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She has a look that is like no other in the barn or in the field. Alone in all that she is. Surrounded by not one who resemble her. Her wool is dreadlocks that adorn her body and her face. She is as dark as the other side of the moon. Often cast off alone to the side. I wonder if she notices that she is the only one in the room? We just conversed about her over supper last night. I had assumed she was barren and what would be her future? But in the cold of the night, as we spoke of her, unknown to us, she gave birth. Putting all the dangerous circumstances aside, she got her baby girl up off that frigid ground! It struck me deeply to my core... Never Underestimate Her! Baa Baa Black Sheep! 
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Our sweet and wise queen cow Gertrude
gave birth last night to a beautiful bull calf. We're so happy to have them both. Blessed with an abundance of extraordinary milk. Guernsey milk is clearly different milk than its “white” milk counterparts for many reasons. The unique golden color of Guernsey milk comes from an unusually high content of orange beta-carotene. The difference in the quality of Guernsey milk is remarkably higher than other cow’s milk. Through research, we are learning more each day about the value of the Golden Guernsey milk. This golden milk has invaluable health properties. We have testimonies, from our customers, of health being restored by way of this revitalizing, life-giving, sacred golden milk Golden Guernsey milk contains 12% more protein, 30% more cream, 33% more vitamin D, 25% more A and 15% more calcium than the average white milk. Ninety-six percent (96%) of Guernsey milk is A2 protein milk. This is premium milk naturally high in Beta-Carotene, Omega 3, calcium, and A2 protein. Best of all Guernsey cows do not need specialty formulated feed or additives to achieve these nutritional benefits. It is simply pure and wholesome. All natural from this blessed cow! Right now would be a great time to join our Raw Milk Herd Share. Contact us to find out how you can get a glass of this Guernsey Goodness! I just had to share this with you... As it goes on the Eve of Christmas, another blessed and happy birthday for me. All of my kids did their best to make my day so special. It is amazing to know that I can depend on them. They are the S-L-A-K in SlakMarket Farm.
 Next came Sabeal and Laila with their lavish homemade donkey pinata, beaded trinkets, cards, and a restored painting. They worked hard to handle the daily chores, asking me to relax. Laila even gifted me a hand fan! LoL  Then they topped out the day with Aiya ~the talented milk maiden in training~ She crafted an incredibly creamy & delicious egg custard ice cream to compliment my red velvet birthday cake. It was an Awesome Day!
I can hardly wait for them to begin teaching others how to serve at home with real food in the kitchen... ~SlakMarket Farm Brunch ~ Kids Classes~ Your kids are gonna have a blast with mine! It's just about time to “roll up the sidewalk” for 2018! Serving as your raw milk community farmer is an honor for us to do and I sure have enjoyed our time together this year. Reflecting over the year I can sum up all of my efforts in the timeless old classic, as it goes, “You Are What You Eat”... and with that, I'm giving the final call on 2018. I’ve seen enough crap in the food from industrial farming to know that this is definitely not who you are. The people who are making this Sad American Diet obviously are not taking a break and so neither can I! Our farm and herd share community is focused on calling you back to your humanity, by way of pastured, ethical and wholesome real food, we intend to nourish and invest in serving the core of your being. Because you truly are what you eat! We are committed to bringing forward solutions by serving the basis of who you are through your food. This is a call to invite you into the new year with SlakMarket Farm. 2019 is bringing a wealth of change to our community and I really want to see you involved. We will show you the WHEY this coming year with our all-new
SlakMarket Supper Club, On-Farm Brunch Service, and also a future Butcher Shop in town. I am so blessed to have you as a friend and I value your relationship with the farm! We are all wishing you and your family a very blessed holiday and a happy, safe New Year! You can Click Here to get the recipes for our Creamy Dreamy Holiday Eggnog & Delicious Lebaneh Balls! Thank you for participating in our 2018 "Heritage Turkey" Pilot Program. We appreciate your support, and we trust you will have a "tasteful" experience this holiday season! Now that you’ve ordered it, how do you cook your heritage bird? Because these birds are raised “free-range” they actually are able to exercise and roam freely around the farm. As I had mentioned before a heritage free-range turkey is not the same as the store-bought bird and as with most pastured meat, it needs a little bit of prep-work. Therefore, to get a juicy roast bird, brining is key. Submerging the heritage free-range turkey in seasoned water “brine” produces moist, flavorful meat! However, it