GOAT PROTECTION
Growing up, it took me almost
eighteen years of my life to realize that there is no need to
slaughter an innocent and defenseless animal in order to fill one’s
belly with cadavers. Three decades later, I am still glad that I
made that decision to become a strict vegetarian.
As soon as I understood the
incredible suffering billions of animals have to endure just because
they can’t defend themselves and because hardly anyone hears their
screams, I always felt a strong urge to help them.
Soon after I made that decision, I
began a journey of consciousness which led me to India where I was
able to deepen my understanding of protecting the lives of animals.
Entire civilizations of ancient times depended on animals like cows
or goats. The very backbone of the original Indian agriculture was
the symbiotic and harmonious working relationship between farmers
and their cattle. Bulls were used for plowing the fields, cows
utilized for their excess milk. In return, they were considered to
be sacred and they were well protected.
From that time onwards, I became
involved with various projects that were dedicated to cow
protection. Along with it, I promoted vegetarianism on TV shows, on
the radio and helped to distribute tens of thousands of pamphlets or
books about vegetarianism.
In the early 1990’s I wrote a
booklet called “Vegetarianism in the World Religions” which
was distributed by the thousands and translated into various
languages. In essence, the study proved that vegetarianism was
considered to be a desirable ideal in all prominent world religions.
When I came to Puerto Rico ten
years ago and began to develop my farm, I had planned to do
something for cow protection but since my farm is simply not
suitable to keep cows, I just continued to write in their defense. I
dedicated a part of one chapter of “Oro Verde – Securing the
Future of our Food” to animal protection.
I still did not feel satisfied and
finally decided to keep and protect at least some goats (who are
also known as “the poor man’s cow”), not just as pets but as
integral helpers at my farm. My commitment is to give them optimal
housing, food, company and care and in return, I accept their
valuable milk, manure and occasionally their help with the unending
weeding work here.
I hope that their existence here
will inspire at least some of the hundreds of
visitors who tour my farm every year and even more who visit in
cyber space.
If you live in the Caribbean and
are thinking of becoming a first time goat owner, you may enjoy this
brief article. (
click here for
article
)
At this point I want to thank all
those goat keepers around the island who helped me to deepen my
understanding about how to give them the best possible care. I also
thank all those friends who helped me with the required construction
work for the goat area at my farm.
I
hope you enjoy the pictures. The current goats
residing at Govardhan Gardens are
Sundari
(Sanskrit for "beautiful"),
Kumari
(“young girl”), Mohini ("bewildering beauty") and a high
quality Alpine breeding
buck,
Mohan
("enchanter",
"attractive").
I will continue to post pictures
and general goat information for the tropics. If you would like to
adopt or sponsor a goat, you can contact me
at any time. If you would like any of the future goat kids, the next
ones will be available late 2013 or early 2014. If you
have questions about ethical and sustainable goat keeping in the
tropics, please feel free to write to
me.
GOVARDHAN GARDEN'S GOATS 2013
1) Mohan (Alpine
breed; Mohan is the main sire).
2)
Kumari (La Mancha breed, primarily
recognized by their small ears)
3) Sundari (Alpine
breed, recognized by their upright ears and colors)
4)
Mohini (A beautiful cross between a
Saanen and a brown Alpine)
5)
Govardhan Gardens Goat Shed
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