kid offspring with stellar pedigrees.

Clement, in any case, has adopted the Alpine, whose registered name is "Sweet Dreams":

Clement and Sweet Dreams just chillin'.

Five hours later, our carload of smelly kids (both kinds were pretty smelly, actually) finally arrived back at Kleinshire. To prepare for the new goats' integration into the herd, we switched Tarcy's and the goats' stalls, giving the goats the larger of the two and the entire back pasture to themselves. With Sweet Dream's partial blindness, we wouldn't want to risk her being injured by Tarcy while she gets used to things.

Here is Sweet Dreams, who will be old enough to be bred this fall.

Here are the Saanen doeling and Sweet Dreams checking out the back pasture.

The little Nigerians weren't exactly pleased by the over-sized newcomers. Caroline attempted to assert her "herd queen" status initially against the Saanen doeling:

Caroline takes on the Saanen doeling, who is already her size.

Pretty quickly, however, the Saanen took to hiding behind her far larger friend. Despite being hard of sight, Sweet Dreams has proven to be anything but sweet thus far. For now, the battle is to avoid being on the bottom of the totem poll, with Sweet Dreams taking on Edel:

No sweet dreams for Edel and Sweet Dreams, who will have nothing but headaches tonight.

For now, I'll end with a picture of the Saanen, who has yet to be named. She still has a lot of growing to do, but she looks like she has great potential. We're looking forward to seeing how things turn out. And more on the dairy plans in a future post!

The Saanen's profile.

St. Thomas More, a father for our season

Anybody who has watched Robert Bolt’s 1966 film A Man for All Seasons is aware of More’s love for his eldest daughter Margaret. The iconic film includes a few well known scenes involving the two of them, the first in which she impresses KingHenry VIII with her fluency in Latin—rare for a woman at that time—and the other where she pleads with More to take Henry’s Oath of Supremacy for the sake of his family.

These scenes have some basis in historical fact. More was very proud of his children’s intellectual accomplishments—especially Margaret’s—and Margaret did visit More during his imprisonment in the Tower of London. Margaret reported in a famous letter called A Dialogue on Conscience that her father teasingly called her “mistress Eve” when she tried to convince him to take the oath.

Meg, as More affectionately called his eldest, was the apple of her father’s eye. It was to Meg that he said in a famous portion of this letter excerpted for the Office of Readings on June 22, More’s feastday: “If [God] permits me to perish for my faults, then I shall serve as praise for his justice.”

But More was intensely devoted to his whole family not just Margaret. He had four children by his first wife, Jane Colt: Margaret, Elisabeth, Cecily, and John. When his young wife died, More quickly married Alice Harpur Middleton, four years his senior, for his children’s sake. Though More and Alice had no children together, Lady Alice had a daughter from her previous marriage, also named Alice, and the couple also assumed the guardianship of Anna Crescare, later married to More’s son John.  Erasmus, the famous humanist and a friend of More’s, marveled at the “kind of natural felicity” that existed in the More household. He praised his friend’s “geniality in the management” and his devotion to “family duties.”

The Family of Sir Thomas More, originally painted by Hans Holbein and repainted by Rowland Lockey. 

More has long been the patron saint of lawyers, and in 2000 John Paul II also made him the patron of statesmen and politicians. I would further propose that St. Thomas More is an excellent role model for fathers to turn to on this, the eve of Fathers’ Day weekend. There is no societal institution more under siege today than the family, and there is plenty of sociological research indicating that fatherhood is suffering the most.

What can we learn about fatherhood from St. Thomas More? How can we achieve the “natural felicity” that Erasmus so marveled at? Here are three lessons:

-       The importance of education in virtue. Despite the intensity of his schedule, More was personally invested in his children’s education. His son and daughters alike worked with private tutors in a variety of liberal arts under More’s close watch, and while he was traveling he would regularly write to his children, expecting their well composed responses. There is a touching poem he wrote his children in which he praises them for their previous letter. “Therefore, turbulent, cherished troop of mine,” he writes in Latin hexameter, “go on to win even more the favor of your father.” But it wasn’t education for education’s sake. Rather, More tells his children that their fine letter is the “result of the way character matured in youth conducts itself.”

-       The primacy of prayer. Having considered the priesthood, More was himself very devout. He built a separate structure near the main house where he would spend every Friday in contemplation and prayer. More’s intense personal example gave moral force to the expectations he had for the rest of the family. William Roper, Margaret’s husband and More’s first biographer, wrote of the family prayers: “[S]o was his guise nightly, before he went to bed, with his wife, children, and household, to go to his chapel and there upon his knees ordinarily to say certain psalms and collects with them.”

