Goats and Hot Tubs Breathe New Life Into Ancient Vermont Farm

NEWFANE, VT March 01, 2012

History is repeating itself on a mountainside in Newfane, Vermont. Only this time there are a lot more goats and hot tubs around.

An ancient sheep farm, which most likely saw its peak during the wool boom of the early 1800s, is operating once again as Capricorn Farms. About 250 Boer goats now roam the 200-acre parcel year-round, guarded by two pure-white Maremma sheep dogs from Italy. Three emus and a handful of exotic African hens graze the land as well.

"I'll find old pottery shards after rainstorms, and there are a few ancient cellar holes and long stretches of stone walls remaining," says Jeff Kane, Capricorn's owner. Kane said the property was periodically logged after the sheep farm dissolved, until he purchased it 10 years ago. The logging left lots of younger flora growing on the forest floor, perfect for hungry goats. Goats are "browsers" that eat branches, leaves and bark. Sheep, on the other hand, are grazers, preferring to munch on grass.

"The goats have plenty to eat," says Kane, who eventually sells the goats for meat that is served at high-end restaurants in New York City. "They're very happy goats. They range freely over the mountain all day and come back to the barn every night."

That barn, built by hand with wood harvested from pine trees on the farm, turned out to be the seedling of another business for Kane.

"Mark and Jeff [Kane's two employees who take care of the animals and maintain the farm] are very skilled craftsmen. They gathered and milled all the wood right here at Capricorn, and it got me thinking, "why not build a sauna while we're at it?" Within a few months, Kane had a hand-built, wood-fired sauna perched beside a pond on the farm.

Then, Kane thought, "why not build wood-fired hot tubs, too?" With that, Vermont Sauna and Hot Tubs was created. With their portable saw mill and new found passion for sustainably-harvested wood, the farmers-turned-sauna-and-hot-tub builders are ready to fill custom orders for any sort of outbuilding.

"We pride ourselves on our low carbon footprint," says Kane, adding that wood-fired tubs and saunas require no electricity or fossil fuels to heat.

Kane plans to continue farming Boer goats as Vermont Sauna and Hot Tubs grows. The demand for organic, free-range goat meat in the area, he says, exceeds supply.

"I'm not sure the shepherds two centuries ago could have envisioned a steaming hot tub surrounded by goats on top of this mountain," laughs Kane, with his sheep dog, Luka, at his side. "It makes me wonder what will be here in another 200 years."

Watch a video about Vermont Sauna and Hot Tub at http://youtu.be/WbQPv2Cw8so

For more information about Vermont Sauna and Hot Tub, visit http://www.VTsauna.com.

For more information about Capricorn Farm, visit http://www.vt-boergoats.com.

ABOUT VERMONT SAUNA AND HOT TUB
Based in Newfane, Vermont, Vermont Sauna and Hot Tub hand builds wood-fired saunas and hot tubs -- plus barns, bespoke outhouses, treehouses and other out buildings. As much as possible, the craftsmen use sustainably harvested and milled pine from Capricorn Farms. Vermont Sauna and Hot Tub uses a portable saw mill to build custom buildings and hot tubs at any location. Visit http://www.vtsauna.com for more information.

ABOUT CAPRICORN FARMS
Capricorn Farms in Newfane, Vermont, raises top quality Boer Goats for organic, free-range meat and for breeding. Capricorn Farms has been raising goats for over a decade. The farm covers over 200 acres on a mountainside, where the goats browse on all natural vegetation (no pesticides or chemicals ever).

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