Goodness Grows Farms was established in 2002, when Erik and Jennifer Schwalm purchased a 40 Acre Farm in Jefferson Township, Butler, Pennsylvania.  The property was purchased with the intent of developing it into the headquarters for Erik's landscaping business, Goodness Grows Landscaping.  Located approximately 40 miles North of Pittsburgh, it is an ideal location as it is central to several major North Pittsburgh suburbs.  Erik diversified his business and added excavation, skid loader and snow removal services to his business and was able to expand his customer base.  

While renovating the 1869 farmhouse, the Schwalm's started their own family.  Their son, Walker was born in 2004 daughter, Maggie, was born in the Spring of 2006 and  Will was born in the Fall of 2007.  Jennifer "retired" to stay home with the children and to help manage the landscaping business and farm.  

In the summer of 2004, after the discovery of large quantities of poison ivy throughout the property, the Schwalm's began researcing nautural ways to eliminate the annoying vine.  After reading that goats will eat poison ivy, they brought a black pygmy billy to wander the woods to help eliminate the horrible ivy that Erik was extremely allergic to. 

In the Winter of 2005, Erik began to research hobby  farming opportunities that might allow him more freedom from his busy landscaping business.   Erik discovered Boer goats and the entire meat goat production industry by accident when his brother shared with him a copy of Hobby Farms magazine which was showcasing Boer goats and the meat goat industry. 

After much research and some help from their generous family, Goodness Grows Farm was officially established in October of 2006 when the first shipment of percentage Boer goats arrived from Texas.  After a year of trial and error The Schwalm's have added a powerful Boer buck to the breeding operation and have had a phenominal kidding season! Our herd is 80 head strong!

We are happy to show our farm to those interested in the "goat business" and are willing to share our experiences with you.  In addition to our goats, we also have Dexter cattle, a variety of chickens, ducks, a large yellow Lab, Dudley, a protective Australian Shepherd, Maverick, and an obedient brown Border Collie, Chloe. Fat Frank is our friendly garage cat .  We also have two terrific guard animals, Maurice, the Sicilian Donkey and Rocco, our Great Pyrenese LGD (livestock guard dog).