The Farm and Family

We are the fourth and fifth generations to live on our family farm near Danforth, Illinois. We tend a small (but growing) herd of meat and dairy goats in the same barn our great-grandfather Herman built in 1912. We also have a large flock of chickens, ducks and guinea fowl, plus two dogs, four friendly barn cats, a horse, and a few rabbits. In our spare time, we take care of a pear and apple orchard. Everything is grown or raised organically. The farm is traditional in one other sense: the milking, collecting of eggs, picking of apples, and soap-making is all done by hand. As our four girls grow older they begin to help, thereby continuing the century-old way of life on the farm.

We are the fourth and fifth generations to live on our family farm near Danforth, Illinois. We tend a small (but growing) herd of meat and dairy goats, a large flock of chickens, ducks and guinea fowl, two dogs, four friendly barn cats, a horse, and a few rabbits. In our spare time, we also take care of a pear and apple orchard. Everything is grown or raised organically. The farm is traditional in one other sense: the milking, collecting of eggs, picking of apples, and soap-making is all done by hand. As our four girls grow older they begin to help, thereby continuing the century-old way of life on the farm.

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Indian Summer on the Farm

The flurry of excitement surrounding our family's 100th anniversary celebration of our barn consumed a lot of our 2012 summer. We are truly grateful to have shared the Barn Dance with so many friends and family members. The barn is still echoing with music and dancing! Follow this link for more pictures and stories: http://www.blog.brockmanfamilyfarming.com/2012/06/623-on-our-farm.html - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - As we move into autumn, not only are we enjoying the cool crisp days, but our goats are re-energized by the fresh breeze carrying one of their favorite treats—Maple, Elm, Ash, and Oak leaves into their pasture. Each morning, even before they eat their grain, the nannies and this year’s kids run searching for those leaves which have been blown in their direction. It’s breeding season and our new young buck, Monsieur, has a rotating group of comely does every few weeks. The gestation period for a goat is 5 months so new kids will begin arriving as early as January and continue through March or April. My daughter, Tess, and I are still milking four does—enough milk for our family to drink and some left over to make my goat milk soap. I’m keeping busy in the kitchen as new seasonal soaps are being poured and cured. Look for Indian Summer and Pumpkin Spice, two soaps which were created to celebrate all the gifts of harvest with the finest blend of oils and butters.