-       ‘But God’s first.’ More’s teasing address of Margaret as “Mistress Eve” in the Tower of London contains his final lesson for fathers. More put God before everything, including king and even family. He would take Henry’s oath neither for his own sake nor for Henry’s. Neither would he take the oath for the sake of his family. History records that the family’s property was confiscated after his execution and that Lady Alice died in poverty. More’s advice to Margaret, which he urged that she convey to Lady Alice: “Nothing can come but what God wills.”

St. Thomas More was a man for all seasons, and certainly a father for our particular season when marriage and the family—and especially the institution of fatherhood—has been so weakened. We need fathers like him: men of strong character who care deeply about their children but especially about God and the accomplishment of his holy will.

St. Thomas More, pray for us!

Part one of travels to Wisconsin: Wisconsin how I love thee!

Early in May I suddenly got a crazy idea in my head. Why not travel to Wisconsin by myself with all the boys. Yep, crazy I know. But there was logic present in my thought too.

Franz's little sister was getting married on May 23rd. So, we were already planning on going to Wisconsin anyway. I had not visited home for a year and a half and was very much in anticipation of seeing family and where I grew up. At first our idea was to all drive Thursday night (May 21st) all the way to Wisconsin. Arriving late Friday and going to the wedding on Saturday. Yeah, it was looking pretty scary. We would have all looked like road kill at the wedding.

Instead I brilliantly thought of why not just me and the boys driving ourselves to Wisconsin. Franz could finish the school year and fly in right before the wedding. This would give the boys and I two weeks with family ahead of time.

So, after making the decision just a few days before leaving. I frantically tried to get things done around home and to pack for all. Ufdah! I was cleaning late the night before leaving, and still did not accomplish all I meant too.

The morning of May 7th saw all of us off. Franz in his car to work, the boys and I off to Cleveland TN. We were going to spend the night with a friend of mine. The drive was not bad. I had a cooler and had packed snacks. The first bathroom stop we made I also bought a loaf of bread, as I had packed homemade strawberry jam and organic peanut butter. I had a colored bowl that was designated for each boy. We each had our own stainless steal water bottle. Each time we stopped I got everybody out. Even Chrysogonus, to give him a break from sitting in his carseat.

I love bathrooms that have big stalls and a child seat that folds down. I was able to place Chrysogonus securely with straps, so I could take my turn going to the bathroom. This was much preferable to holding a baby while trying to use the bathroom myself. Let me tell you, it gets pretty crowded in a stall with four boys. The boys were all good about turning towards the wall to allow each privacy while potting. Seriously, this is a huge part of travel so if this disgust you, just stop reading. A mother does what she has to, to make sure all are safe and taken care of.

The driving was probably the hardest on Cletus. Cletus has a hard time sitting still. Cyprian and Clement would complain but I could distract them with a game or just talking. Cletus was getting tired of being strapped in and started to cry. It became a necessity to have Cyprian and Clement help distract Cletus. This in turn helped pass the time. Chrysogonus slept a lot, thank God! The boys also kept themselves busy with their own sketchbooks and reading books.

The first leg of our journey was just over seven hours of driving time and just under 500 miles. We arrived at our destination around 4:30. Our host ordered pizzas from wear her son works. The boys had fun running around her large yard that had a nice woods behind. She brought out sidewalk chalk and the boys happily decorated the driveway. After getting thoroughly dirty from eating pizza and playing outside we brought the boys in and gave them a bath in a huge jet tub. Oh boy, that was a hit:') Once all were bathed, dressed in pj's and teeth brushed we prayed the rosary in the room that Cyprian and Clement were to sleep in. My boys were still wound up, but I was starting to have a pounding headache. I believe it was to do with traveling over the mountains and having some stuffy sinus, while also not drinking enough water. I seriously was starting to feel nauseous. So after blessing each boy and silently praying they would behave and go to sleep I settled Cletus, Chrysogonus, and myself in the room next to Cyprian and Clement. I know I drifted off after taking some Tylenol and briefly talking to Franz. The boys were not asleep, but when I woke up around midnight and checked, all were where they were suppose to be. I still had the headache and thought, oh my gosh I am not going to be able to go anywhere tomorrow. I kept drinking water throughout the night. Finally when I awoke at 4 am I did not have a headache.

