Shepherd's Way Farms Barnraiser

So... I like cheese. Don't you?

I also like helping people. You do, too, right?

What if I told you there was a way you could help some people out and enjoy some delicious cheese?! Win/Win, right?!

Ok, so here's the deal.

These super nice people we met through our experiences with Montana Farmers Union and National Farmers Union, Stephen and Jodi, farm with their family in Minnesota. Their place is called Shepherd's Way Farms. They raise sheep and make some seriously delicious artisan sheep's milk cheeses. Jodi has won some pretty prestigious cheese-maker awards for this stuff. No joke. It's good stuff. They sell cheese and other products at farmers markets in St. Paul and Mill City, Minnesota, and they offer classes and sell CSA shares. YUM! If I lived in Minnesota, I'd be ALL OVER this as a yummy CSA opportunity, but alas... At least they will ship the cheeses! Wahoo!

So, a few years back, they had a deal where their main barn burned down. Total bummer! Now, they've launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise the funds to finish the rebuilding process of their beautiful barns! With a little help, they're hoping to finish their re-purposed lambing barn and begin rebuilding a ewe barn. With more barn space, they can grow the flock and thus make more delicious cheese for all of us!

Check out their Kickstarter video below:

If you're like me, you've probably spent a good portion of your excess cash recently on Christmas-related gifts, travel, and experiences.  But seriously, you guys. We're talking ARTISAN CHEESE here! Artisan cheese, and helping out some believers and participants in the slow food movement. These people are the real deal, salt of the earth, folks. You can pledge different amounts in their Kickstarter campaign, and depending on your pledge level, you may get to choose a gift option of SAMPLING SOME CHEESES!!! Holy cow! Or rather, Holy Sheep, is that a deal or what?!

They've got a ways to go, but with your help, they could get a little closer. What do you say? Jeff and I made our pledge a few days ago and are anxiously awaiting our shipment of cheeses ANY DAY now... but only if they make their Kickstarter goal!

Until then, Happy New Year and Merry Kickstarter-ing! Grow the Flock! Eat more cheese!