❄️ December 1st Snow, Cold Hands, and a Dairy Update

I woke up this morning, looked out the window, and the whole pasture was covered in a thin white blanket. Not deep winter snow just enough to quiet everything down and make the world look clean for a minute. I stood there with my coffee warming my hands, letting myself breathe a little before the day started tugging at me from every direction.

The first snow always gives me a moment of honesty, a moment to pause and ask myself if I’m still in the life I’m building… and if the life I’m building is still in me. And while winter has a reputation for testing people, I won’t blame the cold this time. We were tested long before the weather shifted. This whole year has had enough challenges to make even the most stubborn farmer stop and ask, “Do I really want this life?”

And the truth is, I do. Even on the hard days.Especially on the hard days.

Winter Chores Hit Hard

The rhythm of the farm changed overnight.Winter doesn’t ease you in, it just shows up and takes over.

And before I can even step outside, there’s the full battle of getting dressed: thermals, insulated jeans, coveralls, wool socks, mud boots, gloves, hat, neck warmer. By the time I’ve layered and zipped and snapped myself into all of it, I’m already sweating and halfway out of patience. Then I open the door and start the real work.

Everything is slower in winter. The troughs freeze.The gates freeze.The hoses freeze into solid iron.Buckets ice over while you’re still standing there.

And then there’s the washing, the endless winter washing.

Brushing snow and mud off thick coats. Washing udders while steam curls up into the barn lights.Drying tails.Drying coats.Drying udders again because by the time you’re finished, everything has melted and dripped right back down.

The cows walk in with snow caked along their backs, but underneath, their undercoat is still warm and dry. It’s one of those small miracles of nature you only notice when you’re close enough to feel the heat under your hand.

Winter milking is slow. It’s detailed. It’s bone-deep cold. And cows in milk eat twice as much feed this time of year, no exaggeration.

Most small dairies dry up their cows and take winters off. Honestly? I understand why.But we’re still here still milking for the families that need us!

The Truck Situation

This fall had its own set of surprises, and the truck situation topped the list.

Old Blue, our farm truck, had been dead for almost two years with a burned piston. She sat there in the mechanics yard, and I genuinely didn’t know if she’d ever run again. Then, just recently, our mechanic rebuilt her. It wasn’t cheap, but he let us make payments, and we were grateful just to have the truck back on the road!

And thank God he did.

Because the very next week, the F-150, the delivery truck we bought specifically for milk routes, blew its motor. And the warranty had just expired. A new motor is around $22,000. A used motor is still thousands, still a gamble, and still on a truck we’re paying on.

So now we’re delivering in Old Blue.

She rattles. She groans. She complains.But she starts.And she’s gotten your milk delivered every week since the day she rolled back to life.

Blessings don’t always show up shiny.Sometimes they show up dusty, loud, and right on time.

Weaning, Twins, and Slowly Rising Milk

This week we finally weaned the last of the summer calves. If you’ve never been scolded by an offended cow who disagrees with your life choices, let me tell you, they are dramatic creatures. But once the bellowing settles down, the milk finally starts returning to us.

And we need every drop.

Two sets of surprise twins this year, plus a couple cows who didn’t produce their usual volume, stretched us thin. Milk has been tight. Cream and butter have been tighter. Weaning helps but it doesn’t fix everything on its own.

Which leads us into what comes next.

Considering Bringing in New Jersey Girls From Oregon

We’ve been talking with a dairy in Oregon that raises excellent milk cows.

Truthfully, we only need one new cow to cover the shortage. A single good Jersey girl would stabilize weekly milk, cream, and butter.

But shipping is expensive, and the price difference between hauling one cow versus hauling two is surprisingly small. It almost makes more sense to bring in both and save on transport while we can.

So we’re strongly considering bringing in two instead of one. Not to grow fast, but to make a smart long-term choice that positions the dairy well heading into spring.

It’s a big investment, and one we’re weighing carefully.

And this is where I need to speak directly to the families who’ve been waiting.

For My Waitlist Families (And Anyone Wanting to Increase Their Weekly Milk)

If you’ve been waiting to join the herd share, or thinking about joining, or if you’re already a member but want to increase your weekly gallons, now is the time I truly need you to take that step.

With us considering the addition of one or two new cows, your commitment right now helps me plan responsibly. Bringing in cows isn’t a small decision, financially or logistically, and I don’t want to overextend the dairy but I also don’t want to leave families without milk when we have a chance to fix our shortage.

So here’s how it will work:

1. Sign up for your herd shareThis makes you a legal co-owner of the herd.

2. Then purchase your milk subscription for the number of gallons you want each week — whether that’s 1, 2, 3, or more.

3. After your first subscription payment runs, I will immediately pause the subscription.That means:

• No more billing

• No additional charges

• And your spot (or increased volume) is officially reserved

• 
  

You will NOT be billed again until your milk actually starts coming every week.

This applies to:

• new families on the waitlist

• families who’ve been thinking about joining

• and current herd share members who want to increase their weekly amount.

Your early commitment shows me exactly how many gallons I need to be producing the moment the new cows arrive. It helps me finalize the purchase, plan the feed, balance production, and make sure that when milk increases, you are in line and ready to go.

If you’re on the fence, this is the moment I need you.And I’m grateful for every family who chooses to grow with us.

Thank You Deeply

This morning, watching steam rise off the cows while snow melted along their backs, I had one of those moments where gratitude and exhaustion meet in the same breath. This life isn’t easy, but it’s honest. It’s real. And it’s something worth fighting for.

Thank you for believing in this dairy. Thank you for supporting real, local food.Thank you for sticking with us through the tight weeks.

We are stepping into a stronger season, with steadier milk, new cows on the horizon, and a whole lot of love in every bottle.

With grit, and gratitude,

Your Farmer,Hannah