Peaceful Pastures, LLC

69 Cowan Valley Lane

Hickman, TN 38567

615-683-4291

jenny@peacefulpastures.com

 

To all our pet food raw dairy customers:

 

It has been such a pleasure to know and serve you whether you have ordered from us over the past ten years or just recently. Because of this, it tugs on our hearts to tell you that 2007 is going to be our last year for milking. Our decision to do so was multifaceted and was made neither casually nor in haste. We have discussed it off and on for 2 years, and finally felt the time had come for the decision.

 

We are NOT going out of business, and we politely ask that you not speculate or assist rumors in spreading. In a minute, you will be able to read our reasons. If you have any questions regarding the matter, please just call-we’ll be happy to talk openly with you.

 

We feel it is time for us to focus on what we do best—meat. The meat business also allows for critical flexibility in our day that the dairy products do not due to the mandatory milking times. The goat meat herd is expanding with the addition of a Boer buck and we are retaining many ewe lambs to help build the flock of Lincolns. The pork enterprise is expanding and becoming less seasonal, allowing us to keep all pork products in stock year round.

 

The dairy goat herd is being markedly reduced, so if you know of anyone looking for high quality, low maintenance dairy goats, please send them our way.

 

A few of you have already been informed when you called to place your year end orders, and each person has inquired as to why we are stopping. Again, we are more than willing to share our reasons:

 

  1. More than anything, it is simply time for a change, we have milked for 14 consecutive years. They have been good years and we do not regret any of it. On some level we will miss the routine and the milking time at the barn.
  2. As we have related in previous newsletters and in phone conversations, it is almost impossible for us to find reliable farm help despite paying very well for our area and offering benefits. The dairy enterprise is the most dependent upon hired labor. Eliminating it allows Darrin, Jenny, Bobby (full time farm employee), Jessica (full time customer service) and Rachel (part time farm employee) to handle all of the day to day workload without feeling, stressed, stretched and pressured to bring in “just any” additional help.
  3. Most of our goat milk sales have been generated through The Maker’s Diet. When we elected to expand the milking line in 2007 in order to accommodate the extraordinary demand of 2006, we had no idea that The Maker’s Diet was already rapidly diminishing in popularity. Because of this decline, our goat product sales are down 75%. We simply cannot justify the time, labor and expense of milking when the products do not sell.
  4. Due to the popularity of ethanol, corn (a chief component of all animal feeds) prices have risen markedly. Even though our goats receive only limited feed while in the milk parlor, the 50%+ price increase of our feed this year has had a significant impact. If we were to continue milking, even on a smaller scale, we would have to raise the prices of the products at least 20%.
  5. Despite being licensed and regulated as a pet food facility, we recognize that our operation, like so many, functions within a “gray area” of the law. Neighboring states are becoming more and more aggressive in their pursuit and persecution of raw dairy producers and it is only a matter of time before the TN Dept. of Agriculture rejoins the hunt. We fought Big Brother over the raw dairy and won, but we do not have the manpower or financial resources to again be so diverted from our livestock and their well being.
  6. Over the last year, Jenny has rescued ten horses and they need her time and attention to explore their personalities and talents in order to eventually find new careers.

 

If you have been a dairy (only) customer and wish to continue receiving our newsletter, please just let us know! Otherwise, in January we will be removing customers who have not (also) ordered meat from our mailing list.

 

We are still taking orders for the 2007 season and we have a bountiful supply of milk. We will milk until October 1, or until all orders are fulfilled.

 

The Bible tells us “There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:1

 

The time has come for the life season of our small dairy to end. Thank you for your loyalty. Thank you for your patience. Thank you for your faithfulness. May God bless and keep each one of you.

 

 

 

 

Jenny & Darrin Drake

Owners, Peaceful Pastures, LLC