Bill and Becky Ensinger of Dixie Soaps are bringing their Alpine goats to Brainerd Farmers’ Market for a meet-and-greet and a milking demonstration. Market guests will be able to see how a goat is milked, meet and learn about the goats, taste real farm-fresh goat cheese, and sample fresh goat milk.
Market Director Catherine Durham remarked, “Our motto is ‘Get Fresh’ and you can’t get much fresher milk than this. The milking demonstration will begin at 11 a.m. and goat milk products—soaps, lotions, balms, etc.—will be available. Kids of all ages, 2- and 4-legged, are always welcome."
Dixie Soaps is owned by the Ensingers. They live and work on a six acre farm in Dayton, Tn. Ms. Ensinger has raised dairy goats and farmed for 20 years. She began making soap as a way to use surplus milk, and eventually began selling her soaps and other skin care products. Dixie Soaps focuses on sustainable farming methods, and currently raises Alpine and LaMancha dairy goats, chickens, ducks, bees, as well as growing herbs, vegetables, and fruits. They enjoy sharing these products with customers and friends every Saturday at the Brainerd Farmers’ Market. The Ensingers also have four little helpers on the farm—Laura, Elizabeth, Gabriel, and Gideon. The girls even inspired their own line of baby care products—“Baby Olive.”
The Brainerd Farmers Market is held from 10 a.m.-noon on Saturdays from April 25 through December 19. "Local farmers will present fresh naturally grown produce, farm fresh eggs, dairy and meat products. Bakers will present delicious artisan breads, sweets and pastries, and fine artists, musicians and craftsmen round out the festive market," officials said.
The Brainerd Community Farmers’ Market accepts and doubles EBT/ SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) card purchases. In addition the market also accepts cash, credit and debit cards.
Officials said, "Outreach for this program is made possible through a grant from the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga and the generosity of several private donors. SNAP recipients may bring their Electronic Benefit Transfer cards to the farmers market and obtain tokens which may be used to purchase fresh, local produce, dairy products, meat products, honey, preserves, baked goods, plants used to produce food at home and much more."