Who would have thought having your own on-farm lab would be so easy- and affordable? I am kicking myself for not trying this sooner. Doing our own, in house, milk quality tests will help our small, licensed dairy to stay on top of cleaning regimens and milk quality. Even though our results will not be … Continue reading Doing Standard Plate Counts- On the Farm
Author: Gianaclis Caldwell
Doing your own Plate Counts
I finally plugged in the little petri-film incubator we purchased from Nelson Jameson and I am, at the moment, cooking our first anaerobic plate counts. It took me a long time to get around to this, but I think it will go a long way toward making sure our milk is super clean, as well … Continue reading Doing your own Plate Counts
“What’s it Going to Cost?” A Look at the Cost of Building a Farmstead Creamery
If you are considering turning your goat hobby into a business, either a milk or cheese dairy, then you are probably trying to find the answer to one very important question, what’s it going to cost to build? You have probably already figured out that there are no easy, one-size-fits-all answers to this question, but … Continue reading “What’s it Going to Cost?” A Look at the Cost of Building a Farmstead Creamery
Coming to Terms with Animal Cannibalism
It was my task, this last week, to care for our daughters rabbits while she was out of town. Amelia breeds Netherland Dwarf rabbits- cute little two pound balls of fluff with tiny ears and puss-in-boots eyes. Amelia loves to make thorough lists, so she left me with detailed instructions, including nick- names (I guess … Continue reading Coming to Terms with Animal Cannibalism
Mycoplasma, The Lurking Menace
Every few weeks I receive a phone call, email, or a FAX from someone in the US with a goat kid (dead or alive) with a diagnosed case of mycoplasma. They find me through finding online an article I wrote in 2008 about our experiences with the disease. I am sharing the article again here … Continue reading Mycoplasma, The Lurking Menace
Living Simple Ain’t Easy
We live a life that many would consider to be blissfully simple. Our electricity is generated by solar panels and a small micro-hydro power turbine run by our seasonal stream, Brown's Gulch. We homeschooled our kids and live in a tiny cabin, augmented by a large, communal type space above our dairy barn. I don't get … Continue reading Living Simple Ain’t Easy
A Farm is Not a Peaceful Place
A Farm is Not a Peaceful Place There are times when our life is peaceful. But they are rare. Everyone wants something, or has something to share. The goats want to go for their walk or a hen has just laid an egg. The guardian dog sees a deer or the wild turkey has heard … Continue reading A Farm is Not a Peaceful Place
I Don’t Wanna Be a Rock Star!
No “Rock Stars”, Please! Gianaclis Caldwell I have an issue with the current reverence that the term “rock star” is supposed to infer. I know, people are just trying to show their admiration, respect, whatever, but really, “rock star”? Our cheese has been called a rock star. We, as cheesemakers, here at Pholia Farm have … Continue reading I Don’t Wanna Be a Rock Star!
The Legend of Goat Milk as “The Most Complete Food Known”
The Urban (Rural?) Legend of Goat Milk “The Most Complete Food Known” Gianaclis Caldwell Okay, just Google it. “Goat milk complete food”. You will find the venerable Journal of American Medicine (JAMA) quoted repeatedly (I counted 14 different citations on the first two pages of searching) in such turns of phrase as “as the Journal … Continue reading The Legend of Goat Milk as “The Most Complete Food Known”
Keeping your Home Milk Supply Clean
Here is another article I wrote about a year ago. I did a little study using several local volunteer farms who promised to not change anything about their milking techniques and allowed me to take samples of their milk, which I then sent to a certified laboratory for testing. How Clean is Your Home Milk … Continue reading Keeping your Home Milk Supply Clean