Saturday, February 18, 2012

Family Cow Forum

Family cow enthusiasts gathered on Saturday morning at the UCC-Cornwall CT Parish House to share their triumphs, passions, experiences, and info. Hot drinks were provided by Naren Sonpal of Coffee, Tea, Etc., Goshen. His fair-trade, organically grown coffee, tea, cocoa, and spices along with Local Farm milk made an unbeatable delicious flavor combination.

Alton Earnhart of Lightning Tree Farm in Millbrook, NY, talked about forage analysis. Panelists; Catherine Evans, David and Donna Hersh, Emy Osborne, Joe Benette, and Wyatt Whiteman discussed their discoveries, trials, tribulations, and triumphs as backyard cow keepers. Gund Sonpal of Sonpal's Power Fence (860-491-2290), described the products she sells from her home in Goshen, CT and Kathy Johnson of the Natural Resources Conservation Service gave a non-electric power point presentation about rotational grazing. After a potluck lunch, some participants showed various styles milking machines; from an old fashioned Surge milker that hangs off a strap over the cow's back to hand held plastic contraptions looking not much different from a spray bottle.
Wyatt Whiteman shows us his non-electric E-Z Flow Milker...
A lifesaver for a person with big hands and a tiny cow!

The younger participants enjoyed playing in a watering tub filled with shelled corn and jumping rope.

Desiree Ball demonstrated Tips and Tools for home cheese-making.

... and there we have it, Folks: CURDtains on a lovely day!

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