Yup, goat are all the rage, according to the New York Times. But y’all in the Linkery community have been keen to that for a while now. For quite a while now we’ve all been enjoying goat from Bill Niman’s farm in Bolinas, and Cheryl Lange in Fallbrook. Now a third farm is entering our world, and we went last week to go visit it.

The farm is owned by our friends Albert and Lydia Lewis, and it is located in Wynola (near Julian). Albert’s company Hempy’s makes our napkins, but we are more excited by what he and Lydia, along with local chicken farmer Curtis Womach, are doing now: grass-based livestock farming of goats and chicken.

The Lewises at their farm

This is the first farm I know of in Southern California that is using the polycultural, grass-based system (made most famous with The Omnivore Dilemma’s account of Joel Salatin’s Polyface Farm), to raise meat animals. Specifically, they are raising goats and chickens using high-density rotational grazing on unirrigated land.

As their production ramps up, we will be able to buy fully pastured goats, chickens, and chicken eggs from the Lewises and Curtis. Because of their attention to quality in terms of raising the best possible grass for their animals to eat, and with the breeding quality, we’re confident they will be some of the best meat goats around.

Juan and Ethan outside their natural habitat

Goats eat brush and grass, and apparently up to several feet high

Sometimes you need a lift to dinner

Hey Geneva — it’s Max with Curtis Womach of Womach Ranch

These chicks have to grow a little before they’re ready for pasture

The creek on the property, combined with high water table, allows for a long grass growing season

The Lewises also maintain a marketplace on the highway in Wynola, which includes a store to buy local handmade goods. It’s awesome, I found a couple hats I’d been needing for various activities, and some locally-made soap.