When Caromont Farms put out a call for volunteers to snuggle their baby goats this past January, they never expected to go viral. That's partially where I come in...
It was another 4 AM wake-up call this past Tuesday. On the road at 5. At the farm by quarter 'til 7.
I received a friendly greeting and tour just in time for a mountain-delayed sunrise. The next sixty minutes were a golden hour rush and flood of endearment. I was CRAWLING with baby goats. Literally. Baby goats nursing on my fingers. Baby goats nipping at my clothes. Baby goats suckling on my hair. Baby goats climbing into my lap. Baby goat noses all up in my camera. Baby goats licking the lens hood. Baby goats stumbling. Baby goats bleating. Some of them were even wearing hand-knit sweaters!
OK. Pump the breaks. Let me bring you up to speed on these kids.
I received a friendly greeting and tour just in time for a mountain-delayed sunrise. The next sixty minutes were a golden hour rush and flood of endearment. I was CRAWLING with baby goats. Literally. Baby goats nursing on my fingers. Baby goats nipping at my clothes. Baby goats suckling on my hair. Baby goats climbing into my lap. Baby goat noses all up in my camera. Baby goats licking the lens hood. Baby goats stumbling. Baby goats bleating. Some of them were even wearing hand-knit sweaters!
OK. Pump the breaks. Let me bring you up to speed on these kids.
Caromont Farms is a family farm located in the heart of Virginia's Piedmont region. They raise and milk goats with which they produce fresh, hand-made cheeses. They also partner with Silky Cow Farm in nearby North Garden to produce a few cow's milk styles, but that's not part of this story. This story is about cuddling!
It's our human need for physical contact and the joy of snuggling (especially with cute, fluffy babies) that brought me to this farm. You win, baby goats. All the way from Australia, you won the internet that day in January, and so my visit was prompted. Yes, people as far away as Australia volunteered to travel half way around the world to snuggle with these kids. The response they received for their request was so huge, their waiting list had a waiting list. And, unfortunately, there will be some goat-less snugglers this season... but not me! *maniacal laugh*
It's our human need for physical contact and the joy of snuggling (especially with cute, fluffy babies) that brought me to this farm. You win, baby goats. All the way from Australia, you won the internet that day in January, and so my visit was prompted. Yes, people as far away as Australia volunteered to travel half way around the world to snuggle with these kids. The response they received for their request was so huge, their waiting list had a waiting list. And, unfortunately, there will be some goat-less snugglers this season... but not me! *maniacal laugh*
Check out a few of these precious video moments:
This experience was amazing. Therapeutic, even. Cuddling baby goats was exactly what I needed! Only now I want some goats of my own (and chickens, and otters, and a skunk, a fox, rats, pigs, all the cats and a dog).
You won't be able to get your cuddle on at Caromont anymore this season, but keep your eye on next year. They start giving farm tours in June, so you can still feast your eyes, ears and nose on the sights, sounds and smells of the farm. And get your taste buds on some local chevre.
P.S. They should be opening their online store soon, so all those folks in Australia can taste the fruits of our snuggling.
You won't be able to get your cuddle on at Caromont anymore this season, but keep your eye on next year. They start giving farm tours in June, so you can still feast your eyes, ears and nose on the sights, sounds and smells of the farm. And get your taste buds on some local chevre.
P.S. They should be opening their online store soon, so all those folks in Australia can taste the fruits of our snuggling.
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