Thornwood Farm

We would like very much to make a viable enterprise with these goats here in our beautiful Alaskan place. We would like to do that in a sustainable permaculture manner, with the idea that our farm will be a community resource for a long time to come, not only of cashmere products, but for education about goats, sustainable permaculture, and about doing what you love.

Our Business

My friend and partner in this enterprise, Michael, and I had always thought we would have a few goats, two or three, along with all the other animals we would keep as part of our castle holdings. When we heard about the rescued herd, though, we decided that this was an opportunity. While it didn't exactly fit our former notions, we already had the land and the clearing, and plans for pens and shelters. And, the fellow who had rescued the goats had no intention of keeping them. He was going to slaughter them for meat if he didn't find a buyer. And, cashmere just seemed like such a perfect idea for Alaska! So, after a flurry of pen and shelter building, we had goats!

What We Do

Mostly, we take care of goats: we make sure they have browse or hay and grain, water and their minerals, soda and salt, good places to sleep, fencing to keep them safe, healthy trimmed hooves, their various shots and pest control, their fleece combed in the spring, and socializing and training to be people friendly.

And, in our spare time...  

The place is basically not built. Besides all the pens and sheds for the goats, there is one tiny 12'x12' cabin with a composting toilet and the goat supplies that can't be left out in the weather, two sheds full of materials, a well (yay!), a large fenced garden (yay!) and lots of ideas about where and how to build the barn, the house, the workshop..... Pictures of the place are on the Picture Page..

There are other cashmere goats sprinkled throughout the state, all from various rescue operations on that same herd ours came from. Ours were from the last of the rescue operations and removed the last of the herd. I could be wrong, but I think that our herd is now the largest of the cashmere herds in the state.

If you felt like supporting the presence of a cashmere industry in Alaska, and our goats in particular, we would be quite willing to accept your help, whether monetary or in labor! Please feel free to contact us! For a list of our top, most specific purchase items, please see the Needs List.