The Joy of Keeping Goats

by Laura Childs

Published 1 June 2011
What's not to love about goats? They will feed you, clean up the overgrown mess in the fields, and take long hikes with you while carrying your supplies. They will make you laugh when you're sad, provide extra income for even the smallest farm, carry you to town and back in a little cart, and perhaps best of all, they will gaze upon your face with earnest adoration.

If you have dreams of becoming a goat farmer, The Joy of Keeping Goats can help you turn that dream into a reality. In this comprehensive manual you'll learn about the different goat breeds, as well as everything from goat housing systems to feeding, health, and breeding.

For those who are excited about the prospect of keeping goats for their deliciously sweet milk and low-fat, nutritious meat, author Laura Childs will walk you through the milking process, and then offer suggestions for what to do with all that milk (Goat milk feta cheese anyone?), and provides a recipe for curried goat, a traditional Caribbean dish.

As you embark on this adventure, you'll discover the joy in keeping them, learning about their care, and getting to know each goat's individual personality.

When the going gets rough, the rough . . . start raising their own food. In the first full-color guide of its kind, author and small farm owner Laura Childs reveals exactly what it takes to start raising your own animals, including chickens, geese, goats, sheep, pigs, and cows. Childs discusses what you can expect to harvest from your animals from eggs to milk to meat to wool based on her own real-life experiences. Whether you want to raise a few chickens for eggs alone, try your hand at a few goats with the aim to make your own cheese, or are looking to sustain your family and make some extra money from raising and selling beef, this is the book for you.

Childs offers general information for each breed and animal, from how to get started to what to feed and where to house the animals. This invaluable guide is the perfect first book for anyone interested in starting a backyard barnyard or a small farm or simply dreaming about the idea.