Bodega Ranch

It should be noted that the location of this place on Unilocal may be incorrect. It is not located in town but, rather, about 1 mile from town.
We loved our stay with Patty. The sleeping quarters were clean and sufficient. And we got to milk the goats in the morning with Patty! A very fun and memorable stay.

We had a wonderful experience at the Bodega Goat Cheese Farm. Patty was friendly, knowledgeable, and happy to show us everything about the farm. We all enjoyed the tour and the cheese tasting after. I have already recommended the tour to coworkers and friends. If you are interested in sustainable farming, humane treatment of livestock, and/​or cheese, you should definitely visit the Bodega Goat Cheese Farm.

My bf and I had a fun experience learning about the goat cheese process. Patty (the owner) is really nice. Patty walked us around the farm and explained the process to us. She also had us sample a variety of goat cheese that is made on the farm.
+ delicious cheese
+ educational
+ Patty is sweet
— I wish the tour could have been more hands-​on (e.g. milking a goat!)
$ 50 /​tour for 2 ppl; $ 75 /​tour for 3 or more ppl

Absolutely amazing experience at Bodega Goat Cheese Farm. Patty Karlin is as knowledgeable and friendly as they come. A small group of us went on a private tour with Patty on a bachelorette weekend, and it was hands down the highlight of our trip.
For the tour, we started out talking to Patty about her passion for the goats, living off the land, organic and natural living, and her many travels which influenced the styles of cheese she makes.
Then we toured the property, saw the goats and barns, organic garden and ducks, and cheese making area. Following the tour, we were served seven different cheeses to taste paired with various fruits, veggies, and jams. The cheese she makes is some of the best I’ve tasted, everyone in our group left with at least one of each.
I recommend this to people of all ages — anyone who loves food, wine, cheese, and animals will have an incredible experience with Patty at the farm.
I’d give it ten stars if I could. :)

picked up some their delicious natilla (peruvian mix of goat cheese, brown sugar & molasses) & sampled their delicious cheese on offer while at the ferry building farmers’ market this morning.

Went on their tour for my birthday and really enjoyed it. They are doing a lot to have their farm be totally sustainable and it was interesting to see how hard they are working on that. It was also great to be in the pen with happy, healthy-​looking goats. And the cheese tasting was great. I enjoyed the ricotta and the others but the runaway star is the chaolais — a French style cheese with a fantastic complex flavor and a somewhat crumbly texture. They sell their cheeses at the Marin farmers’ market so I will be visiting them there.

Patty Karlin is a warm, wonderful person who raises goats and makes cheese on her farm. The farm is a fabulous example of how to transition between conventional and organic practices. It is a constantly evolving project to which Patty is very dedicated and enjoys a large measure of success. Her use of solar, water cachement, tree cropping, and rotational grazing systems, all aspects of permaculture and sustainability, is remarkable. She is interested in teaching what she has learned and offers 2 hour eco-​tours that include a cheese tasting. Good for the planet and yummy, too!
On my mid-​December visit, most of the goats were dry because they were pregnant. I toured the farm, met her border colly, pet some yearlings, and thought seriously about becoming an apprentice and living in the yurt for a year to learn how the dairy worked and make cheese… at year’s end, I am still in San Francisco, but dreaming of an alternate life on a Bodega dairy farm!
On that first visit, Patty offered delicious samples of goat and cow’s* milk yogurt, queso fresco (feta), and queso crema (chevre). I recommend you take the tour if you are curious about farms, especially sustainable ones, and like goat cheese. Wear shoes or boots that you wouldn’t mind getting muddy and dress in layers if winter… bring your own rain gear as needed. I am looking forward to my next visit.
*San Benoit also rents the dairy a couple days and makes their yummy cow’s milk yogurt in the tan orange crock on the premises.