Got a question? 🤔

Head over to -- https://thriftyhomesteader.com/the-science-of-goat-milk-and-skin-care/ -- and drop it in the comments—so we can reply!

Description

Goat milk has been used for centuries to soothe and nourish skin—but now science is catching up to explain why it works so well. In this episode, Deborah Niemann is joined by Dr. Brent Ridge, physician and co-founder of Beekman 1802, to explore the research behind goat milk’s unique skin benefits. From maintaining the skin’s pH to supporting a healthy microbiome, Dr. Ridge shares insights from more than a decade of clinical studies and product development.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why goat milk’s pH is so important for protecting sensitive skin.
• How gentle cleansing with goat milk helps preserve the skin’s barrier.
• The role of oligosaccharides in nourishing beneficial bacteria on the skin.
• What the skin microbiome is—and why balance matters more than “good” or “bad” bacteria.
• How lactic acid in goat milk provides gentle daily exfoliation without irritation.
• The discovery of goat milk exosomes and their potential in advanced skin care.
• The science behind peptides in goat milk and how smaller fragments may deliver targeted benefits.
• Why Beekman 1802 lists “kindness” as an ingredient in every product—and how it’s linked to overall wellness and longevity.

Whether you make your own goat milk soap or simply want to understand the science behind it, this episode offers fascinating insights into how nature’s original moisturizer works at a cellular level.

Resources:

• Beekman 1802
• Goat Wisdom by Brent Ridge & Josh Kilmer-Purcell
  • Buy on Amazon
  • Buy on Bookshop

Thanks for tuning in!

If you’d like to support the content you love and help us keep bringing you new goat resources, you can do that through our Tip Jar.

No one ever said raising goats was easy, but it doesn't have to cost a fortune or drive you crazy! You just need the right information.

🔹 Check out Goats 365 membership

🔹 Or explore The Goat Academy

🔹Looking for Deborah's books? They can be purchased wherever books are sold, or you can get an autographed copy on our online store.

Happy goat-keeping! 🐐

Got a question? 🤔

Head over to -- https://thriftyhomesteader.com/goat-packing-and-public-lands/ -- and drop it in the comments—so we can reply!

Description

In this episode, Deborah Niemann is joined by Chris Gifford, president of the North American Packgoat Association (NAPgA), to talk about the growing challenges that pack goat owners face when it comes to accessing public lands.

Chris explains what goat packing is, how it works, and why goats make excellent trail companions. He also shares the history of NAPgA and its advocacy efforts to keep public lands open to pack goat users in the face of increasing restrictions—most of which stem from unproven concerns about disease transmission between goats and wild bighorn sheep.

If you’ve ever wanted to take your goats hiking or are curious about the barriers pack goat users face, this episode offers both inspiration and insight into an issue that affects animal lovers, hikers, and land use advocates alike.

What You’ll Learn:

• What goat packing is and how it works on the trail
• How Chris got involved in goat packing and NAPgA
• Why some public lands are closed to pack goats—and what the science does not say
• How to find out if a specific public land is open to pack goat use
• What NAPgA is doing to protect access to public lands
• The differences between pack goats and domestic sheep, and why that matters
• Where goat packing as a sport is headed in the future
  
  

Resources Mentioned:

• North American Packgoat Association (NAPgA)
• NAPgA Facebook Page
• Mycoplasma In Goats - podcast episode

Thanks for tuning in!

If you’d like to support the content you love and help us keep bringing you new goat resources, you can do that through our Tip Jar.

No one ever said raising goats was easy, but it doesn't have to cost a fortune or drive you crazy! You just need the right information.

🔹 Check out Goats 365 membership

🔹 Or explore The Goat Academy

🔹Looking for Deborah's books? They can be purchased wherever books are sold, or you can get an autographed copy on our online store.

Happy goat-keeping! 🐐

Got a question? 🤔

Head over to -- https://thriftyhomesteader.com/packing-with-goats/ -- and drop it in the comments—so we can reply!

Description

If you're considering adding pack goating to your goats’ resumes, this episode is packed with practical tips and essential insights. Deborah Niemann chats with Nathan Putnam, a board member of the North American Pack Goat Association and owner of Putnam Pack Goats. Together, they dive into the world of pack goats, from choosing the right goats to the gear you'll need for your trips.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The history of pack goating and how it started in the 1970s.
• Why pack goats are a growing alternative to horses and llamas for backcountry hiking and camping.
• What to look for in a goat for packing: from breed preferences to physical traits and characteristics.
• The age at which to start training your goats and how to gradually increase their load capacity.
• Essential gear for pack goating, including saddles, panniers, and leads.
• How to train adult goats, even those already in your herd, to become pack goats.
• What to expect on a typical pack goating trip: daily routines, feeding, and water strategies.
• Dealing with predators and other considerations when hiking with goats in the backcountry.
  
  

Whether you’re looking to start pack goating or just want to learn more about it, this episode offers valuable advice and inspiration. Nathan shares his experience and knowledge, making it easier than ever to embark on your own pack goat adventure.

