CO-OP ROAD TRIP DESTINATION: Pennyroyal Farm

by DANE NELSON

Marketing & Outreach Manager

photography by YVONNE BOYD

Marketing Assistant & Content Developer

NESTLED AMONG THE ROLLING HILLS OF ANDERSON VALLEY, SUNRISE KISSES THE COASTAL MIST THAT DRIFTS IN FROM THE WEST AND SETTLES ON PENNYROYAL FARM, A TREASURE OF MENDOCINO COUNTY.

PENNYROYAL FARM, A JOINT EFFORT between Erika Mckenzie-Chapter and Sarah Bennet, broke ground in 2009. It is a muststop fixture of Booneville, with an incredible tasting room and patio where you can sample an exquisite variety of wines and cheeses produced there.

Erika McKenzie-Chapter, the dedicated co-owner of the local goat farm and winery in Anderson Valley, is a woman of passion and expertise. She greets us in the gift shop and tasting room to give us a comprehensive tour of their operations and facility. Her journey into the world of cheese-making began with a deep love for agriculture and a desire to create something exceptional from the land's bountiful resources. Erika's commitment to her craft led her to France, where she immersed herself in the art and science of cheese-making.

Sarah Bennet grew up among the vines and fermentations of Navarro Vineyards and Winery. Her zeal and pallet are apparent in the scents and flavors of Pennyroyal's wine and cheese pairings. Sarah's education at UC Davis, where the dynamic duo met, only compounded her natural expertise and understanding of agriculture and enterprise.

Sarah and Erika have created a uniquely touching and thoughtful ecosystem of relationships and regeneration. They view their work as more than just a job; it's a way of life deeply connected to the land and the animals. They understand that the goats' health and happiness directly impact the milk quality and, consequently, the cheese.

Each morning at 5 a.m. and evening at 5 p.m., a careful, gentle, and consistent routine of feeding and milking keeps the animals feeling secure and content. The goats, in turn, thrive under this attentive care. Known for their curious and social nature, they respond positively to human interaction, forming bonds with their caretakers and each other. Bonded goats are rarely separated from each other, and all the goats begin their lives being hand-fed, creating a trusting relationship with all the people who come for a breathtaking tour.

The people, the livestock, the wild animals, the soil, the grapes, the gardens, the milk, the cheese, and the visitors have made Pennyroyal Farm a very attentive, conscious, and thriving microsystem, which we at Ukiah Natural Foods are proud to support. If you're in Ukiah and want a savory moment of creamy, cheesy bliss, stop by the Ukiah Natural Foods Co-op and grab a tub of Pennyroyal's Blueberry Lychee and a bottle of your favorite Sauv Blanc.

But if you ever get the chance to stop at Pennyroyal, there is only one word I can use to describe it…magical.