Cool Shade Farm was established in South Carolina in 1987.  It started with two elderly horses, a few chickens and a handful of Saanen dairy goats.  Originally in Richland County, the farm moved to Lexington County.

The passage of years saw many changes: the Saanens were joined by LaManchas and Recorded Grades, Dorset sheep came and went, and the variety of fowl jumped, a yearly feeder pig was added.

The location in Lexington, frankly, sucked.  The acreage was small, the neighbours were trash, the soil was almost pure sand.  Then, in 2000, fate took a hand and Clark arrived, like Superman, on the scene!  Good fortune ruled after that.

Blue and Clark were married on April 1, 2001 and their first child was born February 2002.

In March of 2003 the farm changed counties again - to it's permanent location - Newberry County:

This is our Victorian farmhouse, the Amick-Rader house, affectionately referred to as The Burrow.  It was built between 1860 and 1880 by the Amick family and eventually abandoned.  Then, in the late 1960s, the house was discovered, falling to the ground, by the Rader family and lovingly restored by them.

Two families owned the house between the Raders and the Hill-Liles and several changes were made to the house in that time that were not in keeping with its age and style.  For more details on how we're trying to undo some of the damage - as well as a general on-going commentary on farm life - check out the Farm Blog.