Workshop & Ice Cream Social at Family Cow Farmstand in Hinesburg
Lindsay Harris gets a batch of cheese started at a previous dairy class.
With the close of the 2011 legislative session came the return of Rural Vermont’s raw dairy processing classes, thanks to a small tweak to the law governing the sale and production of raw milk in Vermont. S.105, the dubbed “dairy class bill”, restores farmers’ ability to sell raw milk and protects the rights of Vermonters to learn about and make raw milk dairy products in the privacy of their own kitchens.
Since this bill was signed into law in the spring, Rural Vermont has resumed partnering with farmers all across the state to teach raw milk enthusiasts how to make all kinds of delicious dairy goodies in their home kitchens. On Wednesday, August 17th, Rural Vermont heads to Chittenden County to partner with Family Cow Farmstand in Hinesburg for an entire day and night devoted to raw dairy!
From 1 – 4 pm, Rural Vermont will host a special dairy processing class where farmer Lindsay Harris will teach a small group of folks to make raw milk ice cream, salted caramel sauce, and ricotta. The class fee is $20 – 40 sliding scale, and proceeds benefit Rural Vermont. Pre-registration is required, class size is limited, and this class is sure to sell out! Get in touch today to reserve your spot by calling Rural Vermont at (802) 223-7222 or emailing shelby@ruralvermont.org.
From 7 – 8:30 pm, the barn doors at Family Cow Farmstand will be open to one and all for an old fashioned ice cream social and raw milk celebration! Come celebrate the return of the raw dairy classes with live music, your friends and neighbors, a door prize, and raw milk ice cream freshly made just hours prior at the dairy class!. All the fun will be happening at Family Cow Farmstand, located at 2386 Shelburne Falls Road in Hinesburg, VT. This event will go on rain or shine, and is free (donations to Rural Vermont kindly appreciated!).
Why all the excitement about raw milk? Family Cow Farmstand owner Lindsay Harris says, “At the Family Cow, we produce small amounts of fresh, high-quality, unpasteurized milk. We became the first state-certified raw milk dairy in Vermont because fresh milk tastes better and retains enzymes, probiotics, and many vitamins that are destroyed in the pasteurization process. We are inspected by the Agency of Agriculture and adhere to strict safety and milk testing standards. Rural Vermont has worked hard to secure our right to sell milk and to teach home dairying classes. We are excited to partner with them and with our friends and neighbors in celebrating the bounty of the Family Cow. We hope to see you on August 17th!”
Rural Vermont is continuing to schedule dairy processing classes through the fall. For information about hosting, teaching, or attending a class, call Rural Vermont at (802) 223-7222 or email shelby@ruralvermont.org. Check the Rural Vermont website www.ruralvermont.org for the most recent events list or call to be added to the mailing list.
Family Cow Farmstand produces and sells raw milk directly to their community. Their Jersey and Guernsey cows are grass-fed and treated like family to make sure they are healthy and comfortable. Family Cow was the first certified Tier 2 raw milk producer in the state, and their milk is available from the farmstand (always open) and through delivery. For more info, visit www.familycowfarmstand.com.