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June 1, 2005
Upcoming Events Regarding Raw Milk and Cheese-making: NY, PA and VA
1. CHEESE DAY!
Cheese Day! A Festival from Grass to Milk to Table
10 AM - 4 PM, Sat., June 11, 2005
This festival takes place at Sprout Creek Farm, 34 Lauer Road, Poughkeepsie,
NY and is sponsored by the NYS Farmstead and Artisan Cheese Makers Guild.
This event is for cheese enthusiasts, aspiring cheese makers, farmers
past - present - or future, anyone looking for a delicious new hobby,
and
all lovers of food and farms.
Join us for a fascinating day of cheese-related learning and exploration
at a wonderful educational farm with its own milking herds (cows and
goats) and creamery.
Twenty workshops presented by artisan cheese makers, farmers, and cheeseophiles
are included in the price of admission. Free farm tours, regional cheeses
for sale, a book "store", and a real food concession by student
chefs at the Culinary Institute of America will round out the day.
Admission is $10 for Guild members and $25 for non members (non members,
add $5 after June 9 and day of the event).
You may register online at http://www.nycheese.org/
or by sending a check or money order to the NYS Cheese Makers Guild,
c/o 1293 McClay Rd., Greenwich, NY 12834.
One can join the Guild at the same time you sign up for Cheese Day!
either on line or by mail.
Questions, please contact, Tracy Frisch, at tracy@nycheese.org or (518)
692-8242.
2. Raw Milk Production, Bottling, Inspection and Sales
Saturday, June 18, 10am-3pm
Swiss Villa Dairy, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania
Cost: $15 PASA and PCO Members, $25 Non-Members
Home-cooked meal of Swiss Villa's own beef, potatoes, peas, homemade
bread, salad and more included.
Steve Fisher, owner/operator of Swiss Villa Dairy, offers a light perspective
on dairy farming, referring to his meadows as "yellow gold"
but this profitable grass-based operation is serious business. Swiss
Villa Dairy offers fresh, raw milk in nostalgic glass bottles, along
with other cream-line products, in retails stores across central and
southern PA.
Our field day will start in the pastures, so wear sturdy shoes. Steve
will lead us in a discussion of animal health and well-being, along
with tips on producing great tasting milk. After our pasture walk, we'll
head to the processing plant, which consists simply of a bottle washer,
bottle filler, and a small portable cooler. Steve will explain how he
maintains a permit to sell raw milk and how Swiss Villa Dairy
distributes their product. Ivan Martin, owner of Natural Acres and distributor
of Swiss Villa products, will talk about raw milk sales and the nutritional
importance of raw milk products. Ivan also plans to teach a quick lesson
on making kefir, a fermented milk product known to support a healthy
digestive system. We'll round out our day with a look at the greenhouse
barn where contented cows enjoy a clean loafing area.
Registration: Heather House
Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture
Educational Outreach
814-349-9856 ext. 2
heather@pasafarming.org
http://www.pasafarming.org/
3. "Emerging Agricultural Ideas: Session I, The Trend Towards
Raw Dairy and Opportunity Development for Farmers and Consumers."
Wednesday evening, June 22 from 6-10pm.
Location: Charlottsville, VA
This will be an evening of fun and education, with heavy hors d'oeuvres
supplied by Virginia Producers. There will be an all star line-up of
speakers. MC'd by our Very Own Joel Salatin, we have presentations by
Mark McAfee from California, where he runs Organic Pastures, an innovative
dairy operation that provides raw dairy products, and (tentatively)
Dr. Ron Schmid from Connecticut, MIT grad, Naturopathic physician, author
of The Untold Story of Milk, and Jersey cow owner and operator.
We also plan to have several speakers from Virginia share their experiences
and insights.
At this time we are requesting support and assistance from enthusiasts
of raw dairy, sustainable local agriculture, and a healthy farm economy.
Needs are:
- Assistance with publicity
- Volunteers to host special guests for Wednesday night in the
Charlottesville area
- Assistance and donations for food for the evening (Virginia
produced products will be an important part of the evening's
presentation)
- Monetary assistance to pay for travel expenses for Mark and
Ron, and seminar expenses
- Product donations for raffle and door prizes during the
evening
- Set up and breakdown volunteers, as well as volunteers to help
the evening run smoothly
VICFA members have been having dialogues with key Virginia Farm Bureau
members, and Mark McAfee will be speaking to the FB District Representatives
on Wednesday and to the FB Ad Hoc Committee on Emerging Ag on Thursday.
This is an excellent time to make our voices heard and to support the
Farm Bureau in making changes in policy that will be friendly towards
independent farmers and farmgate sales.
Please contact us with any assistance that you can offer or any question
about this important event.
Information: Kathryn Russell
lotzakdz@earthlink.net
http://www.majestyfarm.com/
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