Today Freddie and I took a drive to Pamphill, Wimborne after a friend of mine mentioned yesterday that there is a milk vending machine there, and not just any old milk….cold, fresh and free range milk. I was intrigued. A milk drive through… Perfect! The little man is moving onto cows’ milk and what better possible introduction than with milk from local cows (that we can actually see in the field) and from a traditional family farm in the heart of Dorset.
The milk is produced in the Allen Valley surrounding Wimborne and Pamphill and the farm is based on the National Trust’s Kingston Lacy estate. The free ranging Friesian herd graze on lush pastures surrounding the farm for as many months of the year as possible and all calves are reared by the family themselves as well as feed for the cattle being grown on the farm too.
What made today even better, not just the fact that the milk tasted AMAZING but the fact that when we arrived the farmer himself was there too! So we had a first hand demonstration on how to use the machine and it was easy peasy!
- Make sure you have at least two pound coins with you as the machine only takes pound coins.
- Put the first £1 into the slot on the left. Press the button above and the bottle will be dispensed with lid attached. Do not despair though,there are extra lids available in a tub on the top of the machine.
- Open the door and place the bottle at a slight angle underneath the dispenser
- Put in your pound coin on the right and then press the start button and watch the creamiest milk ever flow into your bottle.
- The machine will automatically stop when bottle is full.
And that is it!
The vending machine is open 24 hours a day so there is no excuse to ever run out of milk plus with reusable glass bottles available from the vending machine as well, you will always be able to take your milk home.
This is a great way to avoid using plastic and to really help the environment plus great to know we are helping the community too.
Allen Valley Milk is certainly a hit in our household and I am sure I am not the only one!
One Mama's Kingdom 