Raw Milk

Submitted by anderson on 25 October 2009 - 8:50pm

Just visited a small farm here in NW indiana and purchased my first gallon of fresh raw milk. Along with other items he sells in his small store located on his dairy farm are amish cheese and noodles along with eggs brown and white .. all from the middlebury Amish Mr. Sanderson said. We also brought home pumpkins and gourds . I admit I was scared to try the raw milk but after tasting this delicious milk I may never go back to store bought. Mr. Sanderson said as long as we shake the gallon before opening it stays fresh as long as the other pasturized brands purchased from super markets , seems a small amount of cream may float to the opening that needs to be shook down. This purchase created a health interest curiosity if perhaps raw milk is safe or dangerous to drink over a long period of time, so I googled up Raw Milk and low and behold .. If all the scientific evidence is true it may be healthier then pasturized verzion and have cancer fighting enzymes that get boiled away during the pasturizing process. The benefits are far too great for me to write briefly in this blog all I can say is google up Raw milk and decide for yourself. Raw milk is illegal to be sold according to state health laws but can be purchased directly from the farmers and by cow share programs where you pay the farmer to milk your share or part of a cow, this program is growing fast and maybe a new healthy trend as consumers are looking for healthier food and organic choices.

Re: Raw Milk

Submitted by Donnahatch on 11 November 2009 - 7:31pm.

There again, the government tells us all what we can do.

Re: Raw Milk

Submitted by meglet44 on 11 November 2009 - 3:44pm.

I just found out that my food Co-op will sell folks raw milk. You have to go to the back door, give the password and promise not to tell everybody in the world, lest the supply be shut down. It's $6/half gallon. I'm gonna make cheese!!!!

Re: Raw Milk

Submitted by aleik on 30 October 2009 - 5:57pm.

I am a fourth generation dairy farmer and we have been milking cows for over 100 years on our farm. I have always drank raw milk. But, I know what is going into the milk also. There is no comparison between the taste and cooking properties of raw and pasteurized. However, there is a reason it is pasteurized, milk now does not go from the cow directly to the table. It goes from the farm to the processors to the distributors to the store then to most peoples tables - this takes time. All milk has bacteria, pasterization greatly reduces the bacteria counts (somatic cell counts), therefore giving it a much longer shelf life. You must be careful when drinking raw milk, since you (unless you are the farmer) do not know what the bacteria levels are. The state Department of Agriculture monitors this on all farms selling milk, but when you do the milk share program, this is not required.

Re: Raw Milk

Submitted by bkrchck on 30 October 2009 - 12:02am.

I buy my milk from a local amish farm for $1 per gallon. We take a gallon jar (I use the pickle jars) let it sit in the fridge overnight, skim the cream, and make butter. So, for $1, I get most of a gallon of wonderful milk, about 1/2 lb. of butter, and around a quart of sweet, fresh, buttermilk. Not that nasty, thick stuff they sell in the store. I don't think that too many things can beat that kind of value! And it is all preservative free. And, since the amish don't use commercial feeds, there is no hormones, etc. in the milk. I also wish I could have a cow. But, I live inside city limits.

Re: Raw Milk

Submitted by skittles_pa on 11 December 2009 - 1:44pm.

Hello bkrchck,

I was raised on raw milk, but was a small child. I never asked how my mother or grandmother made the butter. Would you share your recipe with me?

Re: Raw Milk

Submitted by Tish on 29 October 2009 - 4:56pm.

I would love to find a place closer to Indpls. to buy raw milk. Better yet, I'd like to have my own cow, or maybe even a goat, for milk. I think the City of Indpls. would probably frown on that tho! :)

Tish

Re: Raw Milk

Submitted by mandy19j on 28 October 2009 - 5:43pm.

My father-in-law used to raise Jersey cows and we always had raw milk. It took awhile for my husband to get used to drinking store milk because he'd had raw milk for the first 22 years of his life.

Re: Raw Milk

Submitted by farmhousebarb on 26 October 2009 - 6:34pm.

We have always had cows..so we have always had raw milk. My older Jersey freshened in Sept. and came down with milk fever. Even tho' we gave her calcium gluconate(IV's) several times,we still lost her. Very sad..she was like a member of the family. So right now, I am buying milk..ok for cooking,I guess, but noone will drink it. Hopefully,we will be milking again soon!! Happy for you,that you have "real" milk!!

Re: Raw Milk

Submitted by jwp22209 on 27 October 2009 - 2:53pm.

Barb, what does that mean that your cow "freshened"? I've never heard that expression before (most likely because I've never been around cows!). Is that common? That's so sad that you lost her ... losing animals is just awful. - Janice

Re: Raw Milk

Submitted by farmhousebarb on 27 October 2009 - 3:46pm.

It means that she gave birth. I am not sure where the term came from,but it is the term used for cows! Yes you are right,it's hard to lose an animal.

Re: Raw Milk

Submitted by KJuneBug on 29 October 2009 - 6:09pm.

I thought it came from the fact that the cows milk, had re-freshened itself. New birth, new milk supply?

Re: Raw Milk

Submitted by cherylames on 26 October 2009 - 3:49am.

I love raw milk, we used to pour ourselves a glassful right from the bulk tank at my uncle's farm, it's the best on cereal and just ice cold to drink, I miss it, but in this area, most small farmers have fallen by the wayside......My husband actually likes it right from the cow, I prefer mine chilled....