Visiting White Whale Farm/Pugs Leap Cheese on misscheesemonger.com. San Francisco-based lifestyle photographer and cheese blogger.

Visiting White Whale Farm/Pugs Leap Cheese in California || Visiter White Whale Farm/Pugs Leap Cheese en Californie


[Updated to include new tour contact information.]

Hello, my friends! It is Leap Day as I write this, so I feel special indeed! This week, we’re visiting a farm! My friend Isabella and I drove up from SF to see Anna Hancock at White Whale Farm|Pugs Leap Cheese in Petaluma, CA. As soon as we arrived, her enormous Anatolian shepherd Samson greeted us by trotting up to Isabella’s window and peering in. Anna showed us around, and shared with me her vision for next few months, while Samson escorted us around the fields.

Anna and I have known each other for a few years, thanks to the California Artisan Cheese Guild. She went to law school and passed the bar, but knew her heart was with the land, her animals, and cheese. Since that first meeting, I’ve seen her cultivate her skills as a cheesemaker, farmer, and businesswoman, and my admiration for her has only grown.

The day we visited the farm, she was in the middle of kidding season (there will be about 90 babies!). About 200 baby chicks had just arrived on top of the 500 chickens she’s already got roaming (SO MANY EGGS!). We visited her pigs (she’s trying it out; pigs are all new to her) and her calves. “It’s like you’ve got hundreds of pets,” Isabella exclaimed. “They’re all SO happy and friendly!” And it’s true. All of the animals we encountered were content. Where we often see animal mistreatment in the news, this was a great reminder of the alternatives.

As we strolled around the sprawling property, which she shares with First Light Farm, Anna told me about how she’s switching things up. She has been feeling the pull toward the roots of her cheese making, and so for now, she’s going back to focus on making fresh chèvre. That said, there are about 150 wheels of her delicious aged goat cheese Samson in stock, so grab some while you still can! She’s also turning her energy more toward eggs, hence all the birds, so expect to see cartons of beautiful free-range, farm-fresh eggs alongside her chèvre at farmers markets. As a great fan of both eggs and chèvre, I plan to eat plenty of both.

Anna’s also stepping up her farm visit game, so you can experience her beautiful property, animals, and soul yourself. See how playful her goats are, how friendly her cow BB (short for “Baby Blossom”) is. As Isabella and I walked around the farm, there were so many moments where all we could say was, “Wow!” This land of gently rolling hills, baa-ing goats, and no cell phone network delights at every turn. I hope I can visit again soon.

Thank you, Anna, for showing Isabella and me around your gorgeous farm, and for sharing your cheeses and eggs with me. I received some of each during this visit. Thank you, Isabella, for joining me!

If you’d like to visit the farm, email Anna. And LIKE White Whale Farm on Facebook to keep up with her news.

But enough chatter. See it for yourself.

Bonjour, mes amis ! C’est le jour bissextile aujourd’hui, un jour exceptionnel ! Cette semaine sur le blog, on fait une visite à la ferme. Ma copine Isabella et moi avons fait un peu de route pour voir Anna Hancock à White Whale Farm| Pugs Leap Cheese à Petaluma, en Californie. Dès qu’on est arrivées, son énorme berger anatolien Samson (environ 90kg) nous a accueillies en marchant jusqu’aux vitres de la voiture et en nous regardant avec curiosité. Ensuite, Anna nous a montré la ferme. Elle a partagé avec moi sa vision pour les prochains mois pendant que Samson nous a accompagnées dans les champs.

Je connais Anna depuis plusieurs années, grâce à la Guilde Californienne de Fromage Artisanal. Elle a fait une formation d’avocate et elle a même réussi l’examen du barreau, mais elle a toujours su que sa passion était pour la terre, les animaux et le fromage. Depuis notre première rencontre, elle cultive ses compétences de productrice de fromage, de fermière et de femme de commerce. Mon admiration pour elle ne fait que grandir à travers le temps !

