“ Both of my grandmothers had wonderful flighty and morose shit - floor canning wine cellar , ” come back Carol Denney , a retired registered nurse who now spends her days running theRocking D Hobby Farmin Hampshire , Tennessee .

Those sorting of household experience and computer storage aid inspire Denney ’s farming adventures today , which include a focus on raisinggoatsand regular appearances at localfarmers markets .

“ Each time of year my grandmother would gather the grandchild and we would go to the strawberry patch or apple orchards and pick for her to can , ” continues Denney . “ So even though it took me decades to get the land and topographic point to finally sink for the last time , I trust it was always going to be a part of my story . ”

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Taking a break from hobby farm duties , Denney spoke to us about raisingdual - intention animalsand the requirement for seasonal strawberries . We also got the scoop on using animal crackers as education pecker .

Live From the Farmers Market

A post divvy up by Carol Denney ( @tburgmom )

Denney allege that strawberries are the runaway collision when she see farmer markets . “ Everybody wants strawberries as soon and as often as they can get , ” she explains , before adumbrate out the time of year ’s impulse . “ Then while waiting for corn to come in all the squash , cucumber , lettuce and zucchini are in full swing . ”

Denney adds that she ’s also been notice more mass asking about secure plant early in the season in an attempt to plant their own green groceries .

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When it comes to rustling up summertime produce , Denney insist that breaking out the grill is a must .

“ in person , I love to do most things on the grill ! ” she says . “ The grill just impart out great flavor in all the foods and of grade savor like summer ! ”

Dual-Purpose Animals

Rocking D Hobby Farm counts goats as a key part of its makeup . Denney says this was because she want “ all my animals to be dual - purpose , so goat [ provide ] milk and meat , chicken are eggs and kernel . ”

Denney adds that she ’s also allergic to overawe Milk River and was raise on goat Milk River , so incorporating ruminant into the farm seemed inevitable .

Showing Love to Goats

When it comes to goat - specific behaviour , Denney says that she ’s pluck up on the way the animals are so loving .

“ Full revelation : My goats are cocker rotten , ” she confess . “ Zelda was a triplet and she exist in the business firm for 14 workweek ! [ She was ] bottle fed , diapers , onesies , pacifier — the whole 9 yards . ”

Denney also aver that her goats seem peculiarly partial to scarf down animal firecracker — which can be used as a training tool .

Bettering the Community

Looking over her farming dangerous undertaking so far , Denney order that teaching others how to part farming has become one of the true joys of the journey .

“ Many [ masses ] are moving out of the city and discovering the importance of knowing where your food arrive from , ” she explains . “ I am a retired RN ( registered nurse ) , so pedagogy is very important to me . The more I can learn the more I can teach others — and the better the community can be ! ”