Pardon our delay in announcing a winner. Maggy’s been on vacation, and I’ve been helping my parents move to a retirement facility from their home of 35 years. Our winner is Yvonne D. Congrats!
Last Friday I was invited to visit Redwood Hill Farm, a family-owned and operated goat farm in Western Sonoma County, California.
Redwood Hill Farm is operated by four of the ten siblings of the Bice family who took over the farm from their parents in 1978. They are immensely proud of the fact that their goat farm was the first to be humane certified in the United States. Since then, others have followed suit, but for the Bice’s – these goats have always been family.
During our farm tour, we were able to hold 2-day old baby goats (cute kid overload) and afterwards were able to milk goats too! The youngest brother, Scott, showed us how they all run in and line up, eager to be milked. He opened the gate and the first group ran in, hopped up on the platform, and we were looking at some seriously large udders! I was first in line to try milking a goat by hand – they tell me I’m a natural.
But it’s not just about the goats – life on their farm is holistic. One of the brothers, David, tends to their organic garden and fruit trees which provide produce for their whole family and even some of their employees. Everything from kale and peas to artichokes and asparagus, a food lover’s paradise! Using goat and kitchen waste, David and his brother Scott make tons of compost and mulch for the garden; they say it’s the best. Judging by the beauty of their garden and the perfection of the produce, I’d have to agree.
Eldest sister, Jennifer, proudly showed us their enormous solar panels that rotate to follow the sun. She explained how the family had always felt a strong responsibility to be good stewards to the environment. Today, both the farm and the creamery are 100% solar-powered.
Redwood Hill Farm makes goat yogurt and kefir and beautiful artisanal goat cheeses, including a smoked goat cheddar that I can’t stop thinking about. They also recently started a line of lactose-free cow dairy products called Green Valley Organics. And it’s all produced at their creamery just four miles away from the farm. All the talk of creamy, delicious dairy was making this group of bloggers hungry!
By early evening, the sun was setting behind vine-covered hills and Jennifer invited us into her garden to taste their products and sample hard cider and wine from local purveyors. From artisanal cheeses and spreads, to quick kefir breads and sour cream dips, we feasted like kings on dairy and the bounty of their organic garden. This, I thought, is how food should be. Always.
It’s not news that our food supply is increasingly industrialized, streamlined, and genetically modified to give us food faster and cheaper, but we are also increasingly aware of the toll this is taking on our bodies and on the planet. I guess there’s a sense of hopelessness to it all – defeat, submission. A collective shrug followed by, “What can I do?” But this is why it’s important to shine a big, bright spotlight on businesses like Redwood Hill Farm that steadfastly operate in a way that is respectful to the land and animals, all while successfully running a profitable business and creating high quality products.
What the Bice’s are doing at Redwood Hill Farm is extraordinary. But the truth is – it shouldn’t be. They are working in communion with nature and nature is giving back. I don’t know about you, but this is how I want my food to grow. This is how I want my animal products produced. If you agree, these are the kind of businesses we should be supporting, not just with pats on the backs or empty promises, but with our dollars and cents at the grocery store.
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Next time you’re at the store, check your dairy aisle to see if Redwood Hill Farm or Green Valley Organics is there! In the meantime, Redwood Hill Farm is giving one ThreeManyCooks reader the chance to win a selection of their products. To enter, just connect with them on Twitter @RedwoodHillFarm or on Facebook and leave us a comment to let us know you’ve done so.
The gift bag includes goat and cow yogurt and kefir (pictured above), their amazing sour cream (which taste more like creme fraiche!), a selection of their artisanal cheeses, and a pair of gardening gloves! I think this is one of our best giveaways yet.
Giveaway ends on Sunday, May 6 at 9 PM EST.
will be looking for them at my store today.
do you know if they offer tours to the public? Will be in Napa/Sonoma in November for 6 days, sounds like a lovely way to spend some relaxing down time.
Thanks!
I have connected with Redwood Hill Farm on Facebook. I know my kids would love to see this place.
I would love to visit there off to find them on facebook
I’ve connected with Redwood Hill Farm and Creamery on Facebook. Looks like such a beautiful place!
