Tag: goat milk

Peak Summer

Written by rogue-admin on July 29, 2026. Posted in Stories & Updates.

As the last week of Crest Summer Camps draw to a close, garlic and flowers are hung to dry, and the hay loft is filled for the year ahead, we find ourselves looking forward to fall.

Seasonal chores and celebrations provide continuity: the work and play we return to year after year reminds us where we’ve been and what we have to look forward to.

In this peak summer moment, we invite you to explore the land, grab some goat milk, hike the trails, and enjoy the summer sun. See you soon!

Upcoming Events

Introduction to Milky Way Photography with Tim Hallam
Friday, August 7, 8:30-11:30pm
Tim Hallam is a lifelong resident of our bioregion and has spent the past ten years working as a professional nature photographer. Whether you’re looking to sharpen your night photography skills or trying astrophotography for the first time, this one-night class has something for everyone. Set beneath the dark skies of Willow-Witt Ranch, it’s the perfect opportunity to see and photograph the summer Milky Way in all its splendor. Contact Tim directly to sign up for the course. Attendees will receive a discount code for booking overnight accommodations upon sign-up!

Moth Night with Pollinator Project Rogue Valley
Saturday, August 8, 7-11PM
It’s not too late to catch this unique, family-friendly opportunity to experience nature after dark and learn about moth diversity. The original event got postponed due to smoke. Want to make a night of it? Sleep over in one of the Crest tents.

OLLI at SOU Fall Term Priority Registration Opens
Monday, August 10, 9am
The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute brings together more than 1,700 adults with courses, activities, events, and excursions. Participants engage with others in a welcoming environment while broadening their knowledge of the world. Course topics range broadly, check out The Forest’s course on natural burial while you’re browsing the catalogue!

Who’s Flying

Over 90 species of odonates (dragonflies and damselflies) have been documented in Oregon, and 68 of them have been documented in Jackson county!

This is the time of year that odonates transform: shifting from water-dwelling nymphs to high-flying dragons.They are indicators of good habitat and water quality.

Come up to the ranch anytime or join the 7/31 sunset hike with Friends of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument to see them fly!

Photo: Norm Barrett’s Blue-Eyed Darner for the Southern Oregon Land Conservancy.

What’s Blooming

We just harvested and hung our famous “Nida” garlic, a hardneck varietal developed by friend of the farm Dave Baldwin. Dave named this special strain after a beloved grandmother.

Over the years, our Nida garlic has evolved to thrive in the challenging growing conditions here on the ranch.

Read the full story, see more photos, and find a recipe for garlic confit here.

…and don’t forget!

Contact Tim Hallam directly to learn more about the photography workshop!

Contact Tim and Sign Up

ranch guardian dog Luna with Lanita Witt

A Farewell, a Fresh Offering, and a New Role in The Forest

Written by rogue-admin on August 6, 2025. Posted in Stories & Updates.

In this newsletter, we hold space for both tenderness and transition. We honor the life and legacy of Luna, our beloved guardian dog. We share the abundance of fresh, raw goat milk now available at the farm store. And we invite you to help us spread the word about a deeply meaningful new job opening at The Forest Conservation Burial Ground. Life here is a rhythm—of care, connection, and continuity.

Honoring Luna

A Beloved Guardian Returns to the Forest

This past Sunday, we said goodbye to Luna, our Maremma livestock guardian dog, who lived her entire 13 years here at Willow-Witt Ranch (pictured above, with beloved founder, Lanita.) Born on the land she would one day protect, Luna grew up among the goats, chickens, campers, guests, and wild creatures that make this place home.

Luna was more than a working dog. She was a friend to many—gently curious with visiting children, calmly greeting guests, and always keeping watch with quiet devotion. Whether lying in the shade near the farm store or making her morning rounds across the pastures, Luna was a steady and comforting presence.

We laid her to rest at Guardian Rock, in the pet cemetery nestled in the forest she so faithfully protected. It’s where generations of ranch dogs have been buried—a place of peace and memory, where love and the land meet.

Luna touched all of our hearts. We miss her deeply, but take solace in knowing she has returned to the forest she loved so well. Her spirit lives on in every breeze through the trees and every quiet morning on the land.

Thank you, Luna. You will always be a part of this place.

Fresh Goat Milk Now Available for Pickup!

Our sweet Alpine goats are milked by hand daily here at Willow-Witt Ranch, producing rich, creamy raw milk perfect for your coffee, cereal, or baking.

Why raw goat milk?

Easier to digest than cow’s milk
Full of beneficial enzymes and probiotics
Rich in calcium, magnesium, and vitamin A
Naturally sweet, clean flavor

Pricing:

$15.00 per half gallon + $4 glass bottle deposit

$7.50 per quart + $2 glass bottle deposit

On-farm Pick Up Only

We’re happy to set aside a weekly allotment for you — contact us to reserve your jars!

Want a Chance to view a Goat Milking and learn more about the Willow-Witt Ranch? Book a Guided Farm Tour today!

Book a Farm Tour

We’re Hiring: Assistant Cemetery Manager

at The Forest Conservation Burial Ground

Do you—or someone you know—feel called to work at the intersection of ecology, end-of-life care, and community education?

The Forest Conservation Burial Ground, located on a quiet forested hillside just outside of Ashland, Oregon, is seeking a new Assistant Cemetery Manager.

This is a rare opportunity to join a small, mission-driven team stewarding Southern Oregon’s first conservation burial ground—where the land is preserved, restored, and honored through natural burial.

Ideal candidates bring experience in:

Hospice, grief support, or end-of-life care
Public speaking, education, or tour guiding
Administrative and digital literacy (especially social media and marketing)
A deep respect for the natural world and reverence for death care

Whether you’re already rooted in this work or looking to shift into a new chapter, we’d love to hear from you.

Click the button below to view the full job description and how to apply.

Feel free to forward this to anyone who might be a good fit. Thank you for helping us grow this work with care, reverence, and connection.

Join Our Team