Toluma Farms and Tomales Farmstead Creamery

The Farm

Toluma Farms is a 160-acre goat and sheep dairy a few miles from the Pacific in northern Marin County. Tamara Hicks and David Jablons took over a run-down cow dairy in 2003 and opened it as a goat and sheep dairy in 2007, and Tomales Farmstead Creamery followed. About 80 sheep and 200 goats graze the hill pastures in rotation, and the creamery makes eight seasonal cheeses, unusual in milking two kinds of animal. The land is protected by the Marin Agricultural Land Trust and most of it is certified organic.

Public Tours

On the first Sunday of each month, from 1 to 3pm, a guide walks you around the farm, including the milking parlor, and up to the pastures to explain how the grazing is managed. The tour ends with a tasting of the farm's cheeses. The farm road up to the pastures is very steep, so wear sturdy shoes.

Private Tours

Private tours last two hours and run any day of the week at 11am or 1pm. They include the farm and creamery, time with the animals and a board of six or more cheeses with seasonal fruit and jams. The price is $300 for up to six people and $50 for each extra guest. Pets are not allowed. School groups pay $20 a student.

The Cheese Shop

An Airstream trailer to the right of the front gate is the farm shop, run on the honor system and open 24 hours a day. Walk through the side gate marked Cheese Shop to buy cheese, lavender bundles and hydrosol sprays. The shop does not give access to the rest of the farm.

Staying and Events

The farm rents a farmhouse through Airbnb, with fresh eggs and cheese on arrival and the chance to watch milking and cheesemaking. It also hosts occasional events such as cheese tastings and baby goat yoga, team retreats and volunteer days.

Getting There

The farm is at 5488 Middle Road near Tomales, in the hills of northern West Marin. Some satnavs get the address wrong, so search for Toluma Farms in Google Maps instead. Combine it with Point Reyes Farmstead and the other stops on the Marin and Sonoma cheese trail.