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Friday Favorite: Our Cow

April 6th, 2012

I’m taking a break from the non-toxic cleaning series because – well, it takes a lot of time to write those posts and because the fact that when raw milk graces my fridge and my coffee once again it’s a source of much celebration here at Chiot’s Run.

Earlier this week, my friendly farmer e-mailed and said they could have fresh real milk for us this week. Why do we not get milk in the winter? Our farmers let their cows go dry in the winter, both for the sake of giving the cows a break, and for the sake of giving themselves a break. Lucky for us, there’s another small local dairy that offers pastured milk, it’s not raw, but it’s lightly pasteurized, the next best thing. It’s good, way better than grocery store milk, but once you’ve had good real fresh milk, everything else pales in comparison.



We dropped everything and went out to the farm to drop off our milk jars. We got to watch as the new calves were fed then our friendly farmers gave us a tour of all the pastures and told us all the cows names. I deemed this one as “The Morris Cow”. Her name is gluey and they were saying she’s homely & ugly, but I think she’s a real beauty.




Here in Ohio it’s illegal to buy raw milk, the only way it’s legal is to drink milk from your own cow. So we own a cow and we pay our friendly farmer to board her for us. We drive the few miles to the farm each week and pick up half gallon mason jars filled with rich creamy goodness. We love how the milk changes throughout the seasons depending on what the cows are eating. Fresh real milk from the farm is a true joy. It’s like most things, when you search out and have the best you really can never settle for anything less! Join me in dancing a little dance because our cups will be overflowing with fresh real milk until this coming December.

What local product are you most happy about when it’s available?

35 Comments to “Friday Favorite: Our Cow”
  1. daisy on April 6, 2012 at 6:03 am

    What a great way to get around not being able to buy raw milk! So smart! I think that cow is so sweet looking.

    We enjoy locally grown honey. The best!

    Reply to daisy's comment

  2. Louisa on April 6, 2012 at 6:26 am

    Raw milk is the best! There are 15 farms certified to sell raw milk in New York, and I live near one. I will never go back. The milk is so much better!

    Reply to Louisa's comment

  3. Kathi Cook on April 6, 2012 at 6:52 am

    I love creative solutions to these ridiculous laws supposedly aimed at “protecting us”. I just looked it up in Ct.and It is available and legal here. I have never tried raw milk. We actually drink very little milk,but when we do it’s from a Ct. coop of farms that sells pasturized milk. We also have a dairy that sells the low temp pasturized mild and I do like that. What is the shelf life of a half gallon of raw milk? I think it would take us longer than a week to drink a half gallon.

    Reply to Kathi Cook's comment

    • Susy on April 6, 2012 at 7:33 am

      The shelf life is really long actually, we’ve had half gallons in the fridge for 2 weeks before with no sourness. We pick it up the day after it’s been milked or sometimes on the same day. Raw milk doesn’t go rancid like pasteurized milk, it just sours and is still edible. Since the natural probiotics haven’t been boiled away,the soured milk is kind of like yogurt or kefir. I sometimes let a gallon sit out on the counter for a day or two until it separates into curds and whey, then I strain it and we enjoy it as a soft cheese. Sometimes I make a Colombian peasant cheese with the sour milk by heating it lightly and adding some rennet, then straining and pressing. Letting the milk sour before using it in cheese makes for a much tastier cheese!

      Reply to Susy's comment

      • Kathi Cook on April 6, 2012 at 4:27 pm

        Thanks for the info-i love the idea of using the excess for yogurt or cheese which I have been wanting to try anyway. I just drove by a farm today that I noticed sold raw milk.

        to Kathi Cook's comment

    • Susy on April 6, 2012 at 7:35 am

      PS – we use four and a half gallons of raw milk each week between the 2 of us. I’m lactose intolerant when it comes to regular store milk, so we didn’t drink much in the beginning. Now I drink a glass of raw milk for a quick snack when I get hungry in the afternoon. I do make butter, yogurt, kefir and cheese from some of the milk as well.

      Reply to Susy's comment

      • daisy on April 7, 2012 at 5:58 am

        You mean, you can drink raw milk if you’re lactose intolerant? I never knew that!

        to daisy's comment

      • Susy on April 7, 2012 at 9:04 am

        Yes Daisy. Raw milk retains all the natural probiotics which help you digest the milk. Often lactose intolerance is actually an intolerance to homogenization and sometimes pasteurization. I can drink lightly pasteurized milk from another small local dairy and raw milk with no digestive issues. Regular milk from the store on the other hand is completely out of the question for me! Our farmer’s wife is the same way, she was lactose intolerant until they started drinking raw milk.

        For great info on the awesomeness of raw milk, check out http://www.realmilk.com/

        to Susy's comment

      • Marcia on April 7, 2012 at 4:22 pm

        I always thought I was lactose intolerant as well but I’ve been enjoying organic milk from a small local farm for two weeks now. I’d forgotten how good a cold glass of milk can be with fresh cookies.

        to Marcia's comment

    • Jennifer Fisk on April 6, 2012 at 8:21 am

      I too buy raw milk direct from the farmer, it is legal in Maine, and I find it lasts at least a week before starting to go. The nice thing is raw milk will sour not rot like pasturized therefore it can be used in recipes calling for sour milk.

