Loudon goat dairy offers much more than milk

Of all the farms in Loudon, one of my favorites is Purely Wholesome Farm on Lower Ridge Road. Years ago, I met owner Cindy Shea at a writers’ picnic at Southern New Hampshire University. Cindy, a published author, had just started farming and came to me for advice. Since then, Cindy and her partner Dennis have turned their farm into a haven for lovers of dairy goats and seekers of goat-raising information. Now Cindy is my go-to goat expert. That’s how farming works. Farmers help each other.

I recently asked Cindy about those early days and why she decided to farm.

“We didn’t set out to be farmers,” she said, “but we live in an area surrounded by people passionate about farming, who inspired us to give farming a try. Then we realized how wonderful and healthy locally raised food was, and it made sense to start raising our own food.”

They started with sheep but moved to goats when they discovered how delicious and versatile fresh, raw goat milk was. They chose Nubians because of their high butterfat, but also because of those ears.

“We love the ears!” said Cindy.

I have a Nubian goat, and I agree with Cindy. My goat’s large, floppy ears remind me of the Star Wars character Jar Jar Binks. Enchanting. But Nubian goats are more than a pretty face.

“At first, we were hesitant about drinking milk from our goats. What a surprise when we discovered that fresh milk from our goats was delicious and creamy. Nothing like anything we had tasted before. We now had a great source of milk, and learned how to convert the milk into luxurious bath and body products.”

Like a good farmer, Cindy didn’t stop at making soap and lotions. She and Dennis took a three-day cheese-making course in Vermont at Three Shepherds Farm, and Dennis took another class on aging cheese with Peter Dixon.

Dennis now makes amazing feta and other raw milk-aged cheese, including a creamy blue cheese. I know, I’ve tasted it.

Cindy and Dennis sell their raw milk, aged cheeses, yogurt, soaps, lotions, fresh eggs, and other products from their farm store. They also raise and sell registered Nubian goats. Their store will be open again in the spring. Check out the Purely Wholesome website (purelywholesome.com) for hours and stop by their store, where you are likely to see a few kids bouncing around.

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Carole Soule is the co-owner of Miles Smith Farm (milessmithfarm.com) in Loudon, N.H. She raises and sells beef, pork, lamb, eggs, and other local products. She can be reached at cas@milessmithfarm.com.