Higher Calling Farm

We have been blessed with a small herd of dairy goats, consisting of a few different breeds: Oberhasli (Swiss Dairy Goat), LaMancha, Alpines and Nubians. Many times goats get a "bad rap" as being nuisances and smelly. They are mischievous and will taste anything that they can, but they are a lot of fun and full of personality. Only the bucks (intact males) are smelly and usually this is only when they go into rut (breeding season). We do have one LaMancha buck at our farm currently. We also have a couple of cute little pygmy wethers (castrated males) that still strut around like they are bucks, but the does (females) pretty much keep them "in-line". Our children show some of the goats through 4-H. They were very proud to earn Championship awards in both dairy and meat goat division at the Madison County Fair 2006.

Soap-All-natural milk soaps are just 1 type of soap we make. See the for sale page to see what soaps we have available.

Milk-"Does it taste like you're licking a goat?" We've heard this question lots (or it was obvious that people were thinking it as they wrinkled their nose) when we mention drinking goat milk. The answer could be "yes" or "no" depending on where you get the milk from. The answer could be yes if there is a buck running with the females, goats got into and chowed down on a wild onion or garlic patch, milking is not done in an absolutely pristine way, the milk isn't cooled down quickly after milking, or if it is more than a few days old (as goat milk ages, the caprillic acid naturally found in goat's milk becomes more intense the longer it sits-as the enzymes break down).

Goat's milk will not have a "goaty flavor" if the farmer does not run a buck with the herd, uses the utmost cleanliness during milking and with milking containers, cools the milk down quickly (we milk on ice). Then it's up to you to "drink your milk" as your mother told you (within a few days....use left-over milk for cooking, pudding, yogurt or cheese after that and obtain fresh milk for drinking). If you've ever had fresh cow's milk, you should not be able to tell the difference between the cow's milk and the goat's milk. If you're used to the sterilized stuff that has been stripped of healthful benefits from the grocery store (to read more about this see www.realmilk.com , www.rawmilk.org and www.westonprice.org Also read The Milk Book by William Campbell Douglass) then there will be a slight taste difference to get used to, but it is WELL worth the health benefits! Fresh milk has a richer, heartier flavor. When we first made the conversion to real milk we used 1/4 gal real milk and mixed it with 3/4 gal store-bought milk. Then the next week it was half and half, the next week 3/4 real milk and 1/4 gal store-bought milk, and then finally all real milk. We also started using the milk mixed in things like cereal, smoothies, yogurt, etc. to train our taste buds. Now when the kids are somewhere that they drink store-bought milk they wrinkle up their noses and claim it's not really milk!

Goats are mentioned many times in the Bible. They were used for offerings, meat, clothing, temple curtains, pillows and milk. (The types of goats that are used for their fiber are Angora and Cashmere.

"Then Gideon went in and prepared a young goat and unleavened bread from an ephah of flour; he put the meat in a basket and the broth in a pot, and brought {them} out to him under the oak and presented {them.}" Judges 6:19

"And there will be goats' milk enough for your food, for the food of your household, and sustenance for your maidens". Proverbs 27:27

"All the women who were willing used their skills to spin and weave the goat hair into cloth". Exodus 35:26

"Go now to the flock and bring me two choice young goats from there, that I may prepare them {as} a savory dish for your father, such as he loves." Genesis 27:9

"He shall take the two goats and present them before the LORD at the doorway of the tent of meeting." Leviticus 16:5