Dairy Goats: From Milking to Cheese and Everything in Between
Take a closer look at where our food comes from and find reverence for the processes involved in bringing food to the table.
Spend a day on the farm experiencing the entire agricultural process of cheesemaking from the pasture to the plate. Time in the barn with the alpine dairy goats and miniature cattle will feature the ins and outs of hand-milking, and participants will have an opportunity to observe the process. We will start with the simplest and most tasty of goat cheeses. The 48-hour process will be set up in stages, so that participants can experience it all from start to finish. We will also have our hand at fresh mozzarella and ice cream. The day will end with a shared meal from “farm to table,” highlighting our delights from the day.
Itinerary:
Morning: We’ll start the day by gathering at J2 Farms for some brief introductions before heading out for a walk around the grounds with a herd of French Alpine Dairy Goats. As we walk, we’ll observe the goats and their grazing behaviors before getting into the basics of hand-milking. Students will observe the process, before moving onto the farmhouse where you’ll learn the process of cheese making!
Break for Lunch
Afternoon: In the barn, students will continue to observe and experience each stage of a 48 hour process of making delicious goat cheese. Other goat-milk processes will be explored, including mozzarella and ice-cream before wrapping up and preparing a meal. Gathered around the table, students will have the opportunity to connect in closing reflection while enjoying delicious results from the day’s working and learning.
What You Get:
- A lesson on the basics of hand-milking dairy goats
- An in-depth look at the process of making goat cheese
- Experience making a variety of goat milk products
- A delicious meal incorporating ingredients from the farm
- A day spent with a herd of French Alpine dairy goats
Meet Your Instructor:
Julie Botsford
A recently retired hospital pharmacist, Julie has been a dairy goat owner for 8 years, and a gardener and farmer for her entire life. She and her husband believe that enhancing the soil and regenerating the land is a noble cause and they are the lucky recipients of resultant beauty, amazing food, and loving community.
Prerequisites/Skill Level/Age Requirements:
- No prior experience required.
- Ages 18+
Policies:
