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Creating Great Cheese Starts with Happy Animals

October 10, 2017 By marketeditor

By Julia Howard, Market Administrator

Photo courtesy of Pattie Garrett

“Happy goats (and sheep) make great cheese” has been Nettle Meadow Farm owners Lorraine Lambiase and Sheila Flanagan’s motto ever since they first began creating cheese. That motto embodies their desire to share their products and philosophy with others in the Saratoga area.

Nettle Meadow joined the Saratoga Farmers’ Market this year as a Saturday vendor. They offer an array of fresh, semi-aged, and hard mold ripened offerings at the market and at other local retail outlets.

Their desire to connect with the local community is reflected not just in their presence at the market but also in the weekly tours they offer at their farm and the Kemp Animal Sanctuary that they have established on-site.

Lambiase and Flanagan began creating cheese in the 1990s while working at a law firm in the San Francisco Bay Area. They purchased two goats and raised them on a one-third acre homestead that they established in the yard of their home on a cul-de-sac.

“We weren’t happy at our jobs and we would look so forward to milking Shady Lady (their goat) before and after work,” reminisced Lambiase, with a laugh.

In 2005, Lambaise and Flanagan purchased Nettle Meadow, a 50-acre farm in Thurman, NY. Today, the farm houses more than 300 goats, dozens of sheep, guard llamas, chickens, and ducks. It also includes the Kemp sanctuary space for retired and rescued farm animals.

“Animals are the first priority and the cheese supports the animals,” said Lambaise as we toured the farm.

As we walked through the area, we passed a large goat with long black hair and spiraling horns.

“Alex, you are just magic,” Lambaise exclaimed.

Throughout the tour, she greeted the farm’s animals by name, told stories about them, and described their daily fare: natural grains, hay, kelp, wild herbs, raspberry leaf, and whey – a  by-product of making cheese. Not only is the diet high in nutrients, it also is aimed at long-term sustainability. Little goes to waste.

The farm has a cheese shop on site and welcomes visitors. To learn more, visit www.nettlemeadow.com and www.kempsanctuaryatnettlemeadow.org.

The Saratoga Farmers’ Market is 3-6 p.m. Wednesdays and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays at High Rock Park through October. The market moves indoors to the Lincoln Baths Building in the Saratoga Spa State Park on November 4. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

Filed Under: Featured Article, News Tagged With: artisan cheese, farming, goats, Kemp Rescue Santuary, livestock, Nettle Meadow Farm, Saratoga Farmers' Market, sheep

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This Saturday will be a great one: Owl Wood Farm's This Saturday will be a great one: Owl Wood Farm's fresh veggies are back! Plus find discounts on @nettlemeadowfarm cheeses, new flavors of infused maple syrup at @slatevalleyfarms, and more. Stop by the market 9:30am-1:30pm - we'll be outdoors again in the Bon-Ton/Bow Tie parking lot!

📸: @mysaratogakitchentable
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#farmersmarket #saratogafarmersmarket #saratogasprings #eatfresh #shoplocal #518
We are honored to be nominated as one of the Best We are honored to be nominated as one of the Best Farmers’ Markets in the Saratoga Region for Saratoga Today’s Best of 2021! Thank you to everyone who continues to shop local and show their support!

You can vote for us once a day daily until 4/22 under the “Fun & Leisure” category using the link below:
 https://www.saratogatodaynewspaper.com/best-of-2021#//
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#saratogatoday #saratoga #saratogafarmersmarket #farmersmarket #bestfarmersmarket #shoplocal #shopsaratoga #upstateny #saratogany #supportlocal
Welcome back to another MCM (Market Crush Monday)! Welcome back to another MCM (Market Crush Monday)! This week we talked to R&G Cheesemakers🧀

1. What kinds of cheese do you make?
We offer a full line of artisan cheeses, both cow and goat’s milk, as well as yogurt. Some of our cheeses include mozzarella, ricotta, cheddar, manchego, feta, a variety of spreadable flavored goat cheeses and more! Then we have goat milk greek yogurt and jersey greek yogurt in strawberry and plain.

2. What is your best seller?
Our burrata is really popular and the soft goat cheeses are also a customer favorite which come in flavors like apple cinnamon, garlic and herb, maple chipotle, orange ginger, honey and more!

3. Do you have any favorite products from around the market?
Yes, so many! I’m a big fan of @junbucha365 , the vodka sauce from @giovanni_fresco , @longlesson meat and anything from @saratogachocolateco just to name a few. 

Be sure to stop by R&G Cheesemakers Saturday from 9:30-1:30 at Wilton Mall, we will be outside in the parking lot weather permitting! 
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#saratogafarmersmarket #farmersmarketfresh #farmersmarket #saratoga #wilton #randgcheese #cheese #randgcheesemakers #eatlocal #artisancheese #upstateny
We are moving outside this week! We couldn't bear We are moving outside this week! We couldn't bear to be indoors while it's so nice out, so find our vendors in the Bon-Ton/Bow Tie parking lot this Saturday, 9:30am - 1:30pm. All our current COVID guidelines still stand, so grab your mask and meet us outdoors at the market!

📸 by @mysaratogakitchentable
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#farmersmarket #saratogafarmersmarket #saratogasprings #spring #nofarmsnofood #518

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