About Appleberry Cove Farm
Appleberry Cove
Appleberry Cove is a small family farm nestled in a secluded cove within the Appalachian Mountains of Madison County, North Carolina. Our homestead-type farm is comprised of vegetable, herb, and flower gardens, fruit orchards and berries, and a menagerie of farm animals. These include: a large flock of selected heavy-breed chickens, peafowl, ducks, rabbits, llamas, and a small dairy goat herd comprised primarily of LaManchas and a few Nubians- and our new adventure, mini LaManchas.
A brief history of our dairy goats
Our first experience with goats was with a "mixed bag" of brush goats and pygmies. Later we turned our interest to a dairy goat when two of our children became allergic to cow's milk. It was our great fortune to luck upon a LaMancha named "Cinnamon" who was an only goat being kept with a flock of sheep. When we picked her up we found that she came with papers! She has matured into a wonderful foundation doe and has accomplished a great deal for us once we began showing her about eight years ago at age 4.
Our other "first" does were given or sold to us from members of the Piedmont Dairy Goat Association (PDGA) who have nurtured us through dairy goat projects with 4-H, offering breeding and assistance, and beyond. They have been a constant source of support, encouragement, and education.
We would particularly like to thank Peggy Harris of "One More Saanens and Oberhaslis," Marjorie Burton of "Firepink-Holler," David Brank of "Brankton Alpines," Cynthia Sharpe and Dwain Swing of "Oakmoon Farm," Maureen Moore of "Mojo's Nubians," the Barr family of "Shining-Light LaManchas" and Sherry Williams and Carl Washburn of "Listening Eagle Farm" for helping us to get started and established. We also thank all the members of the PDGA for their support in helping us reach our goals.
Both Appleberry Cove (est. 1997) and Lunashower (est. 2006) dairy goat herds are kept at a manageable size that is in keeping with our homestead-style of farming. It is our farm philosophy to focus on producing animals that are naturally healthy and long lived, structurally balanced, strong and correct, along with well attached productive mammary systems, that are based on a sound genetic breeding program that expects progeny to reflect the same or better. We strive to produce animals that are low maintenance "easy keepers" and that our does are easy to milk, have long lactations, and "put milk in a bucket" as the saying goes. We like our does to have good temperaments, unique personalities, be easy to manage and handle for showing, milking, and being used in educational demonstrations.
