Our Most-Asked Questions
If you recently found us, welcome to the farm! We are delighted to serve you across Virginia. I thought it would be fun to share some frequently asked questions, as you may have wondered some of these yourself. These questions are organized into three categories: The Farm, The Cows, and The Herd Share.
Photo Credit: Millpond Photography
The Farm
Is your farm free from pesticides, herbicides, and artificial fertilizers?
We do not spray the fields with harmful chemicals or fertilizers. Our perspective is to manage and care for the land to build soil health, and that will in turn, create a healthy environment for our cows, our children, and the families that enjoy our raw dairy. We are not certified organic but our farming practices align with organic methods.
Where is your farm?
We are in the southern tip of Augusta Co. in the Shenandoah Valley in a charming village called Middlebrook. We deliver to +50 pick up locations so even if you don’t live nearby, you can enjoy raw milk from the herd share, fresh from the farm.
Can my family/organization/homeschool co-op visit your farm?
We appreciate your interest in visiting our farm. Unfortunately we do not have the capacity to host farm visits / tours as we are both full-time farmers with five young children.
We usually host an annual “Farm Day” which provides the opportunity to welcome Creambrook members and friends for a visit to our farm. When this is offered in the future, we will announce this through our email newsletters, so please stay tuned! If you are not yet a subscriber to our newsletter, please click HERE to sign up.
How long have you been farming?
Ben and I began farming in our teens/early twenties before we met and have been farming together since we got married in 2012. We purchased this farm in 2017. You can read our Origin Story Part 1 here and Part 2 here. Ben was a guest on our friends’ podcast, The Baker & The Farm Episode 5 which details much of our story.
The Cows
What kind of cows do you milk?
We have Jersey cows, a hearty breed that originates from the Isle of Jersey. They produce a delicious, creamy milk and are excellent at grazing.
What do the cows eat?
Our cows live outdoors 365 days of the year. They graze fresh pastures in the warmer months and eat hay & baleage in the field in the winter. They receive a grain & mineral mix in the milking parlor that is free from corn, soy, and GMO’s.
How are the cows cared for?
We place a very high priority on cow health and wellbeing. Our milking parlor is designed to provide individual care to the cow in a comfortable, low-stress environment. Everything we do, from pasture management to herd health to milking is thoughtfully considered to give our cows the best life possible on our farm. We really love our cows!
The Herd Share
How long does your milk last?
Our raw milk should last around 2 weeks unopened. If opened on delivery day, it should taste sweet and fresh for 7-10 days. If you wait 1-2 weeks to open the milk, it will probably be sweet for about 5-7 days.
Raw milk does not turn rancid like pasteurized milk, but sours over time. It can still be used in cooking and baking or to make yogurt or butter once it is sour and makes a great substitute for cultured buttermilk.
If you find that your milk is not lasting very long before it begins to taste sour, the first thing to check is your refrigerator temperature. We recommend keeping the milk between 34 - 36 degrees Fahrenheit (36 - 38 degrees is also fine). Keeping the milk towards the back of the fridge and away from the door will help extend the milk’s freshness as well.
What happens to my milk if not picked up?
Leftover milk is removed from the refrigerator to avoid mixing older milk with the fresh milk so our members will always enjoy the freshest milk and not pick up an older jug by mistake.
If you're unable to pick up your share within the designated pick-up time frame, please feel welcome to ask a family member / friend to pick it up for you.
If you know in advance that you will not be able to pick up your share, please send us an email 5+ days prior to your delivery and we will be glad to pause it for you. You can also request that we double your milk shares at a future delivery to replace a skipped week if there is available space at your pick-up location. We want you to enjoy all of your delicious milk share!
Where can I view my pick up hours or update my payment info?
You can log into your Member portal here and view your pick up hours, herd share details, place pre-orders for additional items such as Raw Kefir, Cream, or Chocolate Milk, or update your payment information.
Check out our blog post on how to use your Member account here.
Please view our herd share & refund policy here.
When am I charged the herd share boarding & delivery fee?
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.
How do I increase / decrease my herd share quantity or request a different pick up site?
Please send us an email and our wonderful admin team will be glad to assist!
Thank you for being a part of the Creambrook community! We are thankful to serve you and glad you stopped by the blog!