Farm News
Just like that, our prolonged wet and cold wintery-spring ended and daytime temperatures soared from the ‘50’s into the ‘90’s this week. The sudden onset of heat sucked moisture out of the soil so that farmers could finally get into the fields to plow and plant. The grain fields that surround our little oasis of perennial agriculture have that classic halo of dust that follows in the wake of the plough. Our neighbors seem to be driving their tractors at breakneck speed to get their ground worked ahead of the next rainstorm predicted for this weekend.
For us, the abrupt transition to summer means heat stress for the goats who still have much of their winter coats. It also means we can attend to work long postponed—spreading compost, mending pasture fences and mowing all that lush cool-season vegetation that’s been growing under those rainy skies. Needless to say, the weeds are ahead, but we have the weaponry to beat them back-mowers, tillers and weed whackers unite!
Happenings this Weekend at the Farm and Beyond
We will be open at the farm this weekend—Saturday and Sunday, 11 am to 5 pm each day.
If you’re celebrating a graduate this weekend, bring the whole gang out to celebrate at the farm! Don’t be shy grads—wear your cap and gown and come take pictures with the goats!
Shop our farm store and sample some of our award-winning cheeses. Enjoy a cheese and charcuterie board under our pavilion with a bottle of organic and/or biodynamic wine. Want something cool? Try our delicious goat milk gelato! Specials this weekend: (available BOTH Saturday and Sunday):
--goat milk yogurt parfaits with local fruit purees
--special gelato flavors: amaretto and pistachio!
When you’re ready to leave, take home some raw goat milk or goat milk yogurt. We’ve also got some great local products, including these gorgeous eggs from fellow AWA (Animal Welfare Approved) certified eggs from Joyful Wren Farm.
The farm is open on weekends RAIN OR SHINE! You can still visit with the baby goats inside their barn if it’s raining! We have ample seating inside our farm store if you want to stay and enjoy a cheese & charcuterie board. Our store is AIR-CONDITIONED!
We’re excited to be back at the outdoor market for our 17th season!! From 7-12 each Saturday, you can stock up on great produce, meats, eggs and of course PFFC cheeses.
PLEASE NOTE: OUR LOCATION AT THE MARKET HAS CHANGED. WE ARE STILL LOCATED ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE MARKET, BUT WE ARE NEXT TO ILLINIOIS WILLOWS (AT THE SOUTH END OF AISLE TWO).
Here's the lineup of cheeses and dairy product you can expect to find in our farm store and at the farmers’ market:
Fresh Chevre: plain, herbs de Provence, cracked pepper
Fresh Chevre with chive & lemon zest—IT’S BACK and boy is it delicious!!!
Mixed milk feta in whey brine
Little bloom on the prairie: Mixed milk camembert style-super young this week
Angel Food: Mixed milk mini-brie
Fleur de la prairie: All goat bloomy rind with edible flowers and herbs
Black Goat: All goat, Ash-ripened bloomy-aging nicely
Raw goat milk (half gallons or quarts)-farm store only
Goat milk Yogurt (quart size)
Not local? No problem. You can order our cheeses and gift boxes from our online store.