In our fast paced world (and getting faster as you read this ) we tend to always be thinking ahead of what we have to or should be doing. No one knows this better then your local farmer who has to think about the weather, as well as the time frame for getting their season off the ground. With hopes that everything will progress, God willing, like a perfectly running clock. But that is not how life works. I have yet to meet a farmer who does not have some basis of a true faith whether they call it God or some other higher power. One of the activities I love this time of year is the combing process. For my fellow cashmere farmers who have more then 50 goats it can be a hectic and frantic time in getting all the cashmere off their animals. However, for me it means it’s time to slow down and enjoy what these amazing animals are giving me. If you rush the combing process a goat will feel it and will let you know. They will wiggle, yelp and their eyes will communicate their uneasiness. Combing a goat can take more then one or two sessions. It’s a process of connecting with the animal that communicates trust and appreciation. Goats let go of their fleeces in the spring but that can mean anywhere from March to June. When combing your senses take in the smell and feel of the fiber . In the end a goat walks off the stand looking completely different , and it’s a sign that another season has ended and new one is beginning.
