Post by Deleted on Jun 29, 2008 2:27:54 GMT -5
Hi there...
My partner in all things cow has just joined this forum, and it looked pretty awesome, so much great information, and so specific to raising house cows, which is what we're into (well... not entirely, but it is a passion), that I thought I'd better join too... since I'm always looking for new animal resources to add to our library...
Anyway, my name is Virginia, and said partner's name is grrlpunk, so you'll have been filled in on the most recent details of our herd activities!
While Charlene works fulltime at a commercial a really well and ethically managed dairy with a great boss who's very aware of issues around sustainability and so on, I work from home and am primarily involved in caring for the house cows, and for all things dairy. Mistress of the Milk! ;D
I love the routine of milking in the mornings (tho I'm wondering if I will manage 2 cows, 1 being a Jersey with alot of milk), of separating the cream, of making butter and yoghurt. It punctuates my days.
My Dad was in dairy in England before he married my Mum and moved to Australia to grow beef and crops (and sometimes sheep). When I was small, we lived a fairly self sufficient life, Mum was an awesome gardener and Dad grew meat and crops. Add the poultry and all the household needs were supplied... I remember Mum making butter with the "scotch hands" - the butter pats. Anyway things have come full circle, with me doing a tree change and coming back to the land, with cows of my own. I love them. I searched far and wide for some to make my own butter with and eventually my friend sent me some from the middle of Australia, from an opportunity shop in the desert! I am still on the hunt for an antique butter churn and a cream separator. I prefer manual, mechanical tools, I don't mind the extra labour...
So here we are, we have been waiting some months now for the cows to calve, and are very excited about the prospect of having raw dairy once again in our fridge, and never having to buy from the dairy aisle again! I have some questions about yoghurts, cheeses, kefir and so on, but since i haven't had a chance to browse and find the answers I'm sure I'm looking for, I shall leave this as an introduction... I'm sure I'll find the forum invaluable over the coming months.
Oh, and our newborn, Sunny, the dexter/limo x is gorgeous, like a perfect little pixie! Tippi, her mum, seems to have become quite placid since the birth - she had been a bit aggro since she returned home after her sojourn with the next door herd, but we have her in the home paddock so she's around us alot and is letting us be much more hands on with her and the calf. She let Charlene get a bit of milk from her udder this afternoon... so... maybe she's a milker!
OK, I'm renowned (or cursed!) for my lengthy posts, so I'll leave it there...
Hi all!
Virginia
My partner in all things cow has just joined this forum, and it looked pretty awesome, so much great information, and so specific to raising house cows, which is what we're into (well... not entirely, but it is a passion), that I thought I'd better join too... since I'm always looking for new animal resources to add to our library...
Anyway, my name is Virginia, and said partner's name is grrlpunk, so you'll have been filled in on the most recent details of our herd activities!
While Charlene works fulltime at a commercial a really well and ethically managed dairy with a great boss who's very aware of issues around sustainability and so on, I work from home and am primarily involved in caring for the house cows, and for all things dairy. Mistress of the Milk! ;D
I love the routine of milking in the mornings (tho I'm wondering if I will manage 2 cows, 1 being a Jersey with alot of milk), of separating the cream, of making butter and yoghurt. It punctuates my days.
My Dad was in dairy in England before he married my Mum and moved to Australia to grow beef and crops (and sometimes sheep). When I was small, we lived a fairly self sufficient life, Mum was an awesome gardener and Dad grew meat and crops. Add the poultry and all the household needs were supplied... I remember Mum making butter with the "scotch hands" - the butter pats. Anyway things have come full circle, with me doing a tree change and coming back to the land, with cows of my own. I love them. I searched far and wide for some to make my own butter with and eventually my friend sent me some from the middle of Australia, from an opportunity shop in the desert! I am still on the hunt for an antique butter churn and a cream separator. I prefer manual, mechanical tools, I don't mind the extra labour...
So here we are, we have been waiting some months now for the cows to calve, and are very excited about the prospect of having raw dairy once again in our fridge, and never having to buy from the dairy aisle again! I have some questions about yoghurts, cheeses, kefir and so on, but since i haven't had a chance to browse and find the answers I'm sure I'm looking for, I shall leave this as an introduction... I'm sure I'll find the forum invaluable over the coming months.
Oh, and our newborn, Sunny, the dexter/limo x is gorgeous, like a perfect little pixie! Tippi, her mum, seems to have become quite placid since the birth - she had been a bit aggro since she returned home after her sojourn with the next door herd, but we have her in the home paddock so she's around us alot and is letting us be much more hands on with her and the calf. She let Charlene get a bit of milk from her udder this afternoon... so... maybe she's a milker!
OK, I'm renowned (or cursed!) for my lengthy posts, so I'll leave it there...
Hi all!
Virginia