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Things We Love
This is where we share the parts of farm life we find worth holding onto.
Here, you’ll find stories from our animals, the everyday rhythm of working a small Vermont farm, and the history we’re uncovering as we restore this old homestead. Some posts are about what we’re learning. Others are simply moments we don’t want to forget.
Follow along with life and care of our animals in Farm Animals
See the day-to-day work of running the farm in Farm Life
Explore the past of this property in Farm History
And follow the ongoing work of rebuilding and repairing in Restorations
Along the way, we also share discoveries—things that have helped us, inspired us, or made us laugh—both on the farm and in our rural community.
We’re glad you’re here to share it with us.
Farm News
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Continue Reading: Meet Harriet & Hazel: Our New Llama LadiesThere’s a special magic in the sound of llamas humming. It’s soft, curious, and almost secretive—like whispers carried on the wind. For the past few weeks, our barnyard has been alive with that gentle hum, thanks to the arrival of two very special guests: a mother–daughter llama duo named Harriet and Hazel. These lovely ladies (also known as Talia and Brianni) traveled all the way from Dakota Ridge Farm in New York, brought to us through the thoughtful matchmaking of our friend and llama expert, Katrina. A New Chapter After Whisky Their arrival comes after a bittersweet chapter in our…
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Continue Reading: Meet Cinnamon the Alpaca: Farm Friend and Fascinating FactsCinnamon just turned 17 and is my best farm friend (shh, don’t tell the others!). He insists he’s more llama than alpaca—probably because he grew up with Whisky, our beloved llama who passed last year. We both still miss him dearly.
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Continue Reading: The Spaulding Family of Panton, Vermont: A 177-Year LegacyThe Spaulding family’s story in Panton begins in 1767, when Phineas Spaulding, Sr. (1720–1784) and his wife Sarah Summers (1719–1776) moved north from Connecticut with their growing family. Like so many early settlers, they sought fertile land and new opportunity, and they became among the very first to make their home in the fledgling town of Panton, Vermont. Phineas and Sarah had seven children, each shaped by the struggles and uncertainties of colonial New England: Life on the Vermont frontier was hard, and loss came early for the Spauldings. Sarah, the family matriarch, died in Panton in 1776 at age…
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Continue Reading: A Hidden Stash in the Barn Beam: Echoes of the Spaulding Family FarmIn a past article, This Old House – Intriguing Discoveries, I’ve written about some of the treasures we’ve discovered on our historic property, but my latest find gave me pause. While investigating how to construct new doors and windows in the barn, I reached up onto a high beam and found something unexpected: a stash of pipe tobacco and a small jackknife. The tobacco was labeled Burley and Bright — “A Cargo of Contentment in the Bowl of Any Pipe!” My first thought was, Who stashed it there? And when? I also wondered about the age-old warning: Never smoke in…
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Continue Reading: Hooked on Sheep: Why Our Woolly Friends Are So Darn Friendly (and How Yours Can Be, Too)Yes, Wiggly Goat Farm is named after our goats…but I have a confession: I’m completely, irreversibly, head-over-hooves hooked on sheep. I’ve raised several breeds over the past 34 years, and let me tell you, there’s nothing better than starting your morning with a woolly welcome committee at the barn door. One of the things that surprises visitors during our Barn Visits is how friendly our sheep are. People expect them to be shy or aloof, but ours come walking over like we’ve just offered them coffee and gossip. The truth is, sheep can be friendly—but a lot depends on how…
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Continue Reading: Angora Goats: Fluffy Friends with Fabulous FiberAngora goats Midge (a.k.a. Ramona) and her two week old son Higgins recently joined our Wiggly Goat Farm family. They came to us from Wiseacres Farm of Underhill, Vermont. Years ago we raised Angora goats and are delighted to be able to raise them again and welcome these two to our herd. If you’ve never met an Angora goat, let me tell you about them! First of all, Angora goats are not to be confused with Angora rabbits (which provide angora fiber). Originating in Turkey and beloved across centuries, Angora goats are the proud producers of mohair, one of the…
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Continue Reading: Shearing Day: The Ultimate Spa Experience for Our Woolly Friends!Shearing day is a bit like a luxury spa day for our sheep, alpacas, llamas, and Angora goats! All year long, our fluffy friends grow thick, cozy coats. But unlike many animals, they don’t naturally shed—meaning they need a little extra help to stay comfortable and healthy. That’s where our talented “fiber stylists” come in; Siri Swanson of Yankee Rock Farm shears our Finnsheep and Angora goats, while Ron Miller of Snowshoe Farm Alpacas trims up our alpacas and llamas. Juniper’s Spring Spa Treatment We’re lucky to work with professional shearers who are true artists and animal lovers. With gentle…
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Continue Reading: Angora Rabbits – Start your own small scale fiber farmA brief history of the Angora Rabbit If you’ve dreamed of having your own small fiber farm, but don’t have the space—or the interest—in raising sheep, llamas, alpacas, yaks, or fiber goats, then Angora rabbits might just be the perfect fit for you. They’re friendly, easy to care for, and produce usable fiber year ’round. And if you wished for more rabbits…they can produce litters of 3-12 kits in as little as 28 days! The Angora rabbit is one of the fluffiest, most enchanting creatures in the animal kingdom—and one of the oldest domestic rabbit breeds. At Wiggly Goat Farm,…
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Continue Reading: Wiggly Goat Farm on the News!Life in Panton, Vermont, is quiet, simple, and deeply rooted in the land. With just 646 residents, our little town has plenty of dairy farms, hayfields, and cows—but no main street, no post office, and no traffic light. So you can imagine our surprise when NBC5’s Lauren Granada and cameraman James Sarfaty reached out to feature Wiggly Goat Farm on their news segment “This Is Our Home”. On a blustery, snow-filled Vermont day, they made the trek down our winding back roads to visit our farm. We may be off the beaten path, but we like to think we’re well…
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Continue Reading: Revolution: Patriots, Hardship, and Survival on the FrontierIn our last article, The Spaulding Homestead, we touched upon the rich history of the Spaulding family, who settled in Panton in 1767. As promised, here’s more of their story. Before we dive in, I want to acknowledge the source of much of the information shared below. While researching the history of Panton and its earliest settlers, I was fortunate to discover History of Addison County, Vermont, edited by H.P. Smith and published by D. Mason & Co. in Syracuse, NY, in 1886. This detailed and fascinating work has provided invaluable insight into the region’s past. Much of the text…