RAW MILK HERDSHARE

"The quality of our food determines in large part the quality of our lives. And the quality of what we eat is determined by every step that goes into production and processing --the feeding of the animals, the care of the soil, preservation, storage, and even cooking methods.”

- Dr. Weston A Price

Heart's Pasture Farm Raw Goat Milk Herdshare

In Michigan, farmers are not able to sell sweet, fresh, raw milk. Lucky for you, we offer a solution! It is called a herdshare. In a herdshare you buy a part, or share, of a goat in our herd. As a shareholder you will be entitled to a portion of her fresh, raw milk each week during the milking season. 
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As a member in our herdshare program you also get the fulfilment of knowing you are supporting a beautiful biodynamic, small family farm in your community. Knowing where your food (and milk) comes from is important now more than ever. You will get the chance to tour the farm, meet the goats, and shake hands with us (the farmers!). In our fast-paced, online world a herdshare is a wonderful opportunity to breathe some fresh air and make a real life connection to people, animals, and the land. Oh, and did we mention it tastes sooo good!?

Why Goat's Milk?

Nigerian dwarf goats have the highest butterfat content of all goat breeds, making each cold glass remarkably creamy! Goat's milk is nearly naturally homogenized, meaning the fat rises to the top much more slowly than it does in cows milk. Goat's milk is also easier to digest than cow's milk because of the smaller fat particles and lower lactose levels found in goat's milk.
 
The unmatchable creaminess of goat's milk makes it perfect for drinking a tall, cold glass anytime. It is ideal for creating your own batch of homemade chevre goat cheese, ice cream, yogurt, or kefir. The possibilities are endless . . . and delicious!

Tenet 1: Production

The goat's quality of life directly affects the quality of her milk. Our goats receive excellent husbandry and are nature raised with a holistic diet. We have spent many years perfecting a diet that does not consist of soy, corn, processed foods, synthetics, animal biproducts, and, most importantly, chemical mineral concentrates.

Due to their nature, goats have unique mineral requirements unlike any other livestock. Our healthy goats browse our northern Michigan mixed woods forest, receive the highest quality, unsprayed hay, and enjoy a specific blend of kelp and herbs to fulfill their mineral needs. On the milk stand they are fed a human-grade, whole foods grain and hay mixture that is non-GMO and never sprayed with pesticides or herbicides. No other milk compares. 

Tenet 2: Processing

​Our herd of Nigerian dwarf goats is milked by hand on a clean milk stand that is set up under a tree in our yard. Milking in the open air ensures great air circulation, as well as a happy goat and goatherd! The goat has her udder and teats wiped clean prior to milking. After being milked into a stainless steel bowl, the milk is poured off into a stainless steel milk storage vessel, filtered, and chilled promptly in half-gallon glass jars. There is no "goaty" or "off" flavor in our milk because we handle the milk (and the goats) with care.​

Herdshare Specifics

Raw Milk Share
$12.50
One Half Gallon Per Week
A one-time cost to join is $50
Each half gallon of raw milk is filtered into a glass jar  and sealed with a stainless steel lid
How many shares can be purchased?
Up to four milk shares (2 gallons) may be purchased to meet your needs for fresh milk. 
When and where is pickup?
Pickup is once per week on an agreed upon day and time at the farm in Alanson, Michigan.
How does payment work?
Payment for each share is monthly. Most months have 4 pick up dates, but some months may have 5. 
Is the one-time cost to join good for multiple years?
Yes, once you pay the one-time cost to join our herdshare it is good for consecutive years. If for any reason you join the herdshare and stop purchasing milk, you will have to pay it to join again. 
What months of the year is the herdshare?
We guarantee our customers 6 months of fresh, raw milk, generally from May through October. However, some years we can provide milk to our customers for even longer. 

When it comes to raw milk, your choice really is black or white: