Shows
For the Love of GoatsHow Beekman 1802 Used GOAT Wisdom to Build a Beloved BrandGot a question? 🤔 Head over to -- https://thriftyhomesteader.com/goat-wisdom/ -- and drop it in the comments—so we can reply! DescriptionWhat do you get when two city guys buy a goat farm during the Great Recession? A global skincare brand built on goat milk—and timeless wisdom.In this inspiring episode, Deborah talks with Josh Kilmer-Purcell and Dr. Brent Ridge, the founders of Beekman 1802, about how they went from weekend farmers to building a multi-million-dollar business using lessons learned from goats, neighbors, and small...2025-06-1931 minFor the Love of GoatsCall the Vet NowGot a question? 🤔 Head over to -- https://thriftyhomesteader.com/call-the-vet-now/ -- and drop it in the comments—so we can reply! Description Most goat owners have faced a moment of uncertainty—staring at a sick goat and wondering, “Should I call the vet?” In this solo episode, Deborah Niemann lays out the answer with clarity and urgency.While goats are often thought of as hardy animals, they are also prey animals that instinctively hide illness until they’re critically sick. This episode covers the top emergency s...2025-06-1132 min
Sustainability Book ChatWhy Family Farms Are Disappearing with Brian ReisingerGot a question or thought to share? 🤔💬 Head over to the blog post -- https://thriftyhomesteader.com/family-farms/ -- and drop it in the comments—we’d love to hear what you think and we’ll be sure to reply! DescriptionIn this episode Deborah Niemann is joined by Brian Reisinger, journalist and author of Land Rich, Cash Poor, to talk about a subject close to both their hearts: the alarming disappearance of family farms in the United States.Brian grew up on a multi-generational Wisconsin farm and brings a u...2025-06-0531 minSustainability Book ChatBuilding a Pantry from Scratch with Kris BordessaGot a question or thought to share? 🤔💬 Head over to the blog post -- https://thriftyhomesteader.com/building-a-pantry-from-scratch/ -- and drop it in the comments—we’d love to hear what you think and we’ll be sure to reply! Description In this episode, Deborah Niemann welcomes Kris Bordessa, author of Attainable Sustainable and the new follow-up, Attainable Sustainable Pantry. Kris shares her inspiration behind writing a book focused entirely on pantry staples and kitchen self-reliance, especially after the overwhelming response to her first book. Whether you’re a complete begi...2025-05-2726 minFor the Love of GoatsUnderstanding Goat Polio: Causes, Symptoms & TreatmentsGot a question? 🤔 Head over to https://thriftyhomesteader.com/goat-polio/ -- and drop it in the comments—so we can reply! DescriptionGoat polio is a serious and often misunderstood condition—frequently mistaken for other neurological diseases like listeriosis, meningeal worm, or even rabies. In this episode, Deborah Niemann is joined by Dr. Melissa Holahan, a small ruminant veterinarian, goat breeder, and former lecturer and research assistant at Washington State University. As a breeder of Nigerian Dwarf and Alpine goats herself, Dr. Holahan brings a unique combination of clinical expertise and hands-on ex...2025-03-2626 minFor the Love of GoatsRaising Goats in CanadaGot a question? 🤔 Head over to https://thriftyhomesteader.com/raising-goats-in-canada/ -- and drop it in the comments—so we can reply! DescriptionIn this episode, host Deborah Niemann is joined by Mallory Kaiser, president of the Alberta Goat Association and vice chair of the Canadian National Goat Federation. Mallory shares insights into the goat industry in Canada, including available breeds, import/export challenges, traceability regulations, and the demand for goat products. Whether you're curious about how goat farming differs in Canada or considering expanding your own herd, this episode is packed with valuable informa...2025-03-1939 minFor the Love of GoatsDewormer Resistance: A Goat Owner’s ExperienceGot a question? 🤔 Head over to https://thriftyhomesteader.com/dewormer-resistance-goat-owners-experience/ -- and drop it in the comments—so we can reply! DescriptionIn this insightful and eye-opening episode, host Deborah Niemann is joined by Tammy Gallagher of Shady Paddock Farm in Texas to discuss the challenges of dewormer resistance and parasite management in goats. Tammy, a certified FAMACHA instructor and Nigerian Dwarf breeder, shares her personal experience of losing goats to barber pole worms and the lessons she learned in regaining control of her herd’s health.Tammy’s story underscores the importanc...2025-03-1231 minFor the Love of GoatsAn American's Experience with Goats in KenyaGot a question? 