Observable Impacts of Nutrition

Marcie on the milking stand.

With the Fodder-Pro Feed System still in the offing, hay and grain continue to dominate the dietary supplement we have to offer. Unlike the rigid 5:00 or 6:00 a.m. and p.m. milking schedules of larger dairies, at P&CW Organic Farm we enjoy a far more relaxed schedule of once-daily milking. Although we aim to milk at around the same time each day, circumstances--such as the occasional cold, hard rain or an off-farm obligation--are known to interfere.

When milking is postponed by half a day or more, milk production drops off slightly. The longer the hiatus, the greater the drop. To encourage increased milk production, I use the recommendation of the woman from whom I bought Marcie--Melissa of C&M Vally Farm--and add a handful or so of alfalfa shreds into the grain offered to the does on the milking stand. Interestingly enough, that small change yields observable results by the following day. Udders are fuller and teats are distended when I return with milk buckets in hand.

Already I am anticipating the milk we will miss when our does reserve their nutrition for the developing kids they now carry. As in the Biblical lands where goodness can be measured by the ample presence of milk and honey, so too is our existence enriched by the gifts of the farm. True, we supplement our nutrition with Emerald Express products, and they do help us to feel spry enough to greet each day, but most of our blessings come from the real milk we drink--whole, unprocessed milk from our free ranging goats; from the farm fresh eggs our hens provide for us; and from the myriad of herbs, fruits and vegetables we enjoy from various local farm sources.

Five years ago in another life, we ate fairly well. While I knew that cookies and cakes should be enjoyed in moderation, I often had difficulty moderating my intake. What we did not know was that butter, fresh eggs, raw dairy, grass-fed meat, and organic produce would make such a positive difference in our energy levels and overall health. Where did our society go wrong? How is it that so much of what we feed ourselves and our children is bad for us? When did we make the shift to thinking that cost, convenience, and availability should be the hallmarks by which we choose the food to nourish ourselves?

I am thankful for the changes that have brought me to this point in my life and eager to continue learning about how I can continue to improve and can help to improve the lives of those around me.