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Dee Harley: Head of Harley Farms Goat Dairy wanted to be a farmer from a young age
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Dee Harley started her goat farm from scratch, not knowing anything about the animals before buying three.
SAN FRANCISCO (Map, News) - Dee Harley took a long journey to fulfill her childhood dream of becoming a farmer.
Originally born in Yorkshire, England, she would often answer with “farmer” when asked what she wanted to be when she grew up. At 16, she dropped out of high school to go on what she called “many adventures.” After crossing the world, she eventually settled down in Pescadero, in the rural southwest of San Mateo County.
Discovering that she was pregnant, Harley decided to finally take up farming and started out importing tomatoes. She bought a farm that hadn’t been used in 50 years, and after meeting a woman who offered to sell her goats, without any knowledge of animals, bought three. She bred the male with another goat and eventually the herd grew.
Now a mother, she began renovating the old buildings on the farm and getting serious. “It was a way to stay home,” she said. “It was an opportunity that came my way and I took it.”
Harley’s child is now 14 years old, her original herd has exploded to 200 goats, she has 10 employees, and Harley Farms Goat Dairy, San Mateo County’s only dairy, distributes cheeses throughout the country and operates a small retail store in the farm’s original birthing stall. She went from milking the goats by hand to acquiring a milking machine that milks 16 at a time.
Last year she was named Farmer of the Year by San Mateo County, and this year she received the San Mateo County Sustainability Award in recognition of her sustainable farming practices.
Harley prides herself on maintaining a nurturing atmosphere, and it extends from her employees (to whom she offers housing) all the way to the farm animals. She even has a retirement home that she maintains for her goats that are no longer able to produce milk.
Harley is against using antibiotics and is very quick to say that sustainability is her modus operandi.
“We’re supporting a lifestyle and an income for the people that work here and that’s a big part of sustainability. There’s a great pleasure in using sustainable resources. It’s a very simple concept,” she said. “Sustainable means to me a method of agriculture that is economically viable, socially just and humane. We are all of those.”
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Bhaskar Gorti said:
I can lick my eyebrows at Cetrella
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Examiner Reader said:
Congratulations to Deryk! He's a great example of what civil engineering and ASCE is all about. And thanks to the Examiner for running this story. Civil Engineers aren't flashy and nobody makes movies about us... so good press is always welcomed. What we do touches everybody every day. Way to go Deryk! Doug Taylor, PE, M.ASCE President, San Francisco Section ASCE
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Examiner Reader said:
Jeanette Bitz seeems to have more of an advertising ("look at me folks") mindset than true public relations as it seems she, not her clients, come first. In Australia we'd say her story is an ego-driven way to use a weak peg on client relationships to tell a story about herself. Boo.
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Examiner Reader said:
Dan Angel is nothing but a practiced self-promoter. I feel sorry for everyone there at Golden Gate U.
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Examiner Reader said:
Ben this is Big Shon man. If I had the time to tell you how in so many ways you have changed my life,Id be here hours. Thanks Shon
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Examiner Reader said:
It seems to me that "green" living has become as much a marketing ploy as anything else. living "green" is not new (there was an ecology movement in the 70's) and is arguably simple common sense. When I was young my parents regularly reinforced in child's terms its best not to "mess where you eat!"
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Examiner Reader said:
I've worked with Erika Taylor and Three Girls Media for 2 years now. My business has been revolutionized thanks to her innovative approach. It's good to see her getting recognition for the great work she and her company does.
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recent San Francisco Home Buyer said:
Frankly, I don't see the need for real estate agents - