Micro-Dairy Opens With Artisanal Cheese Line

Swainsboro, Georgia (May 29, 2007) – Peaches, peanuts and … cheese. In recent years, the art of dairy farming in Georgia has been on the decline even as the global demand for dairy products rises. With a goal of growing the local economy, the folks at Flat Creek Lodge, a hunting and fishing resort and spa in southeast Georgia, have announced the opening of the Flat Creek Lodge Dairy, and they are kicking off with a line of artisanal cheeses.

In keeping with the Flat Creek Lodge mission to support the local economy of Emanuel County and provide an eco-friendly environment, owners Steve and Caroline Harless instigated the micro-dairy project to bring the small family dairy that might be found in Europe or New England back to Georgia. Since the process began one-and-a-half years ago, it has been truly a labor of love for these dairy neophytes.

“We didn’t even have a herdsman when we got the cows,” says general manager Cathy McDaniel. The team learned everything as they went along and even hand-milked the cows for the first three or four weeks. The hard work has paid off, and on Saturday, June 9, Flat Creek Lodge Dairy will officially celebrate its opening with a line of four delicious cheeses – Havarti, Gouda, Edam and Colby.

Working in tandem with the supportive Department of Agriculture, the Flat Creek Lodge Dairy has become only the second licensed artisanal cheese producer in Georgia. In addition to serving the cheeses in their own fine dining restaurant onsite, Flat Creek Lodge plans to market the Flat Creek Lodge cheese brand to restaurants and retail outlets and is looking to the rising interest among chefs, restaurateurs and consumers in using locally produced products.

The Dairy isn’t the only thing keeping it local at Flat Creek Lodge. The site also includes several greenhouses where herbs and vegetables are grown and then served in the dining room. The Lodge employed Emanuel County builders to erect the structures on the property, and they used only local materials like pine and cypress. Inside, each building has been decorated using art by local artists, including custom made furniture and taxidermy. Outside, all sporting activities are stocked with wild game indigenous to Georgia or that thrive in the southeastern environment. That means, hunters and fishers can expect Mallard ducks, bobwhite quail, pheasants, wild turkey, white tail deer, wild boar, trophy-size large mouth bass, bream, blue gill and crappie.

Located just three hours southeast of Atlanta, Flat Creek Lodge welcomes the discerning sportsman and sportswoman to an unforgettable hunting and fishing adventure. Amid a pristine and private woodland preserve, guests can stay in the main lodge or in a private cottage. Visitors can enjoy many outdoor activities, relax in the spa, or pamper themselves in the uniquely designed Japanese bathhouse before experiencing the cuisine in the Flat Creek Lodge dining room. Menus feature fresh, seasonal herbs, fruits, and vegetables, wild game and seafood from the Golden Isles of Georgia. Dining on Friday and Saturday evenings is four or five courses paired with just the right wine. The 2,000-acre Flat Creek Lodge is located at 367 Bishop Chapel Church Road, Swainsboro, Georgia 30401.

The Lodge can be reached at 478.237.FISH or 877.352.8273. It can also be visited online at www.flatcreeklodge.com.