PRODUCTS:
1.)   Can you tell me more about South Mountain Creamery?
2.)   Are you Organic?
3.)   Do we use growth hormones?
4.)   Tell me more about the meat that you sell...
5.)   Can I visit your farm?
6.)   All of the milk is in a glass bottle, is there a bottle deposit?
7.)   Who do I contact if I have a product problem?
HOME DELIVERY SERVICE:
8.)   What is the cost to have home delivery?
9.)   How often does the delivery come?
10.) What time of day should I expect my delivery?
11.) What if I am not home when the delivery comes?
12.) What if I do not want delivery this week?
13.) Are there any times that you do not deliver?
14.) How do I pay?
WEBSITE:
15.) Do I need to set up an account?
16.) How does this work?
17.) What is a standing order?
18.) How do I make changes to my standing order?
19.) Do I need to enter my address and credit card information every time I order?

 
1.) Can you tell me more about South Mountain Creamery?
South Mountain Creamery started in April 2001 as an attempt to increase our farms' income from our milking cows. We had our first Open House on May 5, 2001, and soon after began our first home delivery route in Middletown. We had 13 homes we delivered to out of the back of a Ford Explorer. We quickly grew and added our first milk truck in June 2001. Over the past 6 years we have grown to servicing over 4000 homes in MD, DC, VA, and WVA. We cover about a 70 mile radius. Since we started, we have added to our product line-- both with products that we make and products that we are able to find locally. We discovered many small operations that made a great product, but did not have a way to bring it to the area. So we started to add products from other farmers and other small family operations. Finally, we expanded some of our cheese offerings to include high quality premium cheese. In 2007 we began to offer fresh bread from The Breadery (Ellicott City, MD), and prepared meals from a local chef. Who knows what 2010 will bring!!  
  
2.) Are you Organic?
No, we follow traditional farming methods which are often similar practices that organic farmers use. For example, we do not give our animals growth hormones or unnecessary antibiotics. We do not use pesticides on our fields. We give our cows free choice feeding. This means they have a feed bunk in the barn that has a mixture of corn, hays, soybeans, and minerals that they can eat from. They also have access to pastures where they can graze at will. What the cows are fed here, was grown here! We also work closely with local soil conversation groups to preserve the soil and prevent soil erosion. We have many projects that we are working on regarding green energy such as a methane digester (converting cow manure to electricity) and bio-diesel (converting soybeans to fuel)!   
  
3.) Do you use Growth Hormones?
No! Our cows receive antibiotics only when they are sick and need them (their milk is taken off the line and not used until they are deemed healthy again). We never give our cows antibiotics as a preventative method nor do they ever receive hormones to increase their milk production!

4.) Tell me more about the meat that you sell...
We sell beef, pork, chicken, and lamb.

BEEF: is pastured raised, and grass feed here on our farm. We do not spray the fields with any pesticides but may use organic fertilizers from time to time.

PORK: Made from our very own pigs that are raised here on the farm from start to finish. No hormones, No antibiotics, all natural and fed only a vegatable based diet.

CHICKEN: Our certified humane chicken comes from select farmers in Pennsylvania, who raise their birds in a leisurely lifestyle that includes plenty of fresh air and an all natural vegatable diet, free of antibiotics and hormones.

LAMB: are either raised here at our farm or on another family member's farm.

** We never give any of our animals growth hormones or animal byproducts!

5.) Can I visit your farm?
Yes! Our farm is always open to the public. You can see the cows being milked between 1:30-5:00 pm and see as well as help feed the baby calves at 4:00 pm. You are welcome to come out anytime (rain or shine), any day (weekdays and weekends)! The only operation that is not open to the public is the milk plant, due to health department rules. However, we do open the plant to the public twice a year during our festivals (May and October).
  
6.) All of the milk is in a glass bottle, is there a bottle deposit?  
Yes, we charge $1.50 refundable deposit per glass bottle. We charge this when you purchase the milk so if you decide to give a bottle of milk as a gift or accidently drop and break the bottle you do not need to let us know.  
Using glass is a great way to preserve the milks natural good taste, while reusing the glass bottle prevents thousands of plastic and paper cartons from entering the landfills.  
  
7.) Who do I contact if I have a product problem?  
Please contact customer service at (301)371-8565 or email us at milkcustomerservice@comcast.net. We'll take care of any problem you may have.   
  
8.)What is the cost to have home delivery?
We charge a $3.75 delivery fee. That pays for the driver and truck to come to you. Other then that, the cost per product is the same delivered as it is here at the farm.  
  
9.) How often does the delivery come?  
We deliver once a week.  
  
10.) What time of day should I expect my delivery?  
We deliver to homes throughout the day. Deliveries can occur as early as 2:00 am and as late as 8:00pm (it all depends on the individual driver you can email us for more info). After you receive your first delivery, the driver should come about the same time every week.  
  
11.) What if I am not home when the delivery comes?  
Typically, you do not need to be home. In most cases we deliver to coolers on your front porch, but we can also arrange to deliver to you refirgerator in your garage or house.

** If you do not leave a cooler out, your driver will NOT leave your delivery unless you have made prior arrangements! This helps to ensure the milk doesn't freeze and burst in the wintertime nor will it spoil in the summertime!

12.) What if I do not want delivery this week?  
After you log in, you should see a place at the bottom of the page to enter a vacation date range. Please be sure to enter your hold before your cut-off time!
  
13.) Are there any times that you do not deliver?  
Thanksgiving and Christmas. We make adjustments to our schedule so everyone will receive a delivery during these holidays. You will receive plenty of advance notice of any changes due to a holiday.

14.) How do I pay? 
We accept credit card (preferred)-- Visa and Mastercard or check (a $25 deposit is required up front if you choose this method of payment)... Please note all returned checks are charged a $35 fee.
  
15.) Do I need to set up an account?  
Yes, if you would like to receive our home delivery service please create an account online. Once the account is approved you will receive our confirmation e-mail to include the day of your first delivery and tips for the most successful delivery possible!
  
16.) How does this work?  
If you are interested in joining our home delivering service the process is very basic.

Step #1: Create an online account.

Step #2: We will receive this information, and try to get back to you within a week.

Step #3: We will confirm that you will fall in to a delivery route, and a confirmation e-mail listing your delivery day, start date, and any other important information.

Step #4: Your driver arrives with our delicious products at your door!
You can make delivery changes until 12:00 am midnight 2 days prior to your delivery day (unless your delivery day is Monday in which the deadline is midnight on Thursdays).

For our Hampton Roads/Virginia Beach area customers, your deadline is 8:00 am Monday for all deliveries that week.

17.) What is a standing order?   
A standing order includes the products that you would like us to deliver every week, every other week, or even once a month. You can make changes to the standing order as often as you like!  The advanatge to this, is if you forget to place a order, you can be assured that your essentials will be coming as scheduled.  We recommend you to have a standing order, but it is not required.   
  
18.) How do I make changes to my standing order?  
You can add and subtract products from your order. After you have selected an item, you can have the choice to select and item to come every week, one time, every other week (a.k.a. Week 1 or Week 2), or once per month.  
  
19.) Do I need to enter my address and credit card information everytime I order?  
No, once entered the first time your information will be saved. You can update your credit card information whenever you like however if you move or change the location where deliveries will be made, you must contact us as soon as possible so we can make the appropriate arrangements for your driver!