June 4, 2012

Toluma Farm 2012


April 29, 2012
Our group had the pleasure of warm, sunny skies and a summer-like day at Toluma Farms, Tomales.

"Goat Love" by C.Proppé © 2012
Toluma Farms is a Marin County (Tomales) family owned Grade A dairy and organic farm, just twenty minutes west of Petaluma.  They are developing a line of fine artisan hand crafted goat cheeses.  In addition, Toluma supplies goat milk to Redwood Hill Farms of Sonoma County.   An interesting fact about goat milk is that worldwide, more people drink goat's milk than cow's milk. Toluma's goat’s milk, like any good goat’s milk, has a delicious slightly sweet taste. The goats are milked twice a day and produce a gallon of milk each day which translates into one pound of cheese.  They can identify every one of the 200 goats by name! They have Nubian, Saanen, Alpine, La Manchas and Oberhaslis goats at Toluma Farms.

I arrived mid-day to put up our sign and several artists had already arrived and began painting plein air.  Donna Solin, Catherine Moreno, and Daphne Gerlach were well on their way already.  See photos, below.
The start of a barn painting, by Donna Solin.

Mill Valley artist, Catherine Moreno, beginning a painting of the largest barn.
Goat tries to nibble Daphne Gerlach's supplies.
This goat had a LOT of character!

The goats were so friendly.  They paraded down a trail to meet me and my sons, and the other artists.  This is when I learned from Eric Butler, Herd Manager, that they all had very cool names.  This is a beautiful farm, not far from Dillon Beach.  My family ended up at the beach this day, but I am so glad we got to come out and photograph and see the other artists hard at work and enjoying the gorgeous views.  Hopefully, some of the paintings and photographs from today will end up at our year end exhibits that bring funds back to the farmers.
Beautiful, late afternoon light on the new barn, goats + sheep.  C.Proppé©