is not always something most home cooks with a small refrigerator or a full refrigerator of holiday foods can easily do. You will need a pot large enough for the bird to be submerged in about 2 gallons of liquid for 24 to 48 hours. The pot (a large stock pot or plastic bucket) will be heavy, so you will need to put it on the bottom of the refrigerator. Optional Free on Farm Brine Service We have an option for you if you would like for us to store your bird in our brine mix. After slaughter on Tuesday the 20th, we can immediately marinate the turkey in a well-seasoned brine. It can be stored here in the farm store fridge until your ready to pick it up. We will submerge it in a 5-gallon bucket with water that includes seasonings like fennel seeds, coriander seeds, red pepper flakes, sea salt, honey, bay leaves, thyme, garlic, and allspice. You can carry the turkey home in the brine bucket if you have space in your fridge (or we can take it out and bag it) or just come for your pick up on the day of cooking. I’m flexible about your pick up day. It’s whatever you need to make this work! *Please Text Me or Reply: YES-BRINE MINE- PLEASE! If you want us to do the brine service. Because the heritage bird has a more even proportion of dark and white meat, the turkey cooks a lot faster than a regular broad breasted bird. Folks have found that roasting it at a higher temperature for a shorter time, works best and to have it at room temperature when you put it in the oven really helps. ♦ We do not recommend stuffing the Heritage Turkey as that will increase the cooking time and the danger of drying out the turkey. Cook the stuffing on the side in a separate pan. The Heritage Turkey will be done before the Stuffing will be fully cooked. Here is a great recipe for your Holiday Turkey  For this National Farmers Day, I want |
 | Pasteurization is really the excuse for filth. |
Raw milk is not something to be handled with a loose operation and half-hearted efforts. It’s something to be valued, appreciated, and properly cared for. Safety and Sanitation do not come in a way that requires little effort or sacrifice. Your raw milk farmer should not have to be cutting corners to make things cheaper for you. So beware of "cheap milk"...
Ask if your raw milk farmer is up to speed on testing for pathogens and bacteria etc. If they are not, they most certainly should be adding these tools into the toolbox.
Lastly, You need to go out and support your local raw milk farmer and pay the price to keep them in a sustainable and profitable business or better yet go out every day and milk your own cow or goat! Lol
Ask if your raw milk farmer is up to speed on testing for pathogens and bacteria etc. If they are not, they most certainly should be adding these tools into the toolbox.
Lastly, You need to go out and support your local raw milk farmer and pay the price to keep them in a sustainable and profitable business or better yet go out every day and milk your own cow or goat! Lol
Either is so rewarding because you get the
miraculous gift of this amazing superfood!
miraculous gift of this amazing superfood!
**Please note** that there is a risk factor involved in drinking milk in general "raw or pasteurized". The same with everything else in this life there is a risk. As I assume a risk in everyday choices- that never stopped me from driving a car, flying, eating sushi, or spinach.
The benefit factor of drinking raw milk far outweigh the risk.
The benefit factor of drinking raw milk far outweigh the risk.
A1- Today, raw milk refers to unprocessed, untreated milk straight from the cow. The milk you buy from the local supermarket nowadays is a different substance altogether. It has been pasteurized, ultra-pasteurized, or homogenized. This liquid is not really milk. It is a chemically altered substance, heated to remove pathogens and bacteria and to prolong its shelf life. The resultant low-enzyme activity makes it difficult to digest, the altered fat content renders the vitamins and minerals difficult to absorb, and the residual drugs and antibiotics pose a threat to human health. On top of this, the naturally occurring beneficial bacteria have been destroyed.
The real issue is not whether raw milk obtained from grass-fed cows is safe. Rather, it’s that milk from commercially raised cows is actually dangerous to consume unless it is pasteurized. Factory-farmed animals are routinely fed an unnatural, high-protein soy- and corn-based diet and given shots of BGH (bovine growth hormone) to artificially increase milk production. This diet is so contrary to their biology that it causes severe illnesses that can only be combated by continually injecting the cows with antibiotics. These animals, kept in inhumane conditions far from their natural environment, are subject to enormous stresses. Drinking raw milk from these cows would be an exercise in stupidity.
Raw milk from healthy, grass-fed, and pasture-raised cows is in a league of its own. Organically raised cows are happy, fed on their natural diet of grass and other cow-friendly foods. They enjoy access to sunshine and pasture grazing in summer, and in winter they feast on nutritious hay or silage.
