Dairy Goats: From Milking to Cheese and Everything in Between
August 30 @ 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
$140.00
Spend the day with a herd of French Alpine Dairy Goats. No, we’re not kidding. To begin, we’ll go out for a walk. As the goats browse the delicious leaves of trees and shrubs, you’ll start to discern their unique personalities. You’ll have ample time to stroll the grounds and get to know fellow participants, too! We will discuss the ins and outs of hand-milking, and participants will have an opportunity to observe the process. This part of the session will last approximately 1.5 hours; it is an unhurried, relaxing time to get to know one-another and the goats. From there, we will move to the farmhouse to learn the process of cheese-making. 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 goat 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 from the class:
- 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 7 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.
Learning from the land: Today, there’s a significant disconnect between people and our food. This class provides the opportunity to get a closer look at where food comes from and to find reverence for the processes involved in bringing food to the table.
Green Door classes are immersive and intentionally long. We find that over prolonged time together, students form deeper bonds with each other, the craft, and their instructor for an over all more impactful experience. Even if you are a Traverse City local, the intention is that these classes feel a bit like a retreat away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. If you are visiting from afar, the experience can be even deeper.
Class Details:
Where is the class held?: This class is held at J2 Farms at Cedar North, an idyllic setting for both students and goats.
Cost: $140 per person which includes a $15 material fee (includes all necessary tools and materials)
Date/Time: August 30th @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Prerequisites/Skill Level/Age Requirements:
- No prior experience required.
- Ages 18+
Booking Information and Policies:
What happens after I book the class?: After you book, we will send you a confirmation email that you are IN! A week out from the class, we will send you an email with more details about our meeting locations and some housekeeping items.
Want to make sure you have all of the information before you dive in? Here’s our cancelation policy: We understand that plans change, and we do our best to accommodate while honoring the time, energy, and resources that go into preparing for each class.
Cancellations made more than 14 days before the class start date Receive a full refund, minus a $25 administrative fee. This fee helps cover the cost of filling your spot. Unfortunately, we are unable to offer refunds for cancellations made less than 14 calendar days before class begins.
At this time, we are not able to offer:
• Course credit
• Transfers to other courses
This policy allows us to keep class sizes small and intimate, while minimizing pressure to increase overall course costs.
If the class is canceled by the school: In the event of inclement weather or other disruptions, we will issue a full refund and do our best to offer a reschedule option.
Policies:
Go for it! This class is for former horse girls, cheese enthusiasts, anyone curious about learning some farm skills, and animal lovers of all kinds (I mean…look at that face)