WINTER SOLSTICE, EXPLAINED

Why the winter solstice is more significant than you think, for Cashmere producers

For most of us, the winter Solstice means we are now looking forward to longer days, more sunlight, and - hopefully - good weather.

For those of us who raise Cashmere Goats, it means a lot more, and is basically the start of this season’s harvest. Most people don’t know - and surprisingly people who process and sell cashmere - that cashmere is actually the UNDERCOAT of cashmere goats, which is shed starting on the winter solstice (give or take a day or two) . Once the goat loses that year’s fiber, it won’t start regrowing until the next summer solstice, which means it will grow for 6 months and then shed again in the spring, and so on.

Pictured: a long-haired black goat shedding her off-white cashmere

This is why we offer our followers (be they fiber people or not) the opportunity to sign up for GOAT CAMP: every day during the month of April, you can join us here on our farm and comb your OWN goat, and you’ll spend a full day learning, laughing and understanding just how fascinating Cashmere goats are: infinitely clever, curious and funny! Once you’ve learned exactly how the process works you will truly appreciate how very amazing they actually are!

Come and get some “GOAT THERAPY” and click on the following link: bit.ly/GOATCAMP