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 four kitties, Annie the Shih-Tzu, and our two Holland Lop bunnies - Basil and his son Blueberry. 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, 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 on both animals and our family, 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?). We do disbud our goat kids through our vet under anesthesia, which is something we feel conflicted about with raising goats. Our first herd of goats were horned and we had a serious family injury from one of their horns, and another injury to one of the goats when his head got caught in a fence, so we shifted towards having disbudded goats. Our plan is to move towards including more polled goats into our herd to try and minimize the disbudding process during kidding season. 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.
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 eighth 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. I also play the ukulele, love to be creative in the kitchen, and spend winters nordic skiing in the nearby mountains. My husband is a software developer and loves chess. Our kids are amazing writers/poets (and musicians as well), and both have their work published often. Our son is a VIP for Teen Ink Magazine and writes very advanced music and movie reviews for his own website called Cool Cat Studio (https://coolcatstudio.weebly.com/). Our daughter Hannah is a very gifted singer and musician, and also an outstanding photographer who is frequently published in Stone Soup Magazine. Her photo of our Fern made the cover in June 2018, and she also made the October and December covers as well. She also has a big passion for animal rescue - she recently took on the project of fostering three cats from an NYC high kill shelter, and was able to find wonderful forever families for them. She 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.
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!!
