Two of this year’s Mar Farm kids, Oliver and Lou Lou; Nitty Gritty bars are made of goat milk, Alabama honey, cinnamon, and
gluten-free oats; Debbie Mar competing in the 1.0 jumpers earlier this year.
Bham Family July 2020 27
and Willow, 6, were feeding the chickens housed
in a spacious shaded coupe in the front of the
property. Her son Vance, 13, is responsible for rebedding
the quarters with straw and is cultivating
a small farm of worms—a delicacy for these
pampered chicks, who have time to free range
during the day. By night, Karen the
Pyrenees keeps a vigil, protecting
name is intentional.) “What can
be funnier than saying, ‘You had
one job, Karen?’” Debbie jokes.
the variety of brilliantly patterned
birds strutting about, including
silkies and others with names like
Squishy and Princess Fluffy Butt.
As you can imagine, the diversity
yields eggs of all shapes, sizes,
and colors, including a pastel
blue-green so lovely only nature
could produce it. But they didn’t stop at chickens;
seeking a healthier alternative to dairy, Debbie
was determined to make her own goat milk and
cheeses.
said, ‘really though’?” Debbie laughs. Fast forward
host of mischievous kids, with plans underway
for a goat barn behind the paddocks. “Nigerian
dwarf goats are very good dairy producers that
have a high fat content great for cheese and
soaps,” Debbie explains. At Mar Farm, they
make all their soaps by hand with only natural
ingredients. Examples of goats’ milk soaps
include “Nitty Gritty,” made with honey, glutenfree,
oatmeal and cinnamon and “Mountain
Sunset,” containing rosemary, orange, and lime. I
oil, coconut oil and goat’s milk, perfect for those
with sensitive skin.
As we tour the property, the goat babies take the
opportunity to say hello, and Oliver even uses the
chance to climb onto my lap and nuzzle my hair.
Adjacent to the station where Debbie milks her
goats each morning after sunrise
yoga, a large refrigerator houses
rows of ice-cold goats’ milk in
mason jars. “Once babies are born,
you milk the goats as you ween
the babies to ramp up the milk
production,” Debbie explains.
As the days on the farm passed,
her health got better, and Debbie
came off all the harsh medication
except for one. “ People should
learn about how much better you
can make yourself feel even if
you don’t have an autoimmune
issue,” she says. Soon the Mars
began sharing eggs and soaps with friends and
community members. Today Mar Farms distributes
their handmade goat soaps locally and to several
states. By the end of the year, they will sell their
goat cheeses as well. Many of their customers are
longtime fans of Mar Farm’s social media posts, in
which goats frolic and Karen gets into mischief on
a daily basis. “It keeps getting bigger by accident
and taking a life of its own,” Debbie says.
But this story has one more twist. Farm life has
been so good for Debbie’s health that she recently
came out of retirement and decided to compete
horses after a 10-year hiatus. This year she and
her Irish chestnut mare Lara competed in rated
divisions, and they have their sights set on jumper
championships next year. “Nature and animals are
my love language,” Debbie says with a smile.
To learn more about Mar Farm or purchase their
soaps and other products, follow them on Instagram @
themarfarm or visit www.marfarm.com.
/www.marfarm.com