The Acton Memorial Library (AML) hosted a “Goats and Giggles” program on Wednesday, September 20 by Farmer’s Helpers, a community farm education program based at Chip-In Farm in Bedford that aims to cultivate “connections between people, food and farms.” The young goats are Fainting/Nigerian Dwarf crosses, small and gentle. Farmer Sandy Couvee explained that fainting goats’ muscles sometimes freeze up when they are excited or startled, causing them to fall over.
Robert Carter, AML’s Head of Children’s Services, shared that the goat visit is one of the most affordable and popular programs, “the most bang for our buck.” Thirty-seven registrants were signed up, but many more stopped by, the fenced in play-area an obvious draw with five baby goats scampering around legs and jumping on the backs of the courageous attendees who were on hands and knees, or even lying on the lawn.
Farmer Sandy offered up pellets to feed to the goats. She introduced the goats by name: Charcoal, Molly, Stewart, Midnight, and Turnip. Turnip was the “mountain goat” of the bunch, eager to scale up onto backs and shoulders to reach the offered treats.
