Green Dirt Farm 'Dirt Lover' (Sheep's Milk Cheese)

This dairy started as an idea in 1998, when Dr. Sarah Hoffman began thinking about ways to return to the land, leaving behind her stressful career as an academic physician. In 2002 the farm became a reality when she created a humane and environmentally sustainable sheep farm.

One thing led to another and Hoffman was soon producing cheese from the herd's milk, inspired by fond teen-age memories of working at her aunt's gourmet cheese shop and studying microbiology in college.

After six years of building the processing infrastructure, Green Dirt Farm cheeses entered the public domain. And did it ever! 

From the very beginning Green Dirt Farms received multiple World Championship Cheese awards and a Food & Wine "Top 50" cheese producers in 2021.

This week we are highlighting Hoffman's Dirt Lover. Made from sheep’s milk in a style similar to its Spanish relative Cana de Oveja.

The outer layer of the cheese is coated with vegetable ash to help soften the bitterness that is often characteristic in this particular style.

Tasting Notes: A well-balanced amalgamation of butter, citrus (think lemon) and mushroom. The texture is creamy and memorable.  As it ages, beefy and earthy components become more pronounced.

A 1st place winner in the American Cheese Society “Original Recipe” category in 2022, 2023 and 2024.

Pairs well in a salad of fennel, orange quarters & walnuts paired with a dry rose’.