Harley Farms Tour: Baby Goats!

Last weekend, I toured Harley Farms in Pescadero. Pescadero is located just south of Half Moon Bay, a small, hidden gem of a place.

Harley Farms is an award-winning goat dairy farm run by a delightful British ex-pat by the name of Dee Harley. She rebuilt a 9-acre 1910 cow dairy farm that now houses a cheese making room, milking parlor, and 220 American Alpine goats who produce over 500 kids each spring. It's spring, and this is the time to go, folks. These little darlings (kids) are amazing to watch as they frolic in the pasture and butt heads with each other. They're gangly and fluffy and, best of all, horn-free.

During the tour, we followed the flow of milk from the goat to the cheese-making room and ended with a cheese tasting above the dairy in a very charming, well-appointed hay loft overlooking the farm. It looked more like a wine-tasting room than a loft, with a super long table and funky hand-crafted high-back distressed wooden chairs. I decided that I'm hosting a dinner-slumber party there in the near future where we eat with our hands, drink from horns and wear Viking helmets. (Is that OK, Dee?)

You may have seen Harley Farms cheese at high-end stores. The rounds have little flower-petal tableaus on top. A perfect hostess gift. If you don't eat goat cheese because the flavor is too pungent, you should try this stuff. It has a very delicate, subtle flavor. And for those who are lactose-intolerant, as you probably know, goat cheese can often be tolerated very well. It's easier to digest because the fat cells are smaller, similar to human milk. Another plus: goat cheese has about 1/3 fewer calories per ounce than cow milk cheese and has about twice as much protein.

Dee has been an American Cheese Society Award recipient for five consecutive years and has been using the traditional method of separating the curds and whey with cheesecloth bags. There are very few goat cheese producers still around who actually raise their own goats and use their own goat milk. Unlike many of her competitors, Dee is able to control quality to a very high degree.

The milk is pasteurized, and while not certified organic, the goats are fed hay, grain and fresh pasture and receive no antibiotics or hormones. She gets her cheese culture imported from France, and a vegetarian rennet is used. Harley Farms makes fresh chevre in various forms, feta, fromage blanc, and ricotta. Ask for it at your local gourmet grocery or cheese monger.

Comments

[Rob]

You're quite fortunate that you've discovered Harley Farms! Dee is a fabulous person and operates a fun and unique farm. Was just elected "Farmer of the Year" for San Mateo County and it's a first. Never has a woman been so honored.

Enjoy your party and if you or your guests would like to spend a weekend or more in Pescadero, please contact me as we have vacation rentals as well as our barn loft.

Rob

[Carla]

Ron, are you with Harley Farms or are you referring to some other barn loft in Pescadero that you rent out?

[Cristal G.]

i love baby goats. Dee, thank you for letting me hold one. we frolicked our asses off!

[Claudia Bohm]

I was lucky enough to enjoy one of the wonderful summer dinners at Harley Farms a few weeks ago. It was the best time ever! From drinking wine in the pasture with the goats to the gourmet 5 course meal, I felt like I was a member of the family. Dee and Tim run a first class operation.