Blog entries
Life after Giddy Goat Cheese
We are sad to announce that Giddy Goat will cease operations as of July 30, 2011. Since we started Organic Process in 2005 we have followed our instincts and drives — trying to create things people will value. But a major part of insuring the Organic Process continues is to look soberly at the reality of our situation and determine the most practical and inspired path forward. Sometimes things work; but they don’t work as a business. Giddy Goat is an example of that.
Organic Process will find it’s voice in a post-Giddy world, but right now we are sad at the disappointment we are bringing to the relationships we have formed with employees, farmers and customers. We are convinced that Giddy Goat did make the world a better place and that it will be a bit sadder (for awhile) for being gone.
Read the whole letter at -- www.giddygoatcheese.com
A great perspective on the Giddy Goat closing is available at the Charleston City Paper Site -- read article
Mitchell's Pecha Kucha Presentation
Charleston Wine & Food Fesival: Giddy Goat Voted A Local Favorite
Lowcountry Local First - Revival / Cary Ann Heart and 10% Shifters
A couple of short videos from this great event last Thursday night. Farrah is in the choir of this great band led by the wonderful Cary Ann Hearst. Thanks to LLF for letting us be a part of this.
"Stay out of the chain stores" performance (taken from a 1920's spiritual song) - This song was taken from an old spiritual written in the 1930's by Rev. J.M Gates of Mount Calvary Church in Atlanta, GA. Re-discovered by Karalee Nielson and arranged by Cary Ann Heart. A really prescient and important song and a great linchpin to a night that included a second line jazz parade, a revival tent and a good ol' fashioned preachin' session.
An Impromptu jam with Cary Ann and members of the Second Line Jazz Funeral Band (really amazing!)
Giddy Goat Cheese Joins the Menu of James Beard Award-Winning Sean Brock's - McCrady's Restaurant
We are very happy to announce the addition of our Pure and Pimiento Goat Cheeses to the menu at McCrady's restaurant in downtown Charleston. McCrady's chef Sean Brock just became the third consecutive Charleston chef to win the coveted James Beard Award.
After working under Robert Carter at Penninsula Grill, Sean took on a number of challenges at four and five star restaurants around the Southeast, eventually ending up back in Charleston.
Brock is a passionate advocate for seed preservation and he continues to grow a number of heirloom crops, including James Island Red Corn (aka “Jimmy Red”), from which he makes grits, Flint Corn, Benne Seed, Rice Peas, Sea Island Red Peas, and several varieties of Farro.
In addition to serving our local handmade Giddy Goat cheeses, Sean is also using our Whey in his Charcuterie and meat curing processes. As we strive to reduce our waste, this is a great home for the by-product of our cheese making process.
LOWCOUNTRY LOCAL FIRST DOCUMENTARY - as part of our MEDIA work we are currently working on a documentary short focused on the "Farm to Table" relationship between Sean and local farmer Maria Baldwin @ Thornhill Farms in McCleanville. This second installment of our LLF documentary project is set for completion mid-Summer. You can see the first installment at GiveGround.tv.
As a side note, he also has one of the most rad tatoos ever. Talk about dedication to the craft!
Organic Process and Lowcountry Local First partner to document Growing New Farmers incubator program
The first video in our documentary series following the Growing New Farmers program has been posted to GiveGround.tv. This is an exciting collaboration and we appreciate being a part of this project. The video gives a good overview of what the program is all about, but for more info visit the LLF website.Local Craft Beer & Artisanal Cheese Initiative
We are very happy to be working with the folks at Coast Brewery to promote local beer and local cheese - TOGETHER. After our incredible experience at Brewvival, we decided to create a simple pairing menu and sponsor some events. Keep an eye out this Spring and Summer.
OPP Documentary News: Web of Water wins PBS National Education Innovation Award
The exciting thing about the Organic Process media / farm mash-up is that we use our local farming and Giddy Goat cheese as a catalyst to support our media production projects. These projects are aimed at an intelligent and constructive use of media to support our community. This week we got some great news that recognizes our efforts in this area and supports our vision.
PBS NATIONAL INNOVATION AWARD: Our environmental education project Web of Water was selected as a PBS Education Innovation Award winner. The national award recognizes innovative projects that demonstrate new ways of teaching and learning. Congratulations to Ian Sanchez (pictured here) and the crew who worked with us on this incredible project.
