The Four-Legged Friends Behind the Co-op’s Products:
The Dogs and Cats of Holland Homestead Farm Jen Risley - Keene, NH
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love shining a light on all the farmers and producers who provide a bounty of local food and other locally made products to our community. In this article, however, I move the spotlight over and down, from the business person to their four-legged friends -- the working dogs, cats, and other animals who also make these local products possible. Our next Four-Legged Farm Friend Feature highlights the family of dogs and cats at Holland Homestead Farm in Hillsborough, NH. Holland Homestead Farm specializes in handcrafted goat milk skin products, including soaps and lotion, made from their own herd. Farmer Rebecca Holland shares her canine and feline line-up. There are four dogs: Jake Mitchell an eleven-year-old Border Collie, Thea Lorraine a four-year-old Mix, two German Shepherds, eighteen-month-old Tucker Jameson, and 7-month-old Nash Anderson. Their two cats include an eleven-year-old Tuxedo named Tenny Parker and a three-yearold Tabby named Fern McGovern. You might ask, why do each of Rebecca’s dogs and cats have a first and middle name? Rebecca simply answers, “How else would they know when they are in trouble or doing something extra cute?” And talk about cute… Thea Lorraine, the most well-known of the crew, regularly attends the Farmers’ Market of Keene. Her first name, short for Amalthea, comes from Greek mythology. Amalthea nourished baby Zeus with goat’s milk. “We call her part of the marketing department -- because who doesn’t love Summer 2019
Thea Lorraine, hard at work at the Co-op
to pet a little white dog?” said Rebecca. “Thea Lorraine also does an excellent job at the farm, keeping alert to any escaped goats or sheep. She can also move a herd exceptionally well.” Back at the farm, the dogs start their day around 4:30 a.m. (except for Jack Mitchell, who prefers to sleep in). They begin with a check of the barn to make sure all the farm animals are accounted for. “Our German Shepherds do an excellent job at keeping our barnyard and home safe,” Rebecca adds. “They walk the property often and have cleared out bears, moose, deer, and a variety of other animals that may not be of good interest to the farm.” Their favorite jobs? “All the dogs LOVE the goats,” shared Rebecca. “The mere mention of the word ‘goat’ sends them into high alert. Jake especially. It’s his #1 job! Jake has learned each goat by name and will move a goat away or to the milking stand with just the command of the goat’s name.” Find Holland Homestead Farm products in the Wellness aisle at Monadnock Food Co-op. We offer their locally made
Goat Milk Lotion, Bar Soaps, Liquid Hand Soap, and Bath Bombs. Learn more about Holland Homestead Farm at hollandhomestead.com and keep up with all the animal antics on Instagram: instagram.com/hollandhomestead/. Know of a farm animal I should highlight in a future article? We want to hear from you! Please email me at marketing@monadnockfood.coop.
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