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Farming and Thanksgiving: the Tradeoff is Delicious

Farm News

As a dairy farmer, we celebrate holidays in between the daily routines of milking the goats, feeding the goats and making cheese. We try to keep the chores to the bare necessities, so that I have plenty of time to plan my recipes and prepare the meal. Cooking is one of my passions, and thanksgiving is an exercise in roasting the perfect bird, agonizing over too many side dishes and relishing in the overabundance of amazing local food. We plan our feast from the ingredients of our fellow farmers: pasture raised turkey, veggies for the sides from several local organic vegetable farmers and apples from several local fruit growers. We even have locally milled flour! We supply the dairy. The only ingredients not sourced from within 50 miles of our farm are salt, pepper, olive oil and some spices. The tradeoff of working on holidays is the joy of farmers feeding other farmers.

 

Farm Open Hours—VISIT THE FARM, CHECK OUT OUR “FARM BAR”—ENJOY SOME OF THE BEST LOCAL FOOD AROUND! Indoor and outdoor seating available-weather permitting for outdoors. Weather permitting, we’ll keep you warm outdoors with our fire pits.


Our Current Open Hours are now Saturdays and Sundays, 11 am to 5 pm


The weather is getting chilly and the days shorter, but we still have some great reasons to visit the farm. Visiting the goats is usually at the top of everyone’s list, but our farm bar and small plates menu is pretty compelling. Our farm store “The Real Stand” is getting decked out for the holidays, and we have some amazing items that make the perfect gift-whether it’s just for you to enjoy at home or for that special someone in your life who appreciates good food.


If you can’t make it out to the farm, we have you covered. Our online store is now featuring some cheesy and not-so-cheesy gift baskets. There’s something for almost everyone at a variety of budgets. You can order for farm pick up during open hours OR have your order shipped. We even include hand-written notes with your holiday messages if you like. Just let us know!

Starting this Friday, Nov. 19th, we’re offering a special event we’re calling “Sip & Shop.” From 4-7 pm, we’ll feature a special cocktail, a curated wine list and cheese & charcuterie boards. Sometimes, we’ll have live music or a special wine expert. We’ll even give you some tips about how to put together a stunning cheese & charcuterie board for holiday entertaining. Come try some amazing organic and/or biodynamic wines that you can’t find anywhere else in Champaign-Urbana!


Order a Holiday Cheese & Charcuterie Platter for Thanksgiving! We're offering two sizes to feed a modest gathering or gaggle of guests. Available for farm pick up on Wednesday, Nov. 24th from 2-4 pm. While you're here, ask us to help you select some wines to accompany your holiday meal. We have some great organic and biodynamic selections.

This weekend’s "Farm Bar" menu items include:

  • Cheese boards featuring cheeses from PFFC, Jacobs & Brichford and Ludwig Creamery

  • Charcuterie Boards featuring Piemonte Sausage Co. and Underground Meats salumi

  • Spiced cranberry and toasted pecan “cheese ball” served with warm Publican Quality Bread baguette bread

  • Triple S Farms Pulled Pork Sliders with house-made BBQ sauce and pickled veggies

  • Apple Pie Bar with or without a scoop of gelato

  • Alchemy Scone (available all day on Saturdays & Sundays) served with honey-chevre

  • Hot spiced Cider!

 

Farm Events: We're making the most of the holiday season! We've got something happening every week until Christmas. Menus are now posted for both our December farm dinners.