March Marches In

Rosy Posy! 

She is easily becoming a best friend to everyone.

Thanks to Sonia's affections.

She has a sweet personality, and will be a devoted house dog.

Curl'ys other pups are all sweeties, but none so bonded to people as Rosy Posy. 

They will make great homestead dogs guarding the grounds and everyone on it.

Sonia's Bamba is a little jealous, but what can she say in the land of the big white dog?

Yolo's are also good natured pups, but will be bonded more strongly to goats/stock. 

They will love their herd like their own pack mates

And they're off! 

Pecos flies down the valley on her day off...

After a quick snack Chopo joins in and they disappear down the valley.

Mistletoe! 

And spring greens! The range is changing over!

Rocky (left) and Bullwinkle (right), patrol ahead of the herd.

Chamisa is a tasty treat this time of year...

Zuli watches over the goats as they change valleys.

Doonie and Zuli keep watch as the herd browses across the valley...

Across the arroyo...

They stop briefly in the Tamarisk happily munching the tasty red branches. 

Porky decided she was going to kid on this walk, so I called dad and had her picked up and taken home to birth in safety.

As soon as Porky disappears my phone's battery quits. And Afghan starts crying with labor pains. 

Zuli and I keep the herd circling while Afghan does her thing. 

The Maremmas take turns sitting with her. Here Rocky is attending. 

The next morning Doonie and Pecos have the day to themselves. 

They are much calmer leaving the pen than Chopo and Pecos were the previous day!

Dad and Chopo bunch the goats in preparation with Zuli.

And they're off!

The kids stay at home happily munching on some hay.

Bring in the Goats!

Some Excellent Reasons 

Why NOW is a Great Time to Hire a GoatHerd

To Balance Land both Large and Small

Goats are used effectively to reduce fire-fuel from alongside roads and at your home. 

Hire goats to reduce fire-fuel wherever the threat exists.

 Goats Love Russian Thistle in the winter! 

This invasive weed is very hot-burning in a fire and likewise keeps a goat warm from the inside in the cold seasons.

 We are into Juniper season! 

Winter's interest in the female trees is transitioning to the male trees as the Juniper pollen becomes ready. Trim your trees from the bottom up with goats! 

They are excellent pruners. 

 Bring in the clean-up crew this late winter/spring and prepare for the coming growing season! Goats are big fans of old dry Buffalo Gourds and other previous seasons' growth.

The result of a leech field post goat-munch. 

The material not consumed and composted by the goat is broken up and pressed into the ground by the browsing ruminants which sets in motion the cycle of decomposition in the dirt which will create the tilth (and mycorrhizal vibrancy) that other plants like grass require. 

Leech fields and other disturbed soil often grow abundant kochia which is a severe allergen loved by goats, but not loved by many people. 

This method promotes transition from kochia to grasses and other forbes.

Stop the Kochia Cycle! Bring in the goats!

 Mow your yard with goats and build tilth simultaneously! 

Improve the Landscape!

 There are choices in life. 

Hiring the Horned Locusts is just one choice. This option allows for a more natural transition to a balanced environment. The neighbor in this photo chose to push a mower for a day. He was still at it when we left, spending more time on less area. The noise, the use of fossil fuels and the heat/exertion are contrasted with the noise, entertainment and smell of the goats. Not to mention the long term investment in your health, your neighbor's health and the health of your land.

 The portable solar electric fencing is used to keep goats within particular areas and out of other areas. This targeted approach allows landscaping and other plantings to be trimmed a little, a lot or not at all.

Not least, goats big and small are a joy to be around for people big and small!

Rosy Posy and Bareback on Pecos

The goats were already out and about when I got to SunStar.

I looked around for Pecos who was grazing nearby- but did not find her.

Buck found me though- and the white dogs- who all brought me to the herd.

Dad went and got Pecos, and brought her back to the herd... 

Which had ducked over the hill...

This is a rough pass. 

The goats have been traveling over this hill for about 10 years and have developed a pretty good path where there was only steep incline and rocks.

I took it easy and walked Pecos, there is about four feet on this pass that is a little tricky in the winter.

She was a joy to ride bareback. She is a kind and gentle horse. And great in the steep and rough terrain.

The other side of the hill is also steep, but much warmer.

And on this day I spotted Chimija popping out of the rocky soil.

Tasty!!

Back at SunStar.

The puppy in the front left is Rosy Posy. 

She is Curly's littlest pup. The others here are Yolos pups which are about a week younger.

Rosy Posy has been playing with my niece, Sonia (who is 2), 

but was becoming a little shy about people, so I have taken her on an adventure. 

Rosy Posy has been attending the New Mexico Organic Conference in Albuquerque with me.  

She and Guppy are instantly great buddies. 

Guppy has been her surrogate mother and playmate since I brought her to town...

With Sonia's affections Rosy Posy will be very people oriented. 

We therefore wanted to be sure she is well socialized.

The rest of the pups will be bonded with goats and will want to live outside with their stock like Maremmas are bred to be, but this little one will be more in love with people than the average...

As well as other animals.

Guppy looks in on Yolo's little ones...

Guppy is a 7 month old Aussie cross and Rosy Posy is 5 weeks old today.

Goat kids look in on Yolo's pups from the goat-house next door.

Guppy plays with Rosy Posy's littermates.

Swirly is 13 months old. 

He is a very furry Maremma- takes after his great grandpa, Regal.

I love this dog's eyes! He is the most gentle of all the dogs (except maybe Curly, and Yolo).

Alphabet is Swirly's brother. 

He and their other brother, Bullwinkle are for sale.

They are both good workers well bonded to goats and sheep as well.

Dinnertime!