Wanting To Leave Upstate New York
To be honest we did not have any reason even to think about why we would moved from New York to Kentucky. For a few years we had been talking and praying about get out of the upstate New York winters. We are not getting any younger and snow blowing 125-150 inches of snow every year was not getting any easier or any more enjoyable. Sarah (our daughter) was also still in school and we did not want to leave until she was out of high school and moving into young adult hood. During her Sophomore year of high school, she asked if we could take her out and home-school her. Working out of the soap shop gave me (Chris) the perfect opportunity to do that. So, she worked in the office, on her schoolwork, at the shop while I continued to make all your favorite goat goodies. She excelled doing her high school work at home and we actually graduated her a year earlier then her class, which meant we could move a year earlier than we expected.God knows What’s Best For Us!
Why We Considered Tennessee
God was working on our behalf during all of this, allowing things to happen, moving us all in the direction of moving south. We had been looking in Tennessee for years because of low taxes and being known as such a business-friendly state. We vacationed down in TN and looked over the Smokey Mountains, Southern Cherokee Forest area as well as the Upper Cumberland (which we loved.) Seems everyone else has found out the benefits of living in TN because we watched the price of property go up more and more every year.
Discovering South-Central Kentucky
As usual God’s plans are usually different then what our plans are for us. While we were looking into the Upper Cumberland area we started peeking into South-Central KY and what we found out was the taxes were still very low and the state was business friendly too. To our surprise the prices of property was about $100K cheaper for the same size property with the same type and amount of out-buildings as TN.
Needless to say, we found an existing goat farm for sale here in Columbia and we made an offer on the property the same day we came down to look it over!
Selling Our Farm in New York
The couple who owned the property across the street from us wanted our place and we came to an agreement fairly quickly. They were super generous and let us lease the property back from them after the closing for a very low price and gave us a year to move out. Not having to go rent another farm for the animals and not having to find a manufacturing building to keep production going for Silly Goats Soap Co. was such a huge blessing, as you can imagine. This gave us time to shop and really seek God’s direction for this move.
I have been in NY longer than I have been anywhere else in my life. Born in MO and raised between there and MT for most of my young childhood and through high school and then moved from TX to CO, CA, UT, WY, Fl and then NY in my young adulthood. I do have a little gypsy blood in me. So, when Sandy started talking about getting out of NY and making a move south, I was ready for a new adventure and some new scenery. To be totally honest KY was not even on my radar but, so happy God pointed us in this direction and that we are here now!
Why We Love Living in Kentucky
I believe/know in my heart, that nothing in my life happens by mistake. That includes the people that he puts in my life, the employees I hire or the places he has me move to.
That being said, I am so blessed and happy to be loving the Kentucky farm life here in South Central KY. The land here is rolling hills with old growth trees and loaded with deer and other critters. The folks that live here are the epitome of southern hospitality. Such nice people in KY! I am also a half hour away from Cumberland Lake and the tailwaters of the Cumberland river off Wolf Creek Dam, and it is loaded with Rainbow, Browns and Brook Trout! Green River Lake & Green River are 25 minutes away. I will be getting my new fly-fishing boat very, very soon!
Trusting God Through the Move
I do not know why He placed us in Columbia, but He will reveal that to us in his time. I am going to continue working with people recovering from alcohol and drug addictions through Celebrate Recovery and/or AA. We are going to continue to make the best goat milk soap, lotion and other goat goodies anywhere in the world and the best part of all of it is, my wife, Sandy has quit her corporate job and God has allowed us to be able to be financially secure enough to do that. I love my wife and I enjoy the time we get spend together. Now, we get to work together as well.
Thanks for following us on our journey.
God bless,
Chris
Last year I was diagnosed with early onset of breast cancer. God is Great!! I was so blessed to have it discovered early! The size of the head of a straight pin! 8-10 wks of radiation! Using the Pure and Natural (Unscented) between treatments resulted in no side effects from the treatments! No blisters, sunburn or scars! The doctors, nurses and technicians were amazed! I would recommend it to anyone having to go through radiation. God is indeed Good. Bless all of you
Hello to you, I love your farm name. Goats definitely are silly and so very special. I myself raise Nubian/Alpine mixes and hope to be trying to make products this year from their milk. My sons and I are also new to Kentucky, since last November. We are from TN but have lived many places and when needing to move again in such an incredible way God brought us here. We were homeless for several months across the country with 5 dairy goats and 1 very large breeding Sow and some chickens, we were quite the sight I tell you. Finally through a miracle we were able to rent a place outside of Maysville KY And just last week moved to Flemingsburg about 30 south east of Maysville. All our does and sow too are bred and we are thriving by God’s grace. He is the Great I Am !
I just ordered some of your products for the first time and look forward to trying them.
Thank you, bless you
Sooo happy to have found you!!! Looking forward to getting your jewelweed soap and salve and doing future business with family in the Lord! I too got tired of the snow in New England and have moved to SW Virginia. Blessings to you and all you do!
So happy that you God has blessed you both with this gift of soap making.
I found Silly Goats accidentally a few years back and was very pleased since then. I love the way the soaps lather up and the scents are not over powering. I will continue to buy Silly Goats soap as long as they are being made.
