affording raw milk

[icy02]

So my DS has been drinking raw milk since 3 mo (we did WAP cows milk formula).. He is now 13 mo and is really increasing the amount of milk he is drinking. Our raw milk here is super expensive. There are no farms where I can cow share so my only option is the grocery. I pay almost $9 for a 1/2 gallon of raw milk. Lately, he is drinking that much in a few days rather than it lasting the week like it had in the past. I am seriously contemplating just buying Organic Whole (yes pasteurized) milk. I really feel guilty that I am even considering it, but I really can't afford $18/week just for milk for 1 child. Anyways... tell me how you see it.

[serenbat]

if it makes you feel any better, I think that it's cheap what you are paying-

when we did formula (organic) we spent over $35.00 a week- we now only do ORGANIC, not raw and we drink very little milk in general

[bobandjess99]

I would rather have him getting a small portion each day of a nutritious, healthy substance (raw milk) than getting copious amounts of unhealthy, dead substance (past. milk). Get what you can afford of the raw milk, if thats one half gal per week, thats it. That's 8 oz per day, just ration it. Use other healthful beverages when it's gone, teas, water, kombucha, kefir, etc.

[dogmom327]

Originally Posted by bobandjess99

I would rather have him getting a small portion each day of a nutritious, healthy substance (raw milk) than getting copious amounts of unhealthy, dead substance (past. milk). Get what you can afford of the raw milk, if thats one half gal per week, thats it. That's 8 oz per day, just ration it. Use other healthful beverages when it's gone, teas, water, kombucha, kefir, etc.

I agree. I wouldn't give pasteurized milk for the sake of having lots of milk.

[wife2jason]

What about culturing some pasturized (not Ultra) to supplement? We eat about the same volume of yogurt/kefir as we drink milk here.

[blueridgewoman]

Yep, I would use small quantities of raw milk and maybe culture some pasteurized (not ultra, and not homogenized) milk into yogurt or kefir to make up the deficit-- like wife2jason said.

[lakeruby]

I agree with the pp who said to stick with raw, and try to supplement with cultured dairy. Also, you might try doing a little digging to find cheaper milk. We have been paying $14 a gallon for years getting it from a farmer we like, and only last week discovered that, if we make a trip out to the newest natural dairy that opened up about 30 minutes away, we can purchase their raw milk for $4/gallon if we bring our own container. They don't advertise this at all, so we wouldn't have known it if our friend hadn't met the farmer at the farmer's market and brought it up!

good luck!

[bobandjess99]

Originally Posted by lakeruby

I agree with the pp who said to stick with raw, and try to supplement with cultured dairy. Also, you might try doing a little digging to find cheaper milk. We have been paying $14 a gallon for years getting it from a farmer we like, and only last week discovered that, if we make a trip out to the newest natural dairy that opened up about 30 minutes away, we can purchase their raw milk for $4/gallon if we bring our own container. They don't advertise this at all, so we wouldn't have known it if our friend hadn't met the farmer at the farmer's market and brought it up!

good luck!

Ooohh, good idea. We pay $4.50/gallon for our raw milk. so for $9/week, we get 2 entire gallons of raw milk. I know in some places it's much more expensive and there are literally no other options to choose from, but are you sure you've looked everywhere? Like a pp said, even if you had to drive a bit, you could still end up ahead by getting cheaper milk.

[Elizabeth2008]

what part of the country do you live in? Are there any farmer's markets? $9 a half gallon is expensive, but not unheard of. That's how much it is here at the grocery store. I found a place to buy it for $14 a gallon and I feel like I'm getting a huge bargain!

It's all relative though. I know people who would think i'm crazy for spending this much on milk, but they pay $100 every month for cable! To me, that's a waste of money. Wholesome, real, delicious milk full of nutrients for my child - that is money well spent!

[CookiePie]

Elizabeth, I love the spin you just put on that! I also say raw for drinking, pasturized for yogurt/kefir.

[CookAMH]

Originally Posted by bobandjess99

I would rather have him getting a small portion each day of a nutritious, healthy substance (raw milk) than getting copious amounts of unhealthy, dead substance (past. milk). Get what you can afford of the raw milk, if thats one half gal per week, thats it. That's 8 oz per day, just ration it. Use other healthful beverages when it's gone, teas, water, kombucha, kefir, etc.

I completely agree with this. ANY raw milk is better than none. Just spread it out.