NEW!! Dairy Herdshare Membership
NEW!! Dairy Herdshare Membership
Do you want to know where your food comes from?
Do you want to know your local farmers?
Do you care about supporting small and/or local farms and businesses?
Do you love milk and dairy products?
Do you have sensitivities to store bought milk? Or cow’s milk?
Then this program is for you! This is the first season we are offering, for a 12 week run, an opportunity to not only know your farmer and where your food is coming from, but actually own and help support a small herd of West Texas dairy goats, and to enjoy the products that your herd produces.
Please read through our FAQs before going to check out.
Email will follow with contracts that must be signed and returned within 48 hours to secure your share.
Price shows as $0.00, which will allow you to sign up and reserve your share spot, but payments will be due and accepted via Venmo or cash.
FAQs
WHAT IS A HERDSHARE? It is a type of community supported agriculture wherein a person buys a “share” or part of a herd of animals kept by a farmer and is entitled, as an owner of the herd, to a portion of what the herd produces. Typically, this translates to a set amount of milk each week in the case of a dairy herdshare. The cost is not for the purchase of milk or other dairy products, but is based on the ownership of a part of a herd of goats and covers the cost of feed, care, boarding, and maintenance of the herd.
DO I HAVE TO KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT GOATS TO BE A PART OWNER IN A GOAT HERD? No. In fact, your share allows you to enjoy a weekly pickup of what the herd produces, but in all other aspects you serve as more of a silent partner in the ownership side of things. The farmer does all the work and makes all the decisions for the herd as far as care and maintenance.
HOW DOES IT WORK? You decide if you would like to own part of a goat herd and commit to the 12 week season, or if coming after the start of the season, commit to the remainder of the season. You will sign contracts that outline the legal jargon for how the herd share operates and return those to us. You will then pay via Venmo or cash by the 1st of the month each month, or all up front at the beginning of the season. There is a small discount for paying all up front. After you have signed up, signed contracts, and paid, you will begin picking up milk each week either at Short Trip Farm or at our Lubbock pick up location.
WHAT DO I GET FOR MY “SHARE”? Your purchase of a share makes you the owner of a percentage of the total goat herd. Each basic share will also come with two glass half gallon jars to be rotated each week. Premium shares get additional perks and products.
CAN I BUY MORE THAN ONE SHARE? Yes. If you anticipate much higher milk demands or needs for your family, you may purchase additional shares.
WHEN AND WHERE DO I PICK UP MY MILK EACH WEEK? Short Trip Farm will be open for pickups between 10am and 7pm every Thursday for the season. Milk will be individually labeled and kept in a black refrigerator in the milk parlor. The Lubbock location pickup is at Faith to Farm market 1511 County Road 7140 on Thursday or Friday between 12pm-5:30pm or Saturdays 10am-5:30pm
WHAT IF I CAN’T KEEP UP WITH MY GLASS JARS? If you forget your glass jars, or return them in filthy or unusable condition, you will forfeit your glass jar access and instead receive a disposable plastic container to transport your milk for the remainder of the season.
WHAT HAPPENS AT THE END OF THE SEASON? All shares are terminated at the end of the season. You may either keep your glass milk bottles (and any other containers or bags for premium level shareholders) or return them for a small buyback flat fee of $10
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST? A share costs $50. This allows you to participate in the herd share program and includes the two milk jars for your season use. There are two options for shareholders: basic or premium. The monthly cost for basic level is $60. The monthly cost for premium level is $120. These payments can be made all up front or by the first of each month via Venmo or cash. Premium level comes with an insulated transport tote for milk and each week will include milk and a choice between two additional value added goat milk products.
WHAT IF I DON’T WANT RAW MILK? No worries! We include a card with easy steps to pasteurize your milk at home if you have concerns about the safety or consumption of raw milk.
WHAT IF I CAN’T MAKE IT ONE WEEK TO PICK UP, OR I MISS MY PICK UP TIME? You will forfeit that week’s milk if you miss or do not show up for pickup during the designated time window. The cost remains the same for the month, even if you cannot pick up your milk one or more weeks. Remember, your share means that you are paying to own and take care of a goat herd, NOT purchase milk, and the requirements remain constant for the care and boarding of a herd regardless of you receiving any milk. Pick up location must be marked at the start of the season and will remain set throughout the season. Changes can be made to location pick up preference through direct communication with the farmer.
WHEN IS THE SEASON? The season runs from July 11 through September 28, 2024.
CAN I JOIN AFTER THE SEASON HAS ALREADY STARTED? Yes, if there are available shares. The share amount remains constant, and the entire monthly fee is due for participation in any portion of the month. There are limited numbers of shares each season, and once those are sold- we will keep a waiting list for anyone interested in participating if a share opens up.
WHAT SORTS OF PERKS AND VALUE ADDED PRODUCTS COME WITH THE PREMIUM LEVEL SHAREHOLDING? Premium Level shareholders will receive two milk bottles, an insulated tote transport bag, and a Short Trip Farm tee. Premium members have a choice each week between two value added goat milk products. Anticipated choices for the season will include goat milk ice cream, goat milk kefir, fresh chèvre or mozzarella cheeses, butter, heavy cream, caramels, cajeta sauce, buttermilk, milk bath soaks, lotion, hand cream, and potentially more in addition to half a gallon of fresh raw milk.
HOW DO I SIGN UP? Sign up on the website or by contacting us directly. Once you have completed the checkout process, you will be emailed contracts to sign and return via email or in person. You have 48 hours after you sign up to return the contracts, or your share will be revoked and offered to others waiting in line. Payment is due by the first of the month July 1, August 1, September 1 this year. Late payments will result in forfeit of share and the share will be offered to others waiting in line. Venmo or cash taken for payment. You may also pay for the entire season up front. Basic share and entire season is $225 and Premium share and entire season is $400.
