Simply Goats

Suitable for farm work, as pets, and a source of fiber, goats are amazingly versatile animals. This informative and encouraging guide, designed for kids ages 9 and up, explains everything children need to know to safely and successfully raise and show their own goats. In age-appropriate language, Gail Damerow offers expert advice on selecting, purchasing, housing, and feeding goats, as well as important information on goat behavior and the basics of goat health care. Discover how fun and rewarding keeping goats can be.

Hobby Farms GOATS: Small-Scale Herding, written by hobby farmer and prolific author and columnist Sue Weaver, is an essential guide to the wonderful world of goats, the fastest growing new area of the US agricultural meat market. This colorful guide discusses goats of all types, including dairy goats, used for milk and cheese; meat goats; fiber goats, prized for their mohair and cashmere; recreational goats, beloved by children for their great personalities and silliness; and brush goats, the lawnmowers of creative hobby farmers and suburbanites. Weaver offers excellent advice on how to purchase a goat: sensible and direct, she advises newcomers that while goats can be profitable, they should not rush in. Before the reader fills his backyard with a herd of goats, the author warns him or her to consider that while goats are "cute, personable, charming, and imminently entertaining;[they] are also destructive;mischievous, sometimes ornery, and often exasperating." The book lists the various breeds of goats commonly available as meat and dairy producers, carefully spelling out their advantages and drawbacks. In the chapter on selecting a goat, the author instructs the reader to be aware of the overall health and soundness, and to consider such the animals' horns and teeth. The book also covers general care for a small herd of goats, including outdoor housing and feeding, general health care, and maintenance. For hobby farmers ready to dive into the world of reproducing their goats, there are chapters on breeding, mating, and "Bringing Kids into the World." All goat keepers will be enlightened by the information in the chapter on behavior and solving everyday problems with their often capricious caprines. Since the focus of the book is for hobby farmers, Goats also addresses how to make money from the small-scale herd, offering advice on managing, selling, and marketing goat-derived products. The book concludes with an extensive glossary of over 150 terms, an appendix of common goat diseases, and a resource section of useful goat-relevant books, websites, and associations. Fully indexed.

"How can we possibly get a troll maiden to kiss one of us?" asked Edgar in despair. "It would be hard enough if we still wore the form of men, but in this shape it would be simple folly." Possessed by a curse that turned them into goats, three brothers set out to the land of Trolls. They are on a quest for a maiden's kiss, which will return them to their true forms. At the border, they cross a bridge and kill its guardian. Only after this unfortunate incident do they learn that trolls have families, too. How will any of the brothers get a kiss from a maiden when they are now in a blood feud with her kin? And the longer it takes, the more their human identities fade. Will the brothers be doomed to roam as goats forever?

This book provides every detail you could possible need to become a dairy goat breeder and farmer. You will learn how goats are raised for different purposes, including as dairy goats, fiber goats, and as a means to maintain property. You will learn how to select the right breed of goat and how to know what to look for in a specific goat. You will also learn to breed goats, including how to care for the mother, how to wean the kids, and the care the kid will need once it is born. You will learn how to properly house goats and what they require from you to remain healthy and happy, both with their feed and their space. --

"We're all natural-born legalists," says author Bob Christopher. "We try to live for God, but it's impossible to do." Why? Because all our efforts and ideas are based on the same fear-based, guilt-driven plot line: Try harder. As you've undoubtedly noticed, it just doesn't work. Simple Gospel, Simply Grace showcases an alternative, which is actually God's original plan: Everything you're trying to achieve in the Christian life has already been given to you—from God, by grace, in Christ. Do you struggle to receive what God has freely given? How can you begin to experience true freedom, assurance of your forgiveness, and victory over sin? How can the power that raised Jesus from the dead enable you to live and love the way He did? You'll discover the answers in this crystal-clear portrayal of the simple gospel—which is simply grace.

Produce your own milk, cheese, meat, fiber, fertilizer, and more Incorporating dairy goats into a diversified homestead can be the key to greater self-sufficiency. Responding to questions and concerns from readers from all over North America and beyond, this fully revised and expanded edition of Raising Goats Naturally will help readers work with nature to raise dairy goats to produce milk, cheese, meat, fertilizer, leather, fiber, and soap – all without relying on drugs or following the factory farm model. By observing your own animals closely and educating yourself about their specific needs, you can create an individualized plan for keeping them healthy and maximizing their productivity. This unique, fully-illustrated guide will teach you to help your herd thrive with: Breed-specific descriptions to help you choose the right goats for your goals and lifestyle Detailed information on housing, fencing, breeding, health, milking, and nutrition Complete recipes and instructions for making your own cheese, dairy products, and soap, as well as cooking with goat meat. Packed with personal experiences and backed up by expert veterinary advice and scientific studies, Raising Goats Naturally brings together a wealth of practical information on raising goats for the love of it and using their milk and meat to become more self-reliant.