Pine Needle Farm is a 20 acre, off-grid, solar powered homestead. We specialize
in raising cashmere goats in an all natural way. No chemicals are used, preferring
to use herbs, vitamins, and minerals to keep everyone healthy and happy.
in raising cashmere goats in an all natural way. No chemicals are used, preferring
to use herbs, vitamins, and minerals to keep everyone healthy and happy.
I got started raising goats in 2001, when a friend asked if I would go look at some goats with her. I went, looked,
and came home with three dairy goats. Two does and a wether. On a Friday the 13th! The goats completely took
over my life. I ended up with four cashmere goats from the same people, and thus began my goat raising career.
Since I had the cashmere I had to learn what to do with it. I got a spinning wheel and learned how to spin it into
yarn. I already knew how to crochet, so now I could actually make things from my own animals!
Now this has grown into a full-time career, which I absolutely love. I am happiest when I am spinning the fleece
and spending time with my wonderful goats. I sell my hand spun yarn, and I crochet items like scarves, shawls,
hats, and other accessories from the cashmere I've entered competitions with my handspun yarn and crocheted
items. The ribbon wall is looking pretty good!
My dream has come true at long last! I now have a dehairing machine of my own. Now I can process my own
cashmere and do it organically, with no chemicals used in the washing or dehairing. The fiber doesn't leave the
farm until you buy it. I also dehair small amounts of other people's cashmere, too. People with only a handful of
goats that want to have their fiber dehaired for their own use. I will spin it into yarn for those of you who knit or
crochet, but don't spin. I charge $8 an ounce to dehair, and $12 an ounce to dehair and spin it into yarn.
The herd of cashmeres numbers 68 right now. All the goats are friendly, well-fed and happy. They are raised
naturally with no chemicals at all. I use an herbal wormer, fed free-choice, to keep them worm free. It works
wonderfully , and the worms don't build a resistance to it. By feeding free-choice, the goats that need worming eat
the wormer, and the ones that don't need worming, don't eat it. If they do happen to get ill, which is rare, herbs
and vitamins boost their immune system and they get healthy again. Goats are intelligent animals, and if given
the choice and variety of forage and supplements, know what they need to eat to stay healthy.
Along with the goats, my husband John and I have chickens, two dogs and a very old cat. We have a fairly
substantial garden, both veggies, and flowers. It's a fun and challenging life up here!
and came home with three dairy goats. Two does and a wether. On a Friday the 13th! The goats completely took
over my life. I ended up with four cashmere goats from the same people, and thus began my goat raising career.
Since I had the cashmere I had to learn what to do with it. I got a spinning wheel and learned how to spin it into
yarn. I already knew how to crochet, so now I could actually make things from my own animals!
Now this has grown into a full-time career, which I absolutely love. I am happiest when I am spinning the fleece
and spending time with my wonderful goats. I sell my hand spun yarn, and I crochet items like scarves, shawls,
hats, and other accessories from the cashmere I've entered competitions with my handspun yarn and crocheted
items. The ribbon wall is looking pretty good!
My dream has come true at long last! I now have a dehairing machine of my own. Now I can process my own
cashmere and do it organically, with no chemicals used in the washing or dehairing. The fiber doesn't leave the
farm until you buy it. I also dehair small amounts of other people's cashmere, too. People with only a handful of
goats that want to have their fiber dehaired for their own use. I will spin it into yarn for those of you who knit or
crochet, but don't spin. I charge $8 an ounce to dehair, and $12 an ounce to dehair and spin it into yarn.
The herd of cashmeres numbers 68 right now. All the goats are friendly, well-fed and happy. They are raised
naturally with no chemicals at all. I use an herbal wormer, fed free-choice, to keep them worm free. It works
wonderfully , and the worms don't build a resistance to it. By feeding free-choice, the goats that need worming eat
the wormer, and the ones that don't need worming, don't eat it. If they do happen to get ill, which is rare, herbs
and vitamins boost their immune system and they get healthy again. Goats are intelligent animals, and if given
the choice and variety of forage and supplements, know what they need to eat to stay healthy.
Along with the goats, my husband John and I have chickens, two dogs and a very old cat. We have a fairly
substantial garden, both veggies, and flowers. It's a fun and challenging life up here!
About Us
PINE NEEDLE FARM CASHMERES
I have started a blog telling about the day to day life and adventures on our farm. If you
are interested, click on this link.
are interested, click on this link.
Goats love weeds!
The truck that delivered the dehairing machine on October 4, 2010.
He made it all the way up our road and driveway with no problems!
We have a steep driveway for the last 200 feet.
He made it all the way up our road and driveway with no problems!
We have a steep driveway for the last 200 feet.
Treed mountain lion up behind our place. He didn't bother the goats or anything on our place,
thank heavens. I had a little talk with him and told him to never bother anything of mine, and I
wouldn't bother him again. So he just reduced the deer population around us. After we took
some pictures, the lion chaser, hounds and me left and the lion took off for parts unknown.
thank heavens. I had a little talk with him and told him to never bother anything of mine, and I
wouldn't bother him again. So he just reduced the deer population around us. After we took
some pictures, the lion chaser, hounds and me left and the lion took off for parts unknown.
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My goal for this farm is to create a special place to come visit, to re-connect with
yourself, immerse yourself in Mother Nature and relax.
Learn about cashmere; the goats, the fiber. Eat home-grown food from the
gardens that you harvest yourself. Go hiking, mountain biking, or just sit on the
porch of the guest cabin and read a good book...
I would eventually like to offer classes on spinning, knitting, crocheting, and
weaving, bringing in expert teachers and having small class sizes for a one-on-one
learning experience.
yourself, immerse yourself in Mother Nature and relax.
Learn about cashmere; the goats, the fiber. Eat home-grown food from the
gardens that you harvest yourself. Go hiking, mountain biking, or just sit on the
porch of the guest cabin and read a good book...
I would eventually like to offer classes on spinning, knitting, crocheting, and
weaving, bringing in expert teachers and having small class sizes for a one-on-one
learning experience.
A late April snowstorm in 2013!