Outdoor market season begins with Honey Walnut Fresh Cheese

The Columbia Farmers' Market begins its 2015 outdoor season this Saturday, April 4!  We'll be there, set up and ready to sell cheese at 8 a.m.  The market will continue until noon.  Weather is predicted to be sunny and in the 60's--a perfect spring day!

We're looking forward to the new season, and to celebrate, we plan to have a special fresh cheese--Honey Walnut.  This flavor will only be available at market and for a limited time.  We've used local honey from fellow market vendor Jacques Laboile at Bonne Femme Honey Farm and paired it with lightly toasted walnuts.  We love it on bagels to start the day!

A taste of honey and walnuts.

Kidding season upon us

Rather than snow falling as the kidding season began, we witnessed fine weather and considerable snow melt, also known as mud.  That didn't matter to the baby goats as they came into the world--they just loved the spring-like weather.  On average, each doe has two kids, and ours are no exception.  Over the next couple of weeks we had as many as 80 frisky little ones to feed and care for at one time.  Several days ago we had enough milking mothers to begin saving milk in our bulk cooling tank in preparation for cheesemaking.  Goatsbeard Cheese will soon be on store shelves!

Peter and friends with new babies.

A few days old.

Jenn has a favorite.

New Website

We've had a long winter, but a productive one.  If you are reading this blog, you realize the Goatsbeard Farm website has a new look!  We have been working with Joseph Dolginow who has helped us set up the new format.  We hope to display our information more effectively, and make updates in a timely manner.  The list of places to buy our cheese will be easy to find, and recipes will change seasonally.  And of course, you will be able to follow activities on the farm by way of this blog.  Let us know what you think!