Sunflower Farm Creamery

I stopped by yesterday on the first really warm, sunny beautiful day so far this spring. There was nobody around, so we did not go into the gates to play with the adorable baby goats, BUT we sat in comfortable chairs by the gate and watched the goats for quite awhile. There are so many new babies and some very pregnant mama goats and it was entertaining to watch them cavort.
I didn’t realize that it was the first day of the season that the store was stocked with product which was a super score! I picked up an herbed chevre and one with orange and cranberry. We also scored a container of goat milk caramels and one with a HUGE chunk of goat milk chocolate fudge (what!!!). The fudge and the caramels were gone by the time we got home. I popped the cheese containers into the fridge and forgot about them until tonight and… wow, there is no way to describe how amazing this cheese is. Take any prior experience you’ve had with goat cheese (bitter, briny) and erase it all from your mind. This stuff is pretty heavenly. I will absolutely be back to buy more, and hopefully snuggle a goat or two next time!
I heard from a friend that Sunflower farm offers occasional cheese making classes, which they post on their facebook page. Count me IN!

Disney is not the happiest place on Earth.
Sunflower Farm Creamery is.
We are big goat people. We find them to be an adorable cross between bunny, dog, and dinosaur. If we could care for a couple goats we would, but I don’t think our landlord would particularly like that. As such, we snuggle, cuddle, nuzzle, and love all up on them whenever we can. After a day out and about in the area, I convinced my partner to swing by Sunflower Farm, though he was skeptical. «Are you sure we can just go into this person’s driveway? It sort of feels like we’re on someone’s private property,» he asked hesitantly.
But that’s part of the charm — how normal, down to earth, and real Sunflower Farm Creamery feels. You ARE driving up someone’s driveway, but that’s okay. They want you to come and experience their farm. As is evident by the sign they have posted in multiple areas that reads:
«Welcome to Sunflower Farm! Please enjoy the animals over the fence, but do not open any gates or stall doors or enter the pens unless you are will a member of the Hall family. Thanks for helping us to keep the animals safe and healthy! [We are so happy you chose to visit our farm. We love sharing our Nigerian Dwarf goats with farm friends! Whether you have been visiting for years or are here for the first time, know that it is people like you (who go a bit out of the way for the very best food from the most loved animals) who make local farms successful. Whenever possible, if we are here and not busy with farm chores, we will invite you for a goat visit or being a goat out to snuggle. The cheese kitchen is open mid May to January. Feel free to check the self serve fridge and store for available products!]
So… we did just that.
We — from over/​through the fence — pet the goats.
We walked around their property and took photos because it was a beautiful autumn Monday afternoon and the foliage was amazing.
We bought two kinds of chevre from the self-​serve fridge: an herb one and a cranberry-​orange one. I wish we could have sampled before we bought, because there were two other kinds (a lavender one and a pesto/​red pepper one we were curious about as well).
And while we were lazily cuddling the cat, the mini ponies (careful of our hands because they nip), and the goats we watched as some car from Pennsylvania came zooming up the driveway, parked, four elderly people jumped out, they went inside to the cheese kitchen, walked out with armfuls of stuff, got back in their car, and zoomed away. It was kind of funny — it’s like they knew all about the hidden gem that is this place and needed a fill before their long journey home.
In summary: if you like goats, warm fuzzy feelings, and supporting local farms… do yourself a favor and swing by Sunflower Farm Creamery.

