We are located in the tiny town of Home in Western Washington, across the Narrows Bridge and southwest of Gig Harbor. Home was developed in the early 20th century as a planned utopian community; back in the days when a robust mosquito fleet plied the waters of Puget Sound, this small colony on the banks of Joe's Bay (now officially called Von Geldern Cove) was known for its socialists, its anarchists, and its endorsement of free love. And, of course, its huckleberries.
Our farm has always been known as the Circle B Ranch; it was originally a homestead with 160 acres (a quarter of a section). The deed dates to 1870, which would make it one of the very first houses on the Peninsula. Now we only have 5 acres, but behind us is an extensive wetland which can't be built, so we do have the feeling of space.
When we tried to register 'Circle B' with the American Dairy Goat Association, that herdname was, not surprisingly, long gone. So we named our herd "Herron Hill," because we are on a hill halfway down the road to the Herron Island ferry. No, it's not a typo: microscopic Herron Island, probably the smallest inhabited island in the Puget Sound, is named for Lewis Herron, a barrel-maker on the Wilkes expedition, which mapped much of the inland waterway. Coincidentally, we often have great blue herons visiting the wetland behind the farm.
Originally, the road to the Herron ferry ran right through the Circle B, between the main house and what is now the cottage. The cottage was a country store where people came to buy and sell eggs, butter and home-grown produce. We hope once again to turn it into our farm store, when we have our Grade A dairy license.
We raise primarily LaMancha, miniature (a cross between full-size and Nigerian Dwarf goats), and Nigerian Dwarf Goats. We do have the odd - and I mean odd - Nubian, along with an occasional Toggenburg.