Frequently Asked Questions
» What is Raw Milk?
Raw Milk is milk that has not been pasteurized. Pasteurized milk is milk that has been heated to a high temperature for the purpose of killing pathogens.
Pasteurization was instituted in the 1920s to combat once common diseases passed between cattle and people, which are fortunately now rare. Pasteurization does kill pathogens, but it also affects the integrity of the milk; pasteurization deactivates enzymes that aid in the digestion of milk, diminishes vitamin content by destroying vitamins C, B6, and B12 and kills beneficial bacteria that help our intestines absorb nutrients from food.
» Why drink raw milk?
Because it tastes great! In addition, raw milk contains naturally occurring probiotics that help us digest milk and absorb nutrients.
Many of our share members have lactose intolerance or display allergic symptoms when they drink pasteurized milk, but are able to enjoy raw milk.
» Is raw milk safe?
Windsor Dairy is committed to the highest standards of sanitary milk production methods. We are a licensed Grade A dairy, and our cows are routinely tested for Brucellosis and Tuberculosis. We test every batch of fluid milk for milk-borne pathogens -Listeria, E coli 0157H7, Salmonella, and Campylobacter- at a USDA certified food safety lab. No other dairy we know of - conventional, organic or raw - tests their milk as much as we do.
Click Here
to download a pdf outlining our testing procedures and the possible health risks associated with drinking raw milk.
» What makes Windsor Dairy milk so delicious and nutritious?
Cows evolved to eat grass. Grass-fed cows are healthier; they produce less milk and their milk is more nutrient dense. Because our cows are 100% grass-fed, our milk has 3 to 5 times more omega-3-fatty acids than conventional milk.
Raw milk from 100% grass-fed cows also has 3 to 5 times more CLA (conjugated linoleic acid), a fatty acid that has strong cancer fighting properties. Essential fatty acids in our milk also help the body regulate healthy ratios of lean muscle to fat. Because our milk is certified organic, you can be assured that our cows have never been treated with antibiotics or hormones. They graze on organic pastures and are fed only forage that is raised without pesticides, herbicides, or synthetic fertilizers.
Windsor Dairy milk has the highest levels of protein and healthy fats we have seen. Organic, raw milk from 100% grass-fed cows is naturally full of minerals and vitamins (more vitamin C than a glass of orange juice!) plus vitamins A and D, which are essential for the absorption of calcium and protein into the body.
» What is a Cow Share?
In May of 2005 the Colorado state legislature recognized that people should have the freedom to consume raw milk. It is now legal to drink fresh milk from a cow that you own.
This means you can buy a share of a cow in our herd. In exchange you have access to the most delicious and nutritious milk we know of.
A cow share is a required legal purchase which gives you ownership of part of our milking herd.
Share purchase depends on the amount of milk you use per week. One share costs $50 and entitles you to one gallon of milk per week. This is a one-time purchase of a share in our herd.
You will pay a monthly 'boarding fee' for us to take care of your cow, milk your cow and bottle the milk. The boarding fee is $32/month per share.
Delivery Fees:
If you pick up at the dairy or participate in a driving co-op, there is no monthly delivery fee.
If you participate in a co-op drop-site that we deliver to, your fee is $6/share/month, not to exceed $12/month.
If you pick up at the Boulder Outlook Hotel or the Denver Urban Homesteading drop-sites, there is a flat 10% added to all transactions to cover our costs of delivery and tax.
» How do I get Windsor Dairy milk?
Come out to our Dairy! Once you have had a tour of our Dairy and have had your questions answered, you may become a share member. As a part owner in our herd, it is important that you meet your cows and see how we operate. Milk can then be picked up at Windsor Dairy. Milk is also distributed through our cow-share co-op drop-site network at many convenient locations along the Front Range.
If you live in the Greater Boulder Area, you may sign up for a share at our permanent drop-site in room 321 at the Boulder Outlook Hotel @ 28th & Colorado in Boulder.
Room 321
Fridays 1pm to 7pm
Saturdays 10am to 4pm
www.BoulderOutlookHotel.com
If you live in the Greater Denver Area, you may sign up for a share at our permanent drop-site at the Denver Urban Homesteading year-round Farmers' Market @ 2nd & Santa Fe in Denver.
Saturdays 9am to 2pm
www.DenverUrbanHomesteading.com
» What kind of container does the raw milk come in?
We use glass Ball jars in varying sizes.
We RE-USE these jars and metal bands. We charge a $1.50 deposit per jar, to be refunded on the return of a clean and covered jar.
» Is there a bottle deposit?
