Can (Goat's Milk) Ice Cream Save The World?

Laura Howard thinks so. She's created the world's first premium goat's milk ice cream, Laloo's. It's delicious, of course, and much better for us -- lower in fat and lactose, and loaded with Vitamins A and D. (Health-conscious celebrities like Kate Hudson and Jim Carrey are big fans.) Plus, the company sources the goat's milk and other ingredients from organic farms close by.

What was Laura's motivation? A desire to eat local, healthy foods, combined with a longing for a slower way of life -- a real change from the advertising and film world where she'd made her living for more than 15 years. "What moves me?" (if this were a story about cow's milk, you just know I'd go for the pun) is one of the most important questions New Radicals ask themselves. Everyone is looking for more meaning, and answering this question will help clarify what you value most.

If you haven't read earlier columns about the New Radicals, a little background is in order (if you have, please jump to the next paragraph!). New Radicals are people who have discovered that how we earn our living can become the way we give back. They are men and women like you and me who've found ways to put the skills they've developed in their careers to work on the world's greatest challenges. A boomer-led movement, it now includes people of all ages, in each field, and around the world.

Midlife New Radicals in particular have invested decades in carving themselves into a particular shape -- such as lawyer, parent, spouse -- and this identity has served us well. But if we are to find a new role that provides more meaning, we need to get to know our authentic selves. To understand what's important to us now, and what we want to do with the rest of our lives.

As you might expect, this involves a certain amount of spelunking, which is not something everyone wants to do. After all, ours is a world that doesn't value or reward the inner life. The thought of nosing around in the dark of our inner selves can make some people uncomfortable. Which is why some of my clients find reasons to bail at this point in the process. I remind them that all we're really doing is taking a break from the incessant chatter of our conscious minds, and creating an environment for fresh insights.

So how do New Radicals-in-the-making "turn on, tune in, and drop out" in Timothy Leary's famous phrase?

1. Take a break from our busy lives.
New Radicals go away. Not on holiday, but on a kind of retreat. For instance, Rocco Rossi's two walks along Spain's Camino Frances helped him connect with a deeper part of himself, and find the inspiration he needed to move from the corporate world to the not-for-profit sector.

2. Get lost in the moment.
New Radicals find ways to be introspective without leaving home. Meditation, the arts, journaling, even long walks. And they start to pay attention to the insights that bubble up in moments when they are less than fully conscious -- like in that delicious time just before falling asleep, or on waking.

As you find ways to answer the question "What moves you?", keep British scientists in mind. Tapping into the subconscious mind works so well for them that they've dubbed it the 3Bs, recognizing that all great discoveries are made on the bus, in the bath, or in bed.

Comments

[enveg01]

There is nothing "radical" or "conscious" about animal exploitation whether it be cows or goats. With all the wealth of "milks" out there: soy milk, rice milk, hemp milk, oat milk, almond milk, hazelnut milk... why would anyone resort to confining animals and taking their milk? There are amazing ice creams out there that don't use animal by-products and are therefore better for you and the environment. Ask yourself why we're the only mammals that drink milk past childhood and then why we're the only animals that drink the milk of another species. It's totally unnecessary and quite ridiculous.

[winterthur]

Our family has been using the goat milk products: cheese, yogurt, etc., from PATCHES OF STAR DAIRY ... Elly is under the blue canopy at the Union Square Farmers Market near the 16 St. and Union Square West entrance to the park. Elly's prices are reasonable and now we're addicted to the goat's milk yogurt, it's so delicious. Sometimes we use the goat's milk yogurt as a salad dressing instead of ranch.

[marymansour]

I just love goats and goat cheese. Can't wait to sample Goat's milk ice cream. Goat milk is much heart healthier than cow's milk.

[PLDgyrl]

Goats milk is certianally a healthy choice but cow milk would be to if famers would raise them on grass (which is what they are susposed to eat) instead of feeding them grains. Oh and let me go a shocking step futher - you should be able to buy milk raw which is it healthiest form anyway.

[Gumby123]

Ugh, we have goats at the ranch I live at and they're ugly as sin. The head billy goat ,named 'Butch Box' after a porn star, loves to piss on himself before he impregnates the females. All that nasty musk gets into the goat's milk. I'll have none of that thank you very much.

[marymansour]

The Billy's don't give the milk. And looks don't count in the milk department unless you're a human male with a breast fixation.

[PLDgyrl]

Thank you for clearing that up....

[axt113]

I'll stick to soy milk

[PeaceCzar]

Ditto. But as I was shifting from vegetarian to vegan, goat's milk was always my preferred dairy medium.

Goats are far less resource-intensive, can subsist in less-than-ideal farm settings, and release much less methane. At scale, they are far more sustainable than cow's relative to their yield. I even heard that the Canadian dairy production was going to shift on a large scale from cow to goat. But don't hold to to that; I haven't looked it up.

Soy milk or hemp milk (if the government would ever gain some sanity and legalize it.) But definitely preferred goat milk to cow... all goat dairy has such a great taste; tough to describe exactly.

[OhBigWoo]

What would really be "New" and "Radical" would be if somebody would produce well-made products that are actually affordable for the struggling Working Class...instead of these self-indulgent hipsters passing off their greed as some enlightened business model. The only person I know of who is making nice things at incredibly reasonable prices is Sarah Jessica Parker. Her well tailored clothing line called Bitten (at Steve and Barry's stores)... is priced at $8.98 per item...even jackets.

[wm1066]

I like goats milk in my coffee, well I did until I switched to tea. Its richer and creamier.
But try to get it local. I didn't like milk from California.
My grandmother raised goats...she got feed up with the smell, they are smelly!
I still eat Getost, pronounced Yea-toast. a brown, sweet, rich goat cheese.

[gandydancer]

Your granny must have had a billy - the girls don't smell one bit! We have two new Nigerian Dwarf kids and I'm looking forward to making cheese and soap. But ice cream! Now that should be interesting!

There is a big interest in kitchen gardens and a little flock of chickens for eggs in our area (Maine) this year. Our local seed company warned us to buy early as they were actually running out of many things.

[wm1066]

Ya, my grandmother said it was the billy that smelled ,but don't you need a billy?
I mean biologically speaking?

[mamacat]

I used to think that anything with "goat" in the name had to be awful, but I too love gjetost (translation = goat cheese). I think it was originally (and still) popularised in hilly countries where goats are more practical than cows for many farmers.

[Enid]

I just started using goat milk soap from Canada and its the greatest.