I’ve been doing a lot of thinking again — no surprise there. As I get into a more settled life here in Hamburg, I keep circling back to the same question: If I ever do get goats again, how would I make it work here? Nothing is set in stone, and I’m not making any big commitments yet, but I’ve been sketching out ideas that feel more and more workable.
One thing I do know: if goats ever come back into my life, I want their setup to be simple, close to the house, and easy to manage. The garage would be the most logical place for them.
My garage is 20’×20′, and lately I’ve been imagining dividing it right down the middle. The left half would become a multi‑purpose homestead zone — a cool room, a pantry, and a small goat shelter. The right half would stay more practical: the entrance to the house, a small workshop, and space for hay and bedding storage.
It’s funny how the more I think about it, the more the pieces seem to fit together.
Left Side: Cool Room, Pantry, Goat Shelter
The left half of the garage is where all the “food and critter” ideas land. I’ve been picturing a compact cool room tucked into the back corner, just big enough for produce, bulk storage. Next to that, a pantry area with shelves and bins for whatever I’m preserving — nothing fancy, just functional.
Then, in the remaining section of that left side, there is a small goat shelter. Nigerian Dwarfs don’t need much indoor space, and the garage already has good protection from wind and weather. If I ever do bring goats back, they’d have a safe indoor spot plus a run outside along the left exterior wall where the second man door opens. It’s a tidy little setup, and it keeps everything close to the house.
Again — just ideas. But workable ones.
Right Side: Workshop and Hay Storage
The right half of the garage would stay more hands‑on. I’d keep a small workshop near the house entrance — enough room for tools, repairs, and projects. And since I don’t want to take up the goats’ 10’×20′ side with hay, I’d store hay and bedding near the garage door on the workshop side.
A 4’×8′ footprint can hold 10–15 bales easily, which is plenty for a small herd. It keeps the hay dry, accessible, and out of the way.
Still Just Ideas
None of this is a final plan. I’m not announcing anything or committing to goats tomorrow. These are just ideas I’m playing with as I imagine what life here could look like. But it feels good to sketch things out and see how the space could work if I ever decide to move forward.
Sometimes planning is half the fun — even when it’s just dreaming on paper.
SMALL HOMESTEAD by the river 