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 mine, and
anyone else's cashmere into wonderfully soft clouds, ready to spin. See the "Cashmere dehairing" page for more
information.
The herd of cashmeres numbers 43 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. 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, guineas, two cats, two dogs, and 3 miniature
horses. 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 mine, and
anyone else's cashmere into wonderfully soft clouds, ready to spin. See the "Cashmere dehairing" page for more
information.
The herd of cashmeres numbers 43 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. 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, guineas, two cats, two dogs, and 3 miniature
horses. 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
Our 3 Guineas. The best bug eaters in the
world!
world!
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. The new one is the one to click. The 360 one is
closed, although you can still read them.
Started April 2007
http://360.yahoo.com/pineneedlefarm New blog site, the old one has closed.
are interested, click on this link. The new one is the one to click. The 360 one is
closed, although you can still read them.
Started April 2007
http://360.yahoo.com/pineneedlefarm New blog site, the old one has closed.
Goats love weeds!
Here's my farmers' market tent set up in readiness for a group of school kids that
were coming up for a farm tour. They got to see the animals and have a quick
spinning lesson, each taking home the piece of yarn they spun.
If you would like to schedule a farm tour, please email ahead of time to make
arrangements. ann@pnfcashmeres.com Thank-you!
were coming up for a farm tour. They got to see the animals and have a quick
spinning lesson, each taking home the piece of yarn they spun.
If you would like to schedule a farm tour, please email ahead of time to make
arrangements. ann@pnfcashmeres.com Thank-you!
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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