Dwarf Dairy

What’s got garlic scapes, cilantro pesto and the extra-high-butterfat milk of a rare goat breed?

One of several new cheeses from Willow Moon Farm [1] in Plainfield. Sharon Peck started the dairy with six Nigerian dwarf goats in 2004, selling their raw milk from her home. The farm now has 100 animals, a few of which were born on June 30, the day Willow Moon received its cheese-making license.

Since then, Peck’s daughter, Kim Ingraham, has been helping make marinated feta and flavored chèvres, which she sells at the Plainfield Farmers Market. She is currently in talks with the Hunger Mountain [2] and Buffalo Mountain [3] food co-ops in Montpelier and Hardwick, respectively, about carrying the product line. This Tuesday, Ingraham began selling her wares at the farm’s own store.

According to Ingraham, Plainfield Hardware [1] — which has a deli and market — quickly sold out of the onion, garlic and chive chèvre it used in a special veggie wrap last week. Though demand has been great for the ultra-creamy spread, Ingraham is hard at work on new cheeses. She’s currently aging a bloomy rind version, as well as researching several hard varieties.