Our First Year at Orangis Acres: From Dreams to Reality

Our First Goats: Gina, Heartly, Dottie, and Gail

When we bought our property in July 2024, we had no idea how much the next year would change our lives. We knew we wanted to dive into goat farming, but like any new adventure, it came with surprises and a lot of hard work. Aside from cutting the overgrown grass, our first priority was setting up a space for our two roosters, the first animals we took in, even before we knew this property would be ours. Manifesting takes all sorts of shapes!

We got married in August 2024, and between planning the wedding and adjusting to farm life, we focused on preparing for our herd. The previous owners had been gone for years, so the yard and outbuildings needed either a deep clean or a push into a hole with the backhoe my dad graciously lent us.

It didn’t take long before we felt the urge to bring home our first goats. Thankfully, the property came with cattle and sheep panels, so we used what we had to prepare for our first four girls: Gina, Gale, Heartly, and Dottie.

Very quickly, we realized that building the infrastructure to support them would be a major challenge. From learning the truth about goats and fencing to figuring out the barn setup, every step was trial, error, and patience.

One of the hardest moments of our first year was facing death on the farm, something no one wants to experience but every farmer eventually does. On the other hand, one of the most exciting moments was welcoming our first kid, Valentine, on a freezing February afternoon. We’ll never forget the tiny sound she made as we walked into the barn at –40°C. We managed to pull together a safe, warm space for our four gals to kid, and everyone made it through our first and definitely last February kidding season.

Now, as we step into December 2025, we’re reflecting with pride and gratitude. With the 2026 kidding season ahead, we’re excited and nervous to see what’s next. New life, new challenges, and more growth, it’s all part of the adventure here at Orangis Acres.

Here’s to the journey ahead. There’s always more to learn, more to build, and more to share. Thanks for being part of it with us!