Le jour de notre visite, c’était la saison de mise-bas (Anna attend autour de 90 chevreaux cette année). Environ 200 petits poussins venaient d’arriver, en plus des 50 poulets dans les champs (PENSEZ AUX ŒUFS !). On a vu ses cochons (c’est une nouvelle expérience ; c’est la première fois qu’elle les élève) et ses veaux. « C’est comme si tu as des centaines d’animaux de compagnie ! » Isabelle a-t-elle exclamé. Et c’est vrai—tous les animaux semblaient très contents. On voit souvent sur le web des exemples des animaux mal traités. Devant nos yeux, on a vu une belle alternative.

Lors de notre promenade autour de la propriété, qu’elle partage avec First Light Farm, Anna m’a raconté comment elle change les activités de White Whale Farm. Elle se sent de plus en plus attirée vers ses racines en tant que productrice de fromage, donc elle retourne à la source—au chèvre frais. Cela dit, il reste encore environ 150 roues de son fromage de chèvre affiné, Samson, donc prenez-en tant que c’est disponible ! Elle se concentre plus sur les œufs, d’où l’intérêt pour les poulets. Des œufs frais fermiers et du fromage de chèvre frais fermier. Moi, comme j’adore les deux, j’anticipe garder une grande quantité des deux dans mon frigo.

En plus, Anna compte sur accueillir plus de visiteurs à la ferme, pour que le public puisse découvrir Anna, les animaux et le terrain. Vous aussi, vous pouvez jouer avec ses chèvres et caresser sa vache BB (« Baby Blossom » abrégé). Pendant qu’Isabella et moi étions parmi les animaux, nous avons vécu tant de moments où on n’a pu dire que « Wouah ! » Ce terrain avec ses collines douces, les aboiements des animaux et aucun réseau téléphonique est vraiment un coin du paradis. J’espère pouvoir y retourner bientôt.

Merci, Anna, de montrer ta ferme à Isabella et moi ! Merci de partager tes œufs et ton fromage avec moi. J’ai reçu un peu des deux lors de la visite. MERCI Isabelle de m’accompagner !

Si cela vous intéresse de visiter White Whale Farm, envoyez un mail à Anna. LIKEZ White Whale Farm sur Facebook pour rester au courant de ses nouvelles.

Mais assez de bavardage. Voilà une visite virtuelle :

