Herd Shares Ahead

In less than a month, our quiet barn will be filled with the sounds of babies:  piglets, lambs, and kids–goat kids that is.   I promise to post pictures but for the next 2 posts, let’s talk about those goats.

After a rather tumultuous year, I ended up keeping only the 2 healthiest mama goats.  With the help of time and the advise of a seasoned Amish farmer, we solved a difficult barn problem and are eager to begin a fresh new year and a fresh new herd.  Both girls are due at the beginning of April which means their milk should be available to our farm friends around the middle of the month.

Does that mean you just can pull up to our farm store and grab a bottle?   Well, not exactly.

In Michigan, folks like you are able to “own” milk by sharing my goats with me through a herd share.

Here’s how it works:  You sign two contracts.   The first says you are buying part of a goat, the second agrees that I will perform the duties of caring for and milking your goat.  What you get from this deal is a weekly share of milk.  Here’s the technical information:

Under Michigan’s policy, established in 2013 by the Fresh Unprocessed Whole Milk Workgroup, there must be a dated, written contract between me and each shareholder that covers at least these key points:

• We must be able to directly communicate at any given time.
• The milk can only come from our farm, and shareholders must come to the farm for their milk.
• I am not required to be licensed and the state does not inspect our farm.  In return, the contract covers only the raw milk.
• The milk cannot be sold to a third party.
• Our contract cannot in any way imply the sale of milk but must be written in a way that indicates the milk is already owned by the shareholders–they are just picking it up.

So, what if you have heard and studied the many benefits of fresh, delicious goat milk but are skeptical of its taste?  Oh, I can certainly help with that!  Just ask, and I will gladly give you a sample to try.

In my next post, we’ll dig a bit deeper into goat milk.  Why in the world would you choose it over cow milk?  What should you consider before signing those contracts?  Join me for that discussion, but in the meantime, if you have any interest in a herd share, go ahead and contact me–they are limited in number and will go quickly.

Warmly,