JW Farms is a micro dairy run by Amelia, Justin, and their daughter Josie in Stokes County. They started out raising beef cattle and grew into a small dairy with Jersey and Brown Swiss cows.

What makes them special is how they raise calves. They use nurse cows, which adopt and raise calves they didn’t give birth to, so the calves grow up on their mothers’ milk while the rest of the herd provides milk for herd share members. In North Carolina, a herdshare is the legal way to get raw milk. You buy a share of the herd, pay a boarding fee to cover the animals’ care, and in return you receive milk from the animals you co-own.

Our tip: Ask about butter when you sign up. It’s available to members and is a great way to use extra cream.