Both. Our value added product from our farm is Surfing Goat Soaps. We believe goats should be sustainable, which means they have to contribute to the family. Milk for us is one thing, but in order to pay the food bill, we make and sell goat milk soaps, and more.

We started the farm to bring farm education to classrooms. While that is no longer practical due to state regulations, the information is still needed. We use the soap to connect our customers to our farm, and the Earth in general. I write to help people take better of themselves, their goats and the planet.

Yes, we do, but only if they meet my parameters. No palm oil, No artificial colorants or fragrances. Everyone has to agree to wait at least 4 weeks before they get their soaps. We also make custom Fynniroos, towels, mugs, totes and more. We love to celebrate the “underdogs,” such as working dogs, but also donkeys, goats and endangered breeds. All of this is part of furthering our educational goal. Plus, if you use a soap, you need a towel.

Being organic does not mean what it used to mean. We practice old school organic practices with our goats" health, and our land. But to be certified organic is a cost that we choose not to participate in. It drives up expenses and leaves our farm open to the judgement of non-goat people. In addition, goats are very much understudied. The ones doing that research are the feed companies. Organic organizations do not have the same interest in goats, so we purchase conventional feed for our animals.

Yes, occasionally in person, but I also have a YouTube channel where I teach about keeping goats. It is Hames and Axle Farm in YouTube. I have done soapmaking workshops in the past, but don’t do that as much anymore.

We have been on test before, and may do One day Tests again. But finding supervisors is not easy, and working tests around craft markets is difficult. Our goats will never be in the Top 10 because they are bred for health, personality as well as conformation and production. Though we use the milk, I value having a herd that is 100% Nigerian dwarf goat, with proportional udders and reliably within height standards. As for health testing, we did a whole herd test for CAE three years ago, and haven’t gone to any shows since then. The only animals that have joined the herd come from CAE free herds. I do intend to test again in 2025 or 2026, just to assure people that we’re still healthy. We have never had a case of CL on the property, and are very careful about biosecurity, so I do not test for that disease. Regarding Johnes, I have goats that are 10-15 years old on the farm. That would not be true if we had Johnes in the herd. This was verified by a large animal vet several years ago. Any time we have a dubious death, we have the body necropsied, and have never had a positive result.