How Can Work Improve Your Relationship?

I have a confession. After dreaming and scheming over what to do with a 10-acre property we purchased last year, we gave up hope of figuring out a decent plan. I even wondered if I should be put out to pasture.

What kind of investment or farming venture could we come up with that would suit a hilly field?

Cows? Not enough room and shade.

Pigs? The stink would bring about a revolt from neighbors.

Fruit trees? We’ll be dead before they produce a profit.

Chickens? We already have plenty of those.

Goats? No thanks.

The real reason we couldn’t bring ourselves to raise any animal is embarrassing.

We couldn’t sell them for meat. There. I said it. My husband is more incapable of than I am of taking any animal we raise away. Forever.

He can’t even shoot a deer – he feeds them in our backyard.

I have a hard time with it, don’t get me wrong. Growing up on a farm did give me thick skin, but at this point, I’m probably too soft for a visit to the livestock yard.

Then, as with many ideas, it finally came to us. We could raise an animal that we could breed and sell. One that would continue to live a happy life after going to a new home or stick around with us.

It turns out, a Kiko goat is a hardy breed with a reputation for good parenting of their newborns. They can be bred and registered for shows or for stocking a herd with a lovely pedigree. And they’re super cute!

After a two-hour drive to a well-run Kiko goat farm and a bit of research, we have eased into the first steps of this endeavor. We have purchased a goat shed for one field and have arranged for fencing around our barn with sections designed to give them some variety of pastures.

Telling our friends and family we are going to be goat farmers has been fun. The reactions are all over the place. I don’t blame them. This is an unexpected idea. In fact, I didn’t really see this as my future only a year ago. We’ve been raising chickens and enjoying our little homestead. But this is likely to be a great venture for my husband and I as we prepare for our retirement years. It will provide us with meaningful work we can do together with common goals and learning opportunities. We will build memories and chances to share our future goat families with our children and grandchildren.

If nothing else, I could do a little goat yoga once in a while and cuddle adorable baby goats for a little stress relief. I’ll bring you along on my goat farm journey – just check in for updates.

I encourage you to dream of adventures and set goals with a friend or partner. Joining up for shared experiences is a powerful way to strengthen your bond and bring one another fulfillment and purpose.