Painted Pepper Farm

Do you like yogurt? I mean, real yogurt, the kind with active, live cultures and lots of good flavor and no starchy thickeners, yogurt that tastes of something other than sugar? If so, allow me to suggest the goats’ milk yogurt made by Painted Pepper Farm. Don’t be scared off by the fact that it’s goats’ milk yogurt; you don’t get a strong “goaty” flavor here, just a clean freshness and a little tang to remind you that it isn’t cows’ milk. This is truly a family farm run on a human scale. Lisa Reilich, Jordan Godino, and their three little ones manage a small herd of Nigerian Dairy Goats according to National Organic Practices (NOP) standards. The goats provide them with milk high in both butterfat and protein, ideal for making their certified organic yogurt, available in six flavors (they’re all good, but go for the Coffee Cream or Lemon Zest!). But there’s more: they also produce chevre (it, too, is certified organic) in half a dozen varieties, goats’ milk fudge (March through December), and goats’ milk gelato.

Lisa and Jordan understand that no one lives by chevre and gelato alone. So if you want a change of pace, Painted Pepper Farm has got you covered. Truth is, the range of products offered by this 40 acre, saltwater farm astonishes: balsam wreaths for the holidays, several different kinds of certified organic maple syrup and confections, organic preserves, maple roasted nuts, and more. It’s nice to know that so many different types of products can contribute to the support of people who are trying to live their lives in balance with their environment.

How to get these products? If you’re clever and live in Maine, you can visit their self-serve farm store, open most days of the week. Lisa and Jordan also sell at several area Farmers’ Markets and to selected stores (the farm itself is only open to the public for tours two days per year, once in spring for Maine Maple Sunday, and once in autumn for Open Creamery Day). Otherwise, they ship most of their products (although not, alas, their gelato). However, they do ship yogurt (packed in reusable/recyclable glass containers) and chevre, as well as non-perishables. For complete information, head over to their website, www.paintedpepperfarm.com.