A1- Dr. Deborah Gordon, MD
The real issue is not whether raw milk obtained from grass-fed cows is safe. Rather, it’s that milk from commercially raised cows is actually dangerous to consume unless it is pasteurized. Factory-farmed animals are routinely fed an unnatural, high-protein soy- and corn-based diet and given shots of BGH (bovine growth hormone) to artificially increase milk production. This diet is so contrary to their biology that it causes severe illnesses that can only be combated by continually injecting the cows with antibiotics. These animals, kept in inhumane conditions far from their natural environment, are subject to enormous stresses. Drinking raw milk from these cows would be an exercise in stupidity.
Raw milk from healthy, grass-fed, and pasture-raised cows is in a league of its own. Organically raised cows are happy, fed on their natural diet of grass and other cow-friendly foods. They enjoy access to sunshine and pasture grazing in summer, and in winter they feast on nutritious hay or silage.
A1- Dr. Deborah Gordon, MD
Life Lesson by way of Milking! In my personal walk, I am working on manifesting the dynamic change that I want to see. It's what I'm calling.... FOCUS Fixed On Change Until Success |  |
This lesson by way of milking is one of many along the journey that has helped shape my intuition, spiritual balance, and perception.
Oh Holy Cow… What A Gift!
Oh Holy Cow… What A Gift!
Rainy days usually put us off schedule around here. This day was no exception. I usually find myself a bit scatterbrained as I try to keep up with things. Everything is wet and muddy. It always makes for a slippery mess with the cows upon entry into the milking parlor. On this particular day I opened the door
| and Dixie is ready to rock and roll. She comes marching forward for her milking session. Dixie is an amazing and wise ol girl. She’s also the biggest girl on the farm. She bullies her weight with the others and she can even be pretty sassy with me at times. But no matter what she is very smart and she is a good listener. I wish you could have seen the way she slowed to caution on her approach as I held my hands up and said: “slow down, slow down”. She immediately slowed her roll to my words and almost tipped toed into the doorway. Avoiding what I feared to be a fall. However, at that last step, her hind legs went into the splits! My heart skipped a beat as one of her legs slipped far out from under her. But then she quickly caught herself and managed to pull them back together. |  |
OMG- that was close! "Welp- keep it movin Kenya"- I said to myself... So now that she’s in the stand and having her snack. I gathered up my milking supplies and started moving through my routine with getting her clean and set up. Then what seemed to be about halfway into it, BAM, she was quick to deliver me a kick of the leg!
Ouch! I wanted to be mad but in all sincerity, I knew that this was a reprimand that had to do with me. Life and routines have a way of becoming repetitive. I was not “being in the moment”! These are issues, my A.D.D. and lack of paying attention. My issues with showing up yet not actually being present and in tune with her. She too has needs that I’m overlooking.
A kick of the leg doesn't always to mean she is being sassy.
But maybe she’s requesting- “Pay attention child or be careful with that side, it’s full of milk and it hurts a bit.” (Any breastfeeding mama or a witness thereof’ knows the challenge of having to persevere through the tough times of heavy milk & nursing.)
Ouch! I wanted to be mad but in all sincerity, I knew that this was a reprimand that had to do with me. Life and routines have a way of becoming repetitive. I was not “being in the moment”! These are issues, my A.D.D. and lack of paying attention. My issues with showing up yet not actually being present and in tune with her. She too has needs that I’m overlooking.
A kick of the leg doesn't always to mean she is being sassy.
But maybe she’s requesting- “Pay attention child or be careful with that side, it’s full of milk and it hurts a bit.” (Any breastfeeding mama or a witness thereof’ knows the challenge of having to persevere through the tough times of heavy milk & nursing.)
I realized then that it’s now time for me to proceed with caution!
That her hands are up "saying slow down - slow down” and to watch my step! That she too is holding me accountable to be a good listener!
That her hands are up "saying slow down - slow down” and to watch my step! That she too is holding me accountable to be a good listener!
Before turning on the pump I said to her... “Dixie Valentine - Trust in me as I trust in you! We both are here only because you are a gift from Allah”... Bismillah, and with that comes the switching on of the milking machine and the loud humming noise that it makes.
I placed my forehead deep into the crevice of her hip bone. Receiving all of the energy that I could within a deep breath, aligned my hands to her spine, and began her body massage.
I placed my forehead deep into the crevice of her hip bone. Receiving all of the energy that I could within a deep breath, aligned my hands to her spine, and began her body massage.
