The twelfth of February 2019

goats

A friend of mine who lives in San Fransisco lives in a house nearby where a herd of goats has been hired to clear weeds and brush! City grazing rents out their herd to graze on brush and weeds, eliminating the need for fuel-guzzling lawn mowers and toxic herbicides! Not to mention, goats help prevent weeds and secondary growth from returning because they stop seeds form spreading, AND clearing out the brush helps prevent wildfires! Plus, goats are amazing – wouldn’t you rather see a herd of goats happily munching away rather than someone on a lawnmower?

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Sustainable land management can be fun. 

The eighth of February 2019

goats

When the world seems hostile or indifferent, the best thing you can possibly do is simply keep moving. Things will get better, the wind and the storm will pass, so will today’s struggle. By this time next year, it may not even matter or be a distant memory. You never know, the trouble you experience today might make for golden memories tomorrow.

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Sometimes the best way to weather what life throws at you is to keep moving.

The first of February 2019

goats

A few years ago while surfing the web, I came across the most amazing thing: The Oxford Cambridge Goat Race. This event takes place yearly at Spitalfields City Farm in London, UK. I have been an avid follower of the race ever since. Infact, if it weren’t for the Oxford Cambridge Goat Race, you would not be reading and (hopefully) enjoying Goat of the Day, as the inspiration for this blog came from the race’s Facebook page that often posts a daily goat in the weeks leading up to the big event. This year, the race is set to take place on Sunday, April 7th. In addition to the goats, there are lots of fun activities at the farm, food, and a lovely mariachi band. I highly recommend it.

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An action shot from the 2018 Goat race. The 2019 race promises to be the event of the season!

The fifteenth of January 2019

goats

Two years before I knew I would actually be living in Cambridge, U.K., I discovered something amazing on the internet: The Oxford-Cambridge Goat Race. During this time, I was not involved in photographing goats, making inspirational internet posts, or the wide world of information on our caprine friends. However, I was fascinated by the concept of a goat race, and immediately placed the Oxford-Cambridge Goat Race on my life’s bucket list. One day in the early springtime at Spitalfields City Farm in London, one goat representing Oxford and one goat representing Cambridge race. The event includes live music – including mariachi bands, some delicious foods, and loads of goats. I was lucky enough to attend this event in 2017 and 2018, where I met Bramble.

Bramble was a Golden Guernsey Goat, a rare breed goat known for its golden goat, with moderate milk yield good for cheese and yoghurt production. The Spitalfields Facebook page described Bramble as a “matriarch of the herd” and was well known for her strong spirit. Sadly, Bramble passed away earlier this week. I looked through my archive and found this photograph of her from 2017, running the yard, prepping her farmyard friends for the big race day. Rest in peace, Bramble. If you are keen, you can donate to Spitalfields City Farm on their Facebook page.

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Goodbye to a caprine friend ❤

The twenty fifth of November 2018

goats

My friend Chloe Ashley sent me a photograph of this sassy black goat who resides at Hackney City Farm in London. I am quite keen on the concept of the urban farm, a refuge in the middle of a city where food is grown and farm animals can thrive. I will definitely have to visit Hackney sometime soon.

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One of the residents of Hackney City Farm.

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.