Before we bought our milk cow, Saturdays were known as our "family day trip" to get raw milk. This is something we looked forward to all week! I'm not sure if it was because of the drive through the country, as we fantasized about owning our own small piece of land, or just the fact that it was finally the weekend and we were all together! For information on the health benefits of raw milk check out this post 13 Health Benefits of Raw Dairy Milk Consumption.
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The Journey To Get Raw Milk
There was a small dairy farm about 40 minutes northwest of our previous home that sold raw unpasteurized milk, cream, and butter. Yes, raw butter, the type that smells like cheese and you know you're getting your enzymes in! Sounds European, right? Well, it was well worth the weekly drive to stock up! Not to mention the picturesqueness of rolling hills and green clearings on old farm lands.
At the time, we lived at the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains of western Pennsylvania. This is a place where a majority of the drives you take have a 365 degree breathtaking view. There is always something to admire. My husband always compares it to the start of a Disney movie, where the introduction is this majestic land with a river running through it, and Cinderella‘s Castle in the background. Believe it or not, that is what it looks like! Yep, we are in love with where we live.
Raw Milk In The Past
I would imagine in the past most people had their own milk cow, never having to make a special trip for any sort of dairy product, including cheese. And what about those that didn't have a cow? Well, farmers would go door to door with their cow ready to milk in your pail! Imagine that world! Wow, have we come a long way! Now, milk is readily available at any gas station and supermarket. This is highly processed milk, that is not the high quality raw milk that I'm talking about. The extreme heating in ultra-pasteurization reduces and destroys many of the vitamins, nutrients, and enzymes found in milk.
What Changed Everything For Us
After stumbling across a book called Nourishing Traditions (found here), our lives have taken a dramatic change and we will never be looking back. What we’ve learned from Sally Fallon Morell and her dissection of Weston A. Price's Book, Nutrition and Physical Degeneration (found here), was a complete game changer for us! We are convinced that this is the way to live, at least for our family.
I had a great grandmother that lived to be 111. She died when I was in my 20’s and I was always very observant on how she ate. Boy, did she have an appetite! She always, ALWAYS, would have a small glass of wine or beer at every meal, a small piece of bread, and a protein dripping with fat (real cholesterol fat, not vegetable oils!). No, she wasn't European born, she was raised on a farm in the United States. Maybe genes played a role in her age? I’d like to believe how she was raised and continued to eat was key to her longevity.
Looking To The Past For Health
Farm work, especially in those days, was extremely hard work. Thankfully we've advanced so much through technology that tools and machinery have helped make this job slightly easier. No doubt it is a full time job but the payout is well worth it with: having organic produce readily available, grass fed meats humanely raised, raw dairy at your disposal, and the only fats available are those from farm animals! I would wager a lot of people from my generation or older had a grandparent that stored bacon fat in an old coffee can, I sure did! No worries, I’m keeping up with the tradition! Wink. My bacon fat storing grandparents lived to be in their 90’s!
Imagine a time when Foodborne illnesses such as diabetes, and heart disease were rare. Mrs. Morell states in her book that the first documented heart attack in the United States was in 1919 after seed oils hit the shelves. Maybe this is why more and more people are seeking old traditions to reclaim their health. I for one am. I think people from the past lived a more purposeful life, hard work makes you appreciate things more and not having things readily available sure helps you find the joy in the rarities.
Some Benefits Of Raw Milk
Which brings me back to what’s become an unimaginable rarity, raw milk. You know, the kind that separates when it's been sitting for a while because of the lack of homogenization. And the kind that comes straight from the cow (mmhmm, that’s right) which contains all the natural enzymes that help digest it and absorb all the vitamins and beneficial bacteria among other wonderful benefits. Ohhh, and the thick cream you can skim off the top! I swear it tastes like ice cream! Mouth watering yet? I can go on and on...
I understand this can be a sensitive subject for some, so I suggest really delving into the topic and doing your research. Ask your grandparents/great-grandparents, chances are they've probably had it and possibly grew up on it, and decide whether it’s right for you.
I’ve included some links to help you learn more about it along with a site you can go to, to find out where you can find it in your area.
*Please note, I am not a doctor, nor am I giving any medical advice. This is just my experience with raw milk.
Happy milking!
Westonaprice.org - A website with all of Weston A Prices research.
Realmilk.com - Where to find raw milk in your area.
For information on the health benefits of raw milk check out this post 13 Health Benefits of Raw Dairy Milk Consumption.
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