Message from the President
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November 2005 -- By Susan Prechtl

Now that winter is almost upon us, I often ponder why I am a goat owner. Here in the Pacific Northwest where I live, fall and winter are quite rainy and it can be quite miserable at times. When it’s time to feed the animals, I almost grudgingly put on my coat and boots, and grab my flashlight for the long lonely and dark walk down to the barns. But the moment I turn on the barn lights and walk among my goats, I remember quite clearly why I am a goat owner. These engaging creatures, with their bright eyes and soft coats, all come over to greet meet me! It’s not just the anticipation of fresh hay that draws them to me, rather it is a desire to get that friendly scratch behind their ears or lean against my legs until I scratch their backs. They call softly to me and are eager for attention. It’s pretty darn hard to not have your mood lightened by hanging out with the goats and watching their antics! All thoughts of the effort to go out in the stormy weather are forgotten as I check over each of my animals.

Because I work full time off the farm, during the business week I can only see my goats during daylight hours on the weekends. The other five days of the week I can only see them via flashlight or the electric lights inside my barn. The bucks are often not very cooperative about coming into a lighted area, preferring to hang out at the fence line that is closest to the girls. But it’s important that I check over each one at least visually. At this time of year the bucks get into sparring matches whenever they detect a doe in heat. These little fights usually amount to nothing but occasionally one of them might get a poke in the eye or get butted in a shoulder or leg. If a buck appears to be limping or has a goopy or opaque looking eye, they get at least one night alone in the stall I keep reserved as a “hospital” room. Bringing a buck into the barn allows me to treat any problems or just gives me the opportunity to watch him for a day or so while his aches and pains heal up.

Over the years I’ve learned the individual personalities of all my goats. Each of them will come when their name is called or, at the very least, will raise up their head and answer me. If one of them doesn’t respond appropriately or just lays in the corner alone when I approach, I know there is a problem. The best advice I can ever give the customers who purchase goats from me is this: If your goat isn’t interested in fresh hay/food when you put it out, something is wrong and the problem must be investigated and possibly treated. Many problems with goats can be resolved if quick action is taken. But if you wait to see if the problem resolves itself, you may lose your goat to enterotoxaemia or pneumonia. A thermometer might just very well be one of the best tools you keep in your barn!
Are you a hand spinner? If not, is 2006 the year you resolve to learn? Learning how to hand spin is not only great fun but it’s a great way to learn how to evaluate your goats’ fiber for marketing purposes. If you’re a hand spinner you’ll then know what hand spinning customers are likely to want to purchase from you in the way of fibers. Hand spinning is not just for women – there are lots of men involved in this craft as well!

The Northwest is known for having lots of hand spinners. But if you think you might be in an area where there may not be many hand spinners around, how do you go about learning this craft? In my area, there is an organization called the Northwest Regional Spinners Association (NWRSA). It is a guild of hand spinners and other fiber enthusiasts and has proven to be a great resource. Through this organization I have made many contacts that have lead to fiber educational opportunities and seminars. I have been lucky enough to take part in spinning retreats, classes devoted to learning new hand spinning techniques, fiber preparation, carding and dyeing. I’ve even learned how to make simple felted projects. I have been able to use my own Pygora fiber for all of these projects and have made important contacts for marketing my Pygora fiber. There are spinning guilds, groups and “gatherings” located in almost every state of the Union, and across Canada and Europe. Interweave Press, the publisher for Spin-Off magazine maintains a nice website. Within this website, at this address - http://www.interweave.com/spin/resources/spinning_guilds.asp - is an extensive list of spinning groups in the United States and elsewhere. Contact information is listed and often includes phone numbers, mailing addresses, websites and email addresses. If you’re truly interested in learning about fiber arts, please consider contacting a group in your area. You’ll find that spinners and fiber enthusiasts are a great bunch of people and are always willing to provide information or direct you to an available learning center.

Have you checked out the PBA website lately? If not, check out the first new pages of information produced by the Fiber Committee. The committee is off to a great start. Look for more information to come in future months.  http://www.pba-pygora.com/Fiber.html

For your added convenience, Paypal is now an option for you to use when it’s time to renew your membership or pay certain other fees. http://www.pba-pygora.com/PayPal.html

May you all have a safe and happy Holiday Season.
Susan Prechtl
Hidden Meadow Farm
pygora@clatskanie.com