The hardworking goats of Beekman 1802
With over 70 kids born this season, in addition to the 43 adult goats, our barn has been bursting at the seams for several months. One group of escaped kids has even taken over the hayloft, which John finally just let them have. Standing inside the barn we can hear their hooves rumble overhead as they race around the scattered hay bales. We call them our “feral runaways.”
The goats head out for a stroll
Goats are extremely susceptible to illness in cold weather, which is why they spend the long winter months indoors. Plus they really don’t like being the slightest bit wet, so snow is not their preferred ground cover.
It might sound a but harsh to keep 120-plus goats cooped up inside the barn for months. But they really don’t seem to mind in the slightest. In fact today, when John opened the pasture doors for the very first time this year, most of the goats walked to the entrance, sniffed the air, and ambled back to their pens.
So John and I helped usher them out the door. Soon they were grazing and nudging the ground seeking out whatever early vegetation they could find. The kids are all small enough to slip under the fence, so of course they made a beeline for the formal garden and the spring bulbs. Luckily they’re still small enough to spook into running back to their mothers.
The goats of The Beekman Farm
26 Comments
I’m fascinated and encouraged by what you are doing…..we are ‘new’ farmers – bought a 17 acre farm in Southern Ontario about 18 months ago. I run a small tv production company based in Toronto and my husband is semi-retired and is mostly at the farm. We’re loving it and also trying to find our way. We’re looking at several ways of earning income from the farm including various goat- related industries…..so it’s great to see what you are doing. Any particular advice? provisos? etc.? I would also be interested in seeing if you want a “Canadian” presence.
Best
Debbie
Hi, Debbie
Congratulations on your new farm! That’s wonderful! We are glad we can inspire you, and I am sure you will inspire us, too. Goats are amazing creatures.
Happy to help in your ventures in any way possible.
Thanks for this. I’ve been researching the Nigerian dwarf goats. Do you know them? Apparently the milk to goat ratio is quite high given their size.
WE are about to move into an circa 1750 80 acre farm in ri. we are in our thirties and have spentmost of our lives in the city or hiking a mountain. I am so glad i have stumbled upon you both! and hope you do not mind me sticking around abit i have so much to learn!
Hi, Nadia
I hope we can “teach” you SOMETHING, but given that we are all novices, I have more hope that we will learn together
You’ll have to share some pictures of your farm
We just moved back to the New England area after being away for 7 years. we bought my partners grandmothers 1803 farmhouse and have 7 Nubians so far. We partner with a larger goat farm that produce cheese. We are showing ours and improving theirs as well as our bloodlines in the herds. We have one 2 first place positions and 1 second third and fourth. But are planning more successes for the future and to eventually have some products as well. We ran across your soaps at Anthropology and picked up two sets. They are awesome! Which made us look you up out of curiosity. Simply amazing is all we can say!!! Thanks for the inspiration! Nite Owl Farm….
Hi, Frank
How wonderful. You are virtually our twins!
With raising so many goats, where do they all go?
We are still trying to grow our herd, Jerry. So we keep the majority of the females. The males go to auction to become heads of their own goat kingdoms or to feed a hungry family.
Hi!
First I want you to know that I love the new show. It is great! I also love this website that you guys started up. I wish I had know a lot earlier about your farm.
My husband and I also own goats, or they own us. We milk twice a day and use the milk for all of our famillies needs. I make soap too, but not as nice or as creative as your. Trying my hand a cheese, but nothing hard. We are trying to live off our land with all types of projects too!
May I ask what type or types of feed you feed your goats? They look so nice and healthy. The biggest problems we have here with feed is it is hard to find good goat feed without spending a arm and a leg on it.
Again wonderful show and site. God Bless and who knows, someday we may come and visit your farm.
