Harley Farms in Pescadero started 16 years ago with six goats and has since grown into a fully self-sustaining 267+ goat operation and the only dairy farm in San Mateo County. The nine-acre farm is a farmstead dairy, meaning the cheese produced comes directly from the farms animals. It has received six national cheese awards and was the recipient the 2008 Sustainable San Mateo County Award, and the 2008 San Mateo County Farmer of the Year award. It also was featured in a February 2007 New York Times article about agri-tourism (see Eco-Tourism Article), a concept in which small farms open up to curious visiting urbanites.

The farm follows several environmentally-friendly practices by providing goats to the Rent-a-Goat program, where goats clear brush and grass. The farm won a four-year grant from the Natural Resource Conservation Service under the U.S. Department of Agriculture, for creek bank restoration and water conservation. The farm utilizes recycled water to cool the milk and offers free manure to its neighbors.

Born in Yorkshire, England, Dee Harley is the owner of Harley Farms. Her life is surrounded by good friends, good family - and really good food. Realizing her dream of blending family, local farming, and gourmet food, Dee started Harley Farms fourteen years ago with just six goats. She rebuilt a 1910 cow dairy farm that now houses the cheese making room and milking parlor - and scattered across her 9 acre farm roam 220 American Alpine goats that produce over 500 baby goats each spring (definitely the time to visit!).

Submitted by Steve Slomka, Half Moon Bay

Photo: © 2007 Paolo Vescia

Comments (0)