Chasing the Cream: The Story Behind Our Raw Goat Milk

At Rawsome, we don’t just talk about transparency — we live it.

Glass of Milk — From pasture to pour - this glass holds the story of spring, soil and soulful farming.

When it came to sourcing raw goat milk, we didn’t settle for something convenient. We packed up our family, braved tornado warnings, mudslides, road closures, and a near biblical flood, and drove straight to the source — a small goat dairy in Rock Island, Tennessee, surrounded by state parks and protected wilderness.

Why? Because everyone loves cuddles with baby goats.

Okay — maybe that’s not the only reason. But let’s be honest: it definitely helps.

Through it all — soaked boots, rerouted highways, and hair-raising weather — we made the journey because this isn’t just about milk. It’s about connection, honoring the land, and teaching our kids (and our Rawsome community) that the best food doesn’t come easy — and it definitely doesn’t come from a factory.

Where the Wild Meets the Wholesome

The farm is a family-run operation nestled in one of the most ecologically vibrant areas of Tennessee. The goats graze freely on alpha greens, fortified with red beets, and even microgreens (yes — the same ones we believe in for us and our pets!). This nutrient-dense forage gives the milk a naturally sweet, clean flavor you can’t replicate.

Unlike cooler, flatter dairy landscapes of the Midwest, Rock Island's rolling hills and humid subtropical climate create a longer growing season and more plant biodiversity year-round. The goats here have access to a dynamic rotational pasture with deep-rooted alpha greens, wild herbs, red clover, and seasonal forage, all naturally fertilized by the land's mineral-rich composition.

The land around Rock Island, is part of the southern Appalachian region, renowned for its ancient, mineral-rich soils. Especially in this region, the soil is abundant in bioavailable calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, and essential trace minerals, thanks in part to its limestone base and high natural water tables. The rainfall here doesn't leach nutrients away like it can in the flatter farmlands of the Midwest - it nourishes and rejuvenates the soil. These soils have developed over hundreds of millions of years from a complex mix of metamorphic and sedimentary rocks, including shale, sandstone, limestone and quartzite.

The result? Healthier forage. More nutrient-dense milk.

The herd grazes on this lush pasture and is supplemented with microgreens and red beet pulp, adding even more nutrition, flavor, and vitality to the milk. It's not just what the goats eat - it's WHERE the food is grown, and how alive the land (soil) truly is.

The herd includes Mini and Standard LaManchas — known for their adorable “elf” ears and creamy milk — as well as a few beautiful Alpines. The variety of breeds creates a rich butterfat profile that makes the milk especially digestible and nourishing.

Each goat is named, loved, and known. This spring’s babies followed a “Twister” movie theme — a tribute to the babies born just an hour before the land was hit by a tornado. Now the pastures are home to:

• Fujita Scale

• Imminent Rueage

• Billy the Extreme

• Gtg Julia We Got Cows

• Headed Straight for Wakita

• If You Feel It, Chase It

• Night of the Twisters

And the unforgettable "Into the Storm" (such a cutie).

We even met a little doeling named Janice Joplin, from a previous music-themed line, who joins the legendary Tina Turner in the diva section of the barn.

The Rhythm of Spring

Milk production naturally slows during the winter months. And that’s intentional.

Winter is a time for the goats to rest, breed, and prepare for birth. When spring arrives, their babies are born and receive the colostrum — their first, essential nourishment. Only after that do the goats begin producing milk again.

We time our milk pickups a few weeks after kidding, when the milk is at its sweetest, creamiest, and most nutrient-dense. Spring milk is special — it's milk born of rest, renewal, and seasonal alignment.

Unlike industrial operations that force year-round breeding and milking, our partner farm honors this seasonal cycle. The result is healthier goats, cleaner milk, and a product that aligns with nature’s rhythm.

A Complete Food for Pets (and a Toast to the Farmers)

Raw goat milk is so bioavailable and nutrient-dense that many pets naturally reduce their food intake when it’s included in meals. That’s not a red flag — that’s a sign of efficiency. Their bodies are receiving what they need without needing to overeat.

Raw goat milk provides:

• Natural probiotics and enzymes

• Easy-to-digest healthy fats

• Bioavailable calcium and minerals

• Deep hydration and immune support

Our medical needs pets — seniors, sensitive guts, post-op pups — thrive on it.

We legally can’t sell this for human consumption.

But I’ll be honest with you: I raise a glass to our farmers every time I pour it. It’s that good.