Last week I took my youngest granddaughter (Miss E) and daughter-in-law (S________) to a lovely spot near Staunton, Virginia, to visit a dairy farm, from which I’ve enjoyed raw milk each week for a year and a half.
After researching holistic health, beginning with my husband’s gut trauma, I decided to drink raw milk for its many health benefits.
In short, pasteurization destroys the nutrients found in milk.
I OWN PART OF A COW
While researching raw milk, I learned about Creambrook Farm which provides raw milk.
The only access I have to raw milk in Virginia is to own a share of a cow…which kinda sorta means I now own part of a cow.
Herd shares are delivered across Virginia where members pick up their share at a location of their choice.
When these farm tours came available this summer, I knew S__________ would be interested, since she is leaning towards a dream of homesteading and has always enjoyed my raw milk.
She was so impressed when she first learned I owned part of a cow, that we often discuss raw milk benefits and quality control methods.
Why not go see my cows in person while seeing the quality control!
DRESSING TO MEET THE COWS
And what child does not enjoy cows?!!
S________ dressed Miss E in the cutest attire for the occasion, pink cowgirl hat, blue jean shorts, and an adorable cow tshirt.
CREAMBROOK FARM TOUR
We enjoyed with several lovely families about an hour long tour of the various aspects of dairy farming, led by Ben, the owner of the farm.
Our first stop was the Milking Parlour where the cows are milked twice a day.
After explaining the size of the farm, the number of cows, how the equipment works, how they first clean the cows before milking, and how they test the milk for quality control, Ben answered questions in his super friendly, cheerful manor.
Then we ventured into the Milk House, next door, where the freshly pumped milk is sent and collected in a huge covered vat.
The wall of pipes faces the Milking Parlour where the milk is pumped, while the vat that collects the milk can be seen in the far left of the photo.
Ben explained how the milk is cooled down, etc until shipping to a nearby location where the milk is put into cartons for distribution.
Then he took more questions, all of which were very interesting.
I learned so much more about cows than I ever dreamed possible!
PETTING THE CALVES
Then we walked up the hill to the Calf Barn where all the babies were, the moment Miss E was waiting for!
Except those babies were not as tiny as she sees in the many story books she and I explore.
Thus, she held back a bit, needing to be enticed by her mommy and me.
Even though Miss E saw all the other children and parents happily petting the friendly calves, Miss E wasn’t so sure…
Check my youtube video of Miss E petting the friendly calf.
MAMAS PARADE BY
Soon, the mamas walked past the barn from the fields where they had been grazing…just so we could see them before their milking time.
Enjoy my youtube video here of the mamas walking by the calf barn.
MILK AND COOKIES
After they had all walked by, we returned to the farmhouse where cold raw milk from these very cows and chocolate chip cookies awaited us.
Serving the cookies with her sweet new baby was Kristen, Ben’s wife.
We also got to meet a couple of their sons, who thoroughly enjoyed teaching us about farming!
Since S____________ had a few questions about raw milk, I suggested she chat with Kristen, which she gladly did.
While they chatted, Miss E took me by the hand to explore the yard about the farm house.
When I pointed out the mama cows in the distance, enjoying snacks while awaiting their milking time, she happily waved to them.
On the drive home, S____________ scrolled through her phone, signing up for the weekly emails from Creambrook Farm and happily exploring the locations nearest her when she buys a herd share.
MISS E THOUGHT THE CALVES WERE THE MAMAS
Once we returned to her house, we reminisced about our day while I showed her the pictures on my phone.
As we looked at the calf pictures, she confirmed what I thought she had been thinking at the time.
Miss E, pointing to the calf: mama!
Me: No, that’s a baby.
Miss E: mama!
Then I brought up the pictures of the mama cows as they walked past the barn.
Me, pointing to a mama cow: Mama!
Miss E: Oh! Mama!
HAPPY MEMORIES A WEEK LATER
Yesterday while Miss E and her mama were visiting my house, Miss E saw me pull out my raw milk to pour her a glass, which she happily drank.
Excitedly, she began talking all about that day we visited the farm!
Later, when we revisited the topic with my husband, Miss E pointed to her arm while smiling, remembering the calf licking her.
The tongue was scratchy.
Looking forward to taking her again another year, and wondering what my older granddaughter (6) will think when I take her.