If you think that you would like to experience
“being in the moment” during the milking of a cow,
I’d like to invite you into a session.
You may not know this, but we actually milk a cow during or farmers cheese class.
It's a great way to experience the love, care, and sanitation
that goes into our signature Raw Milk products!
Click here to join our next cheese class session.
“being in the moment” during the milking of a cow,
I’d like to invite you into a session.
You may not know this, but we actually milk a cow during or farmers cheese class.
It's a great way to experience the love, care, and sanitation
that goes into our signature Raw Milk products!
Click here to join our next cheese class session.
A Courtship, Beautiful Bride, and now a New Baby!
We have really “Jumped the Broom” over here...
For a few weeks now I’ve been dancing with thoughts
of owning this beautiful cow Marigold!
What I've coined a “Juernsey” (a Jersey and Guernsey mix)
She is the envy of any dairy farmers eye.
Now it is all a dream come true!
This herd share has experienced one crazy cow courtship!
I want to thank all of our owners for the love you show to these animals
and the support to keep your farm herds up and running.
You owning a share is what makes life happen here!
For a few weeks now I’ve been dancing with thoughts
of owning this beautiful cow Marigold!
What I've coined a “Juernsey” (a Jersey and Guernsey mix)
She is the envy of any dairy farmers eye.
Now it is all a dream come true!
This herd share has experienced one crazy cow courtship!
I want to thank all of our owners for the love you show to these animals
and the support to keep your farm herds up and running.
You owning a share is what makes life happen here!
It is now official - We've said I do!
Our commitment to “bring home the bride”
came with one heck of a package!
She brought along with her a son Tiger, and his love heifer Rose!
They are both too hot to trot! You've gotta see them.
This dynamic duo, Tiger & Rose, are almost miniature in size.
I am super excited for the opportunities in our
small-scale meat production that will come from their breeding.
Talk about life along the whey! ...
To top it all off, this week came the birth of a
healthy bull calf from our blessed Jersey cow Dreama.
Both mom and baby are doing great, Thank God!
...This baby is just absolutely adorable!
came with one heck of a package!
She brought along with her a son Tiger, and his love heifer Rose!
They are both too hot to trot! You've gotta see them.
This dynamic duo, Tiger & Rose, are almost miniature in size.
I am super excited for the opportunities in our
small-scale meat production that will come from their breeding.
Talk about life along the whey! ...
To top it all off, this week came the birth of a
healthy bull calf from our blessed Jersey cow Dreama.
Both mom and baby are doing great, Thank God!
...This baby is just absolutely adorable!
I can hardly wait to show all of them off
this fall in our scheduled farm tours!
this fall in our scheduled farm tours!
Find yourself wanting more?
This can be a Dream Come True for You too!
The time is now and we have the perfect place.
You really should come to be a part of this raw milk community.
It’s a absolute fit for you to get the complete amount of nutrients
that you need to heal your gut and know directly the source
from where your nourishing food comes from.
“Blessed Dreama is waiting "fresh" each day to share her bounty!”
Click Here to sign up & learn how to access the Real Milk at SlakMarket Farm.
This can be a Dream Come True for You too!
The time is now and we have the perfect place.
You really should come to be a part of this raw milk community.
It’s a absolute fit for you to get the complete amount of nutrients
that you need to heal your gut and know directly the source
from where your nourishing food comes from.
“Blessed Dreama is waiting "fresh" each day to share her bounty!”
Click Here to sign up & learn how to access the Real Milk at SlakMarket Farm.
You have the ability to be a the change that you want to see.
To get back to your roots have a real relationship with your farmer and food.
Together we bring the old-fashioned traditions of sourcing real food
into the modern ways of living life.
To get back to your roots have a real relationship with your farmer and food.
Together we bring the old-fashioned traditions of sourcing real food
into the modern ways of living life.
Come see it for yourself...
It took the whole crew to get it this far along... Take a look at the progress...
My kids were so helpful!
My kids were so helpful!
What a hard working family farm!
Here we are in the heat of July putting down the footprint for our permaculture herd share garden. For a few years now, we have been learning the basic principles of permaculture. We are working in harmony with nature to develop and grow our very own Eden right here in the backyard.
At this point we are far from finishing this design, but it is from this start, that we plan to at least be up and ready for next springs planting season.
At this point we are far from finishing this design, but it is from this start, that we plan to at least be up and ready for next springs planting season.