      Reply to Jennifer Fisk's comment

  4. Allison on April 6, 2012 at 8:52 am

    Love the photos. I wish I could find an option like this in my area.

    Reply to Allison's comment

  5. tj on April 6, 2012 at 9:16 am

    …Okay, first of all, lemme say I adore Miss Morris or “Gluey” – she’s beautiful and nothing short of it. And same goes for their barn. :o)

    …I used to get raw milk from a local farmer but then the elderly fellow became ill and died and then later his wife became ill and suddenly the farm was up for sale. I need to find another local source because I loved getting and drinking raw milk.

    …And wow – 4 1/2 gallons between you & Mr. Chiots?! Shame they don’t have commercials promoting dairies providing raw milk ’cause you two would be perfect poster children. *giggle* ;o)

    …That last photo? *swoons* :o)

    …Enjoy your day you two!

    …Blessings

    *now joining you in your happy dance* ;o)

    Reply to tj's comment

  6. Donna B. on April 6, 2012 at 9:17 am

    They look so happy! [and those calves! ♥ ] I love that they’re given a break in the wintertime, it’s like us humans needing some R&R during the winter doldrums to recollect our thoughts too.
    I love the concept that you own one of them – I wonder if there is a farm local to me that would do the same… But wait, so is Gluey “The Morris Cow” your cow? :D

    Reply to Donna B.'s comment

    • Susy on April 6, 2012 at 9:24 am

      Gluey is our cow, at least as of this year. We claimed her when we were out visiting. We too love that they give the cows a break in winter, great for the cows, great for the farmers!

      Reply to Susy's comment

  7. KimH on April 6, 2012 at 10:37 am

    My grandparents owned a huge dairy and one of my uncles did as well. I havent had fresh milk since I was a kid.. but once you have, the stuff they sell in the stores seriously pales. I still have fond memories of drinking the cream off the top of the milk jug. ;)

    I havent found any place to get raw milk in my area yet, but the CSA I belong to sent out a survey last fall asking what members would be wiling to buy into and raw pastured milk was one of the options that they are looking into, so hopefully that will be offered in the next year or two.

    Love your cow pictures. I have loads of old cow pictures that I used to take when I was young when I’d go with my grandfather to check on his beef cattle. Gotta love the good things! ♥

    Reply to KimH's comment

  8. stefaneener on April 6, 2012 at 10:53 am

    Oh my — baby cows always remind me of Labrador puppies. So. Incredibly. Cute. Sigh. No cows for me, alas.

    Reply to stefaneener's comment

    • Susy on April 6, 2012 at 11:24 am

      You should have seen the one they had yesterday (I didn’t have my camera). She was the most beautiful shade of chocolate with a white triangle on her forehead.

      Reply to Susy's comment

  9. Jennifer Krieger on April 6, 2012 at 12:11 pm

    I, too, like Gluey. You picked a good cow. Here in CA I can buy raw milk at the farmers’ market and in some of the stores. Sprouts carries raw milk. Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s do not. So far. Jenny

    Reply to Jennifer Krieger's comment

  10. dkswife on April 6, 2012 at 12:20 pm

    We have our own milk cow, and raw milk is the best. The cream is outstanding and the milk tastes wonderful. I make cheese, yogurt, kefir, sour cream, and am in the process of gathering all the supplies I need to make milk based soap.

    Mmmm raw milk.

    BTW, if raw milk is handled properly it should last almost 20 days before going bad. Ours never makes it that long. We drink about 5 – 6 gallons of milk a week.

    Reply to dkswife's comment

  11. Grace on April 6, 2012 at 1:26 pm

    I finally have a source for raw milk here in Georgia. It is illegal here except for pet consumption. Whatever! They don’t ask what I’m going to do with it, although they did recently host a cheese making workshop, so I guess they know. So silly, all of this making us run around like criminals running mooshine.

    We’re moving to South Carolina next year and I was so happy to discover that raw milk is legal there. I actually found some in an Amish grocery there a couple of weeks ago right next to the dead milk. The store owner was joking with me about the signs that he is required to post next to it telling you it will probably kill you. Now I just need to find a farmer who sells it near where we will live. Yay!

    Reply to Grace's comment

    • dkswife on April 6, 2012 at 3:33 pm

      Yes it is ridiculous to be treated like a criminal over something completely natural.

      Reply to dkswife's comment

  12. Brenda Collins on April 6, 2012 at 2:33 pm

    Have you tried milking a cow? It’s one of the experiences I’d like to do but I don’t seem to have the chance. I hope I get to do it in the future.

    -Brenda

    Reply to Brenda Collins's comment

    • Susy on April 6, 2012 at 2:40 pm

      I haven’t tried it before, would love to someday as well!