Watch All the webisodes for the Web of Water project
GIVE GROUND FILM RECOGNITION: Our initial GiveGround.tv video Oyster Man Mike (which was also a selection in the 2009 Charleston International Film Festival) was selected for the Southern Views series at the Echo Park Film Center in Los Angeles. All Oyster Man Mike wanted from this was "a walk down the red carpet, a couple of cold ones, and a chance to shoot the shit with some good folk." Now he can add another honor to the list. We recently saw Mike at an event on John's Island and we are happy to report he is doing great.
OYSTER MAN MIKE (documentary short)
Giddy Goat: New Season, New Products and new Places to get your Giddy!
We are gearing up for a great 2010 season and look forward to getting back to the Charleston Farmers Market the first week of April. Also look for us at other farmers markets around town and we will start popping up in small retail stores and restaurants over the coming weeks.
MEET THE GIDDY GOATS OF SPLIT CREEK FARMS
GIDDY GOAT AT BREWVIVAL 2010
We were excited to share our cheese with over 1000 people at the Brewvival. The turnout was fabulous and being among the nation's top craft breweries was a fabulous place to introduce our artisinal cheese to a wider audience. Look for more Coast beer and Giddy Goat pairing events throughout the Spring. Thanks to our friends at Coast and Charleston Beer Exchange for letting us be a part of this wonderful event.
BIN 152: We are excited to be supplying our Ginger and Pimiento Goat Cheese to one of our new favorite spots in downtown Charleston, Bin 152. We are planning a tasting event and expect to be in regular rotation in the next week or two. Located at 152 Queen St. it was opened by Fanny and Patrick Panella. They are good people and we are very happy to be working with them.
From the Charleston City Paper: "The store is a wine and cheese bar, antiques store, and art gallery selling wines from around the world but focusing on small producers and under-appreciated wines. They offer artisan cheeses, charcuterie, pâtés, and other cured meats to accompany the wines, and the menu may expand into plated meals later. All antique furniture in the bar is available for sale and they feature a different artists' work every month.
NEW PRODUCT:
We are also happy to announce a new product for 2010, Italian Herb Goat Cheese Balls in olive oil. So far the reception has been great and these ship more easily than the fresh cheese, so are available for mail-order. Check it out in the OPP Store.
Skinful Halloween 2009 video project
Ok, so it is not exactly agriculture, but we are always up for some fun. We had heard rumors of this party for years, but never actually got there to see it for ourselves. We want to thank Dr. Brian King for inviting us to be part of this highly useful hedonistic evening. I have really never seen a party quite like it and we are happy to be helping tell the story of this highly unique event now in it's tenth year. We will start putting up some short clips here (and on facebook) and try keep them coming through till the 2010 event.
skinful 2009 : episode 1 from OPP on Vimeo.
OPP Launches GiveGround.TV
OPP has launched our first local farming / new media mash up at GiveGround.TV. This site seeks to re-invent the relationship between products and marketing. Rather than marketing driving the media, the media is a philanthropic project that is supported every time you purchase OPP's Giddy Goat Cheese or join the Rosebank Farms CSA program. You can visit the site to read the mission, but basically we want to preserve and tell the stories of the people and places of the sea islands around Charleston.
ETV Premiere - April 23rd - Tune In
We're excited and proud to announce that 2 OPP productions; Finding Pura Vida and Web of Water will premiere on ETV's Southern Lens this Earth Day, April 23, 2009 @ 10 PM - be sure to tune in! Both films will be aired in a one hour block along with interviews with Mitchell and myself. We are happy to represent, y'all! Please, tune in to some homegrown programming!
Rosebank Farms' CSA
In 2009 OPP helped Rosebank Farms launch it's first Community Supported Agriculture program. In our first year we had over 100 people in the Lowcountry of South Carolina sign-up for delivery of fresh veggies. To join the CSA visit the Rosebank Farms website.
Indie Grits Promo Video
A hilarious promo from the guys at Indie Grits. We will be traveling up Monday to check out the space for the Ben Timpson / projection show on April 19th Indie Grits After Party.
Oyster Man Mike
Oyster Man Mike from OPP on Vimeo.
We are thrilled that Oyster Man Mike was invited to screen at Charleston International Film Festival. All Oyster Man Mike wanted from this was "a walk down the red carpet, a couple of cold ones, and a chance to shoot the shit with some good folk." Thanks Brian & Summer from CIFF for making Mike's dream come true! If you need some oysters (or clams) for your after parties, you know where to go!
This is the 3rd video in a series on farm life; we are calling "Give Ground". Stayed tuned for the next 2 videos:
- Dairy Goats & CheeseMaking
- Rosebank Farms' Community Supported Agriculture