Hames & Axle Farm

Nigerian Dwarf Goats and Farm Education since 1996
Located in Ashburnham, MA

 

Growing Hames & Axle Farm

People ask me why we got into ND's. Was it for show? as pets? the milk? We didn't mean to "get into them," like we did, but we quickly learned that goats are like potato chips, you can't have just one. (Not only because their herd creatures, but because they are so addictive!) We wanted a portable milk supply, and because biodiversity matters to us, the endangered status of the Nigerian dwarf made it the perfect solution.

We started with Onyx, the black doe to the left, who came from the Rosasharn Farm already bred to the great Tom Thumb. Once we saw Wonder and Vern, the kids from that breeding, we knew we were hooked. Within a year we bought Surprize, also bred to Tom Thumb. These two does became the foundation of our herd - Hames & Axle Farm.

Our goal has always to breed friendly, productive goats that are able to produce without benefit of every supplement or high quality food available. We also wanted to develop our own line of goats, recognizable as Hames & Axle stock, that were friendly, healthy and productive. When we entered our first goat show, after several years of just learning about goats, we added "conformationally correct," to our list of goals. But the herd has always been about the milk and the goats, not the show ring.

Along the way we selectively brought in some stock from other regions, to add to our genetic diversity, as well as our herd's general health. We got lucky in our purchases of Thor, and Timnah, as I wanted to buy from well respected breeders, but didn't know the bloodlines well enough to know how well we'd chosen. Some of our choices have been better than others, but our overall goal was in reach. There are some breedings that just show such promise. One such breeding gave us Bourbon and Freja. We repeated that breeding several times, producing Little John and Gaugin, two beautiful bucks from two different years. Both of these boys have done very well in the show ring, but the proof of a buck is in his daughters, and we're only now seeing how well LJ's daughters are doing. (See Chamisoul, Truffle, and Echo to get an idea of what we're working toward.)

Though I can talk goats forever, I won't bore you with a full description of our entire 12 years. Suffice it to say that we have made some very good friends, raised some beautiful goats, done passably in the show ring, and made it possible for lots of people to have their own milk supply. Our herd has grown, but our goal stays the same - live lightly, produce healthy friendly goats and help people who want to, do the same.

We still show occasionally, and are pleased with how we do. But we're most proud of our milk, our soap, and the many people who call us asking for help that hang up knowing that there is someone who can help them meet their family's goals. Our goal of education continues through our book, workshops, now a magazine, and this and other websites. It's not the avenue we planned when we started Hames & Axle Farm, but as John Lennon said, "Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans." He must have been around a few goats in his lifetime to know that they always keep things interesting, and our life has certainly proven that out.

I hope you've enjoyed this peak into our herd-building process and goals. Best of luck with yours.

 

P.S. - People ask us where "Hames & Axle Farm" comes from. Here's the explanation. When we started the farm it was a visiting farm and history program (hence the Axle ie. truck.) Hames are a part of a draft horse harness that carries the load, and we wanted to include draft animals and history in the program. So, that' s how we got Hames & Axle Farm.