Gullivers Farm Shop: All about our organic milk
Gullivers Farm, Shop and Kitchen is based on a 100-acre organic and biodynamic farm in West Moors, just outside Ferndown, Wimborne and Verwood in Dorset.
We’re incredibly proud to sell our very own milk, along with other produce, in the Farm Shop. Available in 1 litre bottles, our milk comes from our organic and biodynamic, grass-fed herd.
But what makes milk ‘good’? And why did we make the difficult decision to discontinue our raw milk? We speak to Johannes, one of our farmers who works here on the farm, to find out more.
Tell us a little bit about yourself
Hello, I am Johannes, a professionally trained organic farmer. I live at Sturts Farm with my family and help our Companions (the adults living with additional support needs) have opportunities to work on the land.
Gullivers’ milk is different to what you’d find in the supermarket…
Yes, the milk we produce on the farm is pasture fed, organic, local and farmed by some very special people who really care about our wonderful animals. Our herd thrives on this and so do the people who look after them.
Gullivers recently made the difficult decision not to continue its raw milk. Could you talk a little more about this decision?
We have been trying to sell raw milk to our local community for three years, but unfortunately, we’ve faced a few challenges in this time. The regulations around testing and monitoring were extremely high. These factors combined meant the costs were simply too high to continue. We now pasteurise Gullivers milk and sell it in the Farm Shop.
How can people find out whether the milk they have is good quality. Is an ‘organic’ label enough?
Good milk is when it has been well farmed to a higher standard of animal welfare, with a higher standard of milking and maintenance of milking machinery and equipment. The milk itself then is the best, just filtered and cooled.
The next stage is pasteurisation and then, only if the producer can afford it, the organic standard certification. This indicates to customers that good working practices are being achieved.
It is possible to find a small farm that are doing all of the above without being organic, you just need to trust your instinct when you buy their milk.
I would say the best place to buy your milk is from the farm itself, if you can. There are quite a few farmers with vending machines where good milk can be bought.
What’s your favourite way to enjoy Gullivers’ milk?
I like to use our milk in a bowl of muesli every morning.
—-