Family Business--The Beggining

We got our first goat in late September of 2004. Nyla and Zelda were the first addition to the farm, and were not in milk at the time. We started goats with the idea to hopefully show them in the spring and have milk for the family. We added one more a month later and were firmly hooked on goats.

Over the next four years we slowly accumulated more goats through the naturally way--you want milk from a goat you breed them in the fall or winter and they kid in the spring giving you babies and milk. The other way was by being addicted to goats, always looking at who has what to sell and when they can improve your herd, you add them.

After two years of goat owning, milking, showing, and enjoyment we started thinking it would be great to one day make it a business more then just selling the kids once a year. At that point it became a "In the future when dad is retired we might have a dairy." thought.

In early 2007 for more than one reason--the main reason being God's timing we started work on the dairy. We went from a three sided loafing shed to a full fledged milk and processing in less then a year.

Today's Did You Know?

Did you know that I do not like milk? Yes, you read that correctly! lol The oldest daughter of dairy goat farmers Tim and LeeAnne and the person who does 90% of the pasteurizing for Swede Farm Dairy does not like milk.

And it's nothing new. It's been a battle since I was three years old to get me to drink my milk, mom would set my cup of milk down with my lunch and I would sit there for more time than it would have taken me to drink the milk plotting of ways to get rid of that awful cup with the white drink in it.

I remember sitting there thinking that there HAD to be a way to get rid of the stuff without wasting it or drinking it! And then came that wonderful day when mom said I didn't have to drink the milk anymore. By then she figured that if a girl could eat a pound of cheese in a day if given the choice (it was my favorite lunch for years--Cheese and mustard.) that I must be getting enough calcium without having to do a battle of the daily cup of milk.

Then we moved out to the country and got our goats. And people started asking how I liked drinking goat's milk instead of cow's milk. When I answered with "I don't like it." I got the all too common "Of course not! It's goat's milk and I hear it's gamey." Well, no not really it's just milk. lol

The real joke came when we opened the dairy and started selling milk at farmers markets. Me being there was almost a marketing disaster. Until I started telling the truth, but not really answering peoples questions (it's that part of me that makes some of my sisters think I would do O.K. in the political world).

You see one of the top ten most Frequently Asked Questions about the dairy (to me at least) is "Do you like it?" And what is my answer, oh me who doesn't like milk of any form unless it's got a good amount of chocolate or coffee in it? My answer is the truth of course!! "It's the only milk I will drink.".

And that's the truth, I promise! I would rather by my milk from mom and dad then drink that white stuff from the store that taste like 2%! But I would much rather get my calcium from eating cheese and drinking chocolate milk then drinking the milk straight up. lol

Behind the Name

I thought I would explain why the blog is called Naturally Texan. But to explain that, I would need to explain why Swede Farm Naturals has that name, and then to explain that I would need to explain why Swede Farm is what Swede Farm. Then I was trying to figure out how to explain. Do I explain it all one post or three separate posts? Do, I do the blog name first or Swede Farm's name first. It was very confusing!


After much thinking I have decided to explain it in the order that they came--The Farm, the business, and then the blog, all in one post. So, here goes....

The Farm:

Dad and mom moved us out to the farm in '04 so that the kids would have a place to run around and play and so that our Grandfather could live with us. We named our farm Swede Farm after our uncle, who's nick name was Swede. He was dearly loved by us all, and this was our way of remembering him. Here is a quote form our website about him.

"It was through Swede's hard work and diligence that we were able to follow our dream and purchase our farm. Our lives were better for having loved him in life and forever changed by the provision he made for his family at his death."

The Business:

Since then any new project or business having to do with the farm has had Swede in it's name, one way or another. When I started Swede Farm Naturals, I was having the hardest time coming up with a name. One of the reasons was I had to have a name that I liked as well as both of my parents. At first we came up with Swede's Stitches and Scents. (Because Grace and I were going to start a sewing business as well.) Since I was the only person who kind of liked that name, it didn't stay around for long. Truth be told, I don't really know how we got Swede Farm Naturals, but to say I think mom said "How about Swede Farm Naturals?". Everyone LOVED it and it has stayed. :D

The Blog:

For the blog we went through a number of names, but I WANT my parents input when I do new things such as this. Esp. when I will be talking about their family, farm, them, and their lives. It took a lot to find a name that both I and my parents would liked. About three months of them thinking, and about a year of me thinking. (I am still not certain if dad really likes the name or if he just said is was O.K. because it was the one he preferred over the other suggestions.) Again, mom came up with the name (She is a LOT better at that sort of thing then I am.) We went with Naturally to kind of stay with my business (which is what they did with their blog, because we do have a part of the farm business called Dairy Berries.) And Texan because I am a 100% Texan and proud of it!! (Also Native Texan was already taken).

There you have it, the reason behind the farm name, the business name, and the blog name! I hope it made sense to you! :D