South African Boer Bok

Autumn Olive Farms is a family based operation in Augusta County. We have a dual focus model with a singular commitment to the health and wellness of the land, animal and the consumer. We raise the beautiful South African Boer Bok as an environmentally sound method to combat the invasive plant species problem while producing one of the finest and healthiest meats in the world right here in the Shenandoah Valley. The combination of the worlds premier, purpose bred and standardized meat goat with the fantastic forage base of invasive species here in the Valley provides a win-win situation for the land, its owner and the consumer.

Sunday, October 31, 2010

Are goats a threat?

Check out this video link that was on Colbert Nation.  Clay and I have always talked about our perfect employees.  They love their 24/7 work schedule and ask only for quality food and to have their time in the sun.  They have a great attitude and are good to work with for the most part.  What more could you ask for?  Every now and then they organize and present a unified demand or two but we always work it out.

They don't have it too bad either...  They get to eat a delicious variety of invasive plants anytime and as much as they want .  They work in beautiful places with all of their friends.  They get to take the late fall and winter off.  As a matter of fact, they are all home here at Autumn Olive Farms for the holidays enjoying all you can eat locally grown alfalfa/orchard grass hay.  Can't get a better life for a goat than that!  

Friday, October 15, 2010

Boer Bok ribs for sampling.......

Don't forget that we will be in downtown Staunton at Cranberry's Grocery and Eatery tomorrow from 10:30 - 3:00 giving out samples of our delicious Boer Bok ribs.  

Cranberry's is a really neat store and cafe in historic downtown Staunton.  They are just up the street from the Visitors Center.  They offer local foods plus herbal remedies, wonderful smelling goat's milk soap, a whole lot more.  I could go for a cup of their gourmet coffee right now! 

We will also have Boer Bok bone-in leg roasts, shoulder roasts, shanks, chops and more available for purchase. 

Hope to see you there!  

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Our Boer Bok is totally local......

I attended the Building Health, Wealth and Capacity in the Shenandoah Valley Food and Farm Economy workshop today. Ken Meter of the Crossroads Resource Center spoke about the Shenandoah Valley local food and economic study he conducted. 


Ken made a dramatic statement "that local food may be the best path to economic recovery."  How can that be?  Here is an example of what Autumn Olive Farms is doing to keep our dollars local. 

We buy our animals in the Shenandoah Valley.  As a matter of fact, we purchased the whole floor, which was 86 FFA and 4-H show wethers and does at the Rockingham County Fair.  These are goats that were purchased at local farms by local families fed local food and then taken to the local fair.  There were quite a few happy "human" kids and parents to see that their show goats that they had lovingly cared for were going to a farm and not straight to the market in New Holland.  Yep, all of those dollars would have gone right out of the Valley.  

Since that time those 86 animals have been generating income along with our other Boer Bok by combating an Autumn Olive invasion on an old family farm near Staunton. 

In the winter our Boer Bok eat only alfalfa/orchard grass hay that is grown a mile from our farm.  They also get fresh minerals daily produced by Countryside Natural Products in Fishersville.  We have our meat animals processed in the Valley and then we sell to local restaurants and stores.  

Whether you "employ" our Boer Bok to clear your overgrown land or you are enjoying our meat at a local restaurant or purchasing it at a local store you are helping stimulate the local economy.  That is something we can all feel good about.  Buy Fresh Buy Local! 

Sunday, October 10, 2010

The Boer Bok are in print again......


Check out page 13 in the Fall 2010 edition of Edible Blue Ridge Magazine. You will see one of our Boer Bok does munching on forage and read about what we do.  
Edible Blue Ridge is a beautiful magazine that focuses on all aspects of local food in the Blue Ridge area. From where it is grown to where it is sold and even recipes on how to prepare it.  It also has a Buy Fresh Buy Local guide in the back.  We are the first listing for Augusta County.