Farm_Visit

APermaculture Farm

From the beginning, Caprino Farm has been worked using self sustainable principles. As the fertility of the property slowly improved, John and Miriam turned their hand to breeding Saanen dairy goats having obtained animals from the Denub, Selection, Koomberkine and Trentham studs they now have a Studbook herd of superior milk producing animals. Many of the offspring have been exported overseas and the income has provided fencing and facilities to improve the property as Caprino Farm has evolved.

Curious about visitors

Caprino Farm Goes Green and Gold.

Caprino Farm a small scale goat dairy in the Swan Valley Western Australia, shows evidence of its Green identity,in 2008 as well as a grid connect Solar array to offset some of their power use, they have put in a Biolytix wastewater treatment system to recycle the water. The solar system came from Better Living Energy Systems which has now become Australsun. Although they have always been protective of the Environment, they now have the opportunity to show people that it is possible to make a difference.

Industry.

John Martin of Caprino Farm, is a member of the Dairy Industry Association of Australia, and has entered their products, Unpasteurised Goat Milk and Goat Milk Natural Yoghurt in the competition each year since joining in 2005. They have won Gold Awards before for their milk this year however after second place and a silver award last year their Goat Milk Natural Yoghurt has won First place and a gold award. Their Unpasteurised Goat Milk Goat also got First place in its class. The Dairy Industry is becoming more aware of the range of alternatives to Bovine (cow) milk products and recognising the different qualities of these products. A big plus for the small-scale producer you now don’t have to be the biggest on the block to get recognition.

Education.

John has a vision to provide an educational facility offering the visitor the opportunity to sample and purchase goat dairy products. This facility will not only demonstrate the process of goat milking, but will help people to get to know more about as well as simply meet these affectionate, often undervalued and totally misunderstood creatures.

Goat's in the milking shed

The Origins.

Caprino Farm is owned by John and Miriam Martin and is located at Herne Hill in the Swan Valley region of Western Australia. The original beginnings of Caprino Farm was to provide milk for their own allergic asthmatic children, as it is a very healthy alternative to cow’s milk for people with this problem and other allergic responses. Goat milk also has the advantage of being low in cholesterol. Farming commenced at this property location in 1986 and a lifeless sparsely vegetated swampy weed patch was slowly transformed using Permaculture Principles into a property rich in organic matter with a variety of Perennial grasses which is now capable of supporting around 40+ goats.