Karen Green
Just finished your latest book, which was awesome. My husband and I (and 3 young children) bought a beautiful 16 acre farm in MD about a year ago. We’re clueless. But I couldn’t love this property more. We would like to incorporate some livestock (beyond the 20 chickens we bought this summer-thrilled and somewhat shocked they’re all still alive!!) and are trying to decide between goats, sheep, and cows (or maybe pigs?), all to raise and eventually sell for meat. Wondering which of the these are the most hardy, and which has the best prospect of me not going completely broke. Also-do goats really escape a lot? I think I’ll cry if I find one standing on my car or something. Although my German Shepherd would probably love that. Thanks-
Hi, Meredith
They are generally very well behaved. You can sometimes have a naughty one in the herd. They all have their own personalities which is what makes them wonderful
Hi,I would like to know the different types of goats you have. We enjoy the show. Thanks, Connie
Hi, Connie
The goats are alpine, nubian and sanaan/sable
Good Evening Brent & Josh, I’m curious, with having so many kids this season does that cut down on your soap and cheese making? My husband is retiring end of the month and has already bought some fenceing wire to have goat clear of about 30 acres we had cut for timber, they love to clear land and beside will kept rattlesnake away. Have ya’ll ever seen anything sweeter than watch kids play, I decribe it and having spring on their feet and just hope around, they are percious. hope to get some chicken and ginnias to cut down on ticks and bugs. Hope ya’ll have a great weekend. Doris
There’s nothing better than baby goat kisses
Gents, congratulations on the farm and the TV show – it’s great entertainment! Especially love the segments dealing with the goats!
Hi, we are same as u guys in NC near Charlotte. One city boy and part time farmer, other country boy and full time farmer. Restored farm house and all. We have heard of goats that we hope to milk and do something with here soon, but need to rebuild a milk barn.
Thanks for giving us new ideas and encouragement: ) What area in NC are you from?
very cool, John. I’m originally from Randleman, NC
nadia–a 1750 farmhouse?? PLEASE upload some pics on here in the “reader photos” listed under “Sections” at the top. I, and probably everyone else, would LOVE to see pics of the inside and outside of your farmhouse! And you, too, Nite Owl! I just LOVE old houses!
Dear Brent,
I love your show. My sister-in-law and I are slowly starting a goat herd of our own. We just had 4 babies, 3 boys and a girl. We love to make cheese and hope to make it a business soon. I personally was inspired by you and Josh. You,on the show at least, make it look easy. Also because you two remind me of myself and and my sister-it-law so much. We are in central New York, have a dream of a farm life, and she is a 24/7 farm girl and I spent my time working off the farm. We watched your show together and had many laughs. Keep up the hard work and have hope.
i loooove your show. the goats are so cute,i
wish some day i will raise goats.
Hi Brent,
Love your show. We also have goats–4 nubians, 2 wethers and 2 does. We lost our beloved billy goat, John, last winter. He was 10 years old and the father of our kids. We are now looking for a baby buck to “take care of the girls” next breeding season, but haven’t had any luck finding one.
Our goats are strictly pets and the new goat would be treated like a prince his entire life. Anyone out there who lives near south central Pa have one to sell? I guarentee that he would make both Simone and Velvet very happy and would be truly loved his entire life.
Susan
Oh MY! You have to get pix of the ferals up top! I can TOTALLY see it in my head… man I miss my “kids”!
And trust me folks, even in Florida my goaties didn’t want out of the barn unless it was over 50* and that was WITH their blankies on! They do NOT like being wet OR cold. at all
Just a few of my favorite things, But I have yet to see your show as I don’t get cable or satellite. Sharon Springs holds many fond memories for me and I go back often. The Beekman home has always been… well, it’s just always been. A very beautiful locale also. Then you add goats to the mix, yup, I love it. Nubies are my favorites, with Alpines a close second. I had a small herd of alpines for a little bit myself. My grandparents always had Nubians, & my mom, well, if it was a goat she could get, we had it. Their dispositions are so sweet, and they are really not the tin can eating, smelly animals portrayed at all. I am SO glad someone is showing the public the real side! I look forward to finally watching your show, and driving by soon! Congrats and enjoy!
AT 71 I will not realize my dream of owning goats and chickens but now with your show I feel I am sharing all that goes with raising them. I love your show.Please continue to keep it simple and show us how you plant,harvest,etc. I just love every episode.Also could we tour your house one day…we dont care if it is furnished or finished.Thanks.Nanny Z.