Read the Q&A with Louisa from Big Picture Farm

We'd love to hear a little bit about the back story behind Big Picture Farm.

Behind Big Picture Farm is me, Louisa, my husband Lucas, our two daughters, 45 goats, two polar bear–sized livestock guardian dogs, six cats, and a flock of hens.

We started Big Picture Farm in 2010 while working for the then-owners of the property, who were running a sheep dairy. We made their cheese and cared for their flock while starting a tiny goat milk caramel business on the side with our first three goats: Orion, Gertrude, and Fern.

Over the next six years, we purchased the farm in three pieces, finishing in 2017. We feel incredibly lucky that the former owners were willing to work with us as our business grew and we were able to keep returning to the bank—and to them—for just a little bit more land until the farm was whole again (and even expanded!).

While our original three goats are no longer with us, Cy—Gertrude’s daughter—is about to celebrate her 16th birthday just before Valentine’s Day.

Today, we sell our caramels wholesale to around 1,600 stores and have a robust online retail presence. In addition to our award-winning goat milk caramels, we make artisanal chocolates, offer a line of farm-forward lifestyle products (tea towels, aprons, bags, hats, and more), and run a thriving agritourism business. We are especially proud to be 100% solar powered and to use only renewable resources in our packaging, with zero virgin plastics.

What inspired you to start this business, and why goats?

We fell in love with goats. They are mystical, magical creatures—and that was really the beginning. From there came a lot of brainstorming about how to pay for our goat habit and grow it into a sustainable business that could support our family and eventually allow us to purchase the farm.

Before goats cast their spell on us, we were working as artists, writers, and teachers. Sharing the stories of the goats, the land, and what it means to farm and graze sustainably has always been central to our mission. 

What is the most rewarding part?

Waking up every morning and pinching myself that we actually get to live this beautiful farm life. I love that my kids are growing up surrounded by animals, flowers, and fresh food.

What is one of the craziest experiences you’ve had as a farmer?

In our early years, we received a huge purchase order from a very large company—at a time when we were still incredibly small and had none of our scaling efficiencies in place. But we knew we had to say yes, because that cash would help propel us to the next stage of growth.

Luke was wrapping caramel until well past midnight, and my alarm went off at 2 a.m. so I could do the graveyard caramel shift before someone else came in at 10 a.m. to start the next batch. It was completely insane—and we somehow pulled it off.

What are the hardest and best parts of running the farm?

Getting away is always the hardest part. Even with an amazing team, when something breaks—or inevitably goes wrong—it usually falls on Luke to fix it so everything doesn’t grind to a halt.

That’s the tradeoff for living in what we consider paradise. Our favorite moments are walking the land with the goats at sunset, our kids in tow, maybe a glass of wine in hand and surveying the land. We are proud of our land stewardship and it is immensely satisfying to collaborate with a herd of goats on maintaining vibrant ecosystems on 100 acres of hillside. 

What is your art background, and what does it mean to you to create all the branding for your farm?

I was an art and anthropology major at Middlebury College and earned my MFA in Fine Art from CalArts in Los Angeles. Telling the story of the goats has always been what it’s all about.

The caramels were originally a way to support the goat and farming habit. Of course, they’ve taken on a life of their own as the brand has grown, which is amazing. If I were being honest sometimes I have lulls where I wish time could be spent making art that is not just about goats, but simultaneously it just never feels old. Whether we were selling caramels or not I would want to be telling the story of our goats, as individual, unique and beautiful personality filled creatures that they are. For it is these particular animals eating pasture loaded with flowers that actually support my family. It is mind boggling and incredible that we are actually able to eke out a living with them. We are forever indebted and grateful, so ultimately yes, it is branding, but it is also just a core of who we actually are. 

What’s your process behind painting goat portraits?

My early line drawings were blind contour drawings—that’s how I created our loGOAT. The colored portraits are usually done in batches. They’re often my end-of-day reward, after finishing office work and before turning my attention back to the kids.

What Skida product do you reach for most? Why?

My fleece-lined neckwarmers. They’re my go-to under my helmet when skiing and for staying warm on winter walks. They’re soft, warm, and stylish and I love the bright colors.

What about Skida as a brand resonates with you?

I’ve followed Skida for years—especially as fellow Middlebury alums—and have loved seeing it pop up everywhere. I’m drawn to the combination of design and functionality, along with the bright colors and bold patterns. I think a pattern with our goats repeated all over it would be a perfect addition! Plus, everyone loves a GOAT hat :). 

What is your family’s favorite way to get outside together?

Walking the land with the goats, especially in the evenings, and spending as much time outdoors as possible in every season. In the winter that might be cross country or downhill skiing, skating on our beaver pond or if its not too icy long walks!

Rapid Fire

• Sweet or Savory? Sweet
• Winter or Summer? Winter
• Spring or Fall? Fall
• Cross Country or Alpine? Alpine
• Ocean or Mountains? Mountains