Got a question? 🤔 

Head over to -- https://thriftyhomesteader.com/packing-with-goats/ -- and drop it in the comments—so we can reply! 

Description

If you're considering adding pack goating to your goats’ resumes, this episode is packed with practical tips and essential insights. Deborah Niemann chats with Nathan Putnam, a board member of the North American Pack Goat Association and owner of Putnam Pack Goats. Together, they dive into the world of pack goats, from choosing the right goats to the gear you'll need for your trips.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The history of pack goating and how it started in the 1970s.
• Why pack goats are a growing alternative to horses and llamas for backcountry hiking and camping.
• What to look for in a goat for packing: from breed preferences to physical traits and characteristics.
• The age at which to start training your goats and how to gradually increase their load capacity.
• Essential gear for pack goating, including saddles, panniers, and leads.
• How to train adult goats, even those already in your herd, to become pack goats.
• What to expect on a typical pack goating trip: daily routines, feeding, and water strategies.
• Dealing with predators and other considerations when hiking with goats in the backcountry.
  
  

Whether you’re looking to start pack goating or just want to learn more about it, this episode offers valuable advice and inspiration. Nathan shares his experience and knowledge, making it easier than ever to embark on your own pack goat adventure.

Resources:

• North American Pack Goat Association (NAPgA)
• Putnam Pack Goats

If you’ve ever thought about earning an income with goats, check out our list of goat business ideas to spark your own inspiration.

Thanks for tuning in!

No one ever said raising goats was easy, but it doesn't have to cost a fortune or drive you crazy! You just need the right information.

🔹 Check out Goats 365 membership

🔹 Or explore The Goat Academy

🔹Looking for Deborah's books? They can be purchased wherever books are sold, or you can get an autographed copy on our online store.

Happy goat-keeping! 🐐

Got a question? 🤔 

Head over to -- https://thriftyhomesteader.com/turning-goat-milk-into-pet-food/ -- and drop it in the comments—so we can reply! 

Description

If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to legally sell raw goat milk or farm-made pet treats, this episode is full of first-hand insight and practical tips. Deborah sits down with Carly Brown and Shawn Phillips of The Good Steward Farm in Virginia, where their herd of 28 goats helps power two small businesses: goat-powered landscaping and licensed raw milk pet products.

Carly and Shawn walk us through the behind-the-scenes process of getting a pet feed license, working with state inspectors, completing nutritional testing, and creating professional packaging that customers trust—all while reducing waste and adding value to every part of the farm.

In this episode, you’ll learn how Carly and Shawn:

• Navigated labeling laws and testing requirements to sell raw milk legally as pet food
  
  
• Turned their freeze dryer into a profit-making machine for chicken heads and yogurt treats
  
  
• Worked with state officials to get label approvals and avoid regulatory pitfalls
  
  
• Developed packaging that instantly improved product appeal and sales
  
  
• Balanced their goat business with full-time jobs and a multi-herd setup
  
  
• Maintained transparency and integrity while planning for future human-grade dairy sales

Whether you're exploring a goat-based business, interested in pet food production, or just love hearing what’s possible with a little grit and goat love, this episode is sure to inspire.

Thanks for tuning in!

No one ever said raising goats was easy, but it doesn't have to cost a fortune or drive you crazy! You just need the right information.

🔹 Check out Goats 365 membership

🔹 Or explore The Goat Academy

🔹Looking for Deborah's books? They can be purchased wherever books are sold, or you can get an autographed copy on our online store.

Happy goat-keeping! 🐐

Got a question? 🤔 

Head over to -- https://thriftyhomesteader.com/farm-volunteer-program/ -- and drop it in the comments—so we can reply! 

Description

In this episode, Deborah Niemann welcomes Anne Petersen of Rosasharn Farm—one of the longest-standing Nigerian Dwarf breeders in the U.S.—to talk about her farm's long-running and highly successful volunteer program. What began as hosting a foreign exchange student over two decades ago has evolved into a dynamic educational experience that has inspired many former volunteers to start their own farms and even veterinary careers.

Anne shares how her program organically developed through her involvement in 4-H, homeschooling, and local agricultural organizations. She emphasizes that the key to a successful volunteer program is education, not free labor, and dives into how she models tasks and responsibilities for volunteers of all ages.

Whether you're thinking of starting a volunteer program or just love hearing about farm-based community building, you’ll find inspiration, insight, and practical advice in this thoughtful and experience-rich conversation.

What You’ll Learn:

• How Anne’s volunteer program started and evolved over 40+ years
• Why education is at the heart of her farm’s volunteer experience
• The importance of modeling and working with your volunteers
• Lessons learned from early challenges, including personality mismatches
• Why understanding a volunteer’s intentions and mindset is critical
• How former volunteers have launched their own farms and careers
• Advice for farmers considering starting their own volunteer program

Resources Mentioned:

• Rosasharn Farm
• Southeastern Massachusetts Agricultural Partnership (SEMAP)
• 4-H Youth Programs
• Local Young Farmer Networks

Thanks for tuning in!

