My family is really going through the raw dairy these days. I got the idea for this post when we – yet again – ran out of any and all raw dairy a full 24 hours before the next farm delivery. I even added a whole extra gallon to our order at last pickup and here we are out once more!
Do I run to the store and pick up a half gallon of ultrapasteurized organic milk to tide us over?
No way! Organic Valley or Horizon organic milk from the store is horrible, health-robbing stuff. I would never buy it. It is way better to go without until you are able to get more milk fresh from the farm.
We haven’t always consumed as much as we are now. It’s just that my oldest is starting puberty and drinking about a quart a day – maybe even more?
My other two kids have all of a sudden gotten into drinking it as well. I’ve always had to pretty much force them to drink their milk in the past (you know the drill – drink your milk or no bike ride after dinner or whatever).
Now they are gulping it down and asking for more.
I know this seems like a lot, but at the moment, our family of five is easily going through 4 gallons of grassfed cow milk and 2 gallons of foraging goat milk.
Per week!
Oh, I almost forgot. Add a half gallon of raw milk yogurt to that.
And 1-3 quarts of raw cream (for raw ice cream of course). Who can live without ice cream? We do a lot of milkshakes at our house.
Plus one pound of raw butter.
That’s a lot of full fat dairy for a family of five. But then again, we don’t buy any sodas, boxed breakfast cereal, and other processed foods so even though the fresh dairy is expensive, it fits within the budget.
Just my opinion, but I would go from two cars to one or move to a smaller house if necessary to afford our raw dairy. You can’t put a price on health. It is more important than any possession.
“Health is the first wealth” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
In light of how much saturated fat my family is consuming, some of you might be thinking that we surely must be a family of large people.
As it turns out, none of us has a weight problem. It’s really true – eat your whole, unprocessed fats and don’t skimp! It really does help keep you trim!
How much raw dairy does your family consume? I want to know and I’m sure others would too!
Sarah, TheHealthyHomeEconomist.com
I tell my kids this is it. When it runs out it runs out!
Our family of 7 used to go through 3 gallons of milk plus at least 1/2 gallon of kefir a week but that’s when raw milk was cheap in Virginia. We just moved to Colorado and the price of raw milk almost doubled!!! We cut back to 2 gallons a week and we run out a couple days before the next delivery!! My husband needs a raise so we can buy more!!
My husband doesn’t drink milk so it is just me as the boys are grown. I get a gallon of raw milk every two weeks and kefir the whole gallon. I think raw milk kefir was sent from God! When everyone else is getting colds, flu and intestinal bugs, I never get them. I know my raw milk kefir has a lot to do with that. In addition, we go through a quart of raw cream every two weeks. When it gets a bit too sour for coffee, I use it in scrambled eggs and other dishes. We go through a lot of raw cheese.
Tina, kefir is good, but I let mine turn to clabbered milk. It’s much easier, and you get a myriad of good bacteria. Whereas with kefir it’s maybe only 1 or 2 strains available.
i also drink my milk at room temp. Much easier on the tummy, and better for digestion.
great collection of positive comments here. Good to see.
@Amanda, I drop dairy, it is a weight gainer. Limit to butter and occasional cheese. I love my raw milk while pregnant (now) though. But after baby comes I’ll strictly limit my milk intake to lose baby weight. It differs for everyone, but I can’t lose while drinking milk &eating dairy, raw or otherwise. Good luck 🙂
@Amanda, I drop dairy, it is a weight gainer. Limit to butter and occasional cheese. I love my raw milk while pregnant (now) though. But after baby comes I’ll strictly limit my milk intake to lose baby weight. It differs for everyone, but I can’t lose while drinking milk &eating dairy, raw or otherwise. Good luck 🙂
It illegal here I’m Wisconsin which is crazy. We drink coconut milk or qlmond mill on stuff. Don’t drink milk otherwise
Our family of 6 drinks 6 gallons, either in the form of milk or kefir. We run out a day early a lot. I was thinking of asking for another gallon in my pick-up, but thought my farmer may think I’m a lunatic! As for price, here in North GA, milk is almost always Mayfield and this summer it topped $6/a gallon and that is what we pay for Grass-fed Raw Jersey Milk, with so much cream you can take half and still think it is whole milk!
I live in Maryland where you cannot buy raw milk. Does anyone know of how I could get it? What would be the next “best” thing if you cannot get raw milk? I have been buying pasteurized, non-homogenized grassfed whole milk. Thank you!
Jennifer, there are many buying clubs in Maryland from what I’ve been told. Please go to realmilk.com to find sources near you.
If anyone is in or near Central OH, I run a buying group. We get raw milk, pastured eggs, and pastured meats (lamb, chicken, turkey, beef, pork). 100% grass-fed where appropriate. Please email me if you are interested! I want everyone to have access to this high-quality food!
As for our family, my husband is back on GAPS so we are not going through as much raw dairy as we did. I need to make some yogurt (our milk got delivered last night) for the kids. We used to go through 2 gallons a week plus 1 – 2 lbs. of butter in the early summer (family of 4, now 5, but my newborn doesn’t eat anything yet!).
5 people in my family are able to have dairy (one a young toddler) and we go through 4 gallons of raw milk every week. I use the cream on top to make ice cream. We also use a half gallon of yogurt, 1-2 pounds of raw milk cheese, and plenty of butter. I was starting to feel strange about that, so thanks for this post!