Ukrainian Goat Farm Resilience: Olena Bilozerenko on ‘Lymanska Koza,’ War, and Goat Therapy
Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen
Publication (Outlet/Website): The Good Men Project
Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2026/04/04
Olena Bilozerenko is a Ukrainian eco-farmer and cheesemaker who, together with her husband Valentyn, co-owns the goat cheese farm “Lymanska Koza.” The farm began operating in Stanislav, Kherson region, and the family survived more than eight months of occupation before relocating in autumn 2023, along with their animals (goats as well as rescued dogs and cats), to the village of Hvozdiv near Vasylkiv in the Kyiv region. In July 2024, they reopened to visitors: they produce goat cheeses, host tastings and “goat therapy” sessions, and ship orders throughout Ukraine. She is developing a rehabilitation project for veterans and internally displaced people, while currently coping with shortages of equipment, feed, water, and staff after a loss-making 2025 season.
In this interview, Scott Douglas Jacobsen speaks with Ukrainian eco-farmer and cheesemaker Olena Bilozerenko, co-owner of the goat cheese farm “Lymanska Koza” with Valentyn Bilozerenko. After surviving eight months of occupation in Kherson and relocating to Kyiv region with their goats and rescued animals, the family rebuilt their farm and reopened to visitors in 2024. Olena Bilozerenko describes the demanding daily rhythm of goat care, milking, and cheese production, alongside severe wartime challenges including power outages, water shortages, rising feed costs, and herd losses. Despite setbacks, Olena Bilozerenko emphasizes resilience, community support, and her vision of developing goat therapy programs for Ukrainian veterans and children.
Scott Douglas Jacobsen: What is a typical day like at “Lymanska Koza”?
Olena Bilozerenko: The morning begins at 5:30 a.m. Right now we have to go feed the baby goats (those that are not growing with their mothers), bring water for the adult goats, feed them, and milk them.
At the farm, the first ones waiting are the dogs. We have eight of them—six from Kherson and two that have already settled in here. They need to be fed and given attention.
And of course, the main members of our farm are waiting there—the goats. They are my priority, so I run to pour milk and feed the little ones. Immediately afterward, as Valentyn says, there is a “minute of tenderness”—holding them in my arms and giving them affection.
Then come the mothers and the rest of the herd. Water is heated, feed is poured, and the milking goats are milked.
I go back home while my husband stays at the farm a bit longer—to clean up, bring out hay, add more water, and let the goats out for a walk.
At home, the milk is strained and poured into jars. Usually after that I start making cheese, while my husband goes back to the farm several more times during the day to take care of the animals.
In the evening there is evening milking and the same rituals as in the morning.
At the end of last season, the goats’ milk strangely disappeared and they started to look unhealthy. In 14 years of experience, this had never happened before.
We always run courses of vitamins and minerals, give feed supplements with calcium and phosphorus, mineral salt licks, three kinds of grain, and hay. We stay in contact with veterinarians online.
Because of this, we had to stop producing products very early last year, and now there is very little milk, not even enough to feed the baby goats. We have to buy milk to feed them.
So right now I cannot say what will happen with tourism, production, or storage of our products.
With these constant power outages, the lack of water at the farm, and the absence of normal conditions for keeping goats and for the milking process, it is very difficult for us to cope.
In autumn 2025, we gave half of our herd as a gift to a man from the Chernihiv region, because we could no longer manage the difficulties of maintaining such a large herd.
Before the war, at home, we dreamed of expanding the herd to 150 goats.
But unfortunately, we are not at home.
Feed is also very expensive in the Kyiv region. We used to live in a village where all our neighbors were farmers, and we could buy feed directly from them.
But we love our animals very much and know the joy and love they bring. That is why we want to focus specifically on goat therapy for veterans and children.
In previous seasons, we welcomed veterans and children up to 12 years old with a 50% discount, internally displaced persons with a 10% discount, and children under 5 years old for free.
Right now there are more problems than advantages in the business. Without autonomous electricity, running our business is simply impossible. I have sent several applications to different grant foundations, but so far there has been no response.
We also keep seven cats from the Kherson region, and we receive no assistance for their food or care. Kind people—our clients and acquaintances—help us. Without that help, we would not have survived ourselves, let alone with the animals.
But we believe in Ukraine’s victory and in the restoration of our business. We have plans for this spring, but without grant support, it will be difficult to manage.
Jacobsen: Thank you very much for the opportunity and your time, Olena.
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