About Us
Valerie Parker, Owner |
Hannah Parker, Farm Manager |
Sweet Meadows Farm is a small homestead farm on 12 acres in South Burlington, Vermont that specializes in breeding registered ADGA/AGS Nigerian Dwarf goats. Valerie and Hannah are a mother/daughter duo who are very passionate about the Nigerian Dwarf goat breed. In December 2012, our herd tested free of CAE, CL and Johne's. We re-tested in 2014, 2016 and again in January 2019 with negative results for CAE, CL, Johne's and Brucella. We utilize strictly organic practices in growing food and are working to incorporate biodynamic farming and permaculture as well. Our little farm is a slice of heaven with its double rainbows and four leaf clovers everywhere! The rest of the farm clan includes Swedish Flower chickens, four kitties, Annie the farm dog (Shih-tzu), and our Holland Lop bunnies (Blue Moon Lops). All of our animals are loved and doted on heavily by us, our children, and many visiting friends and their families. Our goats are raised alongside our cats, dog, chickens and bunnies, and other animals and are quite used to being around them and act more like puppy dogs than goats!
What makes our goats different is the holistic way in which they are raised. Our acreage is managed with strictly organic practices. Living in a wildlife corridor, we have an abundance of wildlife around with coyotes, bobcats, wild turkeys, ducks, and red fox. We have a beautiful 12x24 barn that was built in 2011, and the goats have two large rotating pasture areas. In all of our practices, we strive to protect the land and wildlife, raise our animals as naturally as possible, and live holistically. We practice classical homeopathy and the use of medicinal herbs and doTerra essential oils on both animals and our family. For our farm animals, we also utilize Molly's Herbals for general immune support, parasite control, and pregnancy, and everyone is super healthy! Our routine fecal tests prove it! We also allow our does to dam raise their kids, which builds strong immune systems and gives kids the best possible start to life. Dam raising also builds healthy and appropriate emotional relationships for the kids within the herd. All of our kids are held and handled constantly from the moment they are born, and you literally have to pull them off of you. :-) There are many misconceptions about dam raising (see Why dam raise?). As of 2019, we will no longer have our vet disbud goat kids. Our plan is to move towards including more polled goats into our herd, and the horned goat kids will be sold to loving families on our waiting list (please email to be on it). We recommend several great books for new goat owners (see Recommended Reading).
Our herd's basic diet consists of organic local hay, Chaffhaye (fermented, organic bagged hay), Organic Icelandic Kelp, Redmond Naturals Trace Mineral Salt, BOSE (black oil sunflower seeds), Replamin Plus (for selenium and other minerals), free choice baking soda, and Sweetlix Meat Maker goat minerals. We feel that grain is not their natural diet, and promotes health problems. They only get it during the last month or so of pregnancy and while dam raising their kids. Too much during pregnancy also causes does to gain too much weight and have bigger babies which, especially in dwarf goats, can turn risky in delivery. I have delivered a few kids that were larger, some tangled and breech, so I learned about the grain factor and won't make that same mistake! ;) They eat our organic fruit and vegetable compost (happily!) and get lots of treats like their very own Christmas tree! Bragg's raw ACV (apple cider vinegar) and herbs also play a big role in their health. Routine copper bolus is also super important for parasite control as well as immune and skin/hair health. We have a wonderful large animal vet that we rely on for assistance in farm issues that we can't handle via natural means. That is so important and critical for any farm.
In addition to raising Nigerian Dwarf goats and Hollands Lops, we also grow a large variety of both culinary and medicinal herbs, perennials, vegetables and fruits utilizing permaculture methods. We never use chemicals of any kind on our land or plants. While we have been doing this on a smaller scale so far, our goal is to expand and be able to sell to the outside at some point. In the summer months, we have several different varieties of raspberries, blackberries and blueberries. We also grow black raspberries, strawberries, honey berries, grapes, seaberries, gooseberries, elderberries, aronia berries, juneberries, josta berries and champagne/red/black currents. Our cherry plum trees line our raised bed gardens area and their fruits make the most wonderful jams to be put up for winter! We also have sweet & sour cherries, pears, shipova, quince, peaches, plums and apples. We have hazelnuts as well, but they are slow growing! Our favorite herb to grow is Thai Basil and we grow a LOT of it! We also grow herbs including rosemary, basil, thyme, chamomile, savory, cilantro, oregano, lemon balm, peppermint and many others! And of course all kinds of veggies such as tomatoes, onions, potatoes, broccoli, carrots, kale, lettuces and many others. Our goats LOVE getting food from our own yard! One time they let themselves out of their pasture and ate several raspberry bushes! It would take a lot more than that though to kill raspberries and their thousands of runners!
Originally from the South, we moved up to Vermont in 2010 with the desire for a different kind of life - a slower pace, and one where we could be actively part of growing our own food. As a family, we are in our ninth year of remote schooling via Oak Meadow School (Vermont based) and are big supporters of the Weston A. Price Foundation view on traditional foods, "back to basics" eating, and their philosophy on health. I was introduced to this type of eating in 2010 when we first got the Nourishing Traditions book, and then the GAPS diet when Sally Fallon came into town in June 2012 for a 4 day Weston Price conference. These two diets (both based on Weston Price) have changed our lives dramatically. Our family of four consists of myself, my husband Larry, and our two beautiful children. In adding to being a goat breeder and homestead farmer, I am a published writer/photographer and have my own independent publishing company In the Meadow Books. My daughter Hannah has a gift, and is known to be an animal whisperer - her patience and presence with animals is nothing short of remarkable. She plays a big role on our farm as our farm manager, assisting in all day to day duties, hoof trimmings and routine care, pregnancy care and delivery of kids, and is our farm contact for bringing in new genetics and lines. She is the co-owner of Blue Moon Lops, a small Holland Lop breeding program. Her gift with photography is seen throughout the Blue Moon Lops website and Instagram page (which she manages). She is currently working on using our incredibly sweet-natured bunnies as therapy animals.
God is good, ALL the Time!
In everything we do, we thank God for all that we have. We are truly blessed with little miracles every day. We love what we do, and can't wait to share our goat friends and farm with you! May God bless you and yours - Valerie :)
NOTE: Farm Visits by appointment only! Our farm has very strong bio-security measures to keep our goats and other farm friends safe. Entry into our goat pastures, backyard, and barn is strictly prohibited without the owners present. And please do not feed the goats as they have a tendency to bloat when offered too much, and many common plants are poisonous to them. ;) Thanks so much!!
NOTE: Farm Visits by appointment only! Our farm has very strong bio-security measures to keep our goats and other farm friends safe. Entry into our goat pastures, backyard, and barn is strictly prohibited without the owners present. And please do not feed the goats as they have a tendency to bloat when offered too much, and many common plants are poisonous to them. ;) Thanks so much!!
