Farm News
In the waning days of May, there's a distinct shift from the chaos of kidding season to the well-worn routines of milking and cheese making. The final group of kids is just about weaned. The dairy crew has put away the nursery gear. The barns are cleaned and freshly bedded. The pasture fencing crew has pounded the main posts in place and is laying out the woven wire fencing for the rotational grazing paddocks. The milking goats spend their sundrenched days nibbling in the pasture, eating their alfalfa hay, lounging on pillows of straw and scratching their backs on the street-sweeper-turned-goat-scratching post. The goat kids fight to get to the top of their climbing tree and push off anyone who might try to upstage their dominance. The creamery team is in peak production, transforming all the beautiful milk into a myriad of cheeses. The predictability of the days allows everyone to take some breaths and settle into their roles, despite the workload. There is synchronicity among the goats, the dairy crew and the cheese makers.
The garden planting and grounds beautification around the farm well underway, and the abundant rains of May have made everything lush and beautiful. Read about all the happenings below and come visit us!
Happenings at the Farm & Beyond
The outdoor market season has begun. GREAT NEWS: We are attending BOTH the "Urbana's Market at the Square" AND "Downtown Bloomington Market." The Urbana Market runs 7 AM to 12 noon and the Bloomington Farmers' Market runs 7:30 AM to 12 noon. Prairie Fruits Farm & Creamery is in the same location in Urbana as last year (the south end of the market in line with aisle two) but with an expanded footprint (and more offerings). We are sharing space with Central Illinois Bakehouse at the Bloomington Market. Here are this week's offerings:
Mixed-milk feta in whey brine ! Tangy, creamy yet crumbly--just as you remember it!! Crumble it on everything, especially grilled asparagus! Chevre frais: plain, herbs de Provence, cracked pepper and everything bagel seasoning--so fresh and lemony, it screams spring is here!! Goat milk yogurt!!! Both pints and quarts available this week! Buy your yogurt and then pop over to CIB's stand to grab some of there house-made granola!!
Jersey Milk Gournay: the perfect substitute for cream cheese-available in plain, garlic & herb, everything bagel seasoning and spiced cranberry
Angel Food-brie style: petite rounds-mixed-milk and introducing our all goat version called "Archangel." Angel food is limited and aging nicely. Archangel is young and mild
Little bloom on the prairie-super young and mild this week--how about slicing on hearty bread, sprinkling some freshly chopped thyme and drizzling with local honey??
SEASONAL SPECIAL: CIDER WASHED LITTLE BLOOM-newly bloomed mixed-milk camembert style washed with a rhubarb-ginger-apple hard cider-we have a few rounds of this party-ready cheese, so come early in you want one!
Black goat: our all-goat milk ash-ripened bloomy; aging nicely-tart, earthy, toothsome and delicious! Moderately young this week
Fleur de la Prairie: our all-goat milk bloomy adorned with dried edible flowers and herbs--ACS gold medal in 2022! Moderately young this week
Our weekly CSA share offers you unique pairings with ultimate flexibility. Every week, you'll get cheese, bread and house-made accompaniments. We will have these for sale at both the Urbana and Bloomington farmers' markets, but please go ahead and sign up for shares. Pretty soon, you will only be able to get these shares if you pre-order. This Saturday's share is all about our delicious feta:
1 container of feta
1 bunch of fresh basil from Koss Family Farm-Kountry Fresh
CIB Demi-baguette
small bottle of extra virgin olive oil from Grovestone!
Farm Open Hours
We are so pleased to announce our new open hours of operation! Thank you so much for your support and patience as we navigated several much needed construction projects on the farm. We welcome visitors during the following hours:
Tuesdays: Happy Hour! 5-7. Goat Yoga (Pilates) available. Buy tickets online in advance or at the farm before class starts. Bar will be open along with small bites and bar snacks.
Wednesdays: Closed to the public. Farm to Table dinner night, reservations and tickets required.
Thursdays 11-9. Lunch and dinner counter service available from our newly remodeled restaurant. Find a seat inside or enjoy open seating around the farm. Order at your table or at the bar and pick up inside. Menu items feature local produce and proteins and will change seasonally. Accessible, upscale modern-American farm-to-table dining. Salads, sandwiches, cheese plates and small bites.
Fridays. 11-9. Same as Thursdays
Saturdays 9-9. Farm opens earlier on the weekend. Coffee and pastries available 9-11. Seasonal brunch menu available Same service 11-9.
Sundays 9-4. Coffee and pastries 9-11. Seasonal brunch menu available. Lunch service (same menu) 11-4.
CLOSED MONDAYS. Please respect our staff's needed time to complete farm work and only plan to visit us during open hours.
Reserve your spot for a hike with the goats! Now offering two time options:
Thursday Happy Hour Hike with The Goats-5 pm (includes a beverage at the end of the hike)
Saturday morning Hike-11 am (includes cheese and/or gelato sampling).
During all open hours guests can enjoy walking around the farm grounds on marked trails, visiting with the goats and enjoying a meal or beverage sitting under the pavilion or on the lawns. Staff and volunteers will be on hand to answer any questions about the goats and to chat about the farm. Please no outside food and no pets.
Thank you!
Please follow us on Facebook and/or Instagram and check your inboxes for future updates.
Goat Yoga-Pilates enjoy some movement & relaxation, featuring our adorable baby goats and certified Pilates instructor Lisa Staples of Living Legacy Pilates. Sign up now for this light-hearted workout.
Farm to Table Dinners: Chefs Garron and Cody will be offering pre-fixe multi-course meals featuring locally grown foods and our cheeses, of course. Dinner tickets include non-alcoholic beverages, taxes and gratuity. Wine, beer and cocktails are available for purchase at the farm, or you can pre-purchase a beverage add-on to your meal that includes a welcome cocktail and two full pours of paired wines with dinner.
We look forward to welcoming you to the farm! Go on our website NOW to make reservations.
Themes for June
June 5th
Mid-Spring Celebration (featuring Luna's Mushrooms)
Celebrate the vibrant flavors of mid-spring with a special focus on locally-grown mushrooms from Luna's Mushrooms.
June 12th
Ninja Turtles Night (Millennial Throwback Classics/Ode to Pizza)
Take a nostalgic trip back to the '90s with a menu inspired by everyone's favorite pizza-loving turtles.
June 19th
Sardinian Cuisine
Explore the sun-drenched flavors of Sardinia, Italy, with a menu that highlights the island's unique culinary traditions.
June 26th
Farmers Market Basket; a vegetarian feast!
Savor the bounty of the season with a vegetarian feast featuring the freshest produce from our farm and local farmers markets.