Resources:

• North American Pack Goat Association (NAPgA)
• Putnam Pack Goats

If you’ve ever thought about earning an income with goats, check out our list of goat business ideas to spark your own inspiration.

Thanks for tuning in!

If you’d like to support the content you love and help us keep bringing you new goat resources, you can do that through our Tip Jar.

No one ever said raising goats was easy, but it doesn't have to cost a fortune or drive you crazy! You just need the right information.

🔹 Check out Goats 365 membership

🔹 Or explore The Goat Academy

🔹Looking for Deborah's books? They can be purchased wherever books are sold, or you can get an autographed copy on our online store.

Happy goat-keeping! 🐐

Got a question? 🤔

Head over to -- https://thriftyhomesteader.com/turning-goat-milk-into-pet-food/ -- and drop it in the comments—so we can reply!

Description

If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to legally sell raw goat milk or farm-made pet treats, this episode is full of first-hand insight and practical tips. Deborah sits down with Carly Brown and Shawn Phillips of The Good Steward Farm in Virginia, where their herd of 28 goats helps power two small businesses: goat-powered landscaping and licensed raw milk pet products.

Carly and Shawn walk us through the behind-the-scenes process of getting a pet feed license, working with state inspectors, completing nutritional testing, and creating professional packaging that customers trust—all while reducing waste and adding value to every part of the farm.

In this episode, you’ll learn how Carly and Shawn:

• Navigated labeling laws and testing requirements to sell raw milk legally as pet food
  
  
• Turned their freeze dryer into a profit-making machine for chicken heads and yogurt treats
  
  
• Worked with state officials to get label approvals and avoid regulatory pitfalls
  
  
• Developed packaging that instantly improved product appeal and sales
  
  
• Balanced their goat business with full-time jobs and a multi-herd setup
  
  
• Maintained transparency and integrity while planning for future human-grade dairy sales

Whether you're exploring a goat-based business, interested in pet food production, or just love hearing what’s possible with a little grit and goat love, this episode is sure to inspire.

Thanks for tuning in!

If you’d like to support the content you love and help us keep bringing you new goat resources, you can do that through our Tip Jar.

No one ever said raising goats was easy, but it doesn't have to cost a fortune or drive you crazy! You just need the right information.

🔹 Check out Goats 365 membership

🔹 Or explore The Goat Academy

🔹Looking for Deborah's books? They can be purchased wherever books are sold, or you can get an autographed copy on our online store.

Happy goat-keeping! 🐐

Got a question? 🤔

Head over to -- https://thriftyhomesteader.com/farm-volunteer-program/ -- and drop it in the comments—so we can reply!

Description

In this episode, Deborah Niemann welcomes Anne Petersen of Rosasharn Farm—one of the longest-standing Nigerian Dwarf breeders in the U.S.—to talk about her farm's long-running and highly successful volunteer program. What began as hosting a foreign exchange student over two decades ago has evolved into a dynamic educational experience that has inspired many former volunteers to start their own farms and even veterinary careers.

Anne shares how her program organically developed through her involvement in 4-H, homeschooling, and local agricultural organizations. She emphasizes that the key to a successful volunteer program is education, not free labor, and dives into how she models tasks and responsibilities for volunteers of all ages.

Whether you're thinking of starting a volunteer program or just love hearing about farm-based community building, you’ll find inspiration, insight, and practical advice in this thoughtful and experience-rich conversation.

What You’ll Learn:

• How Anne’s volunteer program started and evolved over 40+ years
• Why education is at the heart of her farm’s volunteer experience
• The importance of modeling and working with your volunteers
• Lessons learned from early challenges, including personality mismatches
• Why understanding a volunteer’s intentions and mindset is critical
• How former volunteers have launched their own farms and careers
• Advice for farmers considering starting their own volunteer program

Resources Mentioned:

• Rosasharn Farm
• Southeastern Massachusetts Agricultural Partnership (SEMAP)
• 4-H Youth Programs
• Local Young Farmer Networks

Thanks for tuning in!

If you’d like to support the content you love and help us keep bringing you new goat resources, you can do that through our Tip Jar.

No one ever said raising goats was easy, but it doesn't have to cost a fortune or drive you crazy! You just need the right information.

🔹 Check out Goats 365 membership

🔹 Or explore The Goat Academy

🔹Looking for Deborah's books? They can be purchased wherever books are sold, or you can get an autographed copy on our online store.

Happy goat-keeping! 🐐

Got a question? 🤔

Head over to -- https://thriftyhomesteader.com/goat-wisdom/ -- and drop it in the comments—so we can reply!

Description

What do you get when two city guys buy a goat farm during the Great Recession? A global skincare brand built on goat milk—and timeless wisdom.

In this inspiring episode, Deborah talks with Josh Kilmer-Purcell and Dr. Brent Ridge, the founders of Beekman 1802, about how they went from weekend farmers to building a multi-million-dollar business using lessons learned from goats, neighbors, and small-town living.

🧼 From making goat cheese and soap
📚 To releasing their new book G.O.A.T. Wisdom: How to Build a Truly Great Business with Harvard Business Review
💡 They share actionable insights for homesteaders, small business owners, and anyone dreaming of turning their passion into a meaningful business.

