RE: ideas for finding a raw milk source

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the information, Blair.

Coombes

Beaverton, OR

ideas for finding a raw milk source

This is from our Raw Dairy FILES section.

Hope it helps.

-Blair

If you haven't contacted your local WAPF chapter leader, do that

FIRST. Leave them with your name and contact info. They are a GREAT

resource!

Here's some ideas for finding a raw milk source:

1. www.realmilk.com (click on WHERE) This has mostly LEGAL sources of milk

Most of these farmers have a waitlist.

If the farmer is within your travel tolerance,

GET YOUR NAME ON THAT LIST!

Even if they tell you the waitlist is long.

You never know; herd size increases, people sell shares, move, etc...

Plus, you have given your name and number to a farmer who knows the

network.

While you've got them on the phone, (better yet, drive up there!),

ask if they know of any farmers that might supply raw milk.

Ask what areas of this state might be more likely to have small

farmers. Write this information down.

2. Visit rural feedstores.

Check the bulletin board for milk ads, as well as other ads that might

hint at a source.

Post a note on the bulletin board with a brief description and your

phone number.

( " Looking for CLEAN raw milk. (goat/cow) yourname, yournumber " .)

Often there are flyers about agricultural happenings, county fairs, etc.

You may glean some info at these events, too.

While you're there, talk to the people who sell alfalfa and grain.

Ask them if they know any farmers who milk their herd.

(You could also ask them what kind of grain they buy. You never know;

sometimes those guys are proud of how well they know their community,

and they like to chew the fat.)

Ok, now that you know your area, drive around the country roads

looking for farms with a SMALL herd (even just one).

If you see a tiny " fresh milk " sign, turn in and ask.

If you see a larger sign " BIG DAIRY " , keep driving.

If the cows are standing in a crowded mudhole, and it stinks, drive

faster.

3. Cheese producers will sometimes sell raw milk if you tell them

it's for puppies (wink, wink!).

You need to play this game for their safety.

It's not illegal to BUY raw milk; it's illegal to SELL it.

4. Call your local 4-H.

Ask the name of the cow/goat group leaders, and give them a call.

Exhaust every single clue.

5. Internet Sources

A great place to educate yourself, and even buy raw milk:

1. Our RAW DAIRY message board, of course...:-)

2. www.organicpastures.com - they ship nationally. Usually frozen.

3. Organic Pastures had an ad in Wise Traditions jan/2006, announcing

a new

" Buyers Club " , where they ship frozen. Mentioined wholesale deals...

Contact Chuck at OPDC 1-8777-RAW MILK for pricing and how to get started.

4. Other Yahoo! message boards: DiscussingNT, Kefir_Making, Native

Nutrition,

Native Family Nutrition.

5. Use Onibasu.com to search all listed message boards for " raw milk " in

your " state " and " home town " . Email people that mention they have it.

6. Local Farmers' Markets. They network. Vegetable Farmers know Dairy

farmers.

7. Wise Traditions journal has other ads that may bring leads.

8.

9.

10.

Generally, look in message boards and chat rooms. Search for boards that

concern your state. Sign up on a few and ask away.

*** Dairy Goat Directories are also online. Sniff around:

http://www.adga.org/

http://www.angelfire.com/nm/mdgahome/

http://www.cometothefarm.com/cgi-bin/links/search.cgi (search for

your state)

*** Dairy Cow Directories, too, but this is trickier, because of Big

Dairy.

limit your search to " small farm " dairy in your state.

Otherwise you'll get nothing but BIG DAiry.

http://www.supermarketcoop.com/ffd.htm

PLEASE BE KIND AND TRIM YOUR POSTS WHEN REPLYING!

Visit our Raw Dairy Files for a wealth of information!

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RawDairy/files/

Archive search: http://onibasu.com