Urban goats for organic raw milk in a San Francisco backyard

[piazza1129]

Nice set up! Great way to show people you don't need a large space to grow food. We always share with our neighbors. Last year had the kids do a produce stand a couple times & the neighbors asked us to do it again this year. Growing food really brings the community together

[PositivelyHealthy]

Thanks for your fast reply. I was afraid of that. I could not butcher them...I am vegetarian. Can you breed and sell in the city? I could possible do that...

[kirstendirksen]

@PositivelyHealthy I just filmed the video so I don't have as many details on this as I'm not a goat owner myself. I would assume you could sell the kids, or at least give them away.

Some cities are more organized to help out with this than others. I know that Denver has a "chicken swap" on the 1st Saturday of every month where you can buy, sell or swap animals like chickens and goats.

[PositivelyHealthy]

I was wondering about breeding goats. with chickens they don't need a rooster to lay eggs but goats must have kids to produce milk. How do you deal with that in the city? You are allowed 2 goats so what do you do with the kids? I so want goats ♥

[kirstendirksen]

@PositivelyHealthy You have to get rid of them. So you either give them away or butcher them, depending on your feelings around that. It definitely gets you closer to the realities of farm animals and the cycle of life.

[needparalegal]

Finally an excuse to buy a breast pump!

[lokidj01]

Thats great!! Where can I find some instructions on how to make that liker you have?? Thanks!!!

[lokidj01]

@lokidj01 milker even...

[futureusmc100]

how much does each chicken/ goat eat in a day? (im obsessed with this kind of stuff)

[PinkShirtz]

Yay im the 100th person to like this XD

[farmsidney]

fantastic video. Congratulations.

[R5J9]

That is a very interesting way of living. I'm sure some day I'd have something like that but maybe buying everything organic could be another way to stay healthy and green. Still I'd have my own garden of green food!

[USA4July1776]

Pretty soon, when they get sick or die, these hippies will understand why Louis Pasteur invented the method of pasteurisation of milk... to kill bacteria.

[juniper30]

"for family purposes"...I read that as pets...and if they give milk, BONUS! :D

[kirstendirksen]

Just to clarify the goats are allowed some free range time. As Heidi mentioned in a video she did for Whole Foods "Since we do have limited space we do give them time in the upper yard during the day or in the neighbor's yard. The neighbors let us use their yard for the goats to graze and eat down all the weeds. And sometimes we take them for little walks around the city."

[halfasser]

@kirstendirksen Have you ever considered releasing a documentary?

I mean you honestly have more than enough material on youtube already to make atleast an hour & a half long documentary consisting of like mostly 10 minute interviews.

[mavilla221]

@kirstendirksen Ok! I feel better now. that answered my question.

[MrChrisTowerton]

Great clip... Thanks

[slugpea]

Some of my fondest memories of taking SF Center for the Book workshops are of seeing and hearing the chickens and few other farms animals at a nearby home. This was nearly a decade ago at the start of gentrifying, else I'm sure the farm would have been more of a problem.

More recently, one could also sometimes see a small herd of goats used to maintain the grounds by CCSF prior to the buildup of that part of Ocean.

[iBarna]

I live in the same area of SF, and am as avid a gardener as you can find. I also am into a lot of other DIY / low tech things. With all that, I must say that there is a lot of ghetto people and ghetto behavior in this part of the city, but these people have got to take the cake. I'm thankful they are not my neighbors.

[TheCatMilton]

Her neighbors must HATE her

[optimeyez]

I really enjoy your videos, thanks

[eangeles92]

@kirstendirksen do you film every video?

[kirstendirksen]

@eangeles92 Nearly all. 3 of them were filmed by the interview subjects, but other than that yes.

[truepres]

Very helpful. I appreciate the perspective realism. Keep up the good work! Soon most of the city will have to learn what they're currently taking for granted.

[happymimi16]

cute lil farm and the animals look content. the milk looks tasty as well

[krazilogicz]

It's cool that you have an urban farm, but i don't understand the purpose of drinking any kind of milk. Goat, Bovine, or otherwise.

[HiJaayD]

@krazilogicz I dont think cows are more efficient and smaller than goats in urban farming.

[TheVJProduction]

fudge this chick is crazy

[missfuzzymittens]

I love your little urban farm.

[SnuggleBear1970]

How long is the shelf life of goat milk?

[MrSchpankme]

Her goat with low milk production has an PH imbalance, which can be corrected by given the goat pure unpasteurized Apple Cider Vinegar.

[MrSchpankme]

San Francisco Living; what a disgrace to the animals. The fall of man was easily created by moving the masses from the country and into the incorporated Cities.

[paulgem123]

Cool stuff. Thanks for sharing. Some day I will have some goats. I do a lot of gardening.

[elainelw]

@itsjustdeb579 Yes, taking them to a park helps, but it still reminds me of a prison where most of the time, the person/creature is confined to a small pen but let out daily for food and exercise. I feel the same way about keeping dogs "crated" during the day while the pet owner works. It seems unkind.

[pepperminttea42]

@elainelw Agreed. It's the same with smaller animals, too. Keeping them in a tiny cage is not justified by letting them out for a little time everyday. Whichever way you look at it, they're prisoners.

[AshyMishyMashy]

@elainelw in never understood why people keep their dogs crated either... a puppy, yes. but an adult dog should be able to roam the house freely without getting into any kind of trouble. if a dog doesn't know better by the time it is an adult, then that is the owners fault for improperly training the dog. and if a person doesn't have the time to properly train the dog, then they shouldn't have the dog in the first place.

[TheBoyFromNorfolk]

She needs a bigger bucket... Ah, cheat machine. LOL. The idea of using machinery as being cheating makes me laugh.

The Level it makes sense on is personal satisfaction. Reminds me of an american version of the Good Life.

[elainelw]

Goats are intelligent, inquisitive animals that need much more than a narrow wooden pen. They may improve Heidi's quality of life, but she hasn't adequately provided for theirs.

[itsjustdeb579]

@elainelw Did you not listen to the video? Or read the write up? She takes them to a park daily for exercise.

[zellerz1216]

@elainelw

well i agree that they might benefit from some open pastures, but the milk you buy at the store is so much more heartbreaking.

[TheMorningCoffee]

That goat is not amused

[mikedm01]

cool goat

[Uriel1816]

Wonderful video.

It is interesting to note at the present time it is illegal to sell raw goat milk.

If Ron Paul is elected President of the US, that will change for the better and he will change that FDA ruling.