The Jonas Family is made up of Jim (Dad), PJ (Mom), Brett (24), Colter (22), Emery (20), Fletcher (19), Greyden (18), Hewitt (16), Indigo (14), and Jade (13). Learn more about us as individuals below.
The Jonas family is a God-loving, hard-working, ever-learning family that seeks to honor Jesus in all that we do. We began Goat Milk Stuff to share the goodness of goat milk with others, to bring Jim home full-time, and to provide an environment where the children could learn to be entrepreneurs.
As the children and Goat Milk Stuff have grown, we've been able to watch all of these goals come to fruition. We have a very simple philosophy when it comes to parenting and educating our children. It can be summed up as follows:
- Everything is a God issue and a learning opportunity (including making and selling goat milk soap).
- Hard work builds character which is an essential ingredient to a successful life.
- Each of our children are unique individuals with unique strengths and weaknesses and are raised as individuals.
- The family unit is a team and we all are sometimes called to sacrifice for the team.
Farm life is wonderful for raising children and we are super excited to be able to share not only our Goat Milk Stuff when you shop on our site, but to be able to share a piece of our lives whether you are reading PJ's blog, watching our YouTube videos, or visiting us here on the farm.
We get asked a lot of questions about ourselves, so we decided to answer some of the more common ones below. Thanks for all of your support of Goat Milk Stuff!
The Jonas Family
Jim and PJ
Favorite Soap: Lemongrass (PJ), Fiji Island (Jim)
Favorite "Stuff": Peppermint lip balm (PJ), Original Deodorant (Jim)
Favorite Sweets: Toffee (PJ), Gelato (in-store only) (Jim)
Favorite Cheese: Garlic Chevre (PJ), Garden Marinated Feta (Jim)
Favorite Color: Hunter green (PJ), Sunset (Jim)
Favorite Hobby: Reading (PJ), Cycling (Jim)
Favorite Job: Delegating (PJ), Whatever is left (Jim)
Favorite Book: Margin* (PJ), Me, Myself, & Bob* (Jim)
Favorite Bible Verse: Joshua 24:15 (PJ), 1 Thessalonians 4:10b-12 (Jim)
Jim and PJ met in 1990 at the University of Virginia during PJ's first weekend at college. Although Jim was a year ahead of her, he was on a 5 year plan where he graduated in 5 years with both a Bachelor's and Master's degree. This meant they were able to graduate together. Jim spent 7 years teaching Junior High Science as well as spending several years a corporate trainer and a garbage man before joining Goat Milk Stuff full-time. PJ lasted 3 years in Corporate America before quitting to become a stay-at-home, homeschooling Mom.
"And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15
"But we urge you, brethren, to excel still more, and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you, so that you will behave properly toward outsiders and not be in any need." 1 Thessalonians 4:10b-12
Brett, Mason, Landon, and Michael Werst
Favorite Goat: Pollyanna (Brett) Favorite "Stuff": Pink Sugary Perfume (Brett) Vanilla Lip Balm (Mason)
Favorite Sweets: Toffee (Brett) Toffee (Mason)
Favorite Cheese: Garlic (Brett) Sriracha (Mason)
Favorite Color: Teal (Brett) Green (Mason)
Favorite Hobby: Reading (Brett) Shooting (Mason)
Favorite Job: Managing our Social Media (Brett) Cheese Making (Mason)
Favorite Book: The Chronicles of Narnia* (Brett) The Cowboys (Mason)
Favorite Bible Verse: Romans 8:28 (Brett) Deuteronomy 31:6 (Mason)
Brett is the oldest of the Jonas children and displays many of the characteristics of a first-born. She is in charge of all the social media for GMS, and manages the paperwork for the goats. She is married to a wonderful man named Mason, and the two of them plan to continue working for GMS - and have their children help out too. As she tells people who ask, she "can't imagine anything better than growing up on the farm," and she wants her children to experience that too.
Mason is the main cheesemaker here at GMS, as well as the farmer who raises the grass-fed beef available in our stores. We've known his family for years and couldn't be more thrilled that he has joined our family!
They got married in January, 2018, their firstborn, Landon, joined us in November, 2018, and Michael was born in May 2020. She currently works from home, and loves being able to work in the family business, while still being a stay at home mom.
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28
Colter
Favorite Soap: Lemongrass
Favorite "Stuff": Arnica Salve
Favorite Sweets: Dark Chocolate
Favorite Cheese: Caramel
Favorite Color: Black
Favorite Hobby: Ultimate Frisbee
Favorite Job: Moving feed
Favorite Book: And Then There Were None*
Favorite Bible Verse: Hebrews 12:1-2
Colter has become a strong young man who is dependable, and very capable of anything you throw his way. Not only does he help with the milking, but he also makes all the goat milk soaps. He prides himself on running and exercise, and loves to play Ultimate Frisbee with a local team.
