Re: Dairy or Not? / 's venture

[Guest guest]

--- Conway <mclcdcmcmc@...> wrote:

> The approach we are

> taking is one step at a time.

That's the way to do it. The book I recommended in my

other post gives plans for easing into growing your

own produce, starting with 100 square feet and working

up over the course of a few years, improving the soil

as you go along. Biting off more than you can chew

(no pun intended) by starting with a huge garden is

self-defeating and discouraging, but you'll learn

quickly and it won't take long to get some really

great results, if you lay a good foundation.

Chickens are wonderful, I think that's a great first

step. Before you get a cow, read Keeping A Family Cow

by Joann Grohman http://www.real-food.com/ . There's

another book called The Family Cow available from

amazon.com, but I haven't read it. Also, the Stockman

Grass Farmer has some books about establishing and

maintaining quality pasture, in addition to their

magazine (which is mainly geared towards beef

production, but has an occasional article about dairy

cows and other pasture livestock).

http://www.stockmangrassfarmer.com/

I believe someone else already recommended Acres USA,

they have a website, too.

http://www.acresusa.com/magazines/magazine.htm

I've had chickens and a garden for many years, but I'm

in the same boat as you with the cow situation, except

I have horses so I have some experience with large

livestock.

Aubin

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

> --- Conway <mclcdcmcmc@...> wrote:

> > The approach we are

> > taking is one step at a time.

Aubin replied:

> Chickens are wonderful, I think that's a great first

> step. Before you get a cow, read Keeping A Family Cow

> by Joann Grohman http://www.real-food.com/ . There's

> another book called The Family Cow available from

> amazon.com, but I haven't read it. Also, the Stockman

> Grass Farmer has some books about establishing and

> maintaining quality pasture, in addition to their

> magazine (which is mainly geared towards beef

> production, but has an occasional article about dairy

> cows and other pasture livestock).

> http://www.stockmangrassfarmer.com/

You might consider a goat. Wa at meeting of Ohio Ecological Food and Farm

Asso Saturday and talked to someone who has had a goat and drunk raw goats

milk for years. She says goats are easier to care for.

Peace,

Kris , gardening in northwest Ohio

[Guest guest]

Hey...we already are planning on it! I was going to get the pygmie variety

just because they are cute. But I heard they are not the best milkers. I'd

like to have the option of milking but I don't want to be tied to doing it every

day like I'll have to with our cow. Any opinions?

----- Original Message -----

From: Kris.

Sent: Monday, March 11, 2002 9:50 PM

Subject: Re: Dairy or Not? / 's venture

> --- Conway <mclcdcmcmc@...> wrote:

> > The approach we are

> > taking is one step at a time.

Aubin replied:

> Chickens are wonderful, I think that's a great first

> step. Before you get a cow, read Keeping A Family Cow

> by Joann Grohman http://www.real-food.com/ . There's

> another book called The Family Cow available from

> amazon.com, but I haven't read it. Also, the Stockman

> Grass Farmer has some books about establishing and

> maintaining quality pasture, in addition to their

> magazine (which is mainly geared towards beef

> production, but has an occasional article about dairy

> cows and other pasture livestock).

> http://www.stockmangrassfarmer.com/

You might consider a goat. Wa at meeting of Ohio Ecological Food and Farm

Asso Saturday and talked to someone who has had a goat and drunk raw goats

milk for years. She says goats are easier to care for.

Peace,

Kris , gardening in northwest Ohio