Pastured goats still like to "browse." They munch on the seed heads of the grass.

Red moon herbs is nestled in a Co-housing Neighborhood in the foothills of Appalachian mountains about 45 minutes outside of Asheville.

I work with Red Moon Herbs and SE Wise Women and I also run a farm that surrounds Red Moon Herbs. For 8 years I’ve been raising cows and chickens and orchards and sometimes pigs.

Recently one of my assistant managers wanted to get goats. Goats are a new animal to me and with every new animal there is a learning curve. The reasons though were many:

• Taking more responsibility for our food, especially meat consumption.
• Having companion animals to a cow that’s alone in a large pasture.
• Something to eat the plentiful spring grass.
• Experimenting with a breed that may bring long-term benefits by allowing us to raise small-scale meat.

Taking Shelter under the Chicken Coop

We bought these goats from a farmer friend nearby and they had been bottled raised. Males, all, they are friendly and endearing. It’s important to remind ourselves and each other that they will be eaten, lest we get too attached.

As I write they are scampering and frolicking over a newly mowed parcel of the pasture, reveling in the freedom from the tall grass that was tripping up their legs, munching on what’s left at the edges.

We’re not sure yet how the meat will taste or if it will be a viable produce-at-home source. And the cow is definitely not excited about these annoying creatures. But everyone at the farm is enjoying them immensely. With their playful natures, they remind us to smile.

Maybe they are bringing more benefits than we thought.

Lee Warren is an herbalist, writer, and manager of Imani Farm, a pasture-based cooperative farm at Earthaven Ecovillage. She is also a co-founder of the Village Terraces CoHousing Neighborhood and the Program Director for the Southeast Women’s Herbal Conference.