I was on your website and was ordering some of your products!! So glad to know that you are my neighbor!! I lived in Mich 40 years and retired back to Central Ky!!!Lot better place to live and the weather is not bad!!!IYour Family will love Ky!!
Hi Folks- I just loved your post about finding the perfect place for your family and business, and that you give God the glory. Blessings to you!!
Hi Folks;
Just Wanted to Thank you for Offering your Homemade Poison Ivy/Oak/Sumac Remedy!
I’m Currently plagued by this Awful Skin Affliction/irritation from Gardening, Yard work & also just trying to enjoy a Metal Detecting Hobby once in awhile!
Digging in the dirt is kind of a Stress Relief for Me, As it’s fun to plant & watch things grow, Share the Harvest & then of course enjoy some Treasure Hunting at old homesteads & Such!
But It is So frustrating when the Painful Unending itching Starts up, it almost makes you fear putting your hands in the Soil & for fear of getting infected again, even though you Often times Can’t Even see any of the Culprits (leaves of 3 let’em be, & Berries white, a Poisonous Site)!
I recently read an article about the Amazing “Jewel Weed” & its Ability to Treat/Heal those affected by exposure to these “Miserable Devilish plants” with some Welcome Relief!
Apparently it been used by Native Americans for as long as they have been around!
Thankfully you Folks make it available, as I have tried almost everything on the Market (Calamine lotion, Witch Hazel, Hydrogen Peroxide, Denatured Alcohol, Benadryl, Gold bond, Numerous Types of OTC Salves & Ointments) I can find!
Some work for a little while, but by the time a Couple of weeks go by & I begin noticing Some relief, I Somehow get Re-infected, Or Maybe it just Never Seems to go Completely away!🤷🏻♂️😬
So I’m Definitely going to try your “Antidote”/“Remidy”, As it Seems like it’s “The Real Thing”! I wished I knew about your Product & Tried it Years Ago! Oh Well, “Live & Learn” as “They” Say!
I’m Really excited, So Thanks again, You Have At Least given me Much Hope & Anticipation for a chance at a National & Healthier Real Relief!
Take Care, Stay Safe & God Bless you & your Entire Family for your Amazing Compassionate Work! 👍😇
Sincerely Chris Cimino, USAF Veteran, Most Wisconsin USA :D 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
We moved to No. Carolina from central NY. I always purchased your soaps/lotions at local craft shows, and when I missed you I just ordered on line. I found a young lady very near us who makes goats milk soap and purchased from her on a couple occasions, but it was just not the same! Your products are the best!!!
Hello Kathryn,
We are loving our new home here in South Central KY. NC is beautiful too and great place to live. Thank you for your kind words. We try very hard to make a great product and it is wonderful people like you that keep coming back that keep our business going. God’s blessings, Chris, Sandy , Sarah and Silly Goats
I am so glad that I found these products and that you are in Kentucky too. I live in Frankfort, Ky and have psoriasis and eczema . I just placed an order and can’t wait to try the soaps.
I’m happy to hear you made a move where everything was in sync. The universe is indeed wondrous. I bought some of your products a few years ago and love them. Bless you and enjoy Kentucky! I’ve visited a friend there many many times. Mother Earth adores her home there!
Thank you Laureen, We do feel blessed and feel good down deep in our soul that we are home! Thank you for your taking the time to say hello.If your back down this way stop in and say hello. Have an awesome day, Chris, Sandy & Silly Goats :-)
I used to live in Big Sandy , TN, right over the state line near Cumberland area. God’s country. Wish you had a place for employees who live goats and recovering people of all kinds. Good luck and God bless your journey.
Melinda, such a small world! I lived in Big Sandy too, from 2004 to 2014. Who would believe we would come to the same site!
Not just a great business and great products but made with the the most important ingredient “Love”.
Chris and Sandy are already missed in CNY – However we know they are following a desire greater than self.
Silly Goat Soap is a blessing with core values of passing on blessings and helping others.
Columbia, KY embrace this family business and see God at work!
Keep producing great silly goat soap but more importantly “fruit”.
One day at a time –
Steve Mitchell
My Brother,
Love and miss you already. Thank you for your continued love and support, even from afar.
God Bless you and yours,
Chris & Sandy
So happy to hear you found another great spot in the world! I just got another big order of soap… your soap is all our family uses and I saw on the bar it said KY instead of NY. Of course I wanted to read about when that happened! I am still in NY (Brookfield, Madison county) and taxes have been such a burden. I’m sad all the good folk are leaving NY but I’d be right there with you if we weren’t so grounded with family here. Love your faith, God is good and will provide. Good luck in your new area!
Thank you for your support Megan. God is good and we are enjoying our new KY home. We loved NY, the 4 seasons, the scenery and our friends and family but, Looking forward to the milder winters and meeting new friends. God bless and thanks for the kind words, Chris, Sandy and Silly Goats! :-)
Were glad to have you and your wife.welcome to Kentucky.
Thank you neighbor, It was a pleasure meeting you and the grand kids. Already loving KentuckY!!!
Love this for the two of you! God is indeed Good all the time in his timing. Gonna miss the opportunity to have gotten to know you both better but will keep in cyber touch. Love from central NY.