Why goats, part 1: they're not cows

Why goats?

We started out thinking we should get a cow, obviously for milk. We drink a lot of milk, so the thinking was, the cow could mow the lawn and make us the milk we were paying for at the store.

But a little reading suggested that a cow might be too big. And also that we would need two cows because one would be dry - NO MILK - for at least two months before she had her next calf. And she'd have a calf each year, and so would her sister, the second cow. And two cows produce an awful lot of milk! And what do we do with the calves. EAT THEM?

The same readings suggested goats. The point was, they are smaller (if they step on your foot, you don't have to go to the hospital), having more than one to get through the dry spell is not as challenging, they eat less. Of course they still have babies - kids - every year. (Maybe we could sell the kids? I mean, the baby goat kids?) And the children could handle them.

Right there I was won over. What was the point of having a homestead if the children couldn't do a good share of the work?

The more I read about goats, the more I liked the idea.

I had no idea where to buy them, but that is a different story.