      Reply to Susy's comment

      • dkswife on April 6, 2012 at 3:32 pm

        You both should try it. Once you get the hang of it, it is really quite easy and doesn’t take that long to milk out a cow ~ 20 minutes – I spend almost the same exact time cleaning our cow and applying teat dip :)

        My husband calls me a “back teat driver” :)

        to dkswife's comment

  13. judym on April 6, 2012 at 4:35 pm

    Such wonderful memories of my childhood. My uncle owned a dairy farm. We got the chance to feed the cows while they were being milked and played with the calves. We always ran around with our cousin Billy in the evening – His chore was to feed the calves. I can still smell the fragance of the formula he mixed. We all took turns helping him.

    Fresh milk can’t be beat in my book. It was served at every meal at my uncle’s I can still see my aunts churning the butter while chatting with neighbors and relatives. Learned a lot of family history, playing at their feet!
    Would love to have a cow. I still have acres here (o: not in garden mode!

    Reply to judym's comment

  14. anotherkindofdrew on April 6, 2012 at 5:45 pm

    So? When are we going to have our virtual cheers? I am ready. Oh, and to answer your question? Our milk is starting to nudge out our pork (remember our beloved Pork ‘n Beans) as my favorite local product. But honestly? All of it is. What I love more is the feeling I have knowing that we are supporting local farmers and gardeners now with our purchases of eggs, milk, beef, chicken, leafy greens, onions, and oats.

    Reply to anotherkindofdrew's comment

  15. Liz J on April 6, 2012 at 6:51 pm

    Love those baby pictures!!!

    Reply to Liz J's comment

  16. Sabrina on April 6, 2012 at 8:32 pm

    I love raw milk! Growing up on farms in Michigan it was all I knew.
    It’s illegal here in Virginia as well. Lots of farms are doing “cow co-ops” You buy a portion of a cow and the farmer boards and milks it for you. Every week you get to go and pick up your milk.
    I’m glad people are finding ways to get fresh milk.

    Reply to Sabrina's comment

  17. Rosemary J. on April 7, 2012 at 11:20 am

    I grew up on a diary farm in west central WI and we always drank raw milk. We loved putting the fresh cream over berries in the summer. I can’t believe that now it’s illegal. We never got sick from it.

    So far, I’ve not been able to find a dairy here in San Diego county that sells it directly. I went to Whole Foods and they wanted $12.00 a gallon. I understand that Sprouts is now selling it too. I’m going to try them next.

    Love the photos of the calves. So sweet!

    Reply to Rosemary J.'s comment

  18. Mich on April 8, 2012 at 8:58 am

    I used to own a small herd of Dexter cows which were mainly a suckler herd but one cow ‘Erica’ used to have way too much milk for her calf..
    Some years I bought an extra calf for her to rear but normally I would take milk from her for my own use & then let the calf suckler her :) You cant beat fresh milk. I miss it.

    Reply to Mich's comment

  19. Link to Chiot’s Run | Roberts' Farm Blog on April 8, 2012 at 9:58 pm

    […] /2012/04/06/friday-favorite-our-cow/ Share this:TwitterFacebookLike this:LikeBe the first to like this post. […]

    Reply to Link to Chiot’s Run | Roberts' Farm Blog's comment

  20. angie on April 27, 2012 at 8:24 am

    I am so excited to visit this farm! 4 gallons a week?? do you freeze any of it? I am trying to figure out how much we will need. It is mainly my husband and I but sometimes we have my step son. We weren’t huge milk drinkers until I switched to hartzler’s and now I am going through way more….especially chocolate. I want to try my hand at kefir too.

    Reply to angie's comment

    • Susy on April 27, 2012 at 8:27 am

      We don’t freeze any, in the winter we buy Hartzler’s (not enough freezer space for a winter’s worth of milk). Dawn has kefir grains (or used to) if not I have plenty I can share. The kefir grains LOVE the raw milk and multiply like crazy. We do drink a lot of milk and are much healthier for it, it’s our go-to snack when we get hungry between meals, sure beats any kind of snack that comes in a box/bag as far as health is concerned. And all those probiotics – we try to eat a bit of yogurt, kefir, or drink some raw milk with every meal to help with nutrient absorption.

      Reply to Susy's comment

  21. angie on April 30, 2012 at 8:01 am

    My grandma loved raw milk as a kid and probably hasn’t had it since. She is 79 and has a host of health problems and in reading about the amazing benefits of raw milk, I would love to give her some but I am afraid of her poor immune system not handling it well…is this something to be concerned about? I guess I am considering the “what if”, if I drank some first just in case…

    Reply to angie's comment

    • Susy on April 30, 2012 at 8:29 am

      If you can find a good source of healthy raw milk then there’s really nothing to worry about. Your grandma is at far greater risk from pharmaceuticals and grocery store food than from raw milk from a healthy source. Raw milk from a good source actually boosts immunity because of all the probiotics in it. I’d highly recommend reading some information over at RealMilk.com and then making your decision. Personally, I’d feel comfortable, but that’s a decision you and your grandmother need to make.

      Reply to Susy's comment

About

This is a daily journal of my efforts to cultivate a more simple life, through local eating, gardening and so many other things. We used to live in a small suburban neighborhood Ohio but moved to 153 acres in Liberty, Maine in 2012.

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