My husband and I moved out "to the country" in 2013 to try to find some space, some peace and to provide our children with the environment in which we thought they could best be free to grow and play and learn.
Being a classically trained chef with 3 decades of experience, my husband is the food safety expert in the crew, as well as the head of the micro-dairy production department.
While we are relatively new to farming, we are not new to raw milk and herd/cow shares. I've been consuming raw dairy for over 18 years and have been a part of cow share or herd share in two states and lived in two states where high quality raw milk could be purchased in stores. TN allows for purchases of "pet milk" only. You can, however, consume dairy produced by your own cows.
Here are the basics:
The contract will explain the rest in legal jargon that covers us both from having issues with the milk-haters out there.
Current delivery options:
1. Spring Hill, TN on Sunday mornings at 10:30-11
2. Westhaven neighborhood in Franklin on Wednesdays
3. Columbia farmer's market Saturday mornings
4. Additional delivery days can be arranged. If you have a group of friends and can arrange for 10 shares sold, I will deliver to a new location or neighborhood!
You are welcome to set up a standing time to come pick up your milk by appointment, but due to potential biosecurity issues and introvert issues, and homeschooling issues... we only allow visitors on the property with plenty of notice so we can prepare to contain any potential hazards you may unknowingly bring here from contact with outside animals and soil.
Being a classically trained chef with 3 decades of experience, my husband is the food safety expert in the crew, as well as the head of the micro-dairy production department.
While we are relatively new to farming, we are not new to raw milk and herd/cow shares. I've been consuming raw dairy for over 18 years and have been a part of cow share or herd share in two states and lived in two states where high quality raw milk could be purchased in stores. TN allows for purchases of "pet milk" only. You can, however, consume dairy produced by your own cows.
Here are the basics:
- We have a small dairy herd of princess Jersey cows who are spoiled rotten.
- We milk our cows to have milk for our own family and for those who own a portion of our herd through our herd share program.
- The cows are silvo-pastured meaning they seek shelter and shade in the woods and eat from the broad assortment of shrubs, grasses, vines and berries that grow wild there. This is a particularly nutritious way to vary the diet of the cows and allow their bodies to seek the minerals they need in the plants growing wild. (They also expect treats... watermelon/apples/oranges/carrots/and anything else they can convince the kids to feed them).
- The average non-commercial dairy Jersey cow costs $1500-2000. This means that by buying a "share" of our herd ($50 for the first share, $25 for each additional share, max $100), you'll be the "owner" of 1/40th of our herd and thereby entitled to 1/40 of their milk, which equals one gallon per week. Since my children consume multiple gallons per day, I'll be retaining the majority of the shares for our family and will also be the one making major decisions about their health and welfare. You can rest assured that there have never been more pampered cows. Ever. In the history of cows. :)
- The fee for me to milk, maintain and generally be the cow person is $8/week/gallon. This means one share = 1 gallon per week. I'm nice, so you'll max out at $100 in share fees.
The contract will explain the rest in legal jargon that covers us both from having issues with the milk-haters out there.
Current delivery options:
1. Spring Hill, TN on Sunday mornings at 10:30-11
2. Westhaven neighborhood in Franklin on Wednesdays
3. Columbia farmer's market Saturday mornings
4. Additional delivery days can be arranged. If you have a group of friends and can arrange for 10 shares sold, I will deliver to a new location or neighborhood!
You are welcome to set up a standing time to come pick up your milk by appointment, but due to potential biosecurity issues and introvert issues, and homeschooling issues... we only allow visitors on the property with plenty of notice so we can prepare to contain any potential hazards you may unknowingly bring here from contact with outside animals and soil.
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Herd share agreement
(info text only - do not print. Please send email for actual contract)
This herd share agreement made and entered into this ___ day of _______, by and between ________________, hereinafter designated as Owner, and Drama Llama Ranch, hereinafter designated "Agister."
WITNESSETH
Whereas, for purposes of this agreement, The Owner wishes to have his share of the cow herd boarded and milked by the Agister.
The price of joining to the Owner is $50 and this buys ownership into the herd. It is a non-refundable, one-time cost of ownership. The price per share for labor of milking one gallon of the Owner’s milk from the herd is currently set at $7 if picked up at the farm. It is $8 if delivered.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of mutual covenants contained herein, the parties agree as follows:
I. Agister agrees that:
A. Agister will feed, water, and care for the herd of cows in accordance with good barn management practice.
B. Agister will milk the herd daily, using a container or containers supplied by Owner, and will keep the milk clean, fresh, and will refrigerate promptly.
C. Any other services to be performed must be agreed upon in writing.
II. Owner agrees that:
A. Owner will pay their portion for Agister’s labor of milking the herd on the first day of each month in advance. Provided however, Agister shall have the right on January 1 and July 1 of each year to increase the fee for the remainder of the term to reflect additional costs to it such as an increase in feed prices, electricity costs and the like.
