BREEDING/KIDDING SCHEDULE POSTED FOR 2010
Now Accepting Deposits to Reserve Kid of your choice- We do have PayPal
contact by email: markopolo2008 @msn.com
Last updated 7/23/2010
"New News at Bottom of page"
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Beth' El Acres Farm is home to the Schuller Family in Northwest Washington.
Welcome to our website. We hope your visit here will leave you with warm lingering thoughts of the country lifestyle. Our home page will give you a little glimpse into our lives and who we are. Our mini-farm consists of only a few acres of land. We are located not too far from beautiful Mt. Rainier. It is a big change from the 3,000 acre ranch I homesteaded in Idaho (see Countryside Magazine, March/April 2008 issue, "An Idaho Homesteading Experience"). Our land is not sizeable by any means but we're making it work for us. There will be alot of work ahead of us this year with the addition of a new roof on the barn (Yeah- got it on finally!!!) and new fencing that needs to be put up. My Pastor mentioned not to long ago that "settlin' down and me just don't get along!!!" It's true- I enjoy being busy and seeing projects come to completion. Hopefully we'll be able to get most of it done before winter. Remember, no matter how small your piece of land is, you can always find ways to provide for you and yours.
There's always something that needs to be done on a farm and preparing for each season: winter, spring, summer and fall, is one of them. We muck out the barn in fall to get it ready for winter, then we do it all over again prior to kidding season in early springtime. Once the kids are born, we prepare the ground for the large garden that we plant every spring. Mark loves it on the weekends as he can leave work behind and plant his bulbs and wildflowers in his little flower garden, mending gates/fences, and hauling hay among a variety of other chores that are never ending. Summer is spent tending the garden, freezing and canning our surplus from the garden. After the harvest, at the beginning of fall, typically comes breeding season for the goats. Once breeding season is past, we prepare for the cold winter months ahead. Winter can be a battle all on it's own, especially when the hoses freeze up and you have to carry jugs full of hot water to your animals. Thankfully the winters here are much milder than they were in Idaho.
We have a large flock of chickens that provide us with outstanding eggs. Our menagerie of animals also include: ducks, geese, giant rabbits, dogs, and of course, the goats. I have sold all of the large dairy goats except one and have down-sized to a smaller breed, the Nigerian Dwarf Goats. This breed is exactly what we want and what we need - so much quieter than our noisy Nubians, well except for Pita- I think she makes up for all our past Nubians!!! The Nigerian Dwarfs eat less, need less space and still produce enough milk for the family and soap making. One of my goals is to learn how to make cheese. A hobby of mine is making simple homemade soaps. They are made the old-fashioned "Homesteader's Way," thus the name of our soap and our website.
Life has been very good to us, my wonderfully amazing husband Mark and I have been married now for almost 3 wonderful years. I inherited 3 teenagers - what a wonderful package deal!! Michelle is turning 20 and seeking a career in the medical field. David is 15 - he's our football player. Rachel is 14 - she is the animal lover who threatens to run away with each and every animal I mention selling. We work well as a team, especially when everyone pulls together to achieve the same goals. Never did I think I would be raising kids again as my children are all grown and have flown the coop.
Another member of our family that we must mention and give thanks to, is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, for without Him none of this would be possible. Daily he provides for us. He has given us a wonderful family, an awesome church family, our health, our finances, and a beautiful home. He is our Provider!!
Matt.6:33 "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness: and all these things shall be added unto you".
It took me awhile to get this but it's very simple- put God first in your life and He'll put you first.
Our farm is called Beth' El, meaning House of God. Mark and I heard a message at church one morning and the name of the message was "Back to Beth'el". We don't profess to be religious but God has made a vast change in both our lives and we must give thanks were it's due. We are still far from perfect but God has been so good to us. There is an old saying, "God helps those who help themselves." We strive to be a little better everyday... it doesn't always work but we do try:)
"NEW NEWS!!!!"
We have new and exciting news to share going on our 2nd year with Nigerian Dwarfs. I have learned alot, an amazing amount, a wealth of information and also how to do tattooing and disbudding- wow- that was scary actually!!! After I read such things like being able to cook their little brains-OMG- I think I stopped breathing while I was actually disbudding and prayed for little guys. Well, after it was over, I sighed a great sigh of relief- That wasn't that bad after all. I am also the first to admit I have a ton more to learn because my brain can only absorb so much at one time. We have been selling some does, which I find hard, but necessary as my learning increases and goals change. This next year will be a great challenge for us to learn about DHIR Testing and attending our 1st shows as a competitor and not just for viewing. We are going to try to keep around 10 nice does, some for show and some breeding stock.
This past year has been somewhat difficult as we learned that I have Fibromyalgia and just how to cope with the changes that have and are taking place. I just want those out there, that have this "insidious disease", DO NOT GIVE UP!!! Perservere and push through- sometimes it's so hard. I have always been a doer, go, go, and go some more- Mark said,"You get more done that most healthy people." Some days are worst than others. And to set the record straight- It is NOT a mental illness, it affects joints and muscles. The challenges will be great but those that are met with victory are going to be the hardest earned and the most rewarding......
A HUGE, SUPER HUGE HUG AND THANK YOU FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN THERE FOR ME, LOVED ME, CARED FOR ME AND THOSE WHO HAVE TAUGHT ME: MARK, I love you man! It's been you who has carried me through dark days in your strong arms. You are amazing to me. My children and my grandchildren-each of you that share my tears and bring a smile to my lips and laughter to my heart! My friends: Cherle Moore-Smith of Old Mountain Farm, Shannon Stangeland of Poppy Patch Farm, Victoria Guerrero of Victory Caprines, Olivia Marquez of Capriola's, all for sharing your knowledge and experience and/or just being a friend-God Bless you all!
I wish to thank Olivia Marquez of Capriola's Nigerian Dwarf goats, for her work on this website and for the privilege of allowing us to become new owners of "Leona." Another warm "thank you" to Victoria, of Victory Caprines,
for honoring us with our very first Nigerian Dwarf lady, "Lily." Thanks also goes to Poppy Patch farm for allowing us the privilege of becoming the new owners of Cry Baby Blues, now known as "Pita" . Leona, Lily, and Pita will become the foundation does of Beth' el Acres Farm Nigerian Dwarf Goats.
Website designed by Olivia Marquez of Capriola's Nigerian Dwarf goats
and
Patricia Schuller of Beth'el Acres Farm
