GlennArt Farm
  • HOME
  • GOAT YOGA/CHILLS
    • Goat Yoga Classes
    • Goat Yoga FAQs
    • Goat Chills
    • Got a question?
  • GET MILK
    • Order Milk Using QuickPay/Zelle/Venmo
    • Order Milk Using a Credit Card
  • MEMBERSHIP/DISCOUNTS
    • Goat Guardian Guild Application Form
  • GLOG
  • ABOUT
    • NEWS >
      • Kids of 2018
      • GALLERY
  • CONTACT

Urban Goats :  A Space and a Place in the City of Chicago

9/25/2019

0 Comments

 
What do goats have to do with the city of Chicago? Most goats need an acre per animal to grow and live.  Here on the West Side, they live in  limited spaces and graze on house sized lots. Here at GlennArt we have to work harder to keep them clean and well fed, importing their food from outside the city, and providing space for them in our neighborhood.  Currently the city council of Chicago is reviewing ordinances for livestock.  While it seems ironic that livestock exists here, the interruption of seeing animals in the Chicago  gives perspective for nature in a city of cement, as well as fill a need in the urban agriculture community.

True, the care of these animals needs to be careful, clean and courteously done.  We cannot have them smelling because of their poop, or left unattended by their owners, nor existing as loud or offensive to neighbors.  Urban goats can provide a gentle reminder of the natural world that is cut off by city environments, especially for children.  One child in our neighborhood blurted out when seeing our animals, 'They look so peaceful'.  Another neighbor stated that if goats could live on the West Side his family could live in peace here. 

At GlennArt Farm we keep them as a service to the city.  Our focus is to glorify God, restore community and provide healthful food to our neighbors.  We have found that goats have a niche to play in the development of sustainable urban  agriculture.   They produce milk for an alternative food source, their manure gives an immediate use for fertilizer, the goats love to eat down overgrown lots and they are gentle when interacting with people.

A herd in the city may consist of a minimum of two animals.  We manage five does (or female goats).  We breed our goats with breeders to maintain a small herd without the complication of keeping adult males.   Our herd consists of five nannies and their kids (babies).  Every year we have about 8 to 10 babies which are sold at the end of the year.  

With help from Frontera Farmer Foundations, GlennArt created a mini dairy in the city of Chicago.  The State of Illinois created regulations to allow the sale of raw unpasteurized milk from farm homesteads.  After two years of work, we met the regulations standards and obtained the permit.  Our production is tiny compared to large farms;  however we have found a niche market of buyers that benefit from our product. 

Manure is always a complication for keeping animals;  however the soil amendments of goat manure allows it to be applied immediately and safely in gardens.  Community gardens have amend their soil systems from our service to haul bags of manure to their sites. Urban agriculture and floral companies have reaped the benefits of our soil amendments in their products of fruits, vegetables and cut flowers. 

Interacting with goats proves to be fascinating to the public. Providentially, we discovered ecotourism activities like goat yoga and what we call goat 'chill.' People like goats.  These animals are pleasant, smart and funny and have no upper teeth.  They are gentle with children and do not bite.   In order to provide the experience to our neighbors, we offer 'open pasture' moments to feed and 'rub' their fur. 

We take our precautions to keep them healthy to be  munching, provide manure, milk and memories.   It is our hope for Chicago to understand not only the benefits of goats in the city,  but also the mental and physical  health it gives to this city's inhabitants.  For us it is worth the effort to show a beauty in this created world.
Picture
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Carolyn Ioder

    Seeker, Wife. Mother, English Language tutor, goat farmer, friend

    Archives

    February 2023
    April 2022
    March 2022
    July 2021
    June 2021
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016

    Categories

    All
    Adventure!
    Baby Goats
    Beekeeping
    Chickens
    Farm Work
    Goat-A-Palooza
    Goats
    Milking Season
    Other Critters
    Raw Goat Milk
    Volunteers

    RSS Feed

    GOAT NOTES

    (Carolyn's dates & thoughts)
    February
    2/4/17
    Girls come home!

    2/4/2017
    applied for Funding WWOOFUSA
    2/11/ 2017
    Root Riot Meeting at Glennart.  Planning garden changes.

    2/18/2017
    > Urban Livestock EXPO
    Cheese Document plan EXCEL Program


    2/27/2016
    > FIRST GGG Gathering
     
    March

    3/9/2017 Plant:  Spinach, lettuce indoors

     3/21/2017  First day of SPRING!!!!
     
    3/22/2017  Plant carrots with garlic

    April
    4/1/2016 Plan/repair pasture fencing

    4/5/2017 set up potato beds

    4/12/2017 Kidding Season begins
    > Plant potatoes

    4/21/17 Milking season begins

    4/25/2016 Set up fencing

    May
    > Kidding season continues
    5/20/17 Spring Gathering
    5/25/16 plant Sweet potato in beds  watermelon. squash

    5/10/16  Cheese making begins
     
    5/15-7/2/16 Last two does duePatsy and Destiny
     
    June

    July
    Sale of bucklings



    August
    > Sale of bucklings
    > Weaning begins

    September
    > Cheese making continues

    October
    > Sale of doelings
    > Cheese making continues

    November
    > Dry out the does

    December
    > Does to Wisconsin for breeding


Picture
Picture
Contact Us
GlennArt Farm || 5749 W. Midway Park, Chicago || 847.612.7315 + 847.226.9510
​© Copyright 2020. All rights reserved.
  • HOME
  • GOAT YOGA/CHILLS
    • Goat Yoga Classes
    • Goat Yoga FAQs
    • Goat Chills
    • Got a question?
  • GET MILK
    • Order Milk Using QuickPay/Zelle/Venmo
    • Order Milk Using a Credit Card
  • MEMBERSHIP/DISCOUNTS
    • Goat Guardian Guild Application Form
  • GLOG
  • ABOUT
    • NEWS >
      • Kids of 2018
      • GALLERY
  • CONTACT