Frequently Asked Questions


 Why don't you use glass bottles?

As far as using glass bottles, that was our original plan. It was part of the dream and it took a lot for me to turn to plastic. Once we started looking into glass, we realized that glass is just not economically viable for us. The glass weighs too much, we would have to have a separate building or room for the bottles to be washed and stored, bigger trucks, more deliveries, CDL licenses for our drivers, pay the drivers more, etc. The hassle of getting all the bottles returned is an issue as well as dealing with broken glass. The cost of the bottles alone is a barrier. We bottle in HDPE #2 plastic, that is a non-leaching type of plastic. But, if you are concerned about it at all, put the milk you purchase into glass containers upon arriving at home. I believe that the plastic doesn't leach unless it is in sunlight or frozen anyway, which our milk is never exposed to.

What do you feed your cows?

Pasture

Our cows are pasture based and so their diet revolves around this concept. We rotationally graze as long as the weather and pasture allows, about 6 or 7 months out of the year. The factors in play are the temperature and the rainfall. Too cold and the grass won't grow. Too much rain and the land will get too muddy with heavy hooves. So, there has to be grass for the cows to eat and the fields have to be dry enough to take cows tromping all over. Our land could be certified organic if we pursued this. We fertilize with liquid manure only. No commercial fertilizers, no pesticides, no herbicides. Alfalfa hay supplements pasture during the transition from hay to pasture in the spring and then pasture to hay to start the winter.

Hay

We buy our alfalfa hay through the Leitz family Hay Company in Sequim. They get the highest quality alfalfa hay from eastern Washington. The cows have access to this hay at all times in the winter months.

Grain

Our grain comes from a family owned grain company called Elenbaas in Sumas. Our grain ration consists of wheat, barley, oats, corn, molasses, canola oil and minerals. No antibiotics, no soy products, no cottonseed and no hormones.

Forage (grass and/or hay) makes up about 80% of the cow's diet while grain makes up about 20%. Our dairy farm feeds less grain than most because we feel it is a more natural diet and healthier for the cow.

The grain and hay is not certified organic but is high quality and we are happy with the service of the feed businesses we've been working with for years.