So I've been tossing around the idea of creating a sort of Herd Share/CSA combination for my farm. Maybe even trying to create a Co Op where a few of us sign up, and share the fruits of our harvests... maybe one of us commit to growing beans, one tomatoes, etc.... and trading for milk? At any rate.
Does anyone here have experience or good info on herd sharing?
Anyone have ideas of info about how to document this?
In Oregon, I can't advertise that I have milk for sale, but I think I can advertise that I have herd shares for my Nigerian Dairy Goats.
I volunteer for a local CSA (community supported agriculture) and I like the idea. I'd like to figure out how to incorporate this into something workable for my very SMALL farm...
Ideas?
Replies
We have been thinking about starting a CSA in the future also. I read this article on an E-coli outbreak .. even with contracts they we sued by the very people that wanted a cow share. I'm not trying to discourage you in what you'd like to do, just wanted to share what I read.
http://thebovine.wordpress.com/2009/04/30/the-dee-creek-farm-raw-mi...
I'm leaning toward some sort of CSA... I think the "ownership" part of a herdshare is something I might want to consider down the road, but at this point, my herd is below the legal limit in numbers, so I don't NEED to sell shares to be able to have a larger, unlicensed herd. (I'm not even 100% sure that legislation hasn't done away with this ability)
SO
What I would LIKE to do...
is basically create a "pre paid" I want to invest in your farm kind of deal, where people pay up front, and then I would give them the fruits of my labor (and maybe they would come to the farm to help out when I need someone to care for the farm while I'm away) I would plant more than I would for my own family, and have the money for that, and for improving my herd's area up front, and in return, my customers would have milk, eggs and produce seasonally...
Here's a few links I've found re CSA's and how to start them.
http://www.kerrcenter.com/publications/2002_proceedings/successful_...
http://www.threespringsfarm.com/blog/?cat=14
http://growingsmallfarms.ces.ncsu.edu/growingsmallfarms-csaguide/ (this one looks especially good)
http://smallfarm.about.com/od/farmmanagement/a/How-To-Start-A-Csa.htm
THANK YOU!!
Here it is! http://goatsongfarm.weebly.com/ I hope it has some info that will help you a little. Best wishes!
Cool! I'll search my history. I had waned to copy that contract for future reference myself. :)
If you can find it, Patty, I would LOVE to check it out!! I just purchased another doe from Pholia Farm, and now my breeding doe count is up to 6. That leaves me with three doelings I can keep from my best does, and then my herd will be full (if I want to sell milk and not get licensed.)
I love your idea! I ran across a website for a gal who had started a dairy herd share. She had a few goats and a cow or two. Funny, but I believe she was in Oregon too. If I can find it again, I'll share it with you. She had a copy of her contract that people could read online. That might be helpful for you. I just don't know where I found that...