Farming is incredibly expensive. Especially when...let's face it..the farm is almost more of a goat rescue than a farm. Yes...we keep goats that others would send to slaughter..... the very thought of a goat being slaughtered is just horrendous.
We love these animals, our lives are so much more rewarding for sharing them with such intelligent, funny, occasionally grumpy..critters.
This farm property was first established in 1823 that's when the house was built and the springhouse, and original barn. The original barn burned down and the barn was rebuilt around 100 years ago.
Both of us work full time jobs off the farm and of course are trying to build our soap business, after some..let's say mis-steps with it in previous years. We definitely don't live extravagantly, putting all of our money back into the farm and business, we don't drive new cars, or even have tv service, ...why?..because our money goes for the care of the animals...and we absolutely think they are worth it.
As a retail business, most people would say we are crazy to base our decisions on compassion, and emotion rather than the bottom line, Yes...we keep goats that others would send to slaughter.....Some of the goats that live here at our farm, would not be kept by most "for profit" farms. We see these animals as members of the family, and don't measure their worth on how much milk they produce...or if they produce milk at all. We obviously can't keep every goat born here, but we are VERY picky about where the goats go, and potential buyers have to meet our standards, and our policy is that if the goat for whatever reason doesn't work out at their farm...tomorrow..next week...next year ..whenever...they are welcome back at Tilton Hollow. This is obviously a really baad business model for a farm/soap co. But we can't do it any other way. They ARE NOT LIVESTOCK, they are beautiful, sensitive, intelligent beings.
Our goal is not to be wealthy, our goal is to live a wonderful life on our farm, and share it with these wonderful animals that have become like family to us....so...we make, and sell goat milk soap, we don't have any great love for "soaping" ..it is just a way to help make this farm a reality, and to be able to give goats a wonderful life. ...but..make no mistake..we believe our soap is the best you will ever use...we take no shortcuts, and never compromise on the quality of ingredients and the fact that it must be 100% natural.
We love this farm, we love the history that...we can truly feel here...we hope to do more in the future to share this amazing place with all of you, from..finishing our book, to doing more workshops and adding farm tours and farm days. All of this takes money...and to that end..we have never been the type of people that were obsessed with amassing great amounts of money.....we are about passion, and heart. If you believe in our vision..tell others about our soap and what we are trying to do.
We want to preserve Tilton Hollow for future generations to love just as we do...and that takes money. We also want to use the farm and business as a voice to educate people on "livestock" ...and how they are far more intelligent and sensitive than most ever imagine.
Thanks for being so good to us.
All of us at Tilton Hollow Farm.