We are blessed to have a family farm in rural southwestern TN. Our farm is home
to a variety of rare and heritage breeds of chicken and a herd of miniature dairy goats.
We enjoy the beautiful brown, pink, white, blue and green eggs that our birds share with
us, and the sweet fresh goats milk that we drink and use to make our own yogurt, cheeses,
butter and soap. We also share our farm with a Clydesdale and a paint horse.
After considering several heritage and miniature breeds, we chose Miniature LaMancha
and Nigerian Dwarf dairy goats. We chose those breeds because of their managable size,
wonderful temperament and reputation for delicious milk. Our minimanchas were on milk test
in 2009, milk samples were tested monthly by a certified lab, and each goats production was
weighed and charted. We were tickled when we learned our goats were delivering an average of
8% butterfat, with as much as 12% during the last third of the lactation and over 4% protein
on average. Each doe's details are available on the goats home page. We look forward to
participating in a milk test again in the near future.
Parham Farms is primarily a timber farm, but it's so nice to be able to produce some of our own
food rather than to have to run out to the store for basics like milk and eggs. We've also
grown accustomed to the delicious goodness of our own eggs and raw milk, so much so that store
bought eggs and milk seem bland to us. We also enjoy a summer vegetable garden, and a few fruit
trees (we hope to add more). Summer months are extra busy for us as we try to can, preserve and
freeze as many fruits and vegetables as possible.
We also make goat's milk soap and lotion as well as soy candles. Those things are available
in our gift shop (see the link at the top). We can scent lotion or candles in any of the scents
we have available in the soaps. We are happy to work with you on custom orders for the soap
as well. We are able to do a variety of sizes, can work with you on themes, packaging etc...
Please plan to give us at least 6 weeks lead time on custom orders.
At the present, none of our milk or eggs are for sale, we're only producing what we need to feed
our own family and our pets. Besides that, in Tennessee, it's not legal to sell raw milk for
human consumption or raw milk food products like cheese or yogurt. I wouldn't feel comfortable
doing that even it it was legal. We do however supply a few lucky individuals with dairy goats
each spring. Occasionally we have an adult for sale, but for the most part we just sell kids.
We are considering letting several of our adult does go to select homes after kidding in the spring
of 2012 simply because the kids will be off at college and we aren't consuming near the quantity of milk that
we used to. If you think you might be interested in having an adult doe in milk, please contact me by
email to let me know.
I think that more people should become involved in producing their own basic food items both to
appreciate the animals that provide for us and the work that goes into keeping them healthy and happy
so that they can produce healthy wholesome food for the family table. I am happy to work with others
who are also interested in this way of life. Some call it the simple life, and while it is more basic,
it certainly isn't easier than running out to the store and getting what you need when you need it.
A great deal of hard work and planning on someone's part goes into everything we eat and use, I'd
rather that it was my work and planning for our food simply because I know how and where it was grown,
that no chemicals or radiation were used to preserve it or to control insects or weeds. I know how
our vegetables were fertilized (with our own aged compost) and exactly when they were harvested. Growing
your own food can be as simple as a few earth boxes on the patio and a trio of laying hens in a small coop,
or as complex as a vast hydroponic greenhouse system and large barn. No matter how you choose to do it,
it can be incredibly rewarding. Don't wait until you get that ideal farm someday in the future, even
if you live in an apartment, you can start growing some of your own food now, search apartment gardens
online and be inspired!
![[Parham Farms]](images/msnowmanbanner2.gif)
