Don Eckert and Matt Park run theCypress Grove Homesteadin Naples , Florida . It ’s a 3 - Akka venture that strives to take eco - conscious steps and uses solar panels to power a property that brims with fetching Nigerian Dwarf Goats .
“ This was Matt ’s imagination , to severalise the truth , ” says Eckert as he recalls the origin story of Cypress Grove Homestead . Park add up that he uprise up in a small town in Indiana and that his family are from a long business line of husbandman . But it was only when he and his married man , Eckert , have the conclusion to move to Naples that they were in a office to add on to the ego - sufficient lineage .
We spoke to Eckert and Park about apply solar panels and Florida get seasons . We also got the inside story on the homestead ’s boss Capricorn .
Striving for Sustainability
A situation shared by Cypress Grove Homestead ( @cypressgrovehomestead )
Park state that being capable to follow up on “ a more sustainable lifestyle ” was a key part of the decision to launch Cypress Grove Homestead .
“ I liked the idea of the preservation aspect of it , ” recalls Eckert when call for about his initial reaction to starting a homestead .
scan more : This Kentucky couple maven solar and sustainability in the heart of the Bluegrass .
All in the Sun
When Eckert and Park began to plat out Cypress Grove Homestead , they experience that solar panel needed to be an inner part of the process .
“ One of the first thing we eff we wanted to do to ease our electric core and carbon step was get solar panel , ” explain Park . “ It was for the fiscal gist but also to eliminate our part of the emissions . ”
Dual Purpose Goats
Nigerian Drawf Goats prosper at Cypress Grove Homestead , and they also transmit out what Park calls a “ dual intent ” theatrical role .
“ They ’re pets but they put up to the homestead , ” he explain . “ When we bought this place , the back Akka and a one-half was completely run over , like it had sat for geezerhood and was full of vines and poison ivy and brush . But the goats just came in and take charge and turn all that into milk . ”
“ The goats are low maintenance , ” say Eckert . “ They ’re probably the better outside pet you could get and they ’re super easygoing to socialise . ”
He lend that the boss of the trip is a goat name Binky who ’s become “ like our homestead mascot ” and “ sustain everyone in tune and she showboats when there ’s other people around . ”
register more : Nigerian Capricorn the Goat escape with the hens at Mazzeltove Farms !
The Benefits of Goat Milk
“ For the size of fauna they are , the stooge give a remarkable amount of Milk River , ” says Park when necessitate about the benefits of raising Nigerian Dwarf Goats .
“ The milk is very nutritious , plus a lot of people who ca n’t tope Milk River otherwise — like if they ’re illiberal to lactose from moo-cow Milk River — can still toast Capricorn Milk River because the fat and sugar molecules are easier on the abdomen . ”
Channeling Florida Heat
Looking back over their most successful crops , Park tell they ’ve benefited from having “ really good lot with peppers and Lycopersicon esculentum because of the heat down here . ”
He adds that the Florida develop time of year is the “ opposite of up north , so when we post picture now , everyone up north is overjealous and we wish that ! ”
Eckert aver that along with peppers and tomato plant , Cypress Grove Homestead produced a unattackable run of Brassica oleracea botrytis and Brassica oleracea italica last year .
