We're updating the old and adding a new website - very soon!

Yes, John and I are very excited to announce that in the next two months, we will be reinventing our Farmer John and Jason website.  We also will be creating a second, unique one!  I'll explain... 

First of all, farmerjohnandjason.com is about to become a more beautiful site.  It will be enhanced with a much more user friendly interface with professional Flash effects and animations making it very interesting and giving it a far more polished feel.  We will also be "weeding out" and streamlining the site to allow it to have a clearer functionality. 

We'll have new products available in our new, improved storefront and we'll have better reliability in keeping things in stock. 

We also, of course, will keep those blogs, animal videos and photos, as well as the online games coming, as people have requested.  So farmerjohnandjason.com will be the place for you to go if you are interested in our lives and the animals's lives here at the Beekman. 

However, if you are simply gaga over goats (as many people are) and looking for a good resource them, then we are pleased to note that we're going to launch a second and separate site called "Unique Goat Products". That site will be for anyone who owns goats, or is interested in getting some goats, or just loves goats in general and is looking for decorative goat art work or even functional and innovative barn equipment related to helping them raise their own.  This site will provide unique items for your goats and you, their owners.

So with these big changes in the upgrading of one and the creation of another, we're attempting to satisfy both populations of people who've been following our site.  This decision seems to make sense - rather than cramming it all into farmerjohnandjason.com like we have before.  It should be better and clearer for everyone that way.   :) 

So I hope you're as excited about these upcoming changes as we are.  I personally can't wait till this project is complete and up and running!  Very soon.

But speaking of completed projects, I need to mention that I hope you enjoy the premiere of Season 2 of the Fabulous Beekman Boys this coming Tuesday evening on Planet Green.  It'll should be a fun time for all!

Now... I'm heading out to make a new video of the baby goats.  Will post it on our homepage once it's edited.

Thanks for reading!

Eureka!

I figured out a solution to a big dilemna John and I have.

That issue is, that we produce more milk than can be purchased, currently.  With the number of milk producers in the barn, presently, and after the milk is fed to the babies, the excess "liquid gold" (milk) is often thrown out!  It's a shame and it's obviously not something we want to do, but have had to since the goat's births have not directly coincided with the production of the products that are currently made from the milk. 

So... while dumping a five gallon jug into the pig pen, an idea came to me.  I have had success this past year making whitewash paint from the milk.  (You may see this is Season 2. )  I'd also heard of milk glue before too.  These are non edible products from milk.  And people are obviously also able to create solid things from milk as well, like 2 pound wheels of edible cheese.    Therefore, I believed there must be a way to make non-edible objects from the milk too.

I started researching and I found the answer I was looking for.  It was possible to make durable, lasting objects cast from molds for the milk. 

But what should I make?  Hmmm...  Sculptures!

It looks like I'm actually going to be able to cast solid relief sculptures out of goat's milk!

Sounds a bit weird doesn't it?  I thought so too, but I was determined and have since been experimenting.  And I've found that it's true.  Objects can be cast from goat's milk. 

Now, I have more research and experimentation to do.  The recipe I'd found was not complete, so I'm filling in the holes myself, but it's VERY promising. 

So, soon, it looks like I'll be making some relief sculptures for our store from this!  (Which we've been wanting to add to our store inventory now anyway.) 

And anyway, we can't let that milk go to waste.  We owe it to the "Girls".  :)

So, keep your fingers crossed for me and I'll, as always, keep you posted. 

Thanks!

What are we doing now?

Just a quick list entry to let you know "what's up" here at farmerjohnandjason.com.  Like we've said already, things are busy! 

• We're very excited and waiting patiently for Season 2 of "The Fabulous Beekman Boys" to air on March 22.

 

• We're only about a third of the way through the birthing season yet but goat's births have slowed for a few days giving us a break.  (Gives us a little time to breathe.)

• Speaking of breathing better, Justin (my brother) made some installations with the barn's ventilation system.  Phew!  The air is clear.  Also, we debuted his song "Black Capped Chickadee" in our work  video.  People have really enjoyed it.  (The song can be purchased and downloaded here.)

• Mom's working around the clock to create the stuffed plush goats for our store.  They're coming soon!

• Shirley's also working hard on her items.  She'll have some new things on here very shortly.

• Dad too!

• John's got his list of 2010/ 2011 "goats for sale" published on our site for downloading if anyone's interested in buying some.

• We're glad that the milk season has officially begun.  Brent picked up a batch of milk today for the first time this year and Deb has already taken some for soap production. 

• I'm planning on releasing photos and video more often now on our site.  So you'll have even more reason to come back more often.

• We're also doing a bit of a redesign and SEO Optimization on farmerjohnandjason.com to make it a stronger, better and smoother site to navigate.  These subtle changes will take place this month. 

• Lastly, there is a change regarding the story I'm creating about the goats.  It's a good change!  See, I've just been introduced to a new technology where, instead of creating a simple paper back book - we're going to get with the times and go digital and interactive.  It's really cool!  I'm so thrilled about it and I think you'll really love it when it's finished.  It might be released in chapters.  I'll explain more in another entry. 

However, just so you know, it will also be released as a book as well, though realistically, may not be out till the end of the year.  (Publishing a book is complicated!)   :)

So thanks for checking up on us and we'll keep you posted!