Lafayette, a 3-year-old male goat
While I bide my time waiting for the Spring flowers to arrive when I plan to start writing more Flower and Folklore stories, I’d like to write about an unusual experience I had last summer when I went hiking with goats. While vacationing in southern Maine, we visited Ten Apple Farm and were greeted by owners Carl Schatz and Margaret Hathaway who raise goats mainly to make cheese. First we saw and patted adorable baby goats and then were introduced to the adults.
The goat hike idea came about because Carl and Margaret took their goats on the trail behind their farm to exercise them in the winter when the goats were mostly stuck in the barn. Sometimes a few friends would join them on their hikes. Word soon spread. The hikes became so popular that they started offering it to the public to earn some extra money for the farm. Now the goats get to enjoy hikes all year round. All except Layfayette is who been temporarily banned from the hike for being naughty.
Karl taught us all about goats which included the fact that the decision to cut a goat’s horns has to be made when they are very young. There’s a large blood vessel that runs through their horns to help cool them off in the summer so cutting them off as adults would have dire consequences. While we hiked, the goats like to use their horns to gently nudge us to out of their way.
After a mile and a half loop through the woods, we helped corral the goats into their outdoor pen and then enjoyed some goat milk and cookies. During normal years, Carl or Margaret would have demonstrated milking goats in the barn and maybe even let us have a try. Still we were delighted to be out and hiking with our quirky companions.
If you’re ever near Gray, I recommend going on a goat hike at tenapplefarm.com
The goat hike idea came about because Carl and Margaret took their goats on the trail behind their farm to exercise them in the winter when the goats were mostly stuck in the barn. Sometimes a few friends would join them on their hikes. Word soon spread. The hikes became so popular that they started offering it to the public to earn some extra money for the farm. Now the goats get to enjoy hikes all year round. All except Layfayette is who been temporarily banned from the hike for being naughty.
Karl taught us all about goats which included the fact that the decision to cut a goat’s horns has to be made when they are very young. There’s a large blood vessel that runs through their horns to help cool them off in the summer so cutting them off as adults would have dire consequences. While we hiked, the goats like to use their horns to gently nudge us to out of their way.
After a mile and a half loop through the woods, we helped corral the goats into their outdoor pen and then enjoyed some goat milk and cookies. During normal years, Carl or Margaret would have demonstrated milking goats in the barn and maybe even let us have a try. Still we were delighted to be out and hiking with our quirky companions.
If you’re ever near Gray, I recommend going on a goat hike at tenapplefarm.com
Granddaughter Leah with Lafayette, Maxine, Maxine's daughter Cardi E, Moxie, Moxie's daughter Nutmeg, Moxie's son Curry, and Maxine's sister Emma Rose
Maxine (who is expecting) and Lafayette with my grandson Xander
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