Can I purchase goat milk and cheese from your farm?  

No, it is illegal in Virginia for me to sell goat milk, except for animal consumption. And, as of January 24, 2005, it is illegal for me to sell goat cheese. You may have followed debates in the Virginia General Assembly where small farmers such as myself have unsuccessfully fought for an exemption for on-farm sales of goat milk and cheese. 

Are there any alternatives to the over-burdensome regulations?  

The only way I can legally provide goat milk and goat cheese to people, other than giving it away, is to sell shares in my dairy goats, whereby shareholders own the goat and consume the product of their own goat. 

How do shares work?  

Basically, you buy a share in a dairy goat and pay a monthly boarding fee for me to care for and milk your goat and/or make cheese from the milk of your goat. You sign a legal boarding agreement and pay the boarding fee at the first of each month. 

What does a share cost? 

$75 is the purchase price for one full share of a dairy goat (there are 7 full shares per goat; half and quarter shares are also available). This is a one-time purchase price, good for the reproductive life of the goat (until about 10 years of age, give or take). 

What are the boarding fees? 

$12.00 per week for a full milk share OR $18 per week for a full cheese share. The monthly boarding fee is calculated by the type of share multiplied by the number of weeks in that month. For example, if you purchase a full milk share and your pickup day is Saturday and there are 4 Saturdays in that month, then your boarding fee for that month would be $12 x 4 = $48. A full cheese share for a month with 4 Saturdays would be $18 x 4 = $72. These prices are subject to change on a semi-annual basis (July and January), given changes in the price of feed, hay, supplies, labor, etc. 

What do I get for my share?  

Production levels change seasonally according to the stage of lactation and prevailing weather conditions.  A full milk share will provide about one gallon of milk per week. A full cheese share will provide about 1.5 pounds of hard cheese (e.g., feta, jack, ricotta) or chevre (soft goat cheese); OR 2 8oz tubs of herbed feta-chevre spread; OR 2 8 oz jars of marinated feta each week. Partial shares are prorated accordingly. If you want cheese, you pay the higher boarding fee for me to make cheese from your milk. At the beginning of each month, when you send the boarding fee, you would indicate what type of cheese you want that month and which week you would pick it up. A list of available cheeses is found here. 

Is this a year-round operation or a seasonal one? 

It's a year-round arrangement as long as the goat is in milk. There may have to be a 2-month down time if I re-breed the goat to kid once a year. I usually delay breeding and milk a goat until production falls below 1/2 gallon per day. This can be as long as 1 1/2 years or more.  Shareholders decide if they want me to delay breeding, or breed once a year.  I can usually supplement with a temporary share in another goat during the dry period. I freshen goats in winter, spring and fall so I always have milk. NOTE: There is a Waiting List for 2008.

What happens if I go on vacation or business travel and don't pick up milk? Am I still responsible for the boarding fee?

The monthly boarding fee is due whether you pick up your milk, or not, on any given week during the month. I still have to feed, milk, and care for your goat whether you pick up or not.

Are there additional charges? 

Shareholders are responsible for the cost of veterinarian costs and related medications in the rare case of an emergency. I have a very healthy grazing herd and I am able to provide most of the medical care, when needed. I would expect that any vet costs to you and the other shareholders to be very minimal, if any at all. 

What else is required of me?

Shareholders provide their own glass gallon or half gallon bottles, cleaned and sterilized. Bottles should be washed with hot soapy water using a bottle brush. After rinsing, I request that shareholders also soak the bottles and lids in diluted Clorox or hydrogen peroxide before returning. Air dry. Also, do not fasten lids too tightly because that causes mold to grow. I always sanitize your bottles and lids with my food grade chlorinated sanitizer and air dry before I fill them. It would make me feel more comfortable knowing you have sanitized too since some bottles sit here for 2 weeks before being refilled.

Where can I find glass bottles?

Here are some sources for glass jars if you don't have any on hand: some General Dollar stores have 1/2 gallon glass jars for about $2.50 each. K-Mart has a Martha Stewart "Harvest" glass one gallon jar. Most folks buy juice or milk in glass gallon and 1/2 gallon jars and then recycle the container (for example, Ukrops has apple cider in the veggie section and Ellwood Thompsons has organic milk in 1/2 gallon and apple juice in one gallon sizes). Also ask around to friends see if any have extra jars to share or sell.

How many bottles will I need?

You'll need enough jars to rotate pickups. For example, if you decide on a full milk share (=about one-gallon-per-week), you'll need 2 one-gallon containers or 4 half gallon containers -- one gallon to take milk in and one gallon to leave here for the next pickup. If you pickup every other month, double the number of bottles so there are always clean ones here for filling.

Where can I find bottle brushes?

My source for bottle brushes is www.thegoatstore.com 1-800-221-4628

Item #2C Pop Bottle Brush $6.50 and/or #14N Gallon Jug Brush $10.40. Check also kitchen supply stores, Walmart, and K-Mart.

What other farm products do you offer?

I produce brown eggs from free-ranging chickens, seasonal organic vegetables and herbs, and wildflower honey.

Where are you located? 

I am located in King William County, about 45 miles northeast of Richmond, off Rt 360 East, about 10 miles from Mechanicsville. And about one hour south of Frederickburg, (I 95 S to West Point exit (RT 30) at Paramount King’s Dominion, then about 25 miles east). I can provide detailed directions. 

Do you allow farm visits? 

Yes, although visiting time is limited due to farm chore obligations. Saturdays and weekdays, between 11 am and 1 pm, weather permitting. No Sunday calls or visits, please. All visits are by appointment. For biosecurity reasons, visitors are not allowed in pastures, paddocks, or barns and if you have visited another farm, you will be asked to walk through a Clorox foot bath. Childen must be accompaied by a responsible adult at all times and should be calm and quiet around the animals. The farmer is not responsible for accidents.

Where do I pick up the milk/cheese and eggs?

After the first visit and sign-up for a share, a shareholder picks a day of the week for regular pick up. The shareholder gives 48 hours advance notice if they cannot pick up on their regular day. This gives the farmer time to prepare the milk/cheese.

Milk/cheese/eggs are picked up from a well-chilled cooler at the appointed pickup day and time. Your milk/cheese will be pitched if you fail to pick up as scheduled.

Have any other questions? 

Please contact me at cncurtis@crosslink.net

 Revision Date: Saturday, January 26, 2008