Alcea Rosea Farm

Our Story

Alcea Rosea Farm is a small working goat dairy in the heart of California's Central Coast Wine Country. The herd of LaMancha dairy goats browse wild grasses and shrubs all year long. The does are hand-milked twice daily during the milking season. Hand-milking preserves the integrity of the milk and allows the "terrior" to shine through in this exceptional quality of milk. Owner Bev Michels has been raising goats on their property for over 15 years. During that time she established herself as one of the Central Coast top creameries. Ms. Michels now shares her love of goats and cheese through teaching small cheesemaking classes on the farm. In addition, Alcea Rosea Farm also partners with Stepladder Creamery in Cambria to provide milk for their amazing goat cheese. Stepladder's farmstead goat cheese is available at numerous farmer's markets and select retail outlets throughout California.

The Tribune Feature

The powers that bleat have declared August as National Goat Cheese Month, and one of the ways you can celebrate locally is with artisan farmstead goat cheese from Alcea Rosea Farm.

Esquire Magazine

The goat milk soap by Alcea Rosea Farm may look like the kind of thing you're more likely to find on a Whole Foods shelf, but the small batch slab will wash you squeaky clean.

Gena Bell Visits

Gena Bell is a Southern California native, food consultant and certified pastry chef having attended Tante Marie’s Cooking School in San Francisco. Whom was invited to make goat cheese at Bev Michels farm, Alcea Rosea in Templeton, CA.

Alcea Rosea Goat Soap

Local Soap grown in your own backyard

Goat milk is a natural moisturiser for human skin. Our soap is a unique recipe using fresh goat milk and local olive oil. This combination creates a product that both softens and conditions your skin. Pure essential oils are added for a light fragrance.

Chevre, Mozzarella, Ricotta Oh My!

Learn the art of cheesemaking

After retiring from licensed cheesemaking in 2016, Bev began to teach classes and share her love of cheese and how it is made. Classes are small (a limit of 6 people), hands-on and insightful.

Each class includes meet and greet time with all the animals. In addition, a home-made farm to table brunch will be served following class. Cheesemaking 101 - Chevre and Ricotta Cheesemaking 201 - Mozazarella and Parmesan

Classes run two to three hours and are usually offered Sunday mornings beginning at 10:30 a.m. Other times and days will be considered. In addition to learning how to make the various cheeses, participants will be given instructions and the necessary ingredients to make the cheese at home.

Yoga with the Goats

Namaste

Goats are the most peaceful animals we know, and what better way to find your Zen then taking a yoga class with goats by your side. These docile and fun loving creatures are sure to bring much inner happiness to all who participate in this 45 minute outdoor yoga experience. The class is taught by Maggie Michels (Bev's daughter) who is a certified yoga instructor from San Francisco.

No prior yoga experience is required. | Participants need to bring their own yoga mat | Refreshments will be served after class.