Cletus was awake so I asked him, "should we get going." He replied, "yes." So I quickly started packing up and dressed Cletus and grabbed him a breakfast. I got Cletus in the car and all our stuff. Next Clement woke so I got him dressed and in the car. I went back in for Cyprian who was still sleeping. Cyprian did not wake up well. His throat hurt really bad and he sounded croupy. Cyprian was very upset. I gave him children's tylenol and got him dressed and grabbed him breakfast. I am not a huge fan of Tylenol, but again a mother does what she must. We were going out the door and I heard a child crying. It was Cletus who had got himself out of the van and was searching for me. Clement had stayed in the van and was happily eating his breakfast. It was still dark and the driveway is long. Cletus was crying in a flower garden beside the house. I was so thankful he had not wandered onto the road or into the woods. Once the three older boys were all settled and locked in the car I went back for Chrysogonus. I quickly nursed, changed him, and strapped him in his carseat. It was about 5 am and we managed to take off without waking our host. We had our longest stretch of driving. Ten hours to Chicago........

We're still here!

Since it's drizzly today, we figured that it would be a good time to return to blogging. It's been an intensely busy few months, with the end of the school semester and especially with traveling to Wisconsin for the wedding of Suzy, one of Franz's younger sisters. Rosemary was gone for more than three weeks. But now we're back, and hard at work.

First, though, here is a new family photo from Suzy's wedding, with the Cyprian and Clement dressed in their ring bearer vests and bow ties made by my (Franz's) mother:

Now, back at Kleinshire we've been hard at work with both the animals and the garden. The boys are having quite a bit of fun with gardening. They have their own little plot, with tomato plants and cucumber vines situated haphazardly throughout. All of the boys, but perhaps especially Cletus, enjoy getting muddy whether it's drizzly out or not:

The garden itself consists of a large part of the front yard, which we tilled up and enriched with compost from the animals:

Unfortunately the garden is not yet up to our standards. The grass is proving to be stubborn. Plus, we got significantly behind on the weeding at an important juncture due to travels. So, it is perhaps as much a weed-bed as it is a garden at this point. BUT, we are getting some results. Just yesterday we harvested a grocery bag worth of cucumbers, and Rosemary was able to made a gallon jar of refrigerator pickles. The beans that I planted while Rosemary and the boys were in Wisconsin are starting to pop up as well:

The tomatoes are starting to form as well, though they suffered in the past few weeks due to a dry spell and bugs (we'll have to think of some sort of organic alternative to pesticides):

Rosemary also has some herbs started, with one of my projects for the next few weeks being a porch planter for her herb garden:

Even with travels and the end of the semester, we managed to process one hundred pounds of organic strawberry seconds from Vollmer Farm (a steal at $1/lb.), with most of them frozen in ziplock bags and the rest of them transformed into delicious strawberry jam:

As far as animals are concerned, we have the sad news that one of our horses, Stella, died while we were away in Wisconsin. Her death is a bit of a mystery to us. The animals were well cared for during our absence, with someone actually staying at the house, doing the milking, etc. As far as we could tell, Stella was perfectly healthy. Her coat was shiny, she was active, and she had plenty of weight on her. She had access to forage, salt and minerals, and a daily ration of grain. A friend who raises sheep said that an old farmer told him that if you have livestock, sooner or later you will also have "deadstock." I guess that's true, but it's also sad. Plus, we're out $1,500, as we were planning to sell one of the horses this summer.

Apart from Stella, the other animals appear to be doing splendidly, including Tarcy. As far as the goats are concerned, Ella will probably be kidding sometime this month. Caroline, Tam, and Edel are all in milk and producing up to a half-gallon daily:

Also on the goat front, Lucia, the one doeling of Caroline's that we kept from our spring kidding season, is doing very well. We recently reintegrated in into the herd. But she's proving to be something of a snot, having returned to nursing from her mother. We're still working on that. Here she is hanging out in her favorite spot, the hay manger:

A month ago we also acquired a Saanan/Nubian/Nigerian-mix doeing, whom we've named Maple. We are contemplating adding Saanans or mini-Saanans to our herd in the near future to increase our milk production. We'll see how much a Saanan-mix can produce when Maple is old enough to be bred. Here she is:

Finally goat-wise, one of my first projects this week was a hay manger for the bucks' pen. They had pretty much wrecked the laundry basket we had been using for their hay. Plus, they tended to waste a lot of it. Here's the new manger:

For the chickens, egg production is down, with many of the hens having gone broody. We recently discovered a large cache of guinea eggs in a nest along the back pasture. Guineas lay for only a short period of the year, and their eggs are smaller, with thicker shells and more vibrant yolks. Here's Clement proudly displaying a guinea egg:

One of the broody chickens escaped our notice about a month ago, hiding her cache of eggs below the tack room. She emerged recently with a brood of four cute, perky Ameraucana/California White-mix chicks:

We also have a pen full of Cornish Rock broilers growing quickly, together with five or six pullets to supplement our laying flock:

We'll give the final word to Siena's one remaining kitten, whom we've named Dino. The name is short for Bernardino, the Italian version of St. Bernardine of Siena's name. Since Dino's mother is Siena, the name fits very nicely. Here he is: