Everyone on our farm pitches in and has chores...including our goat herd! Here you see the kindergoat dairy goats - Latte and Espresso (that provide the milk for our soaps) and the angora and cashgora fiber goats - Barista, Chai, Frappuccino and half-n-half that supply us in beautiful fleece. (think we live near Seattle or something?)
"my daughter resting on Chai before the work begins"
Twice a year, in the spring and fall, the fiber goats all get a shearing. This is a welcomed event to them, since each fleece can weight up to 15lbs and is extremely warm and itchy, not to say dirty! When I teach children about the fleece, and they comment on the dirt and smell, I ask them how their hair would be if it was never washed nor brushed for 6 months and they lived outside?
"half of Chai is done...more to go!"
One would be amazed at how heavy those shears are! They become especially heavy when you are also maneuvering around a 125lb goat! At least we are electrified and do not have to use scissors, as we did in the beginning!
It takes about an hour for us to shear, per goat. We are sure others do it faster, but we find that we enjoy the time spent with each animal, and they get a "pedicure" at the same time...we call it going to the "Foothills Farm Spa".
"all sheared out! Need the people spa now!"
After 3 - 4 goats, one's back begins to definitely fatique! We have found that we can really only shear 3 at the most, so usually daddy...Barista...gets his own day!
We leave the leftover fleece on the ground for the birds and small animals. Our resident barn swallow family has been using our fleece for nesting materials for the past several years.
So, as you can see, I take it as a compliment that the fabric looks so effortless...oh, how looks can be deceiving!
All my best,
Catherine
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