Kefir

[FarmerCathy]

Does anyone know the glycemic index on it and does anyone use it on a regular basis and how much can you drink of it at one time? I'm looking forward to drinking it and feeding it to the chickens. It's supposed to be real good for them too.

[Bountyman]

Nutrition info: One cup of plain, low-fat kefir contains 120 calories, 12 grams of carbohydrate, 2 grams of fat, and 300 milligrams of calcium. The glycemic index of kefir is apparently low, although I was not able to find a specific number. -Source

[FarmerCathy]

Thanks. Yeah, that's why I started a thread. I couldn't find a glycemic index on it on-line. I read though that the whole milk actually has less carbs. How does it taste on cereal, if I get low enough to have a very small bowl? Or does need to be mixed with something else?

[janice21475]

I have been making Milk Kefir for several months. I love it. I originally started to help my diabetic husband but he didn't like it - Whee, more for me.

I do not believe it has 12 carbs. The Kefir Grains live on Latose and after a 12/24 hour ferment there can be but a tad left, if any.

It tastes similar to Buttermilk. Very thick and leaves a heavy coating on the glass or cup into which it was poured. Depending on how long you leave it ferment the thickness and 'sharp' taste vary. I drink it straight and love it. I use regular milk (full fat).

There is a Yahoo group for Kefir.

I also make Water Kefir but don't really love it but it makes a mildly alcoholic wine that is useful for relaxing. It offers the good benefits of the bacteria but not the probiotics.

I drink at least 8 oz a day.

I have chickens but can not see myself feeding it to them. A gallon of milk is $3+, that is too high for chicken food. I can but 40 lbs of Laying Mash for around $10. I do give them Soy Milk I make. We use the ocara that is left over for making pancakes. Prefer the store bought soy milk to home made.

Regards,
Janice

[FarmerCathy]

Wow, thanks for all the info. I'm really curious to try it and see what it does to my bg numbers.

Yeah, milk in the store is expensive. We are buying a milk goat this next month and won't be able to drink it fast enough I'm sure since I can't really have it straight without my bg's shooting through the roof so we will be feeding most of it to the chickens after making it into kefir or cheese. They only need it every other day anyway and at the moment we can only have 20 chickens max. So, it shouldn't take much to fill them up.

[janice21475]

Oh, Kathy,

How wonderful to be getting a milk goat. If I were younger I would get one, too. We have 8 hens and that gives plenty of eggs for 2 people.

Anxious to hear what you have to say about the Kefir. I have never had Goat Milk, let alone Goat Milk Kefir. Sounds like a great project.

Guess you have a garden, too?? I have planted Okra in a tire garden. The plants are over 10 feet tall. I have to pull them over to pick the pods.

Do you already have your Kefir Grains?

Cheers,
Janice

[FarmerCathy]

I don't have the kefir grains yet, I'm picking them up on Thursday from someone I found on craigslist that uses her goat milk as well, so I'm very interested in trying it.

Well, we are living with the in-laws at the moment and have found a rental where I can have my goat, chickens and he wants me to start a garden. So, I'm probably going to start some garlic in Oct. and some leafy greens when we move in next month. I'm itching to get in the dirt again. We are planning to save up and buy our own farm in couple years, but I can sell veggie and flower seedlings at the farmers' market that is only a mile away next year at least. So I'm excited about that.

Wow, that is some tall okra, I've had some get about 5-6 feet, but not that tall, that is great. Sunflowers yes, but not okra. You must have some fertile soil.

[janice21475]

Wow, that is some tall okra, I've had some get about 5-6 feet, but not that tall, that is great. Sunflowers yes, but not okra. You must have some fertile soil.

It is my experience, with okra, that whenever it is planted in a Virgin Spot it grows like a weed, even with minimal fertilizer. I have a garden in the front yard that has been planted 4 years running and the okra is barley 2 feet high (even though I added bags of chicken 'fertilizer,' horse poo and bagged fertilizer). The rest of the plants did well though (summer squash, cukes, green beans and bell peppers. The sunflowers did OK - the squirrels loved them to death - literally. The 2 experimental rows of peanuts seem to be doing OK. Next year we will let the front yard 'rest.' I have a huge tire garden in the back. Probably over 30 tires. Supposedly it will be easier to replenish the soil fo rthe next planting. Time will tell.

Glad to hear things are working out for you getting a place where you can still have your critters. What kind of goat are you getting? Wish you lived closer, I would love to try the milk.

Kind regards,
Janice

[FarmerCathy]

That's interesting about the okra. I've never tried to grow peanuts before, but I like to try to grow new things every year. I did a tire garden one year when I had a small garden and it did well. Yeah, I bet the squirrels loved the sunflowers to death. I am a member of this great garden forum. You should check it out if you get a chance. IDigMyGarden Forums - Powered by vBulletin

I am getting a LaMancha. I had Toggenburgs for about 6yrs in 4-H, but I really like how much more the LaMancha's produce. I did breed Angora's for awhile and that is why I have an Angora whether. I just love goats.

[Smitie]

Keep us posted on the results of the Kefir, seem like a lot of people are have good luck with it. A glass a day seems hard to keep up with with each batch taking only 24-48hr.

I'm on someone list to get some to try it out for myself.

Smitie

[janice21475]

Just had my bedtime glass of Kefir Milk. Yum!!

I make mine in widemouth quart sized canning jars. I make it usually every other day. It takes much less than 24 hours for me. It is not that cold in our kitchen, I guess. As a matter of fact, we turn the AC off overnight. I can set the jar out in the middle of the day and in the morning it is ready.

FarmerKathy,

When you get your goat, please post some pictures. I would like to see it.

Good Night,
Janice

[rak1978]

I know NOTHING about kefir, goats, or farming...can't even keep an orchid alive, but I wanted to say that I enjoyed reading your posts!!! They were fascinating. You girls are VERY ambitious!

[janice21475]

I know NOTHING about kefir, goats, or farming...can't even keep an orchid alive, but I wanted to say that I enjoyed reading your posts!!! They were fascinating. You girls are VERY ambitious!

Glad you were stimulated and amused . . . my work (with that goal in mind) is ongoing (Inserting a BIG GRIN here)

If you, or anyone has further Kefir questions, please PM. I wish to be a Kefir style Johnny Appleseed.

[FarmerCathy]

We found our girl. She is a LaMancha, 2yrs old and pregnant. I will take pictures in a couple weeks when we get her to our new place. She is a light brown with a white stripe down her nose. She is such a sweety too. Can't wait until we can pick her up.

[FarmerCathy]

Oh, and we got our kefir grains a couple days ago. I haven't tried it yet, but wanted to see how the chickens like it. We'll see and then maybe we'll try it. LOL! I'm scared. Heh. Scary trying new things. Maybe with lunch, what can I mix it with if anything? I don't want to make it too sweet or something. Can I mix almond butter with it, kinda like a peanut butter shake, but with almond butter? I can't have peanut butter.