Visiting White Whale Farm/Pugs Leap Cheese on misscheesemonger.com. San Francisco-based lifestyle photographer and cheese blogger.
Anna Hancock and her trusty Anatolian shepherd, Samson. ||| Anna Hancock et son berger anatolien fidèle, Samson.
Visiting White Whale Farm/Pugs Leap Cheese on misscheesemonger.com. San Francisco-based lifestyle photographer and cheese blogger.
Bubbles, the large dark pig, and two others vie for attention. ||| Bubbles, la cochonne noire, et deux autres rivalisent pour avoir notre attention.
Visiting White Whale Farm/Pugs Leap Cheese on misscheesemonger.com. San Francisco-based lifestyle photographer and cheese blogger.
Visiting newborn goat kids! ||| Une visite aux chèvres nouveaux-nés !
Visiting White Whale Farm/Pugs Leap Cheese on misscheesemonger.com. San Francisco-based lifestyle photographer and cheese blogger.
More babies. They loved being pet! || Encore des bébés. Ils adorent être caressés.
Visiting White Whale Farm/Pugs Leap Cheese on misscheesemonger.com. San Francisco-based lifestyle photographer and cheese blogger.
Baby chicks, one of about 200+ on the farm. ||| Un poussin, un des 200 + à la ferme.
Visiting White Whale Farm/Pugs Leap Cheese on misscheesemonger.com. San Francisco-based lifestyle photographer and cheese blogger.
Thanks, Isabella, for taking a photo of me! ||| Merci, Isabella, de prendre une photo de moi !
Visiting White Whale Farm/Pugs Leap Cheese on misscheesemonger.com. San Francisco-based lifestyle photographer and cheese blogger.
How beautiful it is here. || Qu’est-ce que c’est beau ici.
Visiting White Whale Farm/Pugs Leap Cheese on misscheesemonger.com. San Francisco-based lifestyle photographer and cheese blogger.
Milking goats. ||| Des chèvres.
Visiting White Whale Farm/Pugs Leap Cheese on misscheesemonger.com. San Francisco-based lifestyle photographer and cheese blogger.
Anna’s got a gorgeous mezzanine in her barn. Not a bad spot for a farm cat! ||| Il y a une belle mezzanine dans la grange. C’est pas mal comme endroit pour un chat de ferme.
Visiting White Whale Farm/Pugs Leap Cheese on misscheesemonger.com. San Francisco-based lifestyle photographer and cheese blogger.
Not only is it beautiful on the mezzanine, there is a swing! ||| Ce n’est pas que beau à la mezzanine. Il y a un balançoire !
Visiting White Whale Farm/Pugs Leap Cheese on misscheesemonger.com. San Francisco-based lifestyle photographer and cheese blogger.
Butch the cat. One of four on the farm || | Butch le Chat. Un des 4 chats sur la ferme.
Visiting White Whale Farm/Pugs Leap Cheese on misscheesemonger.com. San Francisco-based lifestyle photographer and cheese blogger.
In the aging caves, where many wheels of Samson are waiting to be eaten. ||| Dans les caves, où beaucoup de roues de Samson attendent être mangées.
Visiting White Whale Farm/Pugs Leap Cheese on misscheesemonger.com. San Francisco-based lifestyle photographer and cheese blogger.
Farm tales. ||| Des histoires de ferme.
Visiting White Whale Farm/Pugs Leap Cheese on misscheesemonger.com. San Francisco-based lifestyle photographer and cheese blogger.
Breathtaking views and BB the cow. ||| Des perspectives impressionnantes et BB la vache.
Visiting White Whale Farm/Pugs Leap Cheese on misscheesemonger.com. San Francisco-based lifestyle photographer and cheese blogger.
Lots of happy chickens means lots of happy eggs! ||| Plein de poules heureuses signifient plein d’oeufs heureux !
Visiting White Whale Farm/Pugs Leap Cheese on misscheesemonger.com. San Francisco-based lifestyle photographer and cheese blogger.
Chicken Land at White Whale Farm. ||| La Terre Des Poulets à White Whale Farm.
Visiting White Whale Farm/Pugs Leap Cheese on misscheesemonger.com. San Francisco-based lifestyle photographer and cheese blogger.
TIL chickens like to give themselves sand baths. ||| TIL j’ai appris que les poulets aiment prendre des bains de terre.
Visiting White Whale Farm/Pugs Leap Cheese on misscheesemonger.com. San Francisco-based lifestyle photographer and cheese blogger.
Anna Hancock, owner of White Whale Farm & Pugs Leap Cheese in California. ||| Anna Hancock, propriétaire de White Whale Farm & Pugs Leap Cheese en Californie.
Visiting White Whale Farm/Pugs Leap Cheese on misscheesemonger.com. San Francisco-based lifestyle photographer and cheese blogger.
Anna and Samson at sunset. ||| Anna et Samson au coucher du soleil.
Visiting White Whale Farm/Pugs Leap Cheese on misscheesemonger.com. San Francisco-based lifestyle photographer and cheese blogger.
One happy chicken. ||| Une poule heureuse.
Visiting White Whale Farm/Pugs Leap Cheese on misscheesemonger.com. San Francisco-based lifestyle photographer and cheese blogger.
Isabella, my intrepid farm visit partner! ||| Isabella, ma partenaire intrépide à la visite des fermes !
Visiting White Whale Farm/Pugs Leap Cheese on misscheesemonger.com. San Francisco-based lifestyle photographer and cheese blogger.
BB loves Anna so much. it’s amazing to see. ||| BB adore Anna tellement. C’est incroyable à voir.
Visiting White Whale Farm/Pugs Leap Cheese on misscheesemonger.com. San Francisco-based lifestyle photographer and cheese blogger.
A last peek at the goats at sunset. ||| Une dernière vue des chèvres au coucher du soleil.
Visiting White Whale Farm/Pugs Leap Cheese on misscheesemonger.com. San Francisco-based lifestyle photographer and cheese blogger.
Some of the gorgeous farm-fresh eggs Anna is now selling. ||| Les beaux oeufs fermiers en vente chez White Whale Farm.

 


 

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