Survival Mode

'Tis a real problem...

Those who follow this infrequently updated blog will know that we have been in a struggle for survival.  We found ourselves facing losing the dairy in August and with our backs against the wall, we began an fundraising campaign.  The campaign has done well.  We were honest with our struggles and we were blessed beyond all expectation by the outpouring of support, both emotional and financial.

Due to circumstances beyond our control (dang goats having different ideas than ours regarding when they want to get pregnant and deliver babies!), the fundraiser needed to be extended beyond the original goal of December.  We are now in the last stretch.  Our goats are bred, and once they have their babies, we will be able to once again begin making product and going to markets.  Unfortunately, we face the challenge of needing to get from here to there.  The funds raised up to this point have helped us dig out from the debts of three months of no income.  They have allowed us to buy some new goats that enabled us to continue going to markets through mid-December.  They provided for the renewal of our cheese license.  We are now at the end of January--with approximately two more months before the goats will be in reliable production so that we can close down the fundraiser and stand o our own two feet once more.  In order get from now to then our older daughters (who would normally be helping milk goats, make cheese, go to market and make restaurant deliveries) have taken jobs off the farm, which has kept the electricity on and the phones working.  LeeAnne has been a full time student at the University of Houston, preparing for the next stage of the farm--sharing the story with a wider audience.  Tim has been holding home and hearth together and teaching the littles.  Even without goats to milk and cheese to make and sell, we have been very busy--but we continue to face some significant challenges.  Between now and then we have goats to feed to the tune of a couple hundred of dollars, weekly.  We have to pay taxes on the farm so that we can keep the land that we depend upon.  Honestly?  It seems incredibly daunting and once again we feel as if we are looking into the abyss and wondering if this is "it", time to pull the plug.

Two things keep us going.

The first is the recent pregnancy test tests that show us that if we can just make it from here to there, we should be ok.  There are not words for the emotional shot in the arm that we received when we saw "Nutmeg...pregnant.  Lucchese...pregnant.  Trinity...pregnant" and so on.

The second is the support that we have received up to this point.  Almost three hundred people have put their faith in us.  By donations ranging from $10 to $1000 they have voted that we keep up the fight.  Their voices ring in our heads during the dark hours of doubt, providing the light by which to see to take the next step.

So, we will keep going--if we at all can.  This is begging at the most basic level.  Our fight is not over.  We have to keep those pregnant goat bellies fed.  We can live on beans and rice, we have many times in the past--but we must keep the goats fed and their diets are more particular than ours.  So we ask...if there is anyway that you can make a donation at the link below, or share our story with someone else who can, we would be incredibly appreciative.

http://www.gofundme.com/czsu9o

Thank you~

The Carlson Clan; Tim, LeeAnne, Katarina, Christin, Grace, Sara, Linnea, Emma, Timothy, Liberty, Noah, Judah Seth and, of course, Dixie!

& the goats of Swede Farm...Trinity, Lucchese, Nutmeg, La Bahia, Bluebonnet, Lottie, Margaret Houston, Miss Muffet, Maypearl and the rest of the working ladies here on the farm!