We use glass Ball jars in varying sizes.
We RE-USE these jars and their metal lid-bands. We charge a $1.50 deposit per jar, to be refunded on the return of a clean and covered jar.
It is important that you bring the jar and metal band back every week.
After the milk in each jar is consumed, wash the jar and metal band in the following way:
First, rinse it in cold water. This helps to keep milk stone from forming.
Next, wash it with soap and hot water, either in the dishwasher or by hand.
Make sure it is dry. If needed, use a clean dishtowel and wipe out any remaining drops of water.
Cover the clean jar using the metal band and some sort of material to prevent anything from getting into the jar during transport. You can use paper towel, foil, plastic wrap, re-use the foil top it came with, wax paper, napkin, etc.
Bring the clean, covered jars back to the dairy or designated milk drop-off point.
PLEASE CLEAN THE JARS AND TREAT THEM AS YOU WOULD TREAT YOUR OWN KITCHEN DISHES!
» How long am I responsible to pay my monthly cow-boarding fee?
You are responsible to pay your cow boarding fee until you sell your share.
Your share is transferable, so you may sell your share to another responsible party, or you may donate it back to the dairy.
» What is the delivery fee?
If you pick up at the dairy or participate in a driving co-op, there is no monthly delivery fee.
If you participate in a co-op drop-site that we deliver to, your fee is $6/share/month, not to exceed $12/month.
Example:- one share = $38/month ($32/month/share boarding-fee + $6/share delivery fee)
- half share = $19/month ($16/month/half-share boarding-fee + $3/half-share delivery fee)
- three shares = $108/month ($96/month/three-shares boarding-fee + $12/month max. delivery fee)
If you pick up at the Boulder Outlook Hotel or Denver Urban Homesteading drop-sites, there is a flat 10% added to all transactions to cover our costs of delivery and tax.
Example:- one share = $35.20/month ($32/month/share boarding-fee + $3.20/ 10% tax & delivery)
- half share = $17.60/month ($16/month/half-share boarding-fee + $1.60/ 10% tax & delivery)
- three shares = $105.60/month ($96/month/three-shares boarding-fee + $9.60/ 10% tax & delivery)
» What does it cost to get started with a raw milk cow-share?
To get started picking up your weekly raw milk cow-share, you must first decide how much milk you use per week.
- If you use one gallon per week, that is a full share.
- If you use a half-gallon per week, that is a half share.
- If you use three gallons per week, that is three shares.
You are responsible for three basic costs:
- Purchase of your share in our herd (the cow-share).
- A monthly boarding fee for your cow (with this fee, you receive your weekly milk).
- A delivery fee, if you are not picking up your milk at the dairy.
The cow share purchase is $50/share and is a one-time, transferrable purchase. If you move, or do not want your share any longer, you may re-sell your share to another responsible party, or donate your share back to the dairy.
The monthly boarding fee is $32/share/month. You are responsible for the fee until you no longer own your cow share. If you are going on vacation and will not be able to pick up your milk, you need to find another responsible party to pick up your milk or forgo your share, but you are still responsible for paying your monthly cow-boarding fee.
If you pick up at the dairy or participate in a driving co-op, there is no monthly delivery fee.
If you participate in a co-op drop-site that we deliver to, your fee is $6/share/month, not to exceed $12/month.
To get started pick-up at dairy - Examples:
- one share = $82 ($32/month/share boarding-fee + $50 cow-share purchase of one share)
- half share = $41($16/month/half-share boarding-fee + $25 cow-share purchase of half-share)
- three shares = $246($96/month/three-shares boarding-fee + $150 cow-share purchase of three-shares)
To get started delivery - Examples:
- one share = $88 ($32/month/share boarding-fee + $6/share delivery fee + $50 cow-share purchase of one share)
- half share = $44 ($16/month/half-share boarding-fee + $3/half-share delivery fee + $25 cow-share purchase of half-share)
- three shares = $258 ($96/month/three-shares boarding-fee + $12/month max. delivery fee + $150 cow-share purchase of three-shares)
To get started pick-up at the Boulder Outlook Hotel or Denver Urban Homesteading Drop-sites - Examples:
- one share = $85.20 ($32/month/share boarding-fee + $3.20/ 10% tax & delivery + $50 cow-share purchase of one share)
- half share = $42.60 ($16/month/half-share boarding-fee + $1.60/ 10% tax & delivery + $25 cow-share purchase of half-share)
- three shares = $255.60 ($96/month/three-shares boarding-fee + $9.60/ 10% tax & delivery + $150 cow-share purchase of three-shares)
