Secrets from Chuckling Goat
Page 22
I imagined a liveried butler, trotting along with our soaps on a silver salver, ‘transporting’ them. I smiled, and carefully folded the letter back into its thick, creamy envelope.
Well, imagine that… our own soaps, made on the farmhouse kitchen table, being used and enjoyed by royalty.
I went out to the barn, to show the letter to the goats. ‘Well done, you goats,’ I said. ‘You amazing, beautiful goats. You made it all happen, didn’t you? You taught me everything I needed to know.’ They just winked at me and chuckled. They knew.
Acknowledgements
I’m a late bloomer, and living proof that life really does start after 40 – I was 41 before I met the man for me, and 47 before I encountered the publishing house where I always wanted to be.
Hay House is a collection of the most fantastic, genuine people, and working with this group of experts has been a revelation – this is how publishing should be, and so rarely is!
My heartfelt thanks to Reid Tracey, who saw instantly the future vision of what Chuckling Goat could be, and reached out his hand to make it happen. Talk about waving a wand and saying that we shall go to the ball! Humble and profound gratitude, for all the myriad of possibilities you’ve brought within reach for us.
Michelle Pilley – lovely, wise, kind and extraordinarily professional. If I could pick up a pen and draw the perfect mentor, it would be Michelle. Thank you for all your guidance!
Debra Wolter, who edited this manuscript with a touch so deft and gentle that I actually enjoyed the process – unheard of! And was patient with my crazy schedule while I tried to keep all my millions of plates spinning in the air. Thank you, Debra.
Jo Burgess and Ruth Tewkesbury, who came to visit us and became a part of the virtual farm team, forever more… The goats send their regards!
Sincere thanks to all the HH team who offered their expertise and put their hands on this project throughout the process – Leanne Sui Anastasi, Julie Oughton, Michelle Cameron, Tom Cole. Fab professionals, every one.
Thanks to my agent, Bonnie Nadell, who has worked with me for oh, what is it now – a quarter of a century! Since we were both young and running amok in San Francisco. Thank you for your faith in me, Bonnie – and for your ongoing patience, support, and unerring ability to sort out the wheat from the chaff.
Grateful thanks to Ann and Geoff Napier of Cygnus Books, who saw the possibilities and introduced me to Hay House in the first place. Never have matchmakers been so appreciated!
Of course, I must thank my family, who mean the world to me. What a journey we’ve come on together!
To Rich, who bravely took on a stroppy single mum and her two children, and loved her into a truly cherished and contented wife and mother. Your patience is always a revelation to me.
To the memory of Taid, who welcomed my children into his heart, and gave us the gift of his laughter and his beautiful farm by the sea.
To Ceris and Elly, who invited us wholeheartedly into their lives, shared their dad with me, and didn’t complain once as their home was invaded by younger siblings. You two are such beautiful girls – lucky me, to get to add you to my family the easy way!
To Joli and Benji, who came along for the whole journey. Sorry to drag you guys around so much – and apologies for taking such a long time to crack the whole family thing! You are both fabulous, and I can’t wait to see what you do in the future.
A resounding thank you goes to my mother and father, Ann and Don Nix, who floated our leaky canoe over some very dangerous rocks during times when we would’ve gone under without their help. Without your assistance, we wouldn’t still be paddling.
Thanks to Dr Natasha Campbell-McBride, whose seminal work on Gut and Psychology Syndrome and the GAPS diet led us to kefir in the first place. It is impossible, in my opinion, to overstate the importance of this work and its ability to change the world, one patient at a time. Her brilliance is inspiring, and her encouragement gave us our very first start. Thank you, Dr Natasha!
And finally, I’m forever grateful to Janey Lee Grace, bestselling author and bright star of the natural product world. As a passionate mentor for holistic businesses, this is a lady who proves every day that business truly can be heart-centred.
Janey has inspired, encouraged and assisted our little family-run concern through some very dark days – and it was entirely due to her insistence that this book was ever completed and published. Thank you, Janey – every business should be lucky enough to have your coaching!
PHOTOS
As good as it gets! Joli and I take a break to soak up some ‘goat love’.
This handsome fellow, Dexter, was one we had before we decided no horns allowed…
Who says goats don’t belong inside?
My Rich, doing his goat magic…
Benji and his beloved Buddug. This is the picture he had on his birthday cake.
Benji, the little goat herd. He gets paid for his barn work, and he earns it.
A good day for Chuckling Goat at Cardigan Show!
Feeding Lola when she was just a kid… and now we’re about to welcome her great-granddaughters!
Rich and his right-hand man, Benji.
My beloved Teasel and me. (Janet Baxter)
Home on the farm – this is the dairy.
This is why I get so enraged when I see goats in sheds their whole lives, never allowed to see the light of day or feel the sun on their backs. Don’t tell me these animals don’t have feelings! This is Silica and Dime, having a loving moment. (Janet Baxter)
The family on the farm. Left to right: Joli, Elly, me, Ceris, Rich and Benji.
Winter on the farmyard.
Patsy wants a scratch behind the ears.
The farm gang. Clockwise from top left: me, Joli, Elly, Benji, Ceris.
This is Rado (short for Hoffnant Colorado) daughter of Valentine, and granddaughter of Marmite. (Janet Baxter)
Two of the Nut Brown Maidens, as we call them – Lola’s daughters. Chattanooga and Cadillac – Chatty and Caddy for short. (Janet Baxter)
Chuckling Goats love the sun! (Janet Baxter)
Taid – our cherished patriarch. His chair is still empty.
Skin cream-making at our not-so-corporate headquarters! This is the farmhouse kitchen table where it all happens…
The unsinkable Mrs Jones.
My happy ending.
Natural healing power from Chuckling Goat – our award-winning range of kefir and skincare products. (Janet Baxter)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Neil Buckland
Shann Nix Jones was the ultimate American city girl until she fell in love with a Welsh farmer at the age of 41. Shann and her husband, Rich, realized that they could do something extraordinary when they started to work with goats’ milk and used it to heal their son’s eczema. They decided to quit their respective day jobs, and try to make a go of the goats’ milk business full time.
In April 2011, the couple launched their online business, Chuckling Goat, selling health-enhancing soaps, creams and probiotic kefir drinks which they make by hand on the farm. The launch was a huge success, and today their award-winning homemade products are available all over the United Kingdom. They now have 55 goats who have become like members of the family.
www.chucklinggoat.co.uk