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TS Farms

11061 Careytown Road
937-763-1167

Q: What is a herd-share program? A: Ohio law currently does not allow the sale of raw milk to consumers but does not prohibit people from drinking raw milk if they own a share of a herd. A dairy farmer can drink his/her own milk either because he/she owns the animal. If his neighbor, who is not a farmer, desires to exercise his right to nourish his/her family with raw milk, he too must own either a cow or a share of a herd thus becoming a shareholder in the herd. This arrangement requires signing a PRIVATE bill of sale and a PRIVATE boarding agreement (see attachments), which establishes a committed, long term trust relationship between the farmer and the shareholders. For questions about the safety of raw milk go to www.realmilk.com or www.raw-milk-facts.com or www.rawmilk.org . If you want to know what the government is saying about raw milk go to www.fda.gov and search on raw milk.

Q. How does the program work? A: Each member or shareholder of the herd-share buys into the herd (not an animal but the entire herd) by completing a BILL OF SALE contract. The cost to buy into the herd is $50.00 per share and is refundable if the shareholder decides to leave the program.

The shareholder also completes a BOARDING CONTRACT, which is the agreement between the farmer and the shareholder that states that the farmer (herd manager) will take care of the animals (feed, milk and maintain the animals etc.) for the shareholder for a certain price called the boarding fee. This monthly fee varies depending on the farmer's needs to accomplish these tasks. This translates into product for the shareholder.

Q: What products are available to shareholders? A: There is currently milk available. With cream, butter, chocolate and vanilla ice cream, cheese, and yogurt becoming available in the near future.

Q: What are the costs of the products offered? A: Cow and Goat herd-share programs require a one time milk bottle purchase of $25.00 per share for which you will receive four half gallon milk bottles with plastic lids that are yours to keep. You will receive half of your bottles filled with product upon first pick up. You are to exchange your empty bottles every week for filled ones. Please label your bottles clearly with your name and please only take the bottles that have your name on them. Herd-share members are responsible for cleaning and sanitizing their own bottles prior to exchanging them. If you forget to bring back bottles to exchange there is a fee of $7.00 per bottle for each new bottle taken.

The monthly boarding fee for cow herd-share members is $20.00 due on the first day of every month. This entitles the share holder to an ownership reward of one gallon of raw milk per week. The monthly boarding fee for goat herd-share members is $35.00 due on the first day of every month. This entitles the share holder to an ownership reward of one gallon of raw milk per week.

Q: What if I can not use a gallon of milk a week? A: Half shares are available for half the cost. A half share is $25.00 and is refundable if the shareholder decides to leave the program. Half of a Cow and/or Goat herd-share program requires a one time milk bottle purchase of $12.50 per share for which you will receive two half gallon milk bottles with plastic lids that are your to keep. You will receive half of your bottles filled with product upon first pick up. You are to exchange your empty bottles every week for filled ones. Please label your bottles clearly with your name and please only take the bottles that have your name on them. Herd-share members are responsible for cleaning and sanitizing their own bottles prior to exchanging them. If you forget to bring back bottles to exchange there is a fee of $7.00 per bottle for each new bottle taken.

The monthly boarding fee for half of a cow herd-share member is $10.00 due on the first day of every month. This entitles the share holder to an ownership reward of one half gallon of raw milk per week. The monthly boarding fee for half of a goat herd-share member is $17.50 due on the first day of every month. This entitles the share holder to an ownership reward of one half gallon of raw milk per week.

Our family has been "hobby" farming since 2001. We started with a few sheep, beef cattle and pigs. It has always been Tim's dream to farm which remained a dream until this last year after losing his job of 17 years with ABX. Upon losing his job, we felt led to farm full time. Our second daughter could not drink formula or regular milk so we tried goats milk and after much research have decided to start a herd share program with dairy cattle and goats. The health benefits of drinking raw milk far out number the "risks". Our animals are fed mosty pasture and hay with a small amount of Non GMO grain given at milking time. We currently have 50 shares of cows milk and 4 shares of goats milk available.

CSA Details:
Season:  Year round
Type: Single farm
Since: 2009
No of Shares: 50
Full Share: $50 one time refundable share fee, $20 monthly boarding fee for cow share, $35 monthly boarding fee for goat share
1/2 Share: $25 one time refundable share fee, $10 monthly boarding fee for cow share, $17.50 monthly boarding fee for goat share
Work Req? No

Pick Up/Drop Off Points:

Columbus
Ruby Tuesday's Parking Lot In Grove City

TS Farms
Contact: Tim & Tiffany Shinkle
Phone: 937-763-1167
Address: 11061 Careytown Rd. New Vienna, OH 45159