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LAZY LADY FARM

LAZY LADY FARM2019-06-17T17:05:54-04:00
animal welfare approved

THE STORY

Lazy Lady Farm started in 1987 on barren land and in a small cabin. There was no electricity, no running water and no indoor plumbing. The farm was literally started from the ground up. So, “in the beginning”, we had 3 sheep, a goat named Blooper, and one acre of veggies. We operated with candles, gas lamps, and a car battery for running a radio. With every dime earned a nickel was put away to “grow the farm”.

We produce our own hay using organic farm practices: composted manure, minerals, and supplements such as calcium, rock phosphate, gypsum, lime etc. The goats graze on lush pastures from May to Nov. using rotational grazing. We feed non-GMO feeds, kelp, minerals, sunflower seeds, flax, and rolled oats. The non-gmo feed contains organic soy.

Our herd is comprised of 40 registered Alpines and Saanens, with bloodlines coming in from out west to assure great milk production and great confirmation. We also raise grass fed beef, whey fed pork which we sell at the Montpelier farmers market along with our great selection of cheeses.

For many years the goats were milked by hand.  We were up to 20 goats by the year 2000.  At that point we doubled our solar capacity and were able to add a small vacuum pump to milk them with a machine. From 1987-1994 cheese was made in the kitchen.  Our first licensed plant came in 1995.  I am sure it was the smallest licensed plant in the country.  “Only in Vermont….” It was a 10 x 12 room where I made cheese in 5 gallon batches.  We built a cheese cellar in 1996 where I could ripen cheese in a proper form and expand my line of cheeses.  It  was an exciting time. In 2003 I was able to procure my first real loan from the Vt. Community Loan Fund.  With that injection of funds, we were able to build a larger plant capable of housing a 50 gallon cheese vat and producing cheese 5 days per week. In 2009 we added a second ripening cellar. The old cellar is used for aged natural rind cheeses, washed rind cheeses, alpine cheeses and blue cheese. The other is used for bloomy rind cheeses. Both of these cellars are geothermal. They are over 15 feet underground and maintain temperatures of 40 degrees in the winter and 55 degrees in the summer. My introduction to cheese making began in 1982, when I stumbled into France at a young and impressionable age.  I remained in France for over 2 years working on various goat cheese operations and sheep farms and trying to taste all of the hundreds of varieties of cheese that France is so proud of.  This road trip to France changed my life. Lazy Lady Farm produces a large variety of cheeses for many reasons.  One is because I have such fond memories of the cheeses I enjoyed in France.  Another reason is because of my curiosity.  An underlying pulse to some of the cheeses is due to my addiction to politics and political figures.  I can’t resist creating a cheese to fit a politician or a political topic.  Intermingled in all of that are the environmental factors of the farm, cheese room and cellar.  Certain cheeses can only be made at certain times of the year, where it is enhanced and made possible by the external conditions. Lazy Lady Farm consists of myself and Barry. We employ 2 full time workers from the area and one part time person who comes 2 days per week to clean the barn, and to pet the goats and the dog. We believe in trying to create a couple of good paying jobs to help support our community. We all work very hard to produce the best we can. Thank you for your interest in our products. Please visit our website to learn more about and the animals.

LOCATION

Lazy Lady Farm

Laini Fondilier
973 Sniderbrook Road
Westfield, Vermont 05874

802-744-6365
laini@lazyladyfarm.com

lazyladyfarm.com

OUR PRODUCTS

Trillium

This cheese is the same as the Marabella but made with goats milk and organic Jersey cows milk.  It is made from October to December.  5-6oz lactic cheese with a geotrichum/p.candidum rind with 2 layers of ash and an ash coated rind. Very mild and a silky texture.

For information on where to purchase, click here.

Snyderbrook Rd

This is a winters cow milk cheese made with organic cows milk.  It is ripened 6 to 8 weeks and brushed 2 times per week. B.Linens are added to the milk thus creating a soft ripened rind with the frequent brushing.  8-10 oz. Supple, texture, sweet almond flavor as the cheese is brined in vodka and amaretto liquor.

For information on where to purchase, click here.

The Thin Red Line

4oz lactic goat cheee with an ash coated rind made of a blend of geotrichum/p.candidum. There is a thin middle layer of smoked paprika to add a bit of zip. This same cheese is sometimes offered as a mixed milk cheese.
available Mar-Dec

For more information on where to purchase, click here.

Moondance

1.25lb cheese made with jersey milk and ripened for 4 – 5 weeks. It is washed weekly with a coffee bean-infused vodka. Supple with small holes and a lot of flavor.
available dec-may

For more information on where to purchase, click here.

Snow’d In

3/4lb 4 week ripened washed rind cows milk cheese. Supple texture and buttery flavor as it is made with creamy jersey milk. Washed weekly with Kingdom Brewing’s Russian Stout beer.
available dec-may

For more information on where to purchase, click here.

Buck Hill Sunrise

A winter cows milk cheese made with organic cows milk.  It is a very supple textured cheese that is ripened 3-4 week and brushed several times before being wrapped.  B linens as well as geotrichum and penicillium candidum is added to the milk to giving the rind and the cheese a lovely, nutty flavor.

5-7 oz., Bloomy Rind, aged 4 weeks, pasteurized Brie style / rich, available Sep – Apr.

For more information on where to purchase, click here.

Thyme Out

2 lb raw milk 60 day goat milk cheese. It is a brushed natural rind with thyme added to the curd before hooping. A great blend of thyme and goat flavors.
Available July-Nov

For more information on where to purchase, click here.

Capriola

3oz lactic cheese and was my first cheese creation modeled after what I first tasted when in France. It is mild yet goaty with a lovely texture.
available periodically May-Dec

For more information on where to purchase, click here.

The Vermont Cheese Council represents cheesemakers throughout Vermont who are dedicated to the production and image of premier cheese. Our mission includes hosting educational events for the public and food professionals in order to learn more about the art and science of artisan and farmstead cheeses made in Vermont.

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