A third-generation Persian goat farmer is adding a little zen to his rural property at Wallaroo, introducing farm yoga to the herd.
Babak – or just Bob – Zendehde runs Babylon Farm (named after an ancient Middle Eastern city) where he and his wife Maria Morozova offer cheese making, soap making, beekeeping, goat milking and now, farm yoga.
Bob’s grandfather was a shepherd in Iran for 70 years and I’m quite certain that downward dog didn’t enter his daily chores.
“The animals are really playful,” Bob said. “The first yoga class was booked out and the weather was great.”
Yoga instructor Melanie Collins from MMM Wellness usually conducts classes in suburban Gold Creek, but every now and then, she ventures out to the country.
“At MMM Wellness, I like to offer my tribe opportunities to do something different, break out of their comfort zone, take time out for themselves and connect to others,” Melanie said. “Farm Yoga is a perfect example of that.”
About 14 two-legged yoga participants joined in the first class last month and a mob of four-legged participants (sheep, lambs and goats) mindfully grazed alongside the yoga mats.
“Connecting to nature by being in the fresh air and feeling the earth underneath, moving our bodies and bringing out our playfulness with the animals all contribute to reducing stress, improving wellbeing and increasing energy levels,” Melanie said.
When the goats aren’t stretching, they’re being milked, with Babylon Farm being the only dairy goat breeder in the ACT region. The short-eared goats are a Middle Eastern breed called Anglo-Nubian and, appropriately, are given Middle Eastern names such as “Soraya” (meaning star cluster) and “Farah” (meaning joy and happiness).
For such short-statured goats, the Anglo-Nubians produce a massive six litres of milk a day. Bob also has Nigerian goats, which only provide a third of Nubian’s milk but are far more affectionate.
“The Nigerian goat is very playful and manageable, but Nubians are very vocal. They are sometimes whinging and calling loudly, but they are both very beautiful,” Bob said. “The Nigerian goats don’t have that much milk, but they are very friendly. They have a different quality of milk, a bit sweet and fat with more protein.”
There are pros and cons that come with breeding goats on a farm – Bob never has to mow the grass, but goats are incredibly fussy eaters.
“They are really picky sometimes so when you give them a piece of hay, if the piece of hay is just on the ground and it has a bit of smell of poo or pee, they don’t touch it at all,” Bob said. “But they’re very social and sometimes they’re annoyingly social. For example, at the time of the day that they notice the milking, they start calling us loudly. We need to make time to go and start milking and they know who is first, who is second, who is third. They know the hierarchy.”
Bob also sells goats to other properties as pets because they’re great company. Almost like a pet dog but with a side of milk and cheese.
“They need to be free, they’re playful and they suit themselves,” Bob said. “But they hate water, even a spot of rain they hate. We have a proper set-up for the shelter, so each time there’s a spot of rain, they just jump in. Sometimes the big one, the bully, stays in and doesn’t let anyone come in so we have to create another shelter so there’s enough space for all of them.”
For more information on farm yoga, visit babylonfarm.com.au