B. Owner will be at the milk pick up in a prompt and timely fashion, wherever the agreed-upon location may be. Or send a representative to pick it up for them. If Owner or Owner's representative does not appear, their milk is forfeit for that week, unless other arrangements have been made.
C. Neither Agister, his employees, officers, or agents shall be liable for any disease, accident, injury or death of cows in the herd, from any cause whatsoever; neither shall they be liable for any injury or damage to person, animal, or property caused by the cows in the herd, Owner, from any cause whatsoever. Owner agrees to indemnify the Agister and his officers, employees, and agents against any claim for any damages to any person, animal or property caused by the cows in the herd, or Owner.
D. Owner enters the premises of Agister's farm solely at his own risk; Agister shall bear no liability to Owner or damage to Owner's property.
III. Owner and Agister mutually agree that:
A. The term of this contract is one year from the date hereof, which contract shall be automatically renewed indefinitely subject to the notice provisions herein, until Owner or Agister shall give notice of cancellation.
B. Owner hereby relinquishes all control of veterinarian services to the Agister. Owner has no control over what cows are fed, when the cows are vetted, vaccinated, bred, dried off, and also has no control over or ownership of offspring. All control of the herd is relinquished to the Agister.
C. Notwithstanding II C. above, Owner shall not be liable for damage to Agister's property caused by any member of the herd.
D. In the event either party takes action to enforce any of the terms or conditions of this agreement, it is specifically agreed that the prevailing parties incurred reasonable attorneys fees, costs and expenses will be paid by the losing party.
This agreement may be terminated by either party giving thirty (30) days written notice to the other. This document constitutes the entire agreement between the parties, and there are no other agreements between them. This agreement shall be governed by the laws of Tennessee, both as to interpretation and performance. All terms and conditions of this agreement shall be binding on the parties, their successors, assigns, heirs, administrators, agents, and personal representatives.
(info text only - do not print. Please send email for actual contract)
This herd share agreement made and entered into this ___ day of _______, by and between ________________, hereinafter designated as Owner, and Drama Llama Ranch, hereinafter designated "Agister."
WITNESSETH
Whereas, for purposes of this agreement, The Owner wishes to have his share of the cow herd boarded and milked by the Agister.
The price of joining to the Owner is $50 and this buys ownership into the herd. It is a non-refundable, one-time cost of ownership. The price per share for labor of milking one gallon of the Owner’s milk from the herd is currently set at $7 if picked up at the farm. It is $8 if delivered.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of mutual covenants contained herein, the parties agree as follows:
I. Agister agrees that:
A. Agister will feed, water, and care for the herd of cows in accordance with good barn management practice.
B. Agister will milk the herd daily, using a container or containers supplied by Owner, and will keep the milk clean, fresh, and will refrigerate promptly.
C. Any other services to be performed must be agreed upon in writing.
II. Owner agrees that:
A. Owner will pay their portion for Agister’s labor of milking the herd on the first day of each month in advance. Provided however, Agister shall have the right on January 1 and July 1 of each year to increase the fee for the remainder of the term to reflect additional costs to it such as an increase in feed prices, electricity costs and the like.
B. Owner will be at the milk pick up in a prompt and timely fashion, wherever the agreed-upon location may be. Or send a representative to pick it up for them. If Owner or Owner's representative does not appear, their milk is forfeit for that week, unless other arrangements have been made.
C. Neither Agister, his employees, officers, or agents shall be liable for any disease, accident, injury or death of cows in the herd, from any cause whatsoever; neither shall they be liable for any injury or damage to person, animal, or property caused by the cows in the herd, Owner, from any cause whatsoever. Owner agrees to indemnify the Agister and his officers, employees, and agents against any claim for any damages to any person, animal or property caused by the cows in the herd, or Owner.
D. Owner enters the premises of Agister's farm solely at his own risk; Agister shall bear no liability to Owner or damage to Owner's property.
III. Owner and Agister mutually agree that:
A. The term of this contract is one year from the date hereof, which contract shall be automatically renewed indefinitely subject to the notice provisions herein, until Owner or Agister shall give notice of cancellation.
B. Owner hereby relinquishes all control of veterinarian services to the Agister. Owner has no control over what cows are fed, when the cows are vetted, vaccinated, bred, dried off, and also has no control over or ownership of offspring. All control of the herd is relinquished to the Agister.
C. Notwithstanding II C. above, Owner shall not be liable for damage to Agister's property caused by any member of the herd.
D. In the event either party takes action to enforce any of the terms or conditions of this agreement, it is specifically agreed that the prevailing parties incurred reasonable attorneys fees, costs and expenses will be paid by the losing party.
This agreement may be terminated by either party giving thirty (30) days written notice to the other. This document constitutes the entire agreement between the parties, and there are no other agreements between them. This agreement shall be governed by the laws of Tennessee, both as to interpretation and performance. All terms and conditions of this agreement shall be binding on the parties, their successors, assigns, heirs, administrators, agents, and personal representatives.