What do 56 ornery goats, 2 crazy toddlers, and 1 fluffy pooch have in common?
Not sure?
Well, that statement pretty much describes my life right now. Add a partridge in a pear tree and we are basically a Christmas carol over here.
Hi! I’m Maria – team writer here at Sarah Boxx LLC. If you’ve followed this blog for any amount of time, you’re probably used to the normal content centered on personal and professional development.
So why on earth am I talking about goats and babies?!
I’ll get to that, I promise! But first, a story!
Once upon a time…
Okay, not that kind of story. This isn’t much of a fairy tale…more of a “hairy tale” (get it?!)
About 5 months ago, my husband and I moved from our cozy suburban house to a large farm outside of Cincinnati, Ohio.
Truthfully, this move was years in the making. The result of countless late-night chats, dreaming about future possibilities. We’d known for quite some time that our ultimate goal was to raise our babies on a farm. Although neither of us grew up on a farm ourselves, there was just something about immersing ourselves in the earth that pulled at our heartstrings.
We moved on February 5th, during the most intense ice storm Cincinnati has seen in years. Upon arriving at our new little farmhouse, our moving van drove straight into the ditch that sits near the end of our long driveway.
What others would probably consider a warning sign to “turn the other way…FAST” we took as a challenge to overcome and a sign that we are heading in the right direction. All the best things in life come with struggles, right?
(My husband and I both tend to be the “stubbornly optimistic” type.)
We set up baby cribs, ordered a herd of goats (yes, you can actually have a goat herd delivered to your door), and began tilling our first garden on this lovely piece of land we now call “home.”
If you’re thinking, “Gosh, that girl is crazy” – I’ll tell you, you’re probably right.
In fact, just the other day, I could be seen running through our property wearing muck boots, pajamas, and a 1-year-old little boy strapped to my back, chasing some goats that escaped from their paddock.
My husband and I have a habit of diving headfirst into chaos. (Can you tell?!)
In our short stint as Ohio’s newest farm family, we’ve already had our share of challenges. We’ve had:
- Goat babies born struggling to survive the bitter cold of winter
- Parasitic infections develop in our herd
- Our garden swallowed by weeds after our week-long trip to the beach
There have been some pretty significant learning curves and uphill battles. BUT – we’ve also experienced:
- The beauty of new little lives hitting the ground as our herd has multiplied.
- Cooking with the very first vegetables to ever come from our garden.
- The wonder and excitement in our 3-year-old’s voice as she shouts, “Hi goaties! Hi!”
- Our son learning to walk through fields of wildflowers in our back pastures.
These are the memories that I’ll tuck away in my heart forever.
You may be wondering why we chose to do this, or perhaps more importantly, why I felt the need to share it with you today.
One word: Nourishment.
We moved to the farm in search of a way of life that truly nourishes our bodies, minds, and souls. We dreamed of a place where we can grow good, nutritious food. A home where our babies have room to grow and explore.
We wanted to live a life that allowed space for relaxation, restoration, and curiosity.
For us, we’ve found this way of life on the farm.
Now, I certainly don’t think every person should pick up their lives and head for the country. It’s not a one size fits all prescription for a well-nourished or restful life. I do think, however, that it’s worth taking some time to reflect on what lifestyle choices and activities help you and your family experience rest.
If you’re looking for a good way to get some good restoration and take a break from day-to-day life, I highly recommend visiting a local farm near you! It’s a great way to get yourself in nature, breathe fresh air, and possibly see some new things…without you needing to don a pair of muck boots and start chasing goats yourself. If you’d like to hear more fun, possibly eccentric stories like this one, I invite you to join our community!
Article was contributed by: Maria Lees, Team Writer with Sarah Boxx
