So we visited the cow share

[BedHead]

And I must say I am DYING to buy into it!

I think it's out of our price range though. $80 per share to buy in. $20 deposit on bottles. $55 a month maintenance fee. Delivery charge (to be specified depending on # of people) or an hour and a half driving once a week to pick it up. And that's for just one gallon a week! So at $55 a month it works out to $12.69 per gallon and that's not counting delivery or anything. And my family drinks about 5-8 gallons of milk a week depending on whatever. I simply cannot afford $275.00 per month plus for milk.

*sigh* What I might end up doing is just getting a gallon a week and using it for butter, kefir and yogurt for now. It's so sad that the healthy alternative is so unbelievably expensive.

Unfortunately they are the only cow share in Alberta so my options are rather limited.

[bobandjess99]

yikes!!
I'm so glad our share is so unbelievably cheap.....$4.50 per gallon, and $20 per year as our share fee.

[greenmom4]

Well, our milk is $10/gallon. We cut way back on the quantity we were drinking because I just can't, in good conscience, buy the grocery store stuff any more.

And, for some perspective, raw goat's milk is $20/gallon here. So it could be worse!

[Aubergine68]

You found a cow share in Alberta?

[Althetrainer]

Alberta cow share?

I didn't know you could buy a share in Alberta? Where did you find it? Not that I can afford a share but I am just curious. I am in Calgary.

[BedHead]

They just started up about 3 weeks ago. They're east of Edmonton about 45 minutes.

[Aubergine68]

Wow, that's not too far from me! Would you mind pming me the info?

Organic milk is about $10/gallon at the supermarket anyway...that's not actually outrageous, although I admit, X 8 gallons a week that would be pretty much.

I would imagine that one would drink less cowshare milk, esp if it were full fat milk. Does your family drink the 3.25 milk?

[Shakti77]

Wow!! I' happy for you! We live in Toronto and we don't get raw milk here. Right now, we exist on the homogenized organic milk.

[BedHead]

Originally Posted by Aubergine68

Wow, that's not too far from me! Would you mind pming me the info?

Organic milk is about $10/gallon at the supermarket anyway...that's not actually outrageous, although I admit, X 8 gallons a week that would be pretty much.

I would imagine that one would drink less cowshare milk, esp if it were full fat milk. Does your family drink the 3.25 milk?

No, and when we were there hubby tasted the full fat and said he didn't like it. So they skimmed some for him and he still turned up his nose. He thinks I'm whacked for seeking out this milk.

I have their flyer at home - if you PM me your email I can forward it to you when i'm home from work

[Aubergine68]

Pm'd you the email.

Many thanks! :

[noobmom]

Wow that is insanely expensive. I'm not surprised you can't afford it, I can't imagine there are very many people who can.

[skyerae]

Oh, that sucks. Good to know there is a cow share in Alberta. I was this close to getting milk shipped from BC. Luckily I kept my ear to the ground and live in a very rural area. I found someone who will give me milk for he cost of some grain for her cow (just waiting for the colostrum to clear out now). I would keep on the lookout, there are people all over who have cows and throw milk away. You might be able to get some cheaper. Good luck.

Oh, and I heard from the person I'm getting my milk from that most people drink more raw milk than store bought because it tastes so much better. I guess I'll have to see. I've been drinking goats milk recently though. It's pasteurized and more expensive but it isn't homogenized so that's something.

[Althetrainer]

I use goat milk as well, and it's not cheap. Superstore carries Happy Day 2 liters for $4.99 while Safeway carries Oak Island also 2 liters for $6.99. Planet Organic carried goat milk from Fairwinds Farm also causes $6.99 per 2 liters. I thought all milk including goat milk was pasteurized and homogenized in Canada? My husband and son won't drink goat milk let alone goat milk kefir. I use it for myself but still find it too expensive. Of course, raw milk is completely out of the question here.

[Prairiemother]

What a small world. I'm rarely on MDC these days but I just popped in and look what I found! I bought in to the cow share program. I have to say, the net cost is not much more than the cost of organic milk at the store here, so there's not much difference for us, and I feel much better knowing the milk is from happy, grass-fed animals.

[athenalove46]

Did they tell you how much it would be for subsequent gallons of milk? I couldn't imagine them charging that much for ALL the milk you buy, especially since you're paying your share already. Sorry mama, that really sucks. s

[durafemina]

oh dear, raw milk in Canada is such a nightmare. We're living in NZ for a couple years and our cow share was $40 buy-in and then $2/L delivered to our door. Sigh. . . that'll be hard to leave behind when we move back to Ontario. There's no way we could afford the prices you're talking about!

[BedHead]

Originally Posted by Aubergine68

Pm'd you the email.

Many thanks! :

Sorry, I haven't been on my computer at home since yesterday morning - I haven't forgotten!

I wish I could find a farmer who just throws the milk out and would give it to me Better yet, I'd like my own cow!!!

[WuWei]

Originally Posted by BedHead

*sigh* What I might end up doing is just getting a gallon a week and using it for butter, kefir and yogurt for now. It's so sad that the healthy alternative is so unbelievably expensive.

My suggestion would be to drink the milk raw, but culture the organic, pasteurized commercial milk. At least then, you are getting healthier milk, both ways.

Most butter is heated before use (not sure?), so you'd be losing enzymes, prebiotic benefits. So, I'd just purchase organic (or raw) or grass-fed butter instead. Mostly, we use CO for cooking.


Pat

[Prairiemother]

Originally Posted by athenalove46

Did they tell you how much it would be for subsequent gallons of milk? I couldn't imagine them charging that much for ALL the milk you buy, especially since you're paying your share already. Sorry mama, that really sucks. s

Thanks but it doesn't really increase our budget, because of the cost of organic milk in the first place. We opt to forego certain things in order to purchase what we want - in this case, a cow share. I don't mind. I've milked cows before!

[Ruthla]

Originally Posted by BedHead

They just started up about 3 weeks ago. They're east of Edmonton about 45 minutes.

I wonder if maybe the price will go down once they're established and are doing more regular business.