How have I not reviewed one of my favorite places on earth??? (sorry for the delays Hall Family)
The love for me started in 2014 when someone shared the YouTube Clip, Running with the Goats — check it out!
Realizing this is an «easy drive» from anywhere in New England we stopped by for a visit. I am so glad we did. Our first visit there was to buy cheese and look over the fence. Unfortunately they had sold out of cheese, because it is THAT GOOD! So we stood at the fence taking pictures and simply getting lost in watching the goats place, sleep and come over to us to see what we were all about. They are curious and cute.
The eldest daughter came over to say hi, even though she was with her friends. I think she could tell I really wanted to go into the pasture. It was probably my squeals and oooos and aaawwwwws. She introduced me to the goats and showed me how to hold them and told me about the history. What a nice, hospitable young lady.
I followed them on FB and couldn’t wait to return in 2015 at the beginning of kidding season.
I continued to fall in love with the Nigerian Dwarf Goat breed via the Live Kidding Cam — Live through the kidding season (
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I took my family there in April 2015 and were warmly greeted by Hope and Chris, the owners of the farm. Their warm smiles and enthusiasm for not only the farm but the visitors makes this place like no other.
To round off why this place should be on your bucket list, is the fact the cheese that Hope makes from the goats milk is UNBELIEVABLE. Creamy, flavorful and well presented. You will NEVER want to eat mass produced Goat Cheese again. My favorite is Marinated Goat Cheese. For cheese lovers who are lactose intolerant or lactose sensitive, this cheese is for you. As I learned from Hope, «Butter fat content in milk is highest in animals who make less milk. Nigerians have the highest butterfat content of any goat and make an average of 2 – 3 cups per milking. As butter fat goes up, lactose goes down.» WIN! Read more: via the live cam link above) I have uploaded pictures of my experiences, but you should visit and add your own. Believe me, it is 1000% better in person :)

I have been going here for… 3 years now. Hope and Chris Hall along with their daughters, have a very warm and welcoming nature. They welcome people to stop by to the 24 he cheese fridge and visit with the animals.
Last year’s video of the running of the kids went VIRAL and they have skyrocketed. This year they have set visiting hours to hold and socialize the kids (baby goats) and they do a great job of trying to get a goat in to everyone’s arms, even us older folks, but let’s be honest… What’s cuter than a human kid holding a goat kid?
The also have the goats of course, but also chickens, pigs (I think just one now) and the donkeys! Oh! And Moo the cat who can be seen patrolling or hanging with her goat pals.
Each milking season, Farmer Hope makes cajeta (heavenly!!!), multiple kinds of chèvre, feta and caramels. She not only stocks here 24 hr fridge, but also stocks Walnut Hill.
For an up close and behind the scenes look, try signing up for a cheese making class. I did it and loved it! One friend even brought her own bacon to mix with her chèvre!
The Halls are good people with an adorable farm. My husband is especially fond of their mastiff Gracie.

I’ve been to places that claim to be the happiest place on earth but this is the actual location! We first visited on Open Creamery Day in The fall of 2014 and loved everything we tasted and purchased. Now it is Spring 2015 and the farm is allowing visitors to cuddle with the new babies during our school vacation week. My heart is full. I saw a woman weeping with joy (this really happened) and I completely understand! I think you can taste the joy in the cheese! Treat yourself!

Amazing cheeses made by a great family!!! Love seeing all the tiny goats running around too! Love the spreadable with black pepper and olive oil and the feta is amazing! Great local business!

A friend of mine, knowing somehow that I harbor an intense (but totally platonic) love of barnyard animals, gave me a sly look one night and asked me if I wanted to pet some baby goats. It was a kind of back alley deal the likes of which only happen in rural areas — the hushed voice, the conspiratorial lean-​in, the shifty sideways glances that would ordinarily be reserved for drug deals outside of the 7 – 11. In this case, baby goats are my drug and my friend was the crafty goat pusher. I tried to play it cool as we set a time and solidified our plans to go to Sunflower Farm to meet their herd’s newest members.
When we arrived, the farm was quiet, unaware of the whirlwind of goat love that was about to occur. They have an open door, all hours policy so we just walked into the barn like we owned the joint. The goats, fecund and ready to burst, chewed their cud and eyed us with a weariness that all extremely pregnant ladies share. Hope, the cheerful and friendly owner of the farm, came out to greet us and offered us Elsie’s kids to hold. If my friend is the street-​level goat pusher, Hope is the carpine kingpin.
If you have never held a kid (the four-​legged kind), then you are missing out on one of the greatest joys in life. They are small and sweet-​smelling and soft as can be and, by holding them and petting them, you are helping them be comfortable and friendly around their future humans. After loving on the babies and then going into the pen to love on all the mamas, we pried ourselves away. I was on a goat high for the rest of the day. Seriously, there is such a thing.
The farm also makes delicious cheeses and caramels from their goats’ milk. They teach cheese-​making classes and they allow you to come by at all hours of the day or night to buy some of their goods. Just throw your money in the honor box.