Progressive pasture dining, cow milk cheeses in the vat, farm events
Farm News
This is the year of building fences and moving goats. Our adept Amish fence builders arrived at our new farm this week (yes, they really do drive all the way from Arthur IL—45 miles away—on a tractor!!) to put up a high-tensile hotwire fence on the south pasture of our new farm. The field was planted last year with a mix of grasses and legumes, and the red clover is especially lush right now. If I were a ruminant, I would be salivating. The Amish crew of two drove posts and put up the fence in just two days. Friday, we open the gates and the one-year old goat girls will likely rush their new pasture to gorge on the greenery. Next week, we plan to move this year’s doelings to the south pasture. Escorting 50+ rowdy goat girls from the orchard to the new farm (close to a quarter mile) should be an adventure. Timely rains have helped keep our pasture paddocks growing this summer. Wes was even out planting a summer forage millet this week; something new to keep the goats’ palates engaged.
Urbana’s Market at the Square: Featured Items Going to Market This Saturday-7 am to 12 noon
We are flush this week with SO MUCH CHEESE! You really need to try several so bring a cooler! We have a small chance of rain on Saturday, but it will be nice ‘n cool. No excuses to make a Saturday morning foray to the Urbana Farmers’ Market. We received our first weekly shipment of organic cow milk from Rocky Road Dairy in Mulberry Grove IL this week. We will be offering new cow milk cheeses in addition to our goat milk beauties.
NEWS FLASH: OUR RAW MILK “PELOTA ROJA” IS BACK IN THE CHEESE LINEUP! Come grab a wedge of this 2021 Good Food Award winning cheese, inspired by Spanish style raw goat milk cheeses.
Can’t make it to the market? No worries! Order from our online store for farm pick up either Saturday or Sunday afternoon. Here’s the line-up of offerings for this weekend:
Gidget’s Grilling Cheese-made with rich, grassfed cow’s milk from Rocky Road Farm. Grill or pan fry to get some nice caramelization on the outside. Drizzle with local honey and a squeeze of lemon juice. Enjoy with crusty baguette or some grilled summer squash.
Artisan Cottage Cheese-summer milk from grazing cows makes an AMAZING cottage cheese. It is both gorgeous (lovely yellow in color-a testament to the grass the cows are eating) and delicious. If you think cottage cheese is boring, you really need to give this a try!
Fresh chevre
Plain
Herbs de Provence
Cracked peppercorn
Angel Food-goat “crottin” style bloomy (nice ‘n ripe, brie-like)
Fleur de la Prairie—2021 Good Food Award winner!-bloomy with dried herbs and edible flowers-young but tasty
Black goat-ash-ripened bloomy-also young with “fudgy” texture that I love so much
Little Bloom on the Prairie-our goat milk camembert-aging nicely; try with spring honey
Pelota Roja-FIRST OF THE SEASON! raw goat milk Manchego style cheese with a guajillo-olive oil rub—so good for shaving over a tomato and basil salad or grilled eggplant! 2021 GOOD FOOD AWARD WINNER!
Goat Milk Feta aged in Whey Brine-try with grilled peaches and a drizzle of honey (sweet and salty and sublime)
Goat Milk Yogurt—it makes a great smoothie or enjoy with your favorite granola and fresh berries-now available in both pints and quarts!
Goat Milk Gelato by Pint (vanilla, chocolate, fresh mint, strawberry and hazelnut for sure; may bring some Mexican lime whey-betto (sorbetto made with whey); more flavor options out at the farm)
If you’re interested in buying fresh raw goat milk, you can either order from our online store for farm pick up on the weekends, or just visit our farm store during open hours—now offering both quarts and half gallons in our refrigerated display case.
Farm Open Hours -Grand Re-Opening and Farm Yoga
Just in time for Summer, we’re ON THE MAP—THE CHEESE LOVERS’ MAP!
We are featured in this month’s CULTURE MAGAZINE (a National Publication!) as one of the three farmstead cheese making operations in Illinois that welcomes guests to visit the farm. Check it out!! We are ready for all you cheese-loving visitors!
This weekend, we’re open 1-4 pm on Saturday and Sunday. Enjoy some peace and tranquility You can visit with the goats, shop in the farm store “The Real Stand” or enjoy a cheese board with a glass of wine or beer or cup of gelato under the pavilion. Check out our new “merch:” Chippy the Goat embroidered ball-caps, t-shirts and sweatshirt too! They’re made from recycled fabric and feel GREAT!
We are working hard to get the farm ready for our “Grand Re-Opening” on Saturday July 17th. This is a ticketed event featuring a light local-food meal and live music!! Check out the details and buy your tickets NOW!
Starting that same weekend, we will be expanding our open hours and offering a regular menu of local “small bites,” light brunch foods, cheese boards, wine flights, wine and beer tastings and much, much more. We’re bringing in some great new products to our farm store too. It’s a big leap for us, but we are excited to welcome guests to enjoy our farm in a new way.
Yoga on the Farm Returns
Although our goat kids are too big for intimate “goat yoga,” you can enjoy them on the “other side of the fence” while taking a relaxing yoga flow class at the farm. Starting Saturday, July 17th from 9-10 and offered every Saturday through the end of July. For details and reservations, click HERE.
Goats for Sale
Looking for a family milking goat or a 4-H project for your kids? Looking to build a small herd to make some goat milk soaps and skin care products? Looking to expand your commercial dairy goat herd? Want some goats to keep your invasive plants at bay? How about a few goats to take on hikes? We have what you’re looking for! Our goats are certified “Animal Welfare Approved,” registered through the American Dairy Goat Association AND super happy and healthy. Send us an email (prairiefruitsinfo@gmail.com) and we’ll let you know what we have available.