No one ever said raising goats was easy, but it doesn't have to cost a fortune or drive you crazy! You just need the right information.

🔹 Check out Goats 365 membership

🔹 Or explore The Goat Academy

🔹Looking for Deborah's books? They can be purchased wherever books are sold, or you can get an autographed copy on our online store.

Happy goat-keeping! 🐐

Got a question? 🤔 

Head over to -- https://thriftyhomesteader.com/goat-wisdom/ -- and drop it in the comments—so we can reply! 

Description

What do you get when two city guys buy a goat farm during the Great Recession? A global skincare brand built on goat milk—and timeless wisdom.

In this inspiring episode, Deborah talks with Josh Kilmer-Purcell and Dr. Brent Ridge, the founders of Beekman 1802, about how they went from weekend farmers to building a multi-million-dollar business using lessons learned from goats, neighbors, and small-town living.

🧼 From making goat cheese and soap
📚 To releasing their new book G.O.A.T. Wisdom: How to Build a Truly Great Business with Harvard Business Review
💡 They share actionable insights for homesteaders, small business owners, and anyone dreaming of turning their passion into a meaningful business.

You’ll hear about:

• How goats (and a neighbor’s kindness) saved their farm
• Why they started with goat milk soap and what they learned along the way
• The importance of not doing everything yourself, and focusing on what you bring to the table
• The power of treating customers as “neighbors”
• Lessons in marketing, scaling, and community-building
• And how to convert everyday wisdom into entrepreneurial success

Resources Mentioned:

• G.O.A.T. Wisdom: How to Build a Truly Great Business 
  • Buy on Amazon
  • Buy on Bookshop
• The Bucolic Plague: How Two Manhattanites Became Gentlemen Farmers 
  • Buy on Amazon
  • Buy on Bookshop

Connect with the Beekman Boys

• Beekman 1802 Website
• Josh & Brent on Instagram
• Beekman 1802 Boys on Facebook

Thanks for tuning in!

No one ever said raising goats was easy, but it doesn't have to cost a fortune or drive you crazy! You just need the right information.

🔹 Check out Goats 365 membership

🔹 Or explore The Goat Academy

🔹Looking for Deborah's books? They can be purchased wherever books are sold, or you can get an autographed copy on our online store.

Happy goat-keeping! 🐐

Got a question? 🤔 

Head over to -- https://thriftyhomesteader.com/call-the-vet-now/ --  and drop it in the comments—so we can reply! 

Description 

Most goat owners have faced a moment of uncertainty—staring at a sick goat and wondering, “Should I call the vet?” In this solo episode, Deborah Niemann lays out the answer with clarity and urgency.

While goats are often thought of as hardy animals, they are also prey animals that instinctively hide illness until they’re critically sick. This episode covers the top emergency symptoms that signal you need to stop Googling, skip the Facebook group, and call a veterinarian immediately.

Drawing from decades of goat-keeping experience and real-life stories (including her own hard lessons), Deborah walks through what serious symptoms look like, what they might mean, and why waiting too long can cost your goat its life. She also explains when supportive care at home can help while you wait for the vet to arrive—and when it can’t.

What you’ll learn:

• The most common and overlooked emergency signs in goats
• Why not eating or drinking is a major red flag, not a minor issue
• How to identify true bloat (ruminal tympany) versus hay belly
• The meaning behind a goat screaming, grinding teeth, or lying down and not standing
• The difference between ruminal and abomasal bloat—and why it matters
• Signs of neurological distress, including circling, blindness, and seizures
• Why urinary blockage is a life-threatening emergency in wethers
• How to tell the difference between pooping and peeing behavior
• The dangers of bloody or rusty urine, and when it could signal copper toxicity
• Why Pepto Bismol is not a real treatment for diarrhea in kids
• What a goat’s fever (or low body temp) may indicate—and what to do
• Recognizing tetanus symptoms before it’s too late

Resources Mentioned:

• Goat Bloat (article)
• Podcast episodes on: 
  • Listeriosis in Goats
  • Goat Polio
  • Urinary Calculi
  • Skin Cancer in Goats: Melanoma
  • Tetanus in Goats

🐐  🐐  🐐 

To see the most recent episodes, visit  ForTheLoveOfGoats.com

Want to support the content you love?
Head over to -- https://thrifty-homesteader.ck.page/products/love-goats-tip-jar

Thanks for tuning in!

No one ever said raising goats was easy, but it doesn't have to cost a fortune or drive you crazy! You just need the right information.

