Saint John's Organic Farm

Find Out About our Raw Milk

We invite you to join our Raw Milk Co-op. Members receive fresh raw milk and grass-fed beef from Saint John’s Organic Farm.

Our milk is flavorful and nourishing, certified organic, and completely pasture based. It is high in omega 3, vitamin E, CLA, and other important vitamins and enzymes that are depleted when people feed grain and pasteurize milk.

Our cows enjoy diverse grasses, alfalfa, kelp and essential minerals. No grain, no confined feeding, no antibiotics, no artificial hormones, no pesticides or herbicides on our farm.

Saint John’s is licensed to sell raw milk by Idaho Department of Agriculture.

Please read the information about our milk to decide if our raw milk is for you.

Here is How the Co-Op Works

1. Milk is only available with the purchase of half or quarter beef. For information on pricing, see the Pricing tab. See the raw milk FAQs to find out why.

2. Milk will be available on designated pick up days at our farm. Small groups of members who live near each other alternate picking up for each other. The members work out the schedule with each other.

3. Safe Handling. Members agree to take special care of the food from the co-op, especially the raw milk, to maintain its integrity.

4. Only for Your Household. Members agree not to distribute their milk to others, and agree not to take their raw milk out of the state of Idaho.

5. Live Well. Members agree to live prudently – to follow sound nutritional practices for your family.

6. Waiver of liability. Members agree to waive all claims against the farm and indemnify and hold the farm harmless from liability.

Schedule

1. Milk Packaging. Milk will be packaged each week in recyclable flexible plastic containers, for easy transport to your home where you may put the milk in wide mouth glass jars or stainless steel pitchers. Wide mouth containers make it simpler to skim the cream and clean the container.

2. Scheduled Pick up. Members will pick up their milk each week on a scheduled day. One Member may pick up for a group of members. You will need coolers and ice.

3. If You Skip a Week. If a Member does not pick up their milk, the Member forgoes their milk for that week.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do you require me to buy your beef to get your milk?
We do it this way for you and for the farm. For you, we want you to be able to enjoy the same high quality beef as you do milk, and to know efficiently where it all came from. For the farm, it is simpler and simply necessary financially to sell larger quantities to fewer people. Selling milk alone does not cover the cost to produce milk of this quality.

This seems like a lot of milk. What do I do with it all?
You may be surprised how much milk you’ll use when you have it on-hand, and how much you will use in the cooking you already do. Our list below (as well as making you hungry) presents a few ideas:

• Everyone has a glass of milk with dinner
• With your breakfast cereal
• Cream soup or a chowder
• Pancakes
• Yogurt
• Chocolate milk for the kids
• Milkshakes
• Fruit smoothies
• Quiche
• Omelets
• Mash potatoes
• Make some cheese
• Hot porridge in the winter
• Ice cream
• In your tea, coffee or hot chocolate
• Your cat might like some

Can I freeze raw milk?
Many people freeze milk. This may be a good way to have milk in the winter when the cows are not milking. You might freeze your extra milk in the autumn.

How will you protect against contamination in the raw milk?
Healthy food is the result of good practices at all levels of production and use. We pay close attention to the life of the soil, since good soil produces good plants which produce good animals which produce good food. We are careful with animal health and cleanliness at the farm, as these affect your health. We will share with you our ideas for appropriate handling to carry milk to your home and store it there. The Idaho Department of Agriculture tests our milk monthly.

Where will we get the milk?
Members will pick up their milk at the farm – and preferably one member will pick up for several families living near the member.

Why does Raw milk seem to cost a lot?
It costs a lot to produce good food. And good food has great value. On a per gallon basis for milk and per pound basis for meat, this is well within the price range in the western states for raw milk and grass fed beef.

Can we divide shares among two or more households?
No. Our plan works only in direct relationship with a limited number of families. We are not set up for wider or anonymous distribution.

What if a member moves away or for some reason decides mid-year not to continue in the co-op?
In this event, the Farm will offer additional beef to make up for missed milk. Also, the Farm reserves the right to cancel any membership at any time in its discretion, in which case the Farm will offer additional beef to make up for missed milk.

Will the co-op offer other products like chicken, eggs, vegetables, and fruit?
Perhaps. We are willing to associate with local growers to provide you with vegetables and fruit.