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Hand Milking
HC 81-658
Questa, NM 87556
1-(575) 586-1176 |
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Natural Products
Just think from one animal, a dairy cow, you get milk, butter, cream, yogurt, kefir, cheese, and meat. Not to mention the love from the animal itself. Natural milk products, right from the cow, is one of those very healthy foods to feed our body. Instead of using supplements, natural milk products feed the whole body system. Some day the local dairy truck, that delivered milk products to our door step, will be back in style.
In the meantime, many people have decided to get their own cow. Feel free to browse through our articles and see what you are missing.
Where We Are
Robert and Joy have been homesteading a five acre Heifer Farm about ten miles outside Questa, New Mexico, for eleven years. Questa is very rural and about thirty miles from Taos. It's about 8,000 feet above sea level and the mountains around the area have snow much of the Winter. Their goals are to sell family, hand milking, Jersey cows to other families and are willing to teach them what they need to know about milking and caring for the cow.
Off the Grid!
The only monthly bill is the telephone. Water comes from their well, pumped by their windmill. Electricity comes from solar panels and most of their house is wired for 12 Volts DC. The refrigerator runs on propane and the sun keeps the house warm even in the middle of Winter.
It's a different life style. However, they have a television and other modern conveniences.
Out Back
Out in back are corals for six cows and four or five calves that are raised on the extra milk. A dozen or more chickens provide eggs and dinner now and then. Robert calls them his "feathered piggies" since they'll eat almost anything. The bird houses have swallows most of the year to help with insects. You should see the pigeons flying in formation and doing their share. The two dogs do their part in keeping the rabbits chased out of the vegetable garden and the barn cats keep the mice under control.
Where Our Cows Come From
Several large dairys in New Mexico, that do not use homones or antibiotics, know we can rescue cows that are not working out for their needs. Things like bloating on the "hot feed", foot injuries, machine fears, and similar problems that do not involve the cows being sick. They would rather we rescued the cows than send them to the butcher. We don't accept them unless they can be turned into happy, healthy, milk producing, family cows.
The cows have to be taught what a halter is and be lead, stay put when tied up, know their name and come when called, in addition to dozens of other things that make them milkable. The large dairies we get our cows from milk by machines and herd them around in groups. We teach them to live closely and cooperate. They become very effectionate and love being hand milked. Believe it or not, they will actually call you if you are late. Just the shift from "hot feed" to a diet of organic hay all year round and greens in the Summer makes a huge difference in how they feel. Happy cows make wonderful milk.
We Raise Calves Too
In addition to the calves each cow has once a year, we also buy new born calves to be raised on the surplus milk. These help us expand our top of the line organic Jersey cows. The calves are easier to train since there are no bad habits that need changing. They become big pets that enjoy being scratched and talked to. We can't imagine a life without our cows.
Independence
As you can see, Robert and Joy, are very independent and make their living providing what local folks need. They are both self employed on their farm, providing a multitude of support services for the people in their community.
Robert is an artist with blacksmithing (Coal Forge). He makes candle snuffers that look like a rose with a leaf dangling from a classy handle or large leaves with a rose that holds a candle. He also makes fireplace screens, does custom work, restores antique metal work and can make matching missing pieces. Everything from swords to furniture. Robert is also an excellent antique gun smith.
Joy, on the other hand, is very domestic. She does the handmilking, makes the butter, yogurt, and the baking. Her cakes are simple but no two cakes are alike. Her cakes are with regular flour, spelt, and even does flourless cakes. She is known locally for rich, but not too sweet, cakes and other baked goods. She adjusts the sweetness to the customer's taste. Her frostings have real chocolate in them, lots of natural butter, and small amounts of sugar (Check the Whole Milk Recipe section). Cakes are decorated with fresh flowers, with the help of her best friend Tammy.Robert helps with the accessories. Visit the Cake Gallery for pictures.
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