We all think of buying goats first when beginning our homesteading journey, only to regret it later when our crafty little friends start taking more than they give. They are so cute but seem to be able to escape Alcatraz, let alone our own pallet fence system. They also sure do enjoy treats and may eat you out of hose and home if you don’t watch out. However, goats provide ample opportunities to make money and start earning their place on our homesteads! As a matter of fact, these same qualities that could mark them as trouble for your tight budget are exactly the ways that make them excellent money makers! I’m here to give you some unusual business ideas that are perfect for your naughty little goats. Learn the best ways to manifest these ideas in my 5 Steps to Manifest your Dream Homestead.

Everyone thinks that the perfect hiking partner is a dog until they meet a goat. I’ve hiked many trails and mountains and know that a goat is simply MADE for hiking. Their herd mentality means they will stay with you wherever you lead. Their ancestors adapted to rocky mountain living which means your furry friend will be even more adept at steep trails than even the most experienced hiker. What is even better is that you don’t have to go on a strenuous hike to get the most out of goats. Believe it or not, people will PAY to have you take them on a hike with your goats. You can define a radius or specific trails you are willing to go on and meet clients there. Hiking with goats and getting money for it? Yes, please.

What little kid doesn’t swoon over a baby goat? Plenty of parents love the idea of letting their children romp with playful kid goats for their birthday, as long as there is a place to sit down and serve pizza and cake. You don’t even have to provide the decorations and feast. Parents will pay top dollar for a small farm birthday experience as long as they don’t have to clean up goat droppings after. Parents already toss $200-$400 to indoor gymnasiums that leave their children over stimulated and exhausted. As a goat owner myself, I’ve had many friends ask if they could come over just to see the new babies born here time and time again. Goat farm birthdays offer fresh air, live animals and best of all a chance for goats to earn their keep! If they are going to ask anyway, just give the people what they want! And don’t worry about charging, even for friends. Everyone knows that the care and work that goes into goat keeping is not for free and neither should be the chance to play with your herd.

I’ve used my own goats for this purpose on my farm and it worked like a charm. Goats love brush, poison ivy and all sorts of unwanted weeds. They are also easier to keep contained than pigs, who are also great at clearing land. As long as an area can be fenced off with electric netting and solar energizer and offers some shelter and water (which you can create with pop up tents and mobile water units), your goats will be content doing what goats do, eating weeds! This can be an exceptionally profitable business if you don’t have enough land to feed your herd all year. Plenty of homesteaders buy livestock and end up buying every ounce of feed. This cuts back on the feed bill while bringing in the bacon, without pigs! Of course, always exercise caution and examine the area you are being hired to clear by looking for poisonous plants and train goats to your electric fence system before transporting them to a new area.

We’ve all heard of goat yoga, and to be honest, as a certified yoga instructor, I don’t see the appeal. However, apparently plenty of people do! If yoga is not your niche, but helping others is, you can create a therapeutic farm experience that can be just as enjoyable and beneficial. Many adults would love the excuse to be close to an animal but do not have the capability to own one themselves. Many people have become disassociated from nature and lack ways to recreate that bond. Goats are playful, cute and smaller than other livestock like cattle (which can be intimidating). Overall, they are the perfect addition to a farm yoga or therapy class. You might be able to incorporate goats into another aspect of your world. After all, there was a first time for goat yoga. Feel good about making money AND helping people.

The first time I met a goat was at a tiny farm in Rhode Island. They grew a little garden, berry patch, had a miniature pony and all sorts of small animals in pens to be ogled at. By far the most popular animals were the goats. When I took my three kids, it happened to be when a school bus of children arrived for their field trip. They were each given a small cup of grain to feed the goats while a rambunctious pair of goat kids hopped around outside the pen to everyone’s delight. This idea might be similar to birthday parties but has some distinct differences. School field trips are more structured, and the teachers and aids are less likely than mom or dad to let junior do whatever junior wants, lest he cries. You are also getting paid MORE money per experience and will likely be put on the yearly budget for the school, which means more consistency for your business. If you can provide a little variety, and maybe a hayride, you are in the money my homesteading friend.

Milking may be an obvious first choice when you think of goats. Many adults that can’t digest cow milk, do well with goat milk. You can make caramels, yogurt, cheese, fudge, and ice-cream. Basically, use it the way you would cow’s milk. You can also make goat milk soap, face wash, lotion, and lip balm. You can also sell your fresh milk to people who already own businesses making these products but want to scale up. Best of all, goats take far less space than a cow. And while they make less milk per animal, their milk sells for much more per ounce.

creativity, goats, and money go together

Most goats are curious creatures who revel in a little adventure. Think outside the pen when it comes to your livestock and think of creative solutions to your goat problems. Turn a goat with an exceptional appetite into a land clearer. Got a goat that birthed 4 bucks when you wanted all does? Turn them into the friendliest wethers (castrated male goats) and let people PAY to bottle feed them! Then actually turn a profit when it’s time to sell them. Making money with goats can be easy AND enjoyable!

It’s time to for goats to EARN the GREEN instead of eating it! Share the glory of goats!

Now start implementing these dreams with my

5 Steps to Manifest Your Dream Homestead

With Love

Kelley