"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1-2
Emery
Favorite Goat: Valley
Favorite Soap: Sandalwood
Favorite "Stuff": Arnica Salve
Favorite Sweets: Caramel
Favorite Cheese: Sriracha
Favorite Color: Gold
Favorite Hobby: Ultimate Frisbee
Favorite Job: Taking Pictures of Goats
Favorite Book: The Rithmatist*
Favorite Bible Verse: Proverbs 1:7
Emery is our Candy Kitchen Manager, which includes making everything from chocolate to muffins to sourdough bread. He develops new recipes and keeps our cases full of yummy candies like caramels, chocolate covered caramels, fudge, Peanut Butter Caramel Crunch Bars, Chocolate Creams, Goat Milk Toffee, and more! He also helps Mom manage our gardens, and has his own flower garden. When the work is done, he’s usually playing with his brothers, drawing, reading, or running.
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction." Proverbs 1:7
Fletcher
Favorite Goat: Pemberley
Favorite Soap: Black Raspberry
Favorite "Stuff": Arnica Salve
Favorite Sweets: Peanut Butter Crunch Bar
Favorite Cheese: Garlic
Favorite Color: Green
Favorite Hobby: Coin collecting
Favorite Job: Playing with the dogs
Favorite Book: Black Hawk Down*
Favorite Bible Verse: 1 Corinthians 10:13
Fletcher is talkative and always ready to tell you a joke. He's very outgoing and is the first one to reach out to people he doesn’t know. He's the self proclaimed dog boy, and makes sure our great pyrenees have all their needs met, and could spend all day playing with them. He runs our Sweet Shop and laughs and jokes with all of our customers. When the work is done he’s usually found reading a book, playing with his brothers, or running.
"No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it." 1 Corinthians 10:13
Greyden
Favorite Goat: Thalia
Favorite Soap: Fiji Island
Favorite "Stuff": Baseball Hat
Favorite Sweets: Mikeys
Favorite Cheese: Caramel
Favorite Color: Blue
Favorite Hobby: Building things
Favorite Job: Handling the goats
Favorite Book: All Creatures Great and Small*
Favorite Bible Verse: 2 Samuel 22:33-4
Greyden is the quiet Jonas. He doesn't say much, but when he does it counts. He is also our goat boy, who regularly milks, and cares for them all. He's the "daddy" to the baby goats, and knows all the goats' names, and can tell them apart. When he's not working, he can usually be found running, playing frisbee, or tinkering with things in our garage.
"God is my strength and power, and He makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of deer, and sets me on my high places." 2 Samuel 22:33-4
Hewitt
Favorite Goat: Persephone
Favorite Soap: Cranberry
Favorite "Stuff": Soap
Favorite Sweets: Toffee
Favorite Cheese: Pumpkin
Favorite Color: Red
Favorite Hobby: Running
Favorite Job: Managing the Baby Barn
Favorite Book: The Chronicles of Prydain*
Favorite Bible Verse: Exodus 20:12
Hewitt is the youngest of 5 boys, and the sweet one in the family who will run up to you to give you a hug, but with plenty of young boy still in him. He takes care of our Baby Barn, and runs the Baby Goat Experience. When the work's done, he likes to spend his time drawing, playing with playmobil, and running around the farm with his brothers.
"Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you." Exodus 20:12
Indigo
Favorite Goat: Valley
Favorite Soap: Fiji Island
Favorite "Stuff": Peppermint Lip Balm
Favorite Sweets: Gelato (in-store only)
Favorite Cheese: Jalapeno
Favorite Color: Indigo
Favorite Hobby: Ultimate Frisbee
Favorite Job: Posting to Social Media
Favorite Book: The Healers Apprentice*
Favorite Bible Verse: Proverbs 19:20
Indigo is a little princess and tomboy all at the same time. She is in charge of our Farm Store, and wins customers over by being as sweet as can be. She also answers our phones, and crochets hats to sell. When the work is done, she can be found with her nose in a book, quilting, or playing Ultimate Frisbee.
"Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise." Proverbs 19:20
Jade
Favorite Goat: Zany
Favorite Soap: Cranberry
Favorite "Stuff": Pumpkin Candle
Favorite Sweets: Gelato (in-store only)
Favorite Cheese: Garlic
Favorite Color: Blue
Favorite Hobby: Reading
Favorite Job: Running the Farm Store
Favorite Book: The Bayern Books*
Favorite Bible Verse: 1 John 1:9
Jade is the youngest in the Jonas family, but you wouldn't know it by her character. She is friendly, loud, bubbly, self reliant, confident, and everyone who comes to the farm loves her. From helping in the kitchen, to the barn, to the soaproom, Jade delights in helping her siblings with their work throughout the day. When not working, she can be found reading, running, or playing frisbee with her brothers.
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9
*The hyperlinks to our favorite books are Amazon Affiliate links.