So here is the start to our new gardening development at SlakMarket Farm.
I for one just need a beautiful place to work hard in
and be able to enjoy that space visually.
Along with having the benefit from growing our food there.
I for one just need a beautiful place to work hard in
and be able to enjoy that space visually.
Along with having the benefit from growing our food there.
This is how it all went down so far...
1. Prep-work, base cardboard
2. Compost mulch from our cows.
3.Decorative gravel paths
4. Ain't No Stoppin Us Now!
5. Lets not forget the deck space...
Last year when I shared our backyard herd share garden idea many people expressed an interest in donating plants to the herd share garden.
These included plants and pollinating flowers that have grown too large for their space, may no longer be desirable for the owner, mature landscape plants that are being removed to make way for new plantings, small fruiting trees or plants that were owned by friends or loved ones.
Now that we have gotten off to a good start I want you to know that any plant donations to the garden are most appreciated.
The donations will be transplanted to the herd share garden or repotted for the patio seating areas on the property.
If you are interested in donating plants, please email or text prior to bringing them out to the farm. (Any identifying information of the plant would be most helpful.) As always I appreciate your input so If you would like to contribute knowledge or life lessons, we "Count It All Joy" and will be happy to accept your tips and noteworthy advice!
Leave it right here in the comment section.
Now that we have gotten off to a good start I want you to know that any plant donations to the garden are most appreciated.
The donations will be transplanted to the herd share garden or repotted for the patio seating areas on the property.
If you are interested in donating plants, please email or text prior to bringing them out to the farm. (Any identifying information of the plant would be most helpful.) As always I appreciate your input so If you would like to contribute knowledge or life lessons, we "Count It All Joy" and will be happy to accept your tips and noteworthy advice!
Leave it right here in the comment section.
It is all Greatly Appreciated!
I hope you find yourself somewhat inspired by all this work we did over the past week.
We wanted to highlight this experience and show that making our garden does not have to be a box that we dread going out to tend to.
Lord knows I've been there!
We wanted to highlight this experience and show that making our garden does not have to be a box that we dread going out to tend to.
Lord knows I've been there!
When it comes right down to it, you will find that most of the time,
"it's all in the name".
"it's all in the name".
This past year has brought many changes for the farm and herd share. Navigating the ship has brought me into untraveled waters. Some things have happened that I never expected or experienced before, but I am am thankful to be right here!
This is especially true for our online presence. Running a website, this blog, facebook, etc. It's all so cool and engaging.
Now since we are better-established with a stronger presence. I feel it is time to stop forwarding over to the old "SlakMarket" domain when you go online for your "real milk".
If you haven't already noticed most, if not all, of SlakMarket Farms media and ads, are URL branded with the “Real Milk Lexington”
This is especially true for our online presence. Running a website, this blog, facebook, etc. It's all so cool and engaging.
Now since we are better-established with a stronger presence. I feel it is time to stop forwarding over to the old "SlakMarket" domain when you go online for your "real milk".
If you haven't already noticed most, if not all, of SlakMarket Farms media and ads, are URL branded with the “Real Milk Lexington”
… but have you ever wondered why? ...
I have always felt that we had chosen a unique farm business name going with SlakMarket.
S.L.A.K. being the initials of our children's names, it is definitely our identity... but it doesn't tell the whole story about our farm, nor should it have to.
Thus we chose “Real Milk Lexington” as the right URL branding.
It has the personality to tell the whole story and back it up.
After all, the right farm name starts a great conversation and the perfect farm branding keeps that conversation going. That being said, moving forward, we are only using
S.L.A.K. being the initials of our children's names, it is definitely our identity... but it doesn't tell the whole story about our farm, nor should it have to.
Thus we chose “Real Milk Lexington” as the right URL branding.
It has the personality to tell the whole story and back it up.
After all, the right farm name starts a great conversation and the perfect farm branding keeps that conversation going. That being said, moving forward, we are only using
“ RealMilkLexington.com ” for our website URL.
It is so easy to remember and in a few words, it tells the whole story!
Real Milk Lexington explains the Who, What, and Where of our farm!
Real Milk Lexington explains the Who, What, and Where of our farm!
Please remember to pass it around when you talk with others about the
awesome Halal Herd Share and Raw Milk Community that you are a part of!
awesome Halal Herd Share and Raw Milk Community that you are a part of!
Kenya Abraham
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A Woman Farming
in Service to You!
Along my side stands four youngins and my husband who always has my back.
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