You’ll hear about:

• How goats (and a neighbor’s kindness) saved their farm
• Why they started with goat milk soap and what they learned along the way
• The importance of not doing everything yourself, and focusing on what you bring to the table
• The power of treating customers as “neighbors”
• Lessons in marketing, scaling, and community-building
• And how to convert everyday wisdom into entrepreneurial success

Resources Mentioned:

• G.O.A.T. Wisdom: How to Build a Truly Great Business
  • Buy on Amazon
  • Buy on Bookshop
• The Bucolic Plague: How Two Manhattanites Became Gentlemen Farmers
  • Buy on Amazon
  • Buy on Bookshop

Connect with the Beekman Boys

• Beekman 1802 Website
• Josh & Brent on Instagram
• Beekman 1802 Boys on Facebook

Thanks for tuning in!

If you’d like to support the content you love and help us keep bringing you new goat resources, you can do that through our Tip Jar.

No one ever said raising goats was easy, but it doesn't have to cost a fortune or drive you crazy! You just need the right information.

🔹 Check out Goats 365 membership

🔹 Or explore The Goat Academy

🔹Looking for Deborah's books? They can be purchased wherever books are sold, or you can get an autographed copy on our online store.

Happy goat-keeping! 🐐

Got a question? 🤔

Head over to -- https://thriftyhomesteader.com/call-the-vet-now/ -- and drop it in the comments—so we can reply!

Description

Most goat owners have faced a moment of uncertainty—staring at a sick goat and wondering, “Should I call the vet?” In this solo episode, Deborah Niemann lays out the answer with clarity and urgency.

While goats are often thought of as hardy animals, they are also prey animals that instinctively hide illness until they’re critically sick. This episode covers the top emergency symptoms that signal you need to stop Googling, skip the Facebook group, and call a veterinarian immediately.

Drawing from decades of goat-keeping experience and real-life stories (including her own hard lessons), Deborah walks through what serious symptoms look like, what they might mean, and why waiting too long can cost your goat its life. She also explains when supportive care at home can help while you wait for the vet to arrive—and when it can’t.

What you’ll learn:

• The most common and overlooked emergency signs in goats
• Why not eating or drinking is a major red flag, not a minor issue
• How to identify true bloat (ruminal tympany) versus hay belly
• The meaning behind a goat screaming, grinding teeth, or lying down and not standing
• The difference between ruminal and abomasal bloat—and why it matters
• Signs of neurological distress, including circling, blindness, and seizures
• Why urinary blockage is a life-threatening emergency in wethers
• How to tell the difference between pooping and peeing behavior
• The dangers of bloody or rusty urine, and when it could signal copper toxicity
• Why Pepto Bismol is not a real treatment for diarrhea in kids
• What a goat’s fever (or low body temp) may indicate—and what to do
• Recognizing tetanus symptoms before it’s too late

Thanks for tuning in!

If you’d like to support the content you love and help us keep bringing you new goat resources, you can do that through our Tip Jar.

No one ever said raising goats was easy, but it doesn't have to cost a fortune or drive you crazy! You just need the right information.

🔹 Check out Goats 365 membership

🔹 Or explore The Goat Academy

🔹Looking for Deborah's books? They can be purchased wherever books are sold, or you can get an autographed copy on our online store.

Happy goat-keeping! 🐐

Got a question? 🤔

Head over to -- https://thriftyhomesteader.com/loss-of-a-beloved-goat-or-pet/ -- and drop it in the comments—so we can reply!

Description

Losing a beloved animal—whether a goat, dog, cat, or any other companion—can be absolutely heartbreaking. In this episode of For the Love of Goats, I’m joined by Beth Bigler, a double-certified Pet Loss Grief Counselor, animal companion end-of-life doula, and trained pet chaplain. Beth is also the author of the upcoming book Honoring Our Animals: 365 Meditations for Healing After Pet Loss (out June 3 from Quarto Books), and the creator of the popular Instagram account @honoringouranimals.

Together, we discuss how grief over losing an animal is real, valid, and deserving of support. Beth shares insights from her years of working with grieving pet owners, veterinary professionals, and animal care workers—and how we can start to heal after a loss. Whether you’re currently grieving or want to better support someone who is, this conversation is filled with compassion, honesty, and practical tools for navigating this tender experience.

🐐 🐐 🐐

See full show notes here >> https://thriftyhomesteader.com/loss-of-a-beloved-goat-or-pet/

To see the most recent episodes, visit ForTheLoveOfGoats.com

Want to support the content you love?
Head over to -- https://thrifty-homesteader.ck.page/products/love-goats-tip-jar

Thanks for tuning in!

If you’d like to support the content you love and help us keep bringing you new goat resources, you can do that through our Tip Jar.

No one ever said raising goats was easy, but it doesn't have to cost a fortune or drive you crazy! You just need the right information.

🔹 Check out Goats 365 membership

🔹 Or explore The Goat Academy

🔹Looking for Deborah's books? They can be purchased wherever books are sold, or you can get an autographed copy on our online store.

Happy goat-keeping! 🐐