Growth, Community, and Rain
Letter From the Ranch #44
Dear friends,
We finally have rain!
Let’s back up just a bit to May, when we planted the Gabe Brown seed mix as part of our journey toward healthier, more diverse pastures.
Our south pasture held enough moisture for the seedlings to emerge, but the north pasture simply sat waiting.
The seed was there, full of potential, but without rain it could not grow.
This week, the rain finally came.
It’s amazing how quickly the landscape changes.
Rain awakens the seeds, the seeds become forage, and the forage nourishes our goats.
Every spring is a dance between the land and the weather, and we are always hoping each partner shows up at the right time.
While this week has been wonderfully rainy, last weekend could not have been more perfect for the Modern Homesteading Conference.
We had wanted to be a vendor there for the past couple of years, but life always seemed to have other plans.
This year, everything aligned, and I’m so glad it did.
Rachel, Sarah, and I met so many wonderful people.
We shared our love of Angora goats and their beautiful mohair through our socks, throws, rugs, and handspun yarn.
One of my favorite parts was meeting people who already knew us through our letters and social media.
As our little community grows, so do the familiar faces. It is such a joy to finally meet in person.
While Rachel kept our booth running, Sarah and I slipped away to attend a few classes.
Two of my favorites were taught by Mary Heffernan of Five Marys Ranch.
Hearing about their humble beginnings, their willingness to start with little more than a dream and a piece of land, was incredibly inspiring.
Another highlight was spending time with Joe Lamp’l of Joe Gardener. I came home with pages of notes and even more ideas.
Sarah attended a class on beekeeping, and I think it is safe to say bees are in our future.
I wish you could have seen her face as she shared everything she learned on the drive home. Her excitement was contagious.
Bees fit beautifully into our long-term vision of caring for the land, encouraging biodiversity, and creating healthy ecosystems.
One of the unexpected joys of the weekend was meeting the other vendors.
I have wanted a peg loom for years, and as luck would have it, the perfect one was sitting just a few booths away from Blooming Joy Farm.
Naturally, it came home with me.
We also discovered beautifully crafted tallow creams and the most delightful, artistic handmade goat milk soaps at Gratitude Farm.
Krystal takes her products to a whole new level! I am reminded how talented and creative small makers truly are. ❀
That, to me, is what modern homesteading is really about.
Some people homestead out of necessity.
Others choose to incorporate pieces of a simpler, more intentional lifestyle into everyday life.
Whether it’s growing a garden, raising chickens, baking bread, keeping bees, or choosing natural fibers over synthetic ones, each small decision is a step toward living with greater purpose.
For us, this has never been a trend. It has simply been the way we have chosen to live.
While the three of us enjoyed the conference, Todd faithfully held down the ranch, caring for all the animals while we were away.
Knowing his sweet tooth, we brought him home a homemade strawberry rhubarb pie as a well-deserved thank-you. ♡
Looking ahead, there is much to be excited about.
Our new ankle socks should be finished any day now, and before long we’ll be packing up for the Sandpoint Art Fair.
Sandpoint has embraced Caprine from the very beginning, and we always look forward to seeing so many familiar faces there.
One of the things this week reminded me is that none of us builds something meaningful alone.
Healthy pastures depend on rain. Gardens depend on pollinators.
Small businesses depend on communities that choose to support them.
We all grow stronger when we learn from one another, encourage one another, and share what we’ve been given.
That is what we hope to do here at Red Falcon Ranch and through Caprine.
Every pair of socks and every mohair throw begins with our goats, our family, and this land we care for each day.
When you choose natural fibers and support small makers, you become part of that story.
Thank you for following along, for cheering us on, and for helping preserve a slower, more thoughtful way of living.
We are so grateful you’re here.
With love,
Angela
P.S. you can checkout our mohair goods by clicking here.