THE GOATS OF PATINA MEADOW

In biodynamics, the farm is seen as a living organism, where every inhabitant contributes to the health of the whole. Like each individual, every farm is unique, requiring different care to complement its idiosyncrasies—many of which can only be learned through observation over time.

When we first moved to Patina Meadow over two years ago, we knew it would take time to learn how to steward its 100-acre footprint. On our first day, we arrived with our toolkit from Patina Farm—a small assortment of adorable animals who had helped us tend our five acres of drought-laden land in Ojai, California.

Image by Victoria Pearson

It quickly became evident that caring for a forest-lined landscape 20 times the size of our former property, with grass growing at that same multiplied rate, would require different tools. Some of those new acquisitions were mechanical—like a new tractor, a zero-turn mower, and a chainsaw. But many have been cute creatures, like our goats, who run on grass instead of gasoline.

Goats were one of the first animals we added to our farm back in California. We fell in love with their comical antics and charming personalities. First came Thelma and Louise, accompanied by their friend Dot.

Image by Victoria Pearson

Then, once we decided that three just wasn’t enough, we added Sammy and Ida to the herd.

Image by Victoria Pearson

They would wander the property, nibbling at just about anything at ground level—and reaching over fences to snack on rose bushes and their flavorful flowers. They grew our hearts as they arrived, and then, as life goes, we quickly discovered how their absence would break them when we lost our sweet Louise.

We left Patina Farm with Sammy, Ida, Thelma, and Dot, all of whom were nearing 10 years old. As humans do, we worried they would have a hard time adapting to our new home. And, as animals do, they acclimated in no time—perusing the pastures and eating what they could from the understory of our woods.

When we saw how efficient they were at land management, we knew we wanted to add more.

Once we had that realization, it seemed like calls to adopt goats came flooding in. First came Pepper, a handsome Nigerian goat, whom we instantly fell in love with for his affectionate demeanor and soft black-and-white coat.

Then came a group of five Nigerians from our friends at Noble Springs Dairy. We named this gang after the outlaws of the Wild West: Billy (the Kid), Jesse James, Butch, Sundance, and Annie. We’re not sure whether the names shaped their attitudes or if they were always destined to be little rascals—but either way, we love them all the same.

Last, but certainly not least (and likely not last for long!), was our group of five Nigerian dwarf goats: Basil, Coriander, Dill, Rosemary, and Sage—named in honor of their spicy older brother, Pepper. They may be the smallest of the bunch, but don’t let their size fool you—they are anything but timid.

Along with the elation of additions came the devastation of loss as two of our original girls, Thelma and Dot sadly passed away. They were different in almost every way. Thelma was more aloof, spending most of her time wandering on her own, and Dot was a dog in goat form, always approaching every visitor with the insistence of pets. Through their unique personalities, they brought many lessons to life. We miss them every day. 

Dot

Thelma

Our 13 goats spend their days as a pack, moving from the barn to the rest of our land, helping keep the grass clipped and clearing overgrown areas.

They are hardy animals, able to eat what many others can’t. Because of this, they help control invasive species and mitigate the spread of other undesirables.

Their smaller statures mean they have a lower impact on the soil than machinery, and their cloven hooves help aerate the ground as they trounce around. Plus, they fertilize as they go!

Along with benefiting our soil, they nourish our souls. And the longer we spend here at Patina Meadow, the more we’ve come to realize that the best way to care for our land is often the best way to care for ourselves.

Would you ever consider adding goats to your family? Or, if you already have a herd at home, I’d love to hear about them in the comments!

xx,

Brooke