🔹 Check out Goats 365 membership

🔹 Or explore The Goat Academy

🔹Looking for Deborah's books? They can be purchased wherever books are sold, or you can get an autographed copy on our online store.

Happy goat-keeping! 🐐

Got a question? 🤔 

Head over to -- https://thriftyhomesteader.com/loss-of-a-beloved-goat-or-pet/ --  and drop it in the comments—so we can reply! 

Description 

Losing a beloved animal—whether a goat, dog, cat, or any other companion—can be absolutely heartbreaking. In this episode of For the Love of Goats, I’m joined by Beth Bigler, a double-certified Pet Loss Grief Counselor, animal companion end-of-life doula, and trained pet chaplain. Beth is also the author of the upcoming book Honoring Our Animals: 365 Meditations for Healing After Pet Loss (out June 3 from Quarto Books), and the creator of the popular Instagram account @honoringouranimals.

Together, we discuss how grief over losing an animal is real, valid, and deserving of support. Beth shares insights from her years of working with grieving pet owners, veterinary professionals, and animal care workers—and how we can start to heal after a loss. Whether you’re currently grieving or want to better support someone who is, this conversation is filled with compassion, honesty, and practical tools for navigating this tender experience.

 🐐  🐐  🐐 

See full show notes here >> https://thriftyhomesteader.com/loss-of-a-beloved-goat-or-pet/

To see the most recent episodes, visit  ForTheLoveOfGoats.com

Want to support the content you love?
Head over to -- https://thrifty-homesteader.ck.page/products/love-goats-tip-jar

Thanks for tuning in!

No one ever said raising goats was easy, but it doesn't have to cost a fortune or drive you crazy! You just need the right information.

🔹 Check out Goats 365 membership

🔹 Or explore The Goat Academy

🔹Looking for Deborah's books? They can be purchased wherever books are sold, or you can get an autographed copy on our online store.

Happy goat-keeping! 🐐

Got a question? 🤔  Head over to https://thriftyhomesteader.com/from-lab-coat-to-cheesecloth/ --  and drop it in the comments—so we can reply! 

What happens when a medical career ends—but a passion for something totally different begins? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Kandice Marchant, a retired physician who traded her lab coat for a cheesecloth. After years of serving patients, Kandice now crafts artisan cheese, bringing a scientist’s precision and a cheesemaker’s creativity to every batch.

We talk about:

• How her medical background turned her on to cheesemaking
• What sparked her interest in artisan cheese to begin with
• Creating her own signature cheeses 
• Opening a retail shop
• Why it's never too late to start a second act

If you’ve ever dreamed of changing careers, getting into cheesemaking, or just love hearing from people who follow their passion—you’ll love this episode.

See full show notes here >> https://thriftyhomesteader.com/from-lab-coat-to-cheesecloth/

To see the most recent episodes, visit  ForTheLoveOfGoats.com

Want to support the content you love?
Head over to -- https://thrifty-homesteader.ck.page/products/love-goats-tip-jar

Thanks for tuning in!

No one ever said raising goats was easy, but it doesn't have to cost a fortune or drive you crazy! You just need the right information.

🔹 Check out Goats 365 membership

🔹 Or explore The Goat Academy

🔹Looking for Deborah's books? They can be purchased wherever books are sold, or you can get an autographed copy on our online store.

Happy goat-keeping! 🐐

Got a question? 🤔  Head over to https://thriftyhomesteader.com/goat-polio/ --  and drop it in the comments—so we can reply! 

Description

Goat polio is a serious and often misunderstood condition—frequently mistaken for other neurological diseases like listeriosis, meningeal worm, or even rabies. 

In this episode, Deborah Niemann is joined by Dr. Melissa Holahan, a small ruminant veterinarian, goat breeder, and former lecturer and research assistant at Washington State University. As a breeder of Nigerian Dwarf and Alpine goats herself, Dr. Holahan brings a unique combination of clinical expertise and hands-on experience to this important conversation.

Dr. Holahan explains that goat polio isn’t technically a disease on its own, but rather a syndrome caused by brain swelling (cerebral edema), often linked to a disruption in thiamine (vitamin B1) production. You’ll hear why early diagnosis and veterinary involvement are critical—and why relying solely on Facebook advice or over-the-counter B complex may not be enough to save your goat. She also shares what recovery can look like, along with potential long-term side effects.

Key Takeaways:

• What goat polio is and why it’s more accurately considered a syndrome
• How it differs from listeriosis, meningeal worm, and rabies
• Early signs and symptoms to watch for, including blindness, nystagmus (eye twitching), and mobility issues
• The role of thiamine in treatment—and the risks of incorrect dosing
• Environmental and dietary factors that can contribute, such as moldy feed, grain overload, and toxic plants
• Prevention tips, including proper nutrition, clean feeding practices, and feed security 

To see the most recent episodes, visit  ForTheLoveOfGoats.com

Want to support the content you love?

