Before we moved to Montana, we lived in a little town in upstate NY on the Green River. One of the many fond farm related memories of upstate NY is.....
when we had a family cow named Rita...our JErsey.
She arrived April 9th, 2012. During the 4 years she was with us we enjoyed creamy rich milk every day. She loved to get scratched on the neck, chin and certain places on her head. She was about 7 when she arrived and had one calf when she was with us who was placed at Muscoot Farm in Westchester County to serve as a "Jersey Ambassador" to the public.
With Rita's milk, we made yogurt by the gallon, butter, ice cream, crème fraiche, a soft, spreadable herbed cheese, feta, cottage cheese, and mozzarella. We also tried our hand at a number of hard cheeses but had the most success with gouda.
Beyond the milk, we were blessed with an abundance of manure that was composted (usually with the help of our trusty chickens) and put on our many garden beds. It is amazing how much of that stuff one cow can produce, but we managed to use it all. I am not sure which I appreciated more, the abundant milk or the abundant manure.
With Rita's milk, we made yogurt by the gallon, butter, ice cream, crème fraiche, a soft, spreadable herbed cheese, feta, cottage cheese, and mozzarella. We also tried our hand at a number of hard cheeses but had the most success with gouda.
Beyond the milk, we were blessed with an abundance of manure that was composted (usually with the help of our trusty chickens) and put on our many garden beds. It is amazing how much of that stuff one cow can produce, but we managed to use it all. I am not sure which I appreciated more, the abundant milk or the abundant manure.
Rita likes to get scratched.
We took these soon after Rita arrived in spring of 2012. It was my first experience scratching a cow.
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March 18, 2013
Ruby, Rita's calf, being born.
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March 19, 2013
Rita was a great mom. She took excellent care of Ruby and was not in the least bothered by our presence with the calf.
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March 28, 2013
Ruby was clearly an adorable calf. Jersey's are the cutest.
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Just how many bales of hay can fit in a Toyota Sienna?
Did you ever wonder how many bales of hay can fit in a 2004 Toyota Sienna?
Keeping Rita well-fed with excellent hay was a priority. This is how we maximized our trips to the hay farmer using our Toyota Sienna when we were without a pickup truck for a season. Our mechanic was impressed to find out we could fit 18-20 in there! Seeing is believing in this case...
My Dad in the 1950's with Elsie the Borden Cow.
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If you are old enough to remember Elsie the Borden Cow, you will remember that she was an American Icon. My dad was one of her handlers, which to me is stuff of superstars. No wonder I have always wanted a Jersey for as long as I have wanted a cow! My dad grew up an a dairy farm in upstate NYS and loved farming. Legend has it that he was the fastest milker in the barn. He thought Rita was a pretty little cow, and he's right (he usually is). While I did not grow up on a farm, we always had a garden and livestock (chickens, ducks, sheep, pigs, ponies, and a horse) from time to time. As an adult, I had a garden and chickens for years, and I consider the time we cared for Rita to be a blessed one. |
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