Our herd's production is slowing down as we are gearing up for kidding season. Currently we do not have any herd shares available, but we should be back up to full production March 2012.
Need goat milk, but don't want to buy a goat? Consider a goat herd share!
It is illegal in the state of Va to sell raw milk, however, many, many people can benefit from drinking raw milk, especially raw goats milk which is much easier to digest than cows milk and causes far fewer allergies and is often suitable for those people who are lactose intolerant. Milk and other products produced on farms that practice sustainable farming methods is also better for people, for the animals on the farm, and the environment.
With sustainable, humane farming practices, the number of animals on the farm is kept to a minimum. They are pastured, with access, but not confinement to, comfortable barns and shelters. Their manure is gathered regularly and composted and used as fertilizer. They are fed a good diet free of animal products. They are not medicated unless necessary, nor exposed to synthetic fertilizers or pesticides used in their grazing areas. Their stress levels are kept extremely low and they enjoy a good life with people who care greatly about them.
This is how we raise our dairy goats. Our goats share pasture with horses, who graze the grass down close and consume goat-specific parasite eggs so that the goats require much less worming. They are also pastured with chickens on occasion that clean up wasted goat feed and eat flies and fly larvae, as well as ticks and other pests.
We use composted manure from the farm to fertilize, and nothing artificial, never chemical fertilizers...no miracle grow, etc. Our goats are clean and healthy and disease-free.
We start milk testing at kidding time in 2012, and will have regular somatic cell counts available as well as milkfat and protein analysis for each doe in milk. The milk is cooled quickly after milking and remains fresh and tasty for up to 10 days or 6 months if frozen.
Here is how the herd share works. A person buys a "share" of our herd, which is $40. They are then a "shareholder" in Shantara Acres Farm. They own a share of the herd, but with that, comes management costs, which are called "boarding fees". These fees are $32 dollars per month. There is also a one time container fee of $10.00. The boarding fee is payment to the farm for boarding, feeding, milking and maintaining the shareholders share of the herd, or goat. The fee is paid once per month, and entitles the share holder to one gallon of milk per week.
Herd shares are also available in 1/2 and 1/4 shares. A 1/2 share entitles the shareholder to 1/2 gallon per week and a 1/4 share entitles the shareholder to one quart per week. These can be combined any way desired, depending on the amount of milk a person or family requires. The shares can be sold back to the farm (minus the boarding fees) with a 30 day notice by the shareholder. The farm also maintains the right to re-purchase shares at any time, due to selling of stock, illness in herd, family, etc.
The share programs, not limited to milk, but also vegetables, meats, cheeses, etc. in Virginia are growing by leaps and bounds as people decide to buy more and more local food, decreasing their dependence on food that has to travel great distances. Local food bought from small farms using fewer machines and fewer hands touching production, also greatly lessens the likely-hood of contamination. The consumber knows the grower, the grower knows the consumer, and they all want each other to be happy. It is a win-win situation. As a herd share owner in Shantara Acres Farm, you will get first choice milk each week. Some milk goes to feed kids, make cheese, etc, but the share owners will always get their milk first. (we often use cow milk for the kids...they do great on it!)
If you'd like more information on our herd share program, email me at ladyrings@aolcom. You can also find GREAT information on the benefits of drinking raw milk by visiting www.realmilk.com or searching through the weston price foundation website. Great information that will really open your eyes.
Think Global: Eat Local!
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