charleston farms Archives - Charleston FYI

Image Source: Jeremiah Farm & Goat Diary Facebook

In case you haven’t heard, goats are all the rage these days and two local goat farms are welcoming herds of people in for a variety of experiences with these bahhhtastic animals.

So whether you’re looking for a family day or a super unique #SundayFunday, both of these family farms are worth visiting.

Burden Creek Dairy – John’s Island

Specializing in Grade A milk, cheese, and soaps, Burden Creek Dairy is run by Chris Maher, the cheese maker, and Danny Sillivant, the herdsman. The two took over in the spring of 2017 after leaving their previous positions as a former cook at the Charleston Grill and a former real estate agent, respectively.

Maher and Sillivant look after thirty goats including Coco, Trixie, Edna, Grandma, Pebbles, and Shirley. When visiting the farm, you’ll have the chance to bottle-feed baby goats, do yoga with the goats in the early winter, milk the goats, watch cheese being made, and give a pig a belly rub.

After watching the cheese being made, you can try the three delicious kinds of cheese made at the farm which include John’s Island Green Cheese, a garlic and herbed goat cheese, Pimento goat cheese, and Sweet Sunset, a mango-flavored goat cheese.

Don’t worry, even after you leave the farm you can still find their tasty cheeses and milk at local restaurants. Avondale Wine and Cheese Bar, Husk, and Charleston Grill are just a few of the places carrying Burden Creek Dairy products.

Jeremiah Farm – John’s Island

Jeremiah Farm has a small herd of dairy goats, a flock of hens, and large vegetable and herb gardens where you’re able to take place in tours, classes, workshops, and even buy a goat if you want.

There are three different tour options including a walking tour through the gardens and livestock area, a hands-on tour teaching you how to milk a goat, and a second hands-on tour allowing you to milk a goat and make your very own cheese.

Depending on which class you choose, you can leave the farm knowing how to make cheese, yogurt, and kombucha. If you opt to take a workshop instead, you can learn about the soap making process or how to take care of your own herd of goats. The farm also offers a “Farm to You” workshop in which Farmer Casey will bring the farm to you.

What are you waiting for? Herd your group together and head to the farm.

Featured Image Credit: Joseph Fields Farm Market Facebook

Charleston’s Farmers Markets are fantastic places to get local produce and goods, they’re also just a nice way to spend the day. However, sometimes it’s not always possible to go to the farmers market. Maybe it’s closed for the season or maybe you spend your weekend doing other things. Where do you get local produce then? Luckily, the Charleston area has many farms that have markets or CSA programs. CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture. In a CSA you buy a share of the farm to pay for the raising of the crops and in return you get a fresh supply of local produce weekly or bi-monthly. Check out the following farms and their CSAs.

Joseph Fields Farm Market & CSA

Local Produce from Joseph Fields Farm Market

Image Credit: Joseph Fields Farm Market Facebook

In addition to a farm market, Joseph Fields Farm on Johns Island has a CSA they run with the help of Charleston’s Earth Heart Growers Program. Children from partnering Montessori Schools help grow, harvest, and package food that is sent for twice-monthly deliveries to CSA members.

Rest Park Farm CSA by Pinckney’s Produce

Image Credit: Rest Park Farm CSA by Pinckney’s Produce Facebook

Opened in 2009, this CSA provides fresh local produce to members from Rest Park Farm through Pinckney’s Produce. Available in Spring, Summer and Fall, the CSA provides seasonal produce such as collards, turnips, lettuces, kale, cabbage, beans, onions, peppers, corn, tomatoes, strawberries and much more to its members.

Legare Farms CSA and Rolling Market

Image Credit: Legare Farms Facebook

Legare Farms has been running their CSA for more about 10 years and their members love what they get when joining. They have several pick up locations around the Charleston area and they are unique because a member of the Legare family or staff is at every pick up location to meet and get to know members and let them know what is going on at the farm. They pride themselves on forming relationships with their CSA members.

Thornhill Farm

Image Credit: Thornhill Farm Facebooke

This McClellanville, SC farm has a CSA and a special story. People with special needs from Charleston and Georgetown County middle schools, high schools, and other non-profit organizations are the ones who work the farm with therapeutic horticultural programming through the Adaptive Gardens at Thornhill Farm. The students are involved in the entire process from making potting mix to packaging produce and meat. They have a Meat Share as well.

Ambrose Family Farm CSA

Image Credit: Ambrose Family Farm CSA Facebook

This CSA has a plethora of pick up locations throughout the Lowcountry; choose to pick up your prepackaged share from James Island, Downtown Charleston, West Ashley South Windermere, and Mount Pleasant, Park Circle, and Summerville. Or if you want to pick up at the farm or Stono Market, you can build your own. There are options for yearly subscriptions or seasonal subscriptions.