A class isn’t just 4-6 hours on a Saturday. It’s making sure the house (and yard) is respectable (takes 1-2 days), it means the cheese/milk/butcher schedule is planned ahead of time. It means supper is prepared beforehand and lunch is properly provided. It means the children can’t be their usual squabbling selves roaming freely everywhere. It means both Alan and I are available to teach and answer questions. And I don’t know why this is so hard, it looks so trivial when I wri

Don’t worry, we’re still milking, making cheese, and training cows. But the next load of bulk feed won’t be alfalfa pellets, it will be a non GMO dairy ration. We feel it’s a more complete feed for our hard working girls and provides better nutrition for them. Their nutritional needs are more important than any grassfed fad promoted by people who don’t farm and definitely don’t milk. Overall, I’ve had no complaints, the cows switched easily and have performed well without gra

Mascarpone

Calf sharing? Not on this farm. While it does have a place, it’s not here. Having multiple cows in the herd, our calf sharing experiences have not been favorable. •The newborn scour stage—the calf disappears and after hours of searching, you might find him. He’s probably too weak to nurse and dehydrated, and you’ve got a 30% chance he’ll live. •The independent cow—she has her calf in the field, why should she come up for milking?! •The independent cow—fidgets, holds back milk

I love making rich savory meals for our family and friends. ( I have to admit, I never imagined I’d spend so much of my life in the kitchen). I also never imagined how deeply fulfilling it is to cook amazing food. I’m completely convinced that if more of our country ate really good food, our lives would be vastly improved. Good food improves even the worst moods in the most stressful times. It bolsters our bodies with nutrients so we can walk through life’s challenges. It soo

Home butcher. Making hot dogs. Making it easy!

Chickens are working overtime in the egg factory. Overalls and gloves are discarded for shorts and spring sunburns. Fishing poles are dug...

We’ve been milking sheep for almost 5 years and for the first time—we have a lot of sheep milk!! It’s fun and a little overwhelming....

Rennet notes January 2025 Harvested abosunum from a Brahma bull calf 10 days old. Washed, salted, treated like a casing. Dried by the...

Simple Fast Meltable Stretchy Delicious Recipe below ⬇️ ⬇️⬇️ I began making Gouda 17 years ago, hard cheese has always been fairly...

Tell me again why I need grassfed genetics to make my dairy cows perform without grain?? Dairy cows need calories. They honestly don’t...

This is at least as important as learning to milk. Buy a simple rope halter, or two, they’re cheap, usually under $10 at any TSC or feed...