It's all about balance: Jan-24 Update
No matter how good it is going, there will always be some bad. Remember that sometimes silence is a gift.
Hiya, farm friends 👋🏼
We hope you’ve had a great start to your 2024!
If you’re in or around Lincoln, NE you KNOW that we’ve been having some crazy cold and dangerous weather already this January.
We’ve been stuck or snowed in at the farm a few times already this month, but more on that later…
There’s a lot to share, so I’ll get to it!
Have you ever tried Raw Goat Milk? 🐐🥛
Neither Jeff or I would’ve called ourselves big milk drinkers before we started the farm, but once we decided to get some dairy goats and possibly sell the milk to customers we looked at each other and said “We HAVE TO try it before we can sell it.”
We’re not the type of people that can just offer something that we ourselves haven’t vetted, so we were the very first taste testers of our own Penner Mini Farms raw goat milk.
And let me tell you…
WE HAD NO IDEA HOW AWESOMELY SWEET IT IS! 🤯
At the time we first started milking, we only had Nigerian Dwarf Goats and some of you may not know it, but they are specifically known for having the highest percentage of butterfat (and protein!) in their milk of all goats - even more than cows (which basically means it tastes the best!).
OK, ok… maybe we’re biased, but we were won over completely in that instant so much so that we get EXTREMELY sad when milking season is over (even though it’s a TON of work with our 4am wake up calls).
But back to my original question… Have you ever TRIED raw goat milk?
Would you like to?
Not sure? That’s ok!
Just because we think it’s awesome doesn’t mean that everyone else has to.
But I would just like to share a few of our favorite things about Raw Goat Milk.
It is rich in nutrients such as calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D, which can contribute to better bone health 🦴
Goat milk proteins have anti-inflammatory effects, which may benefit people suffering from chronic inflammatory conditions such as arthritis, asthma, and allergies.
It contains medium-chain fatty acids, which all are known to be beneficial for human health (especially heart health) ♥
Some individuals with lactose intolerance may find that they can tolerate raw goat milk better than cow's milk due to its lower lactose content, PLUS it’s easier to digest taking only 20 minutes (rather than 24 hours for cow’s milk)
Raw goat milk is a great source of protein, which is essential for muscle growth and repair, making it a potential option for those looking to increase their protein intake 💪🏼
So basically, you’d be a great candidate to try it out:
If your family is lactose intolerant and have difficulty digesting cow's milk
If you’re seeking an alternative source of dairy due to allergies or sensitivities
If you’re looking to incorporate a nutrient-rich and potentially more easily digestible dairy option into your diet
If you’re interested in exploring different types of dairy products for culinary purposes
If you’re seeking a potential source of high-quality protein and essential nutrients
So if you or someone you know might be interested be sure to check out or forward our Goat Milk Waitlist to them so they can get signed up!
Meet Brad(ley Cooper) 🐐
It was a cold Saturday in January when Jeff and I traveled to Ashland to check out a teeny tiny little buckling.
He was the cutest little tan haired, blue eyed, soft & fuzzy superstar and we fell for him instantly! He’s registered with the ADGA (like all our girls) and we will be using him for breeding later this fall.
His only strike against him was his simple name: BRAD 🙄
Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing with the name inherently! I’ve known several “Brad's” who are decent people!
But when you register a goat name, you go with “Ticket 2 Persia” or “One Hot Mama” or “Sassafras” or “The Waddle Wilson” 😂.
You get my drift.
BRAD.
But what can you do, except lovingly turn his farm name into Bradley Cooper with a thousand nicknames.
Bradley. Bradders. Cooper. Butters. Buttercup. Cuppers.
(who knows what else we’ll come up with!)
Well, meet Bradley Cooper! ⬇️
6 Pregnant Goats!
After our fall breeding update, we are happy to announce that we have 6 pregnant does who will be kidding this spring!
Merci (full LaMancha kids) - new to the flock, but has had kids before
Daisy (LaMancha x Nigerian Dwarf) - Twins last year, for first kidding
Cookie (full Nigerian Dwarf) - Triplets last year, for first kidding
Sweet Pea (full Nigerian Dwarf) - Triplets last year, for first kidding
Penelope (full Nigerian Dwarf) - Triplets last year, for first kidding
Astra (full Nigerian Dwarf) **first timer!
So from Daisy, Cookie, Sweet Pea and Penelope alone, we had 11 kids last spring. With the addition of a previous momma of twins, and a first timer Jeff and I have given our guesses on how many kids we’ll have this spring.
