For sale: One garden eating goat. Feisty personality. Would make great sausage.

Well, Clover pulled the last straw out from under herself. As Emily and I pulled up the driveway on the way home from church Sunday she happily greeted us from the garden. I think she said something like “Hey you should try this, its REALLY good!” She smiled as she happily munched away on what was apparently thee last ear of corn in the garden. Yep, the corn that she ate the top off weeks ago, the same corn that I nursed back with lots of manure and water. Yes, the same corn that was within a week of being ready to harvest. Yes, all 75 or so ears of it. Of course she ate the peas again too. They were just loaded. I’m surprised they came back after she ate them the first time. Em and I had a handful just the day before. She also ate off all the strawberry plants and she trampled over the tomatoes as she harvested the corn. I marched up the steps and she took off for the far corner, knowing good and well that she was trespassing on sacred ground. I caught her and tired to maneuver around the rest of the still standing veggies dragging her through the gate. She ran down the steps tooting all the way, seems LOTS of fresh vegetables can have that effect on a goat! Belle ran crying behind her. Mama is teaching her the tricks of the trade.

I promptly followed her down the steps and into the house for my camera. After a few pictures and several minutes at the computer, she is now a listing on Craigslist. Off and on over the past several weeks I had thought of selling her because we have plenty of milk and I don’t need to be putting out money for feed for her. But then my heart would melt and I’d change my mind. But no longer, she is free to go pursue someone else’s garden. To eat the labors of their hard work; their blood, sweat and tears. To trample their tomatoes in search of one more ear of corn. To toot down their steps.

I spent Monday making a pen out of hog panels and she is no longer a free-ranging scrub goat. Not so thrilled at the lack of freedom, she is enjoying the $6.25/bale alfalfa I have to feed her. Hopefully she will sell quickly. Sooooo, anyone need their garden destroyed? I have just the answer.