Hey there, how are you doing today? I am feeling a little impatient and excited all wrapped up into one.
For the first time in years, our farm fridge AND freezer is almost empty of milk.
We are down to just three gallons of frozen milk and a little over a gallon of yogurt. Every time I pull another container from the freezer, it feels a bit strange. We’d become so accustomed to the daily rhythm of fresh milk that relying on our frozen reserves has been a patience game.
Frozen milk from the farm served us well. I can still digest it without any trouble, which sadly isn’t the case with store-bought milk, but even so, it’s just not quite the same. The cream separates differently, and there’s something oh so good about having a fresh supply every day.
Thankfully, the wait won’t last much longer.
If all goes according to plan, Rosie will be the first of our milk cows to calve around June 15. With her calf’s arrival comes something our family has been eagerly awaiting: fresh milk flowing on the farm again.
The kids and I can hardly wait.
We’re already talking about all the things we’ll make. There will be ice cream, butter, yogurt, cottage cheese, and of course plenty of cold milk straight from the fridge. After weeks of carefully rationing what remains in the freezer, the thought of abundance feels especially sweet.
To everyone patiently waiting for milk, thank you. Your encouragement and understanding mean more than you know. As soon as milk is flowing again, I’ll be sure to let everyone know.
And if you’re new here and have recently reached out about milk, welcome! I hope you’ll stay tuned over the next few weeks. Once all three cows are back in milk, I’d love to invite you out to the farm. You’ll be able to meet the cows, walk the pastures, pet a calf and see firsthand where your food comes from.
There’s an old saying: When you have a cow, you have it all.
As I’ve spent more time homesteading, I’ve come to appreciate the wisdom in those words. A good milk cow can nourish a family in so many ways. These gentle animals take the energy of God’s sunshine, stored in grass, clover, and pasture plants, and transform it into one of the most nutrient-dense foods we can eat. At the same time, they raise a calf and help build healthy soil through their grazing.
It’s one reason I believe conversations about cows should focus not only on the cow, but on how the cow is raised. A cow grazing diverse pastures is participating in a cycle as old as agriculture itself: sunlight to plants, plants to animals, animals to nourishment.
With only a few gallons left in the freezer, I’m reminded just how much we depend on these remarkable creatures.
If you’d like to be added to our milk list for this summer, simply reply to this email. Whether you’re a returning customer or someone hoping to visit the farm for the first time, I’d love to hear from you. I’ll keep you updated as the girls freshen and milk begins flowing once again. And expect newborn calf pictures!
We’re almost there.
with Love, Leah
