HELP WAYWARD GOOSE FARM KEEP THEIR COWS
Donation protected
Due to the unfortunate sudden closing of Consider Bardwell Farm we are left without a market for our raw milk. We are actively seeking out new milk markets, but in the meantime the well-being of our herd of Jersey cows hangs in the balance.
We are not commodity dairy farmers. Our farm model is centered around the production of high-quality, primarily grass-based milk and a commitment to regenerative agricultural practices. This model was established to fulfill our contractual obligations to produce premium milk suitable to be made into raw artisanal cheeses. Milk production is not like a faucet that can be turned off – although we are now left without a milk market and no source of income, our cows still need to be fed and milked. While we are still able to sell a portion of our product to our raw milk customers, we are currently being forced to dump the majority of our milk because of the loss of our market.
We want to do right by our cow herd and our community. We have already been forced to sell several cows to cut costs. This breaks our hearts. Our cows are not just animals – they are invaluable co-workers, partners, and the heart and soul of our farm. They have allowed us to provide our customers with high quality raw milk. This milk was also turned into award winning cheese. We want to continue to allow to them to do what they do best; contribute in meaningful ways to the lives of our neighbors, to our loyal milk customers, and to the health of the land.
We are reaching out to our community in hopes of raising funds to allow us to continue to care for our cow herd during this interim period while we are without a milk market. We have calculated the costs of feeding our herd for one month. We hope that this time period will buy us some time to figure out if we can continue as a farm, or if we must shut down production. We are optimistic that we will be able to continue, and have been bolstered by the outpouring of support we have already received from folks in the cheese industry and within our community.
With sincere gratitude,
Dan and Laurie
We are not commodity dairy farmers. Our farm model is centered around the production of high-quality, primarily grass-based milk and a commitment to regenerative agricultural practices. This model was established to fulfill our contractual obligations to produce premium milk suitable to be made into raw artisanal cheeses. Milk production is not like a faucet that can be turned off – although we are now left without a milk market and no source of income, our cows still need to be fed and milked. While we are still able to sell a portion of our product to our raw milk customers, we are currently being forced to dump the majority of our milk because of the loss of our market.
We want to do right by our cow herd and our community. We have already been forced to sell several cows to cut costs. This breaks our hearts. Our cows are not just animals – they are invaluable co-workers, partners, and the heart and soul of our farm. They have allowed us to provide our customers with high quality raw milk. This milk was also turned into award winning cheese. We want to continue to allow to them to do what they do best; contribute in meaningful ways to the lives of our neighbors, to our loyal milk customers, and to the health of the land.
We are reaching out to our community in hopes of raising funds to allow us to continue to care for our cow herd during this interim period while we are without a milk market. We have calculated the costs of feeding our herd for one month. We hope that this time period will buy us some time to figure out if we can continue as a farm, or if we must shut down production. We are optimistic that we will be able to continue, and have been bolstered by the outpouring of support we have already received from folks in the cheese industry and within our community.
With sincere gratitude,
Dan and Laurie
Organizer
Laurie Brooks
Organizer
Pawlet, VT