I recently posted a wanted ad for egg cartons on our local Freecycle group and got an almost instant response from a kind lady who had about 75 cartons she had saved for her own chicken's eggs. Unfortunately, about a year ago her hens were attacked and killed by a bear and other predators, and she wasn't planning on getting anymore hens. She only lives about 15 minutes away up in beautiful and rugged Cedar Crest.I truly enjoyed meeting her and look forward to gifting her with some eggs soon, too.Amazingly, she also answered my other wanted ad looking for a goat staunchion. I figured it would be a long shot asking for one, but put it out there because it would make my life easier having one to work on our current goats and provide a place to milk our future La Mancha dairy goat, too.
My hubby had even agreed, sort of reluctantly, to build a stanchion for me from the free plans I found on the wonderful Fias Co Farm website.
But being gifted this handmade one is even better, knowing that someone put their heart into it and used it to milk their own goats, too. Plus I love recycling and reusing any chance I get.
This stanchion is pretty sturdy, but it will need a bit of tightening up and just a couple modifications for what I'd like to do with it, but I'm so grateful to have it and look forward to sharing some future goats milk with the kind lady that gave me this, and who is now a friend.
Here's the stanchion in our barn.
The wooden stool in front I bought at a local feed store. It's really heavy and strong. And I love the idea that a local person built it. It will make a nice milking stool, I think.
4 comments :
My favorite gifts are the ones that were built by someone and you make a new friend in the process. It is amazing how your farm has grown in a such a short time. And "Pepper Jack", so funny and sweet.
I am going to show this picture of the stanchion to my husband. I am interested in milking goats and try goat cheese and making goat soap. That would be so handy. Now if he can find time to make one...
That was so nice of you to find a new friend and the things you needed too!
Hi sugarcreekstuff,
Me, too. It'll be nice to use our new stanchion and think about the goats and their family that used it before us.
I agree about how fast our farm has grown. It boggles even my own mind. haha
And guess what? We are bringing home a little Nigerian wether at the beginning of April as soon as he is weaned! We are so excited!
Pepper is still Pepper, but when my son, Jackson is with him, we call the two of them "Pepper Jack" Cute, eh?
Hi GA Farmgirl,
I'm glad you like the stanchion, and I know your hubby will make the most amazing one just for you. I've been blown away reading and seeing how fast and impressive his new waterwheel is being built. wow!
I'm looking forward to venturing into dairy goats, too. We're going to start with just buying milk products from our local goat dairy farm, where they sell fresh milk, yogurt and cheese.
And after we get the 'lay of the land' and figure out what our goals and expectations are, we'll make our first dairy goat purchase.
Wish us luck!
I love Freecycle! We are currently giving away about 1/4 of our stuff on freecycle.
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