But we’d love for you to join in! Let us know how many you think we’ll have :)
Ice & Snow-mageddon 2024
January 11, 2024
Just a normal day, but late afternoon it started SNOWING.
That Thursday, I had to work at church for the night shift but I wasn’t too concerned.
Cut to 10:30pm when I’m no more than 1/2 a mile away from home, I get stuck in some crazy drifts in my country road.
🤦🏻♀️
(Jeff had to come out to save me - my hero!)
January 12, 2024
Apparently, it decided to snow all through the night and well into the next day before even thinking about stopping.
Thankfully, our church decided to close the building for the day so neither I nor Jeff had to go in to work that Friday.
But just because work is closed, doesn’t mean that chores can be skipped.
And boy, oh boy, did chores become interesting…
All in all, the entire farm was covered in snow and once we were able to move it with the tractor, the wind drifted it over again and again, and eventually it got SO COLD that our tractor gelled up and we were unable to use it at all for a few days.
Here’s a 10 minute video if you want to see a close up to the farm in action, after Jeff was able to get some snow pushed away.
VIDEO: https://www.pennerminifarms.com/video0113
But we didn’t consider that day as lost completely!
We chalked that snow day up to time to work on other things that we’ve been neglecting (indoors) so here’s what 2 mini farmers stamping recycled egg cartons looks like on a snow day:
You can correctly assume that our Friday snow day off of work resulted in a lot more work than we were expecting.
I guess I’m still learning that if you’re a farmer, there are no days off!! 😅
A Moment of Silence for Lil Mo
Ah, the update I wish I didn’t have to give 💔
Earlier this month, we had to say goodbye to our sweet lamb "Lil Mo".
Lil Mo was a runt, and unfortunately, was never quite able to catch up on her growth so that left her itty bitty.
Though she was undersized, she was so full of joy that we loved interacting with her daily and even creating & singing songs to her (and about her!) in the barn during chores and check ins.
She was so sweet and well behaved that throughout the summer and nice weather we were able to let her out to roam the farm yard with us as we were doing chores and warm weather projects.
Lil Mo was everyone's favorite when they visited the farm, with her big round eyes, tiny frame, and her joyous little "happy tail" waving about when anyone's attention stumbled her way.
However, we lost her during that super cold and blizzardy week.
We think her weak immune system just could not compete with the bitter cold, even though she had a warm and dry shelter inside of the red barn with all of our lady goats.
When we first returned to the red barn without Mo, God blessed us with a moment of silence for her.
Not a single animal (not even the chickens) made a sound for at least a full minute and it was a beautiful yet bittersweet farewell to our sweet girl.
There were lots of tears, there were lots of feelings, and there was also so much comfort knowing that we have a big awesome God who chooses to meet us even in the tiny yet tragic heartbreaks of our mini farm. And realizing that sometimes he shows up in silence.
Lil Mo, you will be forever in the farm memory and missed by many! 🐑
I guess what I’m learning while writing this update for you today, is that life is all about balance.
We have to take the bad with the good.
Loss of life.
New life to come.
Instead of dwelling on the loss, we choose to remain content with our situation and praise God through it all.
He’s the God of the hills AND valleys, right?
We hope you’re at the top of a hill, dear friend, but even if you’re at the lowest valley right now, just know that we’re here for you.
Feel free to reach out if you need a friend.
Lo
WAIT!!! BEFORE YOU GO…
💌 DIRECT FROM YOUR LOVE LETTER 💌
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30, NASB1995
👋🏻 AN INTRODUCTION 👋🏻
Y’all know how much we love goats, right? We’ve also got some awesome friends at The Hope Venture who love goats so much that they help to provide them for families in Kenya to give sustenance as well as a possible side income (when they’re in milk). Check out the Hope Venture’s Goat Project and consider joining us in providing goats to Kenya!
🧼 A REMINDER 🧼
Don’t forget, we launched our new Rise & Grind Coffee Goat Milk Soap this month! Bars are ready to find their new homes after about 6 weeks of curing. So if you’re looking for some extra exfoliation for your skin (try our new Rise & Grind coffee soap!), a delicate but long lasting scent & fantastic lather (G-Oats & Honey is for you!), or simply a fragrance free option that is great for sensitive skin (can’t go wrong with The Simple Stuff) - we’ve got what you’re looking for.
» Order today! «
