We're getting set up!
Our freezer is full and the freeze-dryer is humming. Between Precious, Eliza, and Penny, we're getting at least two gallons of milk a day.
Soon we will offer small-batch goat milk soaps and soap making kits, made with milk from our own goats.
Goat milk makes a creamy, gentle bar that's kind to dry skin, and we blend in herbs that grow right here in the highlands. The kits are simple and safe enough for kids to join in, so soap making can be a whole-family activity.
Companion Ranch is what we call our off-grid homestead in the Okanogan Highlands.
The name comes from an old Kit Companion trailer parked on the property, and from the way our human and animal family has grown around it.
It all started with Adella.
Laura had never had a dog before her. It turned out Adella was a livestock guardian, which meant she needed land and animals to watch over.
So we came to the Okanogan.
OD arrived a day old, needing a bottle and a family.
Precious and Pete came to keep OD company.
Marco the puppy came to help Adella guard them all.
The watch passed to him, and now he's training Cooper.
Then OD and Precious started making companions all by themselves.
Sherbie joined the herd and gave birth to Eliza.
Moffie the cat showed up to supervise. Somebody has to run the staff meetings.
Laura was doing all the animal care and building projects on her own until John came along.
Steve really is happy with his life choices.
Precious and OD had more kids, and those kids have kids of their own now.
Bonnie the horse and the dwarves came the other way around—they needed rescuing, and found a whole herd waiting.
Maybe the duck, who was Mabel until they let us know they weren't so sure, is accompanied by Nitro the drake.
And on it goes! We're making room for more.
Want to help us get rolling?
We made stickers! Buying one from our Etsy shop is a small, wonderful way to support our off-grid build and be a part of this journey right from the start.