They do offer farm tours! And yes, your kids would LOVE it. Check out their website for more information 🙂 http://www.redwoodhill.com/
I visited Redwood Hill Farm on facebook. I wish I could visit in person. What a beautiful place!
Okay, I left them a nice message.
Thanks for the dreamy review and the opportunity!
I did both….FB and twitter @rnlizzieo I love their products!
yumm! I “liked” them on Facebook
I am now following @RedwoodHillFarm on Twitter. Thanks for the chance to win that great dairy gift box.
Just liked them on Facebook…fingers crossed. 🙂
Thinking steamed artichokes with an herbed goat cheese dip made with Red Hill Farm and Creamery products is on the menu this weekend at our house!
I am wondering what wine would pair with this. Pinot Grigio, Pinot Gris,
Vermentino, Sauvignon Blanc, Vinho Verde….hmmm homework! Any suggestions?
A beautifully written post and a truly inspiring story! At first, the word “extraordinary” came to my mind, which then got me thinking… I truly hope that one day such a way becomes the daily, the ordinary, the commonplace… the way it was long, long ago… How wonderful it would be for humanity to return to living sustainably and to treat other earthlings humanely…
I liked Redwood Hill Farm on Facebook via my page My Eats and Treats.
And I’m following on Twitter @MyEatsAndTreats
I “liked” them on facebook. Thanks for the wonderful giveaway!
I connected on FB and Twitter and would love to “connect” at one of the farms in person someday. Being lactose intolerant, I am very interested in trying “dairy done differently” to see if your products help me enjoy dairy again. I’ve never tried goat’s milk!
Connected with them on FB – this place sounds like a wonderful place to visit!
I followed on Twitter
@EatDrinkClev
I follow them on FB! My kids love their yogurt and kefirs.
I follow them now on twitter. Fun! 🙂 I think I’ve seen their lactose free products at my local store. How is it lactose free exactly I wonder?
Started following Redwood Hill Farms on Twitter. That baby goat is beyond precious 😀
Those rolling Sonama Hills get more and more beautiful!!! I’ve like them on FB!
I LOVE goat cheese! I have liked them on FB – they sound like a fabulous farm!
I connected on Facebook. We have a great local dairy around here, but it’s all cows, all the time. I’ve never even tried goat milk…
I am not a FB fan. Product look awesome.
I liked Redwood Hill Farm on Facebook. I will look for their products at my Earth Fare store. Thanks!
I have connected with them via Twitter-love their strawberry and blueberry yogurts! I also connected to them on facebook
I connected with them on FB and Twitter!
I “liked” them on Facebook and really enjoyed reading about this farm. I’ve gotta find something like this where I live.
Sounds like such a fabulous and informative time. Also picture of you with baby goat = cute overload! I followed these fine folks on Twitter 🙂
I like Redwood Hill Farm on Facebook and Twitter. I have been a long-time goat lover.
How fun! Next time you want a tour of a family goat farm, come our way!!! We aren’t nationally known, but I know some kids that would love to show you are milking goats. 🙂 Miss you guys.
Like and Followed!!!
Following them on twitter – It’s wonderful to see people who work hard to see their dream a reality!
Following on Facebook! Thanks for the giveaway!
I liked their Facebook page. Oh, how I’d love to live in California.
I liked their facebook page – I love good dairy!
LOVE redwood hill! I’ve been out to visit a couple times.
I love Redwood Hill Farm and I’m following them on Twitter!
I follow Redwood Hill Farm on twitter and fb! I love goat’s milk cheeses, milk, and yogurt! So much better than cow dairy!
I am following on Twitter!
I like on FB!
What a beautiful story. . .and what a GREAT giveaway!! I happily connected w/them on Twitter!! They’re an inspiration.
This is the best representation of the Dairy Goat world and their products anywhere! I love it!
i’m not on facebook nor on twitter, so i’ll have to miss out. too bad because i love goat milk products.
all i want now is to hold a baby goat. squee!
I liked them on Facebook
I have connected with Redwood Hill Farm on Facebook.
Redwood Hill Farm sounds like a magical place! I am following them on Facebook.
I did both, followed via fb (Kenia G) and twitter (Yamiyali)
Wishing these kind of places existed everywhere =]