Back to Basics Series: The Herd Share
You’ve heard about raw milk and want to give it a try. But what is a herd share and how does it work? This is part one in a new blog series, Back to Basics.
This week, we will dive into what a herd is and why you’d want to own one.
Raw Milk in Virginia
Raw milk laws vary from state to state. In California and Pennsylvania, for example, raw milk from licensed dairies is sold in retail stores. However in Virginia, retail sales of raw milk are illegal.
At Creambrook, we operate a herd share program. A herd share is when a farmer sells ownership shares of their animals to those who want to source raw milk. The members can source raw milk from the farm because there’s no law stating you can’t drink raw milk from your own livestock. A herd share agreement is signed by both parties.
The Details
Our farm provides herd shares to members who become part-owners of the cows. Each member pays a one-time ownership fee and signs a herd share agreement. The one-time ownership fee is paid back to the member if they permanently cancel their herd share with us because it is a legal bill of sale.
The member pays a weekly boarding & delivery fee once per week .This covers the cost for us to care for the cows and deliver the milk to pick up sites where members get their milk every week.
By signing the herd share agreement, a member officially owns a part of our milking herd. You will enjoy fresh milk every week, delivered to a local pick up site - like a milk subscription. But no need to wake up early and milk the cows! :)
How to Get Started
When you sign up online, you will select your local pick up site and the quantity of raw milk that you want to receive every week. Finish creating your member account and check your email inbox for the email “Welcome to Creambrook Farm! Final step required to complete your herd share.”
This email contains all of the essential details: first delivery date, address, hours for pick up and directions.
You will sign the herd share agreement (sent in a separate email), as this must be signed before your raw milk herd share can be delivered. Get ready to enjoy your raw milk!
Because this is a herd share and not a sale, raw milk is delivered each week. If you are out of town and need to skip a week, please email us at least +5 days in advance so we can accommodate your request. You can request to schedule that week’s quantity of milk on a different week.
In your member account:
View pick up location address, hours, and instructions
Update payment information
Place pre-orders for additional items
Your delivery is charged on your Member account the evening of your delivery day.
Autopay: (Debit on Delivery) If you set up automated payments, your card will be charged automatically the evening of delivery.
Prepaid Credit: If you selected a prepaid credit amount, your card will be charged when your account balance is $0. Credit amounts are $20, $50, $100, or $200 increments. Each delivery will be charged to the balance of your account until the balance is spent, and then you will be charged your prepaid amount again.
We offer several different payment options. We accept credit or debit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover) as online payments through your herd share account.
If you need to request a change to your herd share quantity or your pick up location, please send us an email.
We are honored to be your farmers and take care of the cows that produce delicious, creamy milk for our herd share members. Thank you for being a part of this wonderful community!