**We will be accepting new herdshare customers in March of 2023!**
Raw Milk from Weeping Willow Farm is...
Fully tested for pathogens and illnesses-- Instead of pasteurizing our milk, which destroys valuable nutrients and gut-healthy bacteria, we test regularly to verify our milk is 100% safe for consumption.
Primarily from grass fed Swiss dairy goats-- We practice rotational grazing here on our farm, verifying our does get lots of grasses, weeds, and bushes to make up the majority of their diet. On the milk stand, they get just enough of our own hand-mixed blend of healthy seeds, grains, herbs, and minerals. Swiss dairy goats are the most common and most preferred dairy goat for production in commercial dairy and cheese farms- known for being hardy, heavy milkers with long lactations and easy keepers in the fields and barns. Full of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients- and easy to digest too!-- Besides being considered a "super food" because of the large amounts of nutrients and minerals like calcium, phosphorus, iodine, potassium, chloride, iron, vitamin B, biotin, and vitamin A (among others), raw goat milk also contains less lactose than cows' milk- making it easier to digest. Raw goat milk is also prebiotic- carrying 4x more oligosaccharrides than cows' milk. Goats' milk also has significantly lower levels of alpha-S1-casein than cows' milk, making it friendlier on the gut. Fat globules in goat milk also carries a much different composition than cows' milk- being less noticeable in the milk and forming a softer curd during digestion, again helping with digestion health. Actually tastes great!-- Contrary to popular belief, goat milk does not have an "off" taste, IF cleaning protocols and placement of bucks are the main priority. We keep our bucks a healthy distance away from our herd of does, keeping the "bucky smell" FAR away from them. Our cleaning protocols are of very high standards, following the local state recommendations for cleaning, sanitizing, and construction of the milking parlor/dairy processing area. Our goat milk is immediately chilled after milking- keeping bacteria at bay while maintaining excellent quality and taste. We are always happy when we hear a first time herdshare customer state, "Wow! This tastes great! Can I have some more?" |
What IS a herdshare, you ask?
We're happy to answer that!
To become a member of our herdshare program, you will need to purchase the share with a one time membership fee of $40.00 in our herd. This membership fee gives you ownership to part of our herd and pays for the care and upkeep of your share in the herd. After paying your membership fee to be a part of our herdshare program, you can now purchase raw dairy products from your share in the herd! We offer raw milk, chevre (goat cheese), unflavored yogurt, buttermilk, whey, and even ice cream and mozzerella sticks (summer time only for ice cream and mozzerella)! All products will come packaged in either glass jars or plastic containers that we request be returned to us each week clean and ready to fill again. A contract must be signed prior to receiving your dairy products to verify you are now owner of a part of our herdshare program. If you are interested in more than just milk, a separate form is included for you to sign, giving us the right to make your cheese, yogurt, etc for you. **If you change your mind and want to cancel your membership at any time, we buy back your original start up fee.** |
Working toward becoming a member of the Raw Milk Institute, we are happily offering our herdshares to people in all walks of life- members of the Weston A. Price Foundation, people who cannot digest cow milk easily, customers with health issues like asthma, allergies, tick-borne illnesses, & gut issues, and of course, those who just love the wholesome goodness of raw goat milk! What's your reason for being interested in our goat milk?Share your story with us!
|
What do we feed our dairy goats?
We try to stay as close to grass-based as possible. But when it comes to dairy goats, they do need extra protein to keep up with milk production AND their health. So how do do that here on the farm? We offer rotational browsing fields for them throughout the year, loose minerals and baking soda at all times, copper boluses once per season, and while on the milking stand we offer them our own hand blended mix of whole oats, alfalfa pellets, barley, roasted soy hulls, soy beans, black oil sunflower seeds, Magnamilk minerals, Thorvin kelp, and limestone- along with small bundles of healthy herbs and plants like oregano, lemon balm, thyme, fennel, sage, dried pumpkin seeds, and more.. Our hay fields are not fertilized with traditional methods- instead we utilize the manure from our farm animals by spreading the manure throughout the fields during the winter, adding some lime during the spring, and allowing the broad leaf plants to grow strong alongside the grasses any time of year. Goats are not like horses and cattle- they actually thrive on broad leaf plants like Plantain, Chicory, Lambs Quarters, Mullein, Raspberry, Burdock, Red Clover, Yarrow, and Nettle- among so many more. We certainly want those broad leaf plants to grow strong among the grassy hayfields! We also add apple cider vinegar to our goats' waters for even more of an immune system boost. |
Proud members of the Farm to Consumer Legal Defense Fund
Location and Delivery options for our herdshare customers:
Pick up available on any pre-arranged day at Weeping Willow Farm in Willis, VA.
Delivery available on Saturdays at the Floyd Farmers Market in Floyd, VA.
Delivery available on Thursdays at the Galax Farmers Market in Galax, VA.
Delivery available on Saturdays at the Floyd Farmers Market in Floyd, VA.
Delivery available on Thursdays at the Galax Farmers Market in Galax, VA.
A little bit about our goats that provide our wonderful raw milk:
Our goats are from a CAE/Johnnes/Bruscellosis/TB tested herd, their milk is tested for pathogens monthly. Most are registered with the ADGA (American Dairy Goat Association), disbudded, herbally and conventionally dewormed according to necessity- following the FAMACHA score, primarily grass/browse raised rotationally with loose minerals, kelp, and baking soda available at all times, (being grained only during milking time), and have their hooves trimmed on a regular basis. We try to be present for each and every kidding, able to assist if needed. We believe very strongly in keeping our kids with the does for the first 12 weeks of their lives, weaning them only at night after they are 2 weeks old so we can start our milking regime. We chose Swiss breeds for our farm because they are known to be the strongest, most reliable milkers of the dairy goats, have very sweet creamy milk, strong & hardy health, and more of a calm temperament than many other breeds. We have been raising dairy goats since 2008 and couldn't imagine life without them!
Our goats are from a CAE/Johnnes/Bruscellosis/TB tested herd, their milk is tested for pathogens monthly. Most are registered with the ADGA (American Dairy Goat Association), disbudded, herbally and conventionally dewormed according to necessity- following the FAMACHA score, primarily grass/browse raised rotationally with loose minerals, kelp, and baking soda available at all times, (being grained only during milking time), and have their hooves trimmed on a regular basis. We try to be present for each and every kidding, able to assist if needed. We believe very strongly in keeping our kids with the does for the first 12 weeks of their lives, weaning them only at night after they are 2 weeks old so we can start our milking regime. We chose Swiss breeds for our farm because they are known to be the strongest, most reliable milkers of the dairy goats, have very sweet creamy milk, strong & hardy health, and more of a calm temperament than many other breeds. We have been raising dairy goats since 2008 and couldn't imagine life without them!
Contact Us
We look forward to meeting you! Please stay a while and get to know our goats and how you can incorporate healthy raw milk into your diet! We'd love to hear from you!