photography

The eighth of November 2018

goats

Goat pastoralism is typically the way humans have kept goats for millennia, and still do in some parts of the world. However, in other parts of the world taking your flock of goats around to graze and roam is not sensible and might even be illegal. Therefore, some people keep goat farms and practice goat farming, sometimes with the intended goal on selling goat’s secondary products, mainly milk. There are many resources online to help you build your goat farm and learn to raise goats. For example, it is important to have enough space for your goats to wander around, as they are quite intelligent and inquisitive creatures prone to boredom and shenanigans. Caring for goats requires some work, but most who take up goat farming find it to be a rewarding challenge. You don’t have to begin with a huge enterprise,

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Hanging out at Buttercups Sanctuary for Goats, which sells wonderful souvenirs rather than secondary goat products.

The seventh of November 2018

goats

Disappointment and discouragement are unfortunately inevitabilities of everyday life. However, in the face of what might seem like the end or an insurmountable mountain to climb, there is always a glimmer of hope to be found. Today, regroup, stay motivated and keep fighting for what you want and what you think is right. There will be a tomorrow and things can get better.

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Don’t feel too discouraged, friends. The fight is far from over.

The sixth of November 2018

goats

Sometimes it’s seems as though the news is always bad and the world hangs in a constant state of anxiety. These feelings are hard to shake, but rest assured, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel. There is always a glimmer of hope, something to work towards, and something to be grateful for. You never know, you might be closer to the other side of the mountain than you think.

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Be hopeful today.

The fifth of November 2018

goats

One of the most distinctive features of a goat are their horizontal, rectangular pupils. The shape of the goat pupils allows them exceptional peripheral vision, approximately 320 degrees, very helpful for detecting predators. Some have theorized that pupil shape and size is related to whether or not a creature is predator or prey. For example, cats have vertical shaped pupils while sheep and goats have horizontal ones. Humans have round pupils, perhaps because other attributes of ours help us avoid prey and/or because humans can be predators. Goats can also see quite well in the night, and can even rotate their eyes over fifty degrees perhaps to keep an eye out for hunters when they are grazing! That is pretty amazing. Excellent peripheral vision, good night vision, and the ability to rotate the eyes to a high degree must give our caprine friends and interesting perspective on the world. Some say goat eyes are creepy; however, I think they are just totally fascinating. It’s good to have an expanded perspective, whether it is from the actual geometry of your pupils to keeping an open mind.

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Expand your perspective.

The fourth of November 2018

goats

There are some people who advise to never look back, cautioning against regret. There are other people who advise reflection and contemplation. So long as it does not strain your neck, it is useful sometimes to look back upon your achievements to find inspiration for accomplishing future goals. If you achieved something amazing in the past, you can achieve something amazing in the future.

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A glance at the past can reveal your ability to achieve amazing things. 

The third of November 2018

goats

Everyone has a story to tell, but sometimes there is not always someone there to listen. To be a good friend, sometimes you have to be interested rather than interesting. Have a listen to someone’s story, it might be entertaining, you might learn something and most of all listening is a wonderful act of kindness.

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Good storytellers are also great listeners.

The thirty first of October: Halloween 2018

goats

Happy Halloween! I hope that you all have some lovely tricks, treats and shenanigans and enjoy!

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I have yet to photograph a goat in a costume; however, this one seems to be plotting some mischief.

The thirtieth of October 2018

goats

In a previous post, goat’s dietary preferences were discussed and some mythology about what goats actually eat were dispelled. However, goats do enjoy eating some unusual things. For example, goats can eat and digest poison ivy leaves without issue. The urushiol compound that causes the nasty, blistering rash in humans does not effect them at all, leading some people to use them as a means to mitigate and destroy poison ivy. You can even hire a herd of goats in some areas to take care of excess brush and such plants! In the UK, poison ivy is rare, but there are still unpleasant, rash-inducing plants about, such as stinging nettle. Unsurprisingly, goats do not experience similar negative reactions to stinging nettle, and are known to enjoy the leaves as a snack. Perhaps goat browsing is an effective and fun solution to problematic plants.

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Snacking on stinging nettles in Kent. Yum?

The twenty ninth of October 2018

goats

Autumn always feels like such a busy time of year, perhaps because the amount of daylight shrinks as we get closer and closer to winter. It is good to try to find some moments to rest and reflect and get a bit of sunshine before the cold sets in.

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Enjoy the sunlight, even as the world grows cold.

The twenty eighth of October 2018

goats

Just as humans have populated the earth, so have goats. Just as humans should be free to go where they like, perhaps so should goats. Challenge your boundaries, embark on a new adventure, visit a new place, change your perspective. Don’t let arbitrary borders limit your experience or define who you are as a person. The more you travel, the more you realise that there is more that brings us together than sets us apart.

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A caprine friend looking for adventure.