🤔 Head over to https://thriftyhomesteader.com/americans-experience-with-goats-in-kenya/ -- and drop it in the comments—so we can reply! DescriptionIn this fascinating episode, Deborah Niemann sits down with Mark Hicks, an author and adventurer, to discuss his unforgettable experience with goats during a trip to Kenya. Mark’s journey was part of his seminary doctorate program, where he stayed with a pastor who also happened to be a goat farmer. What he encountered there was a completely different approach to goat farming—one that challenged his...2025-03-0517 minFor the Love of GoatsScrapie Updates in Goats and Sheep for 2025As goat owners, understanding diseases that can affect our herds is crucial for maintaining healthy animals and preventing the spread of illnesses. In this episode, Deborah Niemann is joined by Dr. Linda Detwiler, staff veterinarian on the sheep and goat health staff at the USDA APHIS Veterinary Service, to discuss scrapie, a neurological disease affecting sheep and goats.Dr. Detwiler provides an update on the current state of scrapie in the United States, including its history, transmission, symptoms, testing methods, genetic resistance, and efforts to eradicate it.What You’ll Learn in Th...2025-02-2641 minFor the Love of GoatsOur First C-section: Caboose’s StoryGot a question? 🤔 Head over to https://thriftyhomesteader.com/c-section-in-goats/ -- and drop it in the comments—so we can reply! DescriptionIn this episode, host Deborah Niemann shares the emotional and educational story of Caboose, the first goat on her farm to undergo a C-section. As part of the podcast’s fifth-anniversary celebration, Deborah reflects on the challenges, lessons learned, and how this experience helped her understand the critical importance of timely veterinary intervention during kidding complications.Deborah details what led to Caboose’s C-section, including the initial signs of trouble, her...2025-02-1532 minFor the Love of GoatsSharing Milk with Baby GoatsGot a question? 🤔 Head over to https://thriftyhomesteader.com/sharing-milk-with-baby-goats/ -- and drop it in the comments—so we can reply! DescriptionThe answer to, “When can I start milking my doe?” is not as simple as listing the specific age of the kids. In this episode, we are discussing the complexities of sharing milk with baby goats and offering practical advice for goat owners who want to balance kid health with milk production. Deborah draws on her experience as both a homesteader and a former Board Certified Lactation Consultant to share import...2025-02-1242 minFor the Love of GoatsFor the Love of Goats Turns 5: A Look Ahead with Deborah NiemannHappy anniversary to us! FTLOG is five years old! As we enter our sixth year, you can continue to count on us to help you cut through the clutter of conflicting information out there so that you can be confident that your goats will be living their best lives! You can expect to hear from more goat experts like veterinary professors and published scientists who are on the leading edge of goat research. You’ll also hear from goat owners who have turned their love of goats into a successful business. And this year, you’ll hear more...2025-02-1101 minFor the Love of GoatsUterine Rupture and Hemorrhage: Coco’s StoryGot a question? 🤔 Head over to https://thriftyhomesteader.com/uterine-rupture-and-hemorrhage-in-goats/ -- and drop it in the comments—so we can reply! DescriptionIn this deeply personal and emotional episode, host Deborah Niemann shares the heartbreaking story of her goat, Coco, who experienced a uterine rupture and hemorrhage during a challenging kidding in 2013. Deborah takes listeners on a journey through Coco's life, from her birth to her tragic passing after giving birth to quintuplets. This episode not only honors Coco’s memory but also provides valuable insights into the risks of uterine tears and...2025-02-1130 minFor the Love of GoatsGuardian Llamas: A Conversation with an ExpertGot a question? 🤔 Head over to https://thriftyhomesteader.com/guardian-llamas/ -- and drop it in the comments—so we can reply! DescriptionHave you been considering getting a guard llama for your herd? You may have many questions such as: where can I find a good guard llama? How much should I expect to pay? Are there traits I should look for? What about the importance of age and the castration status for males? In this episode, Deborah is talking to Carol Reigh of Buck Hollow Llamas, an expert who has been rai...2024-11-2052 minFor the Love of GoatsUrinary Calculi in GoatsMost people think that avoiding urinary calculi in male goats is as easy as balancing the calcium and phosphorus ratio, but that's only the beginning. We are talking to Dr. Robert VanSaun, professor of veterinary science and extension veterinarian at Penn State University, about all of the different types of urinary stones, what causes them, how to prevent them, and how to treat them. Balancing calcium and phosphorus is only helpful for preventing struvite stones, and that may not even be helpful if the goat simply has too much phosphorus in the diet....2022-08-3136 min