Micro-Dairy Plans

When I last posted here, I thought I would be an organic vegetable farmer. In the nearly two years that have passed since then, we have bought a pregnant cow and a milking machine, and I have discovered that my childhood dream of running a dairy could be a reality. Many considerations have gone into my decision to start a dairy, but briefly they are lifestyle, independence, sustainability, and health. Also, and importantly, Grace is in complete agreement with me on all these things, and is just as interested as I am in the enterprise.

Our cow is named Mocha, a Brown Swiss - Holstein cross, She's huge, and she gives about 8.5 gallons a day at her peak. Her calf is named Star, from a Swedish Red - Jersey cross bull by artificial insemination, and is about four months old. They are currently on our neighbor's pasture (thanks Matt!) in trade for a gallon or so a week.

Basics of the plan:
24-48 registered purebred Jersey cows, and possibly some Dexters and Miniature Jerseys
Pasture-based, intensive grazing management, organic certification
Raw milk, cheeses, and other value-added dairy products
Sales at Richland and Pasco Farmer's Markets, home delivery, and farm store
Polycultural, meaning that we will produce other things as well, although our centerpiece enterprise will be the dairy.
Side enterprises may include goat dairy products, garden compost, beef, meat goats, eggs, chickens, rabbits, pork, lambs, honey, wool, and fruits and vegetables, roughly in that order.

I will try to post a new entry here once a week, using it as a sort of farm journal, with how-to, book reviews, recipes, helpful links, and progress updates.

Next week: farming books I've been reading

David Field, out standing.