Head over to -- https://thrifty-homesteader.ck.page/products/love-goats-tip-jar

Thanks for tuning in!

No one ever said raising goats was easy, but it doesn't have to cost a fortune or drive you crazy! You just need the right information.

🔹 Check out Goats 365 membership

🔹 Or explore The Goat Academy

🔹Looking for Deborah's books? They can be purchased wherever books are sold, or you can get an autographed copy on our online store.

Happy goat-keeping! 🐐

Got a question? 🤔  Head over to https://thriftyhomesteader.com/raising-goats-in-canada/ -- and drop it in the comments—so we can reply! 

Description

In this episode, host Deborah Niemann is joined by Mallory Kaiser, president of the Alberta Goat Association and vice chair of the Canadian National Goat Federation. Mallory shares insights into the goat industry in Canada, including available breeds, import/export challenges, traceability regulations, and the demand for goat products. Whether you're curious about how goat farming differs in Canada or considering expanding your own herd, this episode is packed with valuable information.

Key Takeaways:

• Canada has a strong demand for goat meat, but local production struggles to meet consumer needs.
• Strict import regulations limit genetic diversity, making it difficult to bring in new bloodlines from the U.S. or Europe.
• New traceability requirements could open doors for better disease monitoring but are met with resistance from producers.
• Goat farming in Canada comes with unique challenges, from frigid temperatures to predator threats, requiring strategic planning and infrastructure.
• The future of goat farming in Canada depends on better regulation, improved record-keeping, and stronger trade relations with the U.S.

Correction Notice:
In this episode (at 01:05), the guest mentioned that the Canadian Meat Goat Association is in the process of having Spanish goats recognized as a designated breed in Canada. This was incorrect. The correct information is that the Canadian Meat Goat Association is working on having Savannah goats registered in Canada, not Spanish goats.

 

To see the most recent episodes, visit  ForTheLoveOfGoats.com

Want to support the content you love?
Head over to -- https://thrifty-homesteader.ck.page/products/love-goats-tip-jar

Thanks for tuning in!

No one ever said raising goats was easy, but it doesn't have to cost a fortune or drive you crazy! You just need the right information.

🔹 Check out Goats 365 membership

🔹 Or explore The Goat Academy

🔹Looking for Deborah's books? They can be purchased wherever books are sold, or you can get an autographed copy on our online store.

Happy goat-keeping! 🐐

Got a question? 🤔  Head over to  https://thriftyhomesteader.com/dewormer-resistance-goat-owners-experience/ --  and drop it in the comments—so we can reply! 

Description

In this insightful and eye-opening episode, host Deborah Niemann is joined by Tammy Gallagher of Shady Paddock Farm in Texas to discuss the challenges of dewormer resistance and parasite management in goats. Tammy, a certified FAMACHA instructor and Nigerian Dwarf breeder, shares her personal experience of losing goats to barber pole worms and the lessons she learned in regaining control of her herd’s health.

Tammy’s story underscores the importance of understanding parasite biology, pasture management, and responsible dewormer use. Through trial, research, and adaptation, she has successfully built a herd with strong parasite resistance and implemented effective strategies to reduce worm loads without over-reliance on dewormers.

Key Takeaways

• Dewormer resistance develops from overuse and improper use of dewormers, leading to ineffective treatments.
• Farm environment plays a significant role in parasite management—what works in one location may not be effective in another.
• A combination of selective breeding, pasture management, and strategic dewormer use can help reduce worm burdens.
• Learning how to perform fecal egg counts at home allows goat owners to identify high-risk animals and make informed deworming and culling decisions.

Lessons Learned from Tammy’s Experience

• Parasite management is not one-size-fits-all—what works for one farm may not work for another.
• Identifying and culling high-risk goats can make a significant difference in reducing parasite loads.
• Sustainable parasite control involves a mix of breeding, nutrition, and pasture improvements.
• Understanding the biology of parasites and how they spread is crucial for effective management.

Related Resources

• FAMACHA training is available in the Goats 365 membership

To see the most recent episodes, visit  ForTheLoveOfGoats.com

Want to support the content you love?
Head over to -- https://thrifty-homesteader.ck.page/products/love-goats-tip-jar

Thanks for tuning in!

No one ever said raising goats was easy, but it doesn't have to cost a fortune or drive you crazy! You just need the right information.

🔹 Check out Goats 365 membership

🔹 Or explore The Goat Academy

🔹Looking for Deborah's books? They can be purchased wherever books are sold, or you can get an autographed copy on our online store.

Happy goat-keeping! 🐐