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I am a farmer, farm educator, wife and mom, raising goats and ag awareness in Massachusetts. Reconnecting people with the Earth has been a way of life for me since I can remember, but food didn't come to the fore, until college at Michigan State University. I wrote "Personal Milkers: A Primer to Nigerian Dwarf Goats," to help people get control of their own milk supply without needing a lot of land. One of my favorite things is watching that "oh, I get it" look on people's face when they understand they can make a difference for their children, and themselves, with their own choices.
I also am a soapmaker, using our goat milk to make all natural soaps and lotions. I've learned a lot about the importance of "physical contribution" in starting this business. I value "local sustainable manufacturing" in a whole new way now that I do produce more than goats and knowledge. It's helped me become more balanced in my thoughts about our economy and our world. Before my contribution were limited to those who heard/read my ideas. Now it touches those who buy our soaps at local farmers markets and shows, and brings those concepts home for them to live with.
Along with the farm, I edit a dwarf goat magazine, Ruminations, which helps goat owners become better stewards of their livestock and build a tighter community of smallholders in the US and Canada.