To a great past and an even greater new year:
This past year was great for our business, Journey's Edge Farm.  We attended many vendor and craft shows and met some interesting people.  Sometimes I ask myself do I do it as a social affair or to hopefully help people be able to purchase natural products....well the answer is both!!  People not only purchase but they help me out with ideas of new items and ways to sell. I love the stories they pass along and I really love the sour looks on some faces when I tell them that my products are made from goat's milk. Which brings me to my girls, my goats, they are still bouncing and frolicking all over their goat paradise....well it will be once I have added more items for them to play on. Right now they are enjoying playing queen of the mountain on one rickety attempt at a double dynamic climber!  But they are growing up and we are also growing closer to them as they mellow out even more. Willow, who was always so proud and strong willed now loves a tummy scratch, and Gracie I believe would crawl up on my lap if she could...oh, did I mention that they still love my singing!! I am going to add a few new items to my business very soon with great hopes and a lot of faith. I expanded my business to Ohio this past year and I am happy to say that all but one of the locations are doing well.  This is still just a work in progress and we are always open to suggestions or ideas, as we continue on our journey!

My Girls
Ok, let's go back when Journey's Edge Farm was just an idea and a hope to when I lived on the internet researching goat farming.  I read countless articles on raising and caring for dairy goats, each one giving a different tip on feeding methods, health care, and overall tending the goats.  I took a tidbit from each one compiling what I thought was good advise on raising my girls.  One article stood out in my mind considering that I love to sing, whether I am good or not is not my concern, I know I enjoy it.  The farmer in the article mentioned singing to their goats or playing a radio for company.  They told of how it seemed to calm them and anyone who likes to sing knows that it makes you happy as well.  So, with it being the Christmas season, well and Christmas carols are my favorite, I began to sing Silent Night to my girls one evening when feeding.  The reaction was so heart felt that it immediately brought tears to my eyes.  They both looked up at me as if to say thank you for the tune, but it was my little Grace who stole my heart. Grace gazed up at me resting her head on my arm, for I was also petting them as a sang, and she seemed to be focused on each word as if truly listening for it's meaning.  At that moment my girls also became my friends giving me as much comfort as I do them.

Wow, it is almost winter! The time passes so fast. The other day my brother-in-law brought his cattle down from the hill, we are making plans for winterizing our dog kennels, and I begin being a worry wart, making sure all the chickens and other animals are safe and warm from the snow. I have even been looking at coats for my two goats, Willow and Grace. I notice we are not the only ones making arrangements for possibly bad weather. The grass has stopped growing so that any tender blades would not be smothered by the snow, the trees have shed their leaves to keep snow from sticking to them and weighting down the branches causing them to break, and the wildlife have grown a new thick layer of fur to accommodate the weather. Then as I look out at the farm I realize that we are not the only ones who change, well I do know that these changes take place, but I feel like I just expect them to and I don't appreciate what really happens. The earth prepares itself just as we do! Just as we would fancy up for a big party, the earth snuggles in for the winter. Then when the ground begins to warm again earth's decorations begin to appear blanketing all surroundings with it's beauty. Just as we have to rest after a long day at work, the earth also needs a reprieve to build up strength for the next big event. So let's not look at possible a snowy, cold winter as doom and gloom, look at it as a restful period of time waiting for a big celebration. I write poetry so I wanted to share this idea with you all.

As we hear the leaves 

crumple under

our feet,

And watch as the trees

transform into sleek,

smooth wonders,

mighty under the vast 

blue depth,

Hush and be still

listen to all that

surrounds,

Hush and be still

listen to what?

I just wanted to share some photos of my products with everyone. These are of various vendor shows and locations where we are set up. This is a dream for me, so keep us in your thoughts!

Don't Give Up
As a child growing up, my mother stayed home with my sister, my brother, and myself and seemed happy being a housewife. I was happy with this because this meant I would have a snack ready when I got home from school and dinner wasn't long behind. I was fortunate when my two sons were tots to be able to stay home and care for them as well, but when they were both in school, I needed to busy myself somewhere besides home. So....well, I followed them to school. And that is where I am today and happily so, if I do say.  But sometimes things change and you suddenly realize that like my father, who was our main provider financially growing up, my life may be going a different direction.  Health issues force us to examine our lives and realize that, Wow, I may need to step up! I remember reading an issue of Mary Jane's Farm magazine and focusing on how bad sunblock was for our skin.  All the cancer causing agents with names that would take a genius to pronounce, was shocking to me. I began to research and all beginnings, kept ending with Goat's Milk! This is when I became a scientist, as my husband says, experimenting with all these wonderful natural ingredients.  I came up with pleasing products to me, and to my surprise lots of other people too. This is when Journey's Edge Farm was created.  It is still a work in progress but I am so fortunate to have this opportunity to not only help myself and my family but also be able to share these fortifying products with others. So women, if you need a little push to accomplish a dream or help you find one, just let me know. I am proof that we can do whatever we put our minds to!

Happy Times
Do you ever wonder how you come to be where you are now, in your life?  Is it what you thought you would be doing, say 10 or 15 years ago?  Everyday I thank my creator for my life and the day and then begin the robotic routine of preparing for work. I love my job as an assistant in a middle school but most of all I love my small goat milk products business!  A few years ago I spend all extra time and money on the students at school but now I find myself working on my business every free moment I can spare at school.  My friend and I talk about how we want to be somewhere else and all the things we could be doing elsewhere.  Then I ask myself is it my age that is making me want something different to occupy my time or is it just meant to be?  I feel now more than ever that I am being led on this path.  So did I miss what I was supposed to be, a long time ago?  Did I just choose the school because it was convenient at the time?  Regardless  I am thoroughly enjoying the farm and the animals. I am on cloud nine waiting to see what adventure awaits!

As a child I was raised on a small farm where my parents butchered their own hogs, raised chickens, eat the eggs and then the chickens, when a new fresh laying bunch come of age.  I didn't take part in any of the messy things, I enjoyed playing with our energetic Dutch rabbits or raising an orphaned chick when needed.  Now as an, oh no, "aging adult" I have found myself living on a farm and thoroughly enjoying the adventures of a small business.  I have recently purchased two of the most precious Nubian does. I have quickly fallen in love with their quick wit and spunky personalities. When I look on to the future, all aspects involve the farm and I am encouraged more every time I feed these lovely creatures (goats, dogs, chickens, cats) to use the earth as needed to produce and fulfill our lives and theirs. So maybe we do go back to our childhood in more ways than one as we get older.