[Ag-eq] hello everyone

Sat Apr 23 16:55:02 UTC 2016

Jewel:

You asked about my farm name and I forgot to answer in my earlier message.

I named the farm Jellybean Farm in honor of my very first goat.  She was a
Toggenburg and I got her and her son to be companions for an Arabian mare
that I owned.  Both Jellybean and her son Necco have passed on now, but they
made me fall in love with goats.  Jellybean was very curious and
mischievous, she was always getting into trouble.  She always looked like
she was smiling; I really think she had a sense of humor.  

So, that is how I got the name.  I hope to name another goat Jellybean at
some point, but, it will have to be the right animal.  The new little doe is
named Gumdrop, to keep with the candy theme.

Nella

-----Original Message-----
From: Ag-eq [mailto:ag-eq-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Tracy Carcione
via Ag-eq
Sent: Saturday, April 23, 2016 7:58 AM
To: 'Agricultural and Equestrean Division List'
Cc: Tracy Carcione
Subject: Re: [Ag-eq] hello everyone

Hi Nella!  So happy to see you back!  I missed you!
Glad your dairy is going well.  Do you make goat cheese, too?  Love goat
cheese.

My garden is coming along.  It's all still in the greenhouse tent and the
cold frame, since we're getting some cold nights still.  I could harvest a
little spinach and lettuce any day now.
The oregano came back strong, and the mint is going gang-busters, naturally.
The blueberries have lots of buds, so that's hopeful.

So nice to have you back!
Tracy

-----Original Message-----
From: Ag-eq [mailto:ag-eq-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Nella Foster via
Ag-eq
Sent: Saturday, April 23, 2016 12:13 AM
To: 'Agricultural and Equestrean Division List'
Cc: Nella Foster
Subject: Re: [Ag-eq] hello everyone

Jewel:

So good to talk with you again.  I sure hope you will send out one of your
entertaining stories soon.

The milking machine I have has 4 separate cups and each cup has a switch so
it can be turned off or on.  So when I milk the goats I turn off 2 of the
cups.  I could actually milk 2 goats at a time, but it is easier to just get
1 in the barn and in place at a time.  As you know goats can be quite
mischievous. 

When I milk the cow I just have all 4 cups turned on.  If 1 of Bonnie's
teats were injured or something I could have 3 cups turned on.

Bonnie's teats and the goats teats are about the same size.  I do have 1 doe
who has very small teats and I had to order 2 smaller cups for her.  I can
easily change out the cups, so it works very well.  I believe you can order
larger cups for larger breeds of cows.  Bonnie is a Jersey so rather small.

The goats all kidded in January and there were 5 boys and only 1 girl.  I
have a couple of the boys sold already and am still advertising the rest.  I
plan on keeping the 1 girl, she is very cute.  She is a fawn color with
white spots; everyone says she looks like a fawn.

Bonnie is due to calf in a week or so and I'm watching her closely.    I
have a big stall ready for her and all the supplies I think I might need.
She seems happy and healthy.  This will be her 5th calf, so she should know
what she is doing.

So far I've been able to sell most of the milk.  I've put fliers around town
and ads on craigslist.  It seems that most of the customers are being
referred by other customers.  If I don't sell all the milk I just make
cheese.  I've also been making and selling goats milk soap.  One of my
customers raises chickens for meat and eggs, she and I have been trading.
She goes to a local farmers market and will take the soap for me.  I can
also put out cards at her booth.  We are not allowed to sell raw milk at the
market.

This same woman is interested in buying the calf.  They raise grass fed
beef.  They want the calf if it is a bull to raise for market and if it is a
heifer they want her to add to their herd.

So far I'm happy with my little venture.  I'm working out a few kinks as I
go along, but over all things are going very well.

I hope everyone else is good and I want updates on everyone.

Nella

-----Original Message-----
From: Ag-eq [mailto:ag-eq-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Jewel via Ag-eq
Sent: Friday, April 22, 2016 6:56 PM
To: Agricultural and Equestrean Division List
Cc: Jewel
Subject: Re: [Ag-eq] hello everyone

YIPPEE!  It is great to have you back Nella!  As you know, I have been
keeping a little abreast of what you are doing through a third party, but I
am interested in your cross species dual milking machine as I had,
previously, never heard of such a device.

There are a few things that I don't understand.  As cows have 4 teats and
goats 2, do you have 2 clusters, one of 2 cups and the other of 4?  or do
you have a 2-cup cluster and milk 2 teats on the cow and when the udder is
empty on that side, attach the cluster to the remaining 2, but I don't think
that this would be very efficient because once the milk starts to flow,
wouldn't the uncupped teats drip?  or do you just use the 4 cup for both
having it resting on  what is called, in New Zealand anyway, a claw?  It
wouldn't do any favours for the goat's udder to have the unused part of the
cluster just dangling.
Via the third party mentioned above, you said that goats have much larger
teats than a cow!  If this is correct, US bred goats and cows are opposite
to any that I have ever seen.  Like so many other things, are southern
hemisphere goats and cows wicky-werka to their northern hemisphere cousins?
I am intrigued by your address:  jelly bean farm!  was this name your
creation or is that the name that the property came with?
           Jewel

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Nella Foster via Ag-eq" <ag-eq at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, April 23, 2016 11:40 AM
To: <ag-eq at nfbnet.org>
Cc: "Nella Foster" <jellybeanfarm at gmail.com>
Subject: [Ag-eq] hello everyone

Hello everyone this is Nella and I'm finally here again at last.

I've really missed hearing from you guys and look forward to finding out
what is going on.

I will write more and update everyone when I have more time.

Nella

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