Massachusetts Dairies Promote Raw Milk
Going against national regulatory resistance, 11 dairies to open for tours.
Compiled by staff
Published: Sep 3, 2010
Next week, 11 Bay State dairies that sell raw milk directly to consumers will jointly host Raw Milk Dairy Days. The event, to be held Sept. 11 and 12, is encouraged and promoted by the state chapter of the Northeast Organic Farming Association.
The public is being invited to tour the farms, watch milking demonstrations and, of course, sample and purchase raw milk. Marketing of raw (unpasteurized) milk at the farm is legal in Massachusetts. It's tightly regulated for safety by Massachusetts Department of Ag Resources.
Participating farms are: Chase Hill Farm, Warwick; Cricket Creek Farm, Williamstown; Eastleigh Farm, Framingham; Farmstead at Mine Brook, Charlemont; The Herb Hill Micro-Dairy, Andover; Lyons Brook Farm, Westport; Northfield Mount Hermon School Farm, Mt. Hermon; Oake Knoll Ayrshires, Foxboro; Robinson Farm, Hardwick; Sidehill Farm, Ashfield; and Upinngil Farm, Gill. See their Web sites or click on www.nofamass.org/programs/organicdairy/dairyday10.php for directions and more details.
YA ALL COME: Raw Milk Dairy Days will give consumers many chances to scratch a cow chin – and give producers chances to see how to sell milk at six to 10 times the price received for milk shipped to processors.
Chase Hill, open on Saturday, the 11th. produces organic raw milk, farmstead cheeses, pasture-raised veal and beef from grassfed cows, eggs from pastured poultry and whey-fed pork. The farm practices sustainable farming methods, including rotational grazing, seasonal calving, and the use of draft horses. The farmers will offer grazing tours of their farm and cheese making facilities. Web site: www.chasehillfarm.com.
Cricket Creek Farm, also open on the 11th, consists of over 500 acres of rolling fields and woodlots, old apple orchards and sugar bush. Its 90-cow herd is registered Brown Swiss and Jerseys. The farm store includes local products such as syrup, honey and baked goods. Pasture raised, grass-fed beef and pork, farmstead cheeses are made on the farm. Also, baked goods are made fresh daily. Web site: www.cricketcreekfarm.com.
Eastleigh Farm, open on the 11th and 12th, milks about 65 mostly Jersey cows, with a few Brown Swiss and Guernseys, what they call A-2 type cows that produce the healthiest and tastiest milk available. Historic farm offers rotational grazing tour and in-store milk testing results. They offer organic dairy products, eggs and other locally grown products. They're also building a cheese room. Web site: www.eastleighfarm.com.
The Farmstead at Mine Brook, also open both days, is a mountainside farm featuring native grass and clover pastures and wildflowers. Their award-winning Jerseys produce milk and gold-medal winning farmstead cheeses with all natural feeds and no hormones. Web site: www.goatrising.com.
Herb Hill Micro-Dairy, open on the 11th, is a small goat milk dairy specializing in fresh, chilled raw goat's milk, organic herbs and soaps, an organic meat chicken CSA, and organic egg laying chickens. They even offer organic goat/poultry compost for gardens. Web site: http://theherbhillmicrodairy.mckain.me.
Lyons Brook Farm, open on the 11th or 12th (rain date), is a small goat milk dairy with registered Alpines and Nubians. Features walking tours, milking demonstrations and goat-fitting for fall shows. E-mail: PLBF629@juno.com.
Northfield Mount Herman, open Sunday morning, is a small, diversified farm with Jersey cows. It sells raw milk, makes cheese and ice cream and pasteurizes milk for the school. It also works with students to produce maple syrup and grow raspberries, vegetables, lavender, rosemary and flowers. Lavender and rosemary are distilled. The farm also produces cider syrup and cider jelly. Web site: www.nmhschool.org/about-nmh-farm-program.
Oake Knoll, open Saturday, is a 275-year-old family working dairy farm It sells raw milk and vegetables. It'll have milking demonstrations, calves to pet, plus cheese and raw milk sampling. Web site: www.lawtonsfamilyfarm.com.
Robinson Farm, open Saturday the 11th, will celebrate a new cheese facility with tours of the facility, calves, chickens and cows and a hayride. Web site: www.robinsonfarm.org.
Sidehill Farm will offer a guided tour on the 11th. It'll include visits to pastures, the town's oldest milking parlor, and their unusual facilities. It's a milk room built into a step van and a yogurt plant in a semi trailer. Raw milk and yogurt samples will be available. Web site: www.sidehillfarm.net.
Upinngil Farm, open on the 11th, is a diverse farming operation. Principal enterprises are: small fruits (strawberries, raspberries and grapes); dairy (registered Ayrshires); field crops (potatoes, wheat, spelt, beans, pumpkins, corn); forage crops; and market garden crops. Most is sold at the farm through a year-round farm store, seasonal farm stand and u-pick. Milk, cheeses, whole grain flours, honey and maple syrup are available only at the farm. Tours will include the milking and cheesemaking facilities, with sampling of cheeses and other farm specialties, plus tours of the pastures, vineyards, berry patches. And they'll have a butter-making demo. Web site:
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