Secrets from Chuckling Goat: How a Herd of Goats Saved my Family and Started a Business that Became a Natural Health Phenomenon

by Shann Nix Jones

Shann Jones never expected to fall in love with a Welsh farmer at the age of 41. She didn't anticipate leaving her city-girl existence as a radio talk show host in San Francisco to end up running a 25-acre self-sustaining farm in Wales. And she certainly didn't expect to find herself locked in a desperate battle to save her husband's life from a deadly superbug infection, armed only with natural remedies and the probiotic drink they make on the farm.

This is a true story, taken from Shann's diaries. It's about second-chance love stories, and happy endings that pop up when you least expect them. It's a story about nature, and farm life, and ancient recipes. And most of all, it's about the miracles that can happen when you refuse to give up hope.

Genres: Nonfiction

282 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2015

Reviews

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clunky title, but what a wonderful read - it left me with a warm tingly glow and the feeling that the world is a good place.

My expectations were low when I casually picked it up at the library, but it turned out to be a marvellously rewarding read, with a wealth of endearing charm, lots of information about the work of running a small farm and a small business, and a big human interest factor. It was also full of surprises. Herewith some of the goodies it showered over this unsuspecting reader.

* A huge change in the author's lifestyle - from successful American radio journalist to goat farmer on a smallholding in Wales.

* A love story, the author and her husband met on an internet dating site no less.

* Heroic characters - her, her husband, her children and her step-children. What amazing people - ordinary yet heroic, and all written about with so much love and caring. A real treat for those of use who like reading about the good guys.

* The proverbial climb from rags to riches, as the products she made on her small Welsh farm took off and became incredibly popular. It was a massively challenging undertaking though, and the determination of her and her family when the going was tough, struggling with a tiny business, was inspiring.

* Fascinating descriptions of the ability of goats' milk to heal eczema (when used in soaps and creams), and Manuka honey (when used soaked into bandages), and probiotic coconut oil, the latter both showing strong signs with helping with recovery from the dreaded antibiotic-resistant bacterial infection, MRSA. I am a real old sceptic when it comes to alternative medicines, but I could not help but be impressed with the information and examples given. The author comes across as proof-seeking and level-headed in her experiments with these products, and the results are extremely interesting.

* Goats. Gotta love a book with stuff about goats.

* Drama - her husband has a period of appalling medical problems - a real nightmare - but the family pull together to survive both the worry of his illness and the challenge it places on running the farm.

* The land - time and time again the author describes the paradise that is the setting for the farm. She is utterly awed by it, and so are we.

* Recipes - throughout the book are scattered recipes that she has found to be a great success...drinking kefir (a very healthy fermented goat's milk drink), how to make cheese, cawl - a traditional Welsh meat stew, and blackberry and apple jam. These recipes are really good, making even a reluctant cook like myself think twice about perhaps trying some jam making.

* Belonging - she talks at length about how her life has taken on depth and meaning since running the farm, and her feelings of connection and relationship with the land, the animals and the people. It has something to do with the physicality of the work, the seasons, and her sense of feeling embedded in the life of the farm.

The author has an honesty and integrity that puts salt and pepper on her story. The book is not just a romantic tale about idyllic farm life. There are real challenges and disappointments, and these are described just as much as the good times. The author also has a way of experiencing life with an openness and intensity that makes her an extremely gripping writer.

I got this book for bedtime reading. In that respect it failed the litmus test of making me pleasantly drowsy. Instead I kept staying up far too late, greedily turning the pages and loath to put the book down.... What a great read. Highly recommended.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is just delightful to read.

It's as wholesome as the products this amazing woman created with, and for the love of, her family on their Welsh small holding.

I've followed Shann's exploits from the early days, but the book filled in the blanks and made me feel like I was sat at her kitchen table chatting whilst I helped label up some soap for market.

The story, written as a diary, follows her arrival on the farm, through to the experiments and health discoveries she made with goats and their milk. In turn these discoveries led to a new business and a whole new way of life.

It's beautifully written and for me it's unputdownable. I've been a soap customer for a while and a kefir customer now and then, which led to me making my own.

If you love stories of hard won success and grit and determination, coupled with disaster and triumph then I'm sure you will enjoy this book. Shann is a role model to us all. Never give up. And no matter how tough things might be, radical change might be just around the corner.

[Ioana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mi-a plăcut, mi-a adus aminte puțin de copilăria mea

[Lucy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Secrets of Chuckling Goat is a memoir written in the form of diary entries. Shann Nix Jones had a fast-paced career in radio before moving across the world and marrying a Welsh farmer. Together, they try to grow a few goats into a small business of goat milk products - skin creams, soaps, and kefir - while weathering terrible illness and family troubles. Interspersed with the narrative are recipes. At points, I found the narrative a little repetitive. For instance, the magic curative properties of goat milk are discussed many times. But I really enjoyed the descriptions of the farm situated on the Welsh coast and the temperaments of the different goats. And it made me want to try kefir!

[Heidi J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very interesting read! Nix made her farm come to life for me. Her struggles and insights were personal but also something I could relate too, although we live very different lives. And I was actually inspired to make sourdough starter! (Maybe kefir will be next, though I am NOT getting any goats.)

[Gallina Stoyanova · Rating 5 out of 5]

Препоръчвам с две ръце.

[Dora · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s a 3 from me. An American lady who had her own successful career comes to Wales and meets her future husband after an abusive first marriage. They have 4 children between them and buy some goats and then start a business using goats milk for their products.

Parts of it were interesting, other parts were very repetitive and I just scanned through these. I did feel she laid it on a bit thick going on and on about their children …. It sounded at times like she had 22 (like the TV family) rather than just 4. In one place she was going on about there being so many of them that when they went out they had to go in separate cars!

I found out quite a bit about goats that I didn’t know and I did look at her website but I found the products very expensive.

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great story!

This was a very interesting and uplifting read. The details of the business and the fight against MRSA were unexpectedly riveting. Highly recommended!

[Narinder Sambhi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. What an inspiring story, really shows what you can achieve if you believe in an idea and yourself!

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unputdownable fascinating book. Made me want to sell everything I own and go and live on a goat farm in the mountains. Wonderful stuff.

[Hana · Rating 3 out of 5]

At first, I was a bit bored with reading this book and especially some parts were annoyingly repetetive. However, it grew on me and I cannot deny that it has some hidden truths and that if people behaved according to them, the world would be a better place and we would have less problems. The second half was very emotional as is always with struggling with severe illness and I am really glad that it had happy ending. The clear propaganda about goat products one makes think about them and try them on!

[Eileen Hall]

Set in my favourite part of Wales!
Reading this account of life in the farmland of south/mid Wales takes me back to holidays we've had there.
This story shows just how Wales and more importantly goats can cast a spell on anyone.
This book is a great advert.
Very highly recommended.
A digital copy of this book was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest unbiased review.

[Lyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderfully written love story. A book of hope and joy. In addition there is a great deal of actual farm life shared with us. Fast paced and easy reading. This book will make you smile! Enjoy! Thanks to NetGalley and Hay House for the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an honest review!

[Alison Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Warm inspiring account of leaving the corporate rat race, taking a brave life-changing leap at age of 40 and transforming her life into one of domestic happiness with commercial success with her home-produced goat-sourced products. In short: the trials and triumph of goat farming on a small Welsh farm.

[Mari · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book in two days, interested to get a glimpse into the authors life, her goats, and running a small business.

Now that I'm done reading I'm curious to learn the magic of kefir, and want to find goat soap.

[Madeleine McDonald · Rating 4 out of 5]

A feel-good book, and an easy read. Written in a chatty, lively style that makes light of the hard work of keeping livestock. Evangelical about the happiness, serenity and fulfilment found in making a living from the land.

[Katharina · Rating 2 out of 5]

It started off funny for the first quarter but then it went downhill. There's only so much I want to read about someone else's colon. And that much is zero.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

well written, lovely story.

[Gay Galles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recommended ro all my goat loving friends.

[Gail O'Connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book. Couldn't put it down! I learned so much and so very interesting

[Jen Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Couldn't put it down. Fascinating.

[VeruFru · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nebyl to úplně můj šálek kávy, ale každopádně je to zajímavá kniha o životě jedné ženy, která měla ráda kozy.

[Helen Williams]

great read