the goats

PictureRob Waite/Christine Pedersen Photo
The Vahana Herd is a closed herd and has been since we brought the core group home to the Coyle Ranch in May 2017. The core group are older Cashmere Does and ​a younger Buck from two reputable cashmere farms: Harmony Farms and Redeemers Garden. The summer of 2017, we had a total contingent of target grazing goats of 57. The herd doubled in size Spring of 2018, and we will be adding a few more adorable babies this Spring of 2019. The herd will number around 200 this year. The Mama's will be training the Kids on our first job at the R4 Ranch in Wycliff, BC. 
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The main core has had experience targeting Sulphur Cinquefoil, Spotted Knapweed, Dalmatian Toadflax, Canadian Thistle, Rosebushes, Snowberry bushes, Clematis and Blueweed. 

The Vahana Herd has many characters that people have fallen in love with such as Arrow, Clarence and Farkle. 

Each goat has a unique personality and the Mama's and babies make amazing family groups. We get to know these goats quite well after brushing out their cashmere fiber, trimming their hooves and other health maintenance activities like vaccinating and deworming not to mention spending the whole summer with them as they work their magic on the weeds!
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Rob Waite/Christine Pedersen Photo
Its amazing the transformation these Cashmere Goats take as they grow fluffy for the winter. Check out Metallica above, Summer 2018 in Calgary, and check him out below! Look at that beautiful fiber! The fiber begins to grow around the Summer Solstice and is harvested (by brushing) after the Winter Solstice.  
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Now, 'tis the season... for brushing! Our 2018 batch of cashmere, that was lovingly brushed out by friends like Cathy Conroy and Sarah Wakelin, is at the mill. We are super excited to see the yarn that comes back from the mill. 

The brushing out of the 2019 cashmere has started and it is such a joy to spend time with the goats getting to know them and how they liked to be brushed!

the working dogs

Let's Go Big, Bellah -  registered Border Collie

Bellah and Cailey have been working together since 2016. A good friend, Penny Ohanjanyan, put Cailey and Bellah  together. The first summer they worked with the Rocky Ridge goat herd of 350 goats and they got to know each other really well!! Bellah is a willing partner and joy to work with! Always "on" she's ready to go at a moments whistle. Check out this short little video of her having fun in the snow, Winter of 2017-2018.

the guardian of the galaxy

IshaMolly is The Guardian for the Vahana herd and she is strong and spectacular! By night she is The Great Protectress! Her brother, Bear, is with her in spirt as she protects the herd at night. By day, she's our therapy dog, spreading the love.

the humans

We have wonderful people working with the Vahana goat herd. 
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Rob Waite/Christine Pedersen Photo
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Rob Waite/Christine Pedersen Photo
Lady Denise Daigle! She has been a dedicated supporter since the beginning! Check out her and her Icelandic Horse, Tia! As a retired RN, Denise's advice on the health of the herd and enthusiastic promotion of the business of target grazing has been golden. Her love for the animals and the environment shines on. 
Kayla Wilson made our lives super delicious during our 2018 season. She cooked up the sweet meals ​that made everyone happy using whole, nutritious foods from local East Kootenay gardens and sources. 

Biologist by trade, her Interpretive Programs are exciting and big top educational! Coming away from one of her programs, whether you know it or not, you'll have learned something about the Earth or yourself! Kayla has this amazing skill of helping you see how biology affects your own life in your every day. 
There are more humans to speak about so stay tuned! We are working on getting amazing photos of these amazing people!
The Coyles: Dawnna and Ali