Re: Pls welcome Sharon to our group!

[Guest guest]

WOW! Welcome Sharon. I love good long intros like that. You are

making me hungry. Anyway, that sounds great about your little farmlet.

You have 12 acres but you don't have a cow? And you love raw milk?

Sara L. Rheault wrote:

>

> ----- Original Message -----

>

>

> >

> > My name is Sharon. My husband and I live on a small-holding of 12 acres

> > in Northwestern Vermont. Four acres are used for a small flock of

> > free-range chickens, a couple of large gardens, an orchard, a 9 mo

> > filly, 2 ewes (breeding stock for meat lambs), and 2 bee hives.

> >

[Guest guest]

Well, , I almost did get a cow last year. But then I was talked

out of it by a few farmer friends. Milking twice a day and then having

to feed her when she's dried off. Plus, there was the question of

getting her bred, what to do with the calf or calves, not wanting a

whole herd, not wanting to use up our 4 farm acres (the other 8 are

woods)that fast, etc.

The ewes may be pregnant, won't know until May, but you can be sure

that I will be trying sheep's milk when the time comes.

In the final analysis, buying raw milk for $5.00/gal is cheaper and

less labor intensive.

How many others on this group have farms?

Sharon

> WOW! Welcome Sharon. I love good long intros like that. You are

> making me hungry. Anyway, that sounds great about your little

farmlet.

> You have 12 acres but you don't have a cow? And you love raw milk?

>

>

[Guest guest]

Sharon,

I think you have some wise friends. If you find the sheep not giving enough milk you might want to try goats. We have two cows that we milk and cannot get rid of because we just couldn't. If I had it to do all over again I'd forget the milk cows and go with just goats. Easier for me to handle by myself (hubby has back problems) and much easier to stagger the milking. The cows are difficult to keep away from the bull when in heat where goats are easier to confine to different pastures. I'm sure there are others with differing views but that's my take.

Belinda who once lived in VT

Well, , I almost did get a cow last year. But then I was talked

out of it by a few farmer friends. Milking twice a day and then having

to feed her when she's dried off. Plus, there was the question of

getting her bred, what to do with the calf or calves, not wanting a

whole herd, not wanting to use up our 4 farm acres (the other 8 are

woods)that fast, etc.

The ewes may be pregnant, won't know until May, but you can be sure

that I will be trying sheep's milk when the time comes.

In the final analysis, buying raw milk for $5.00/gal is cheaper and

less labor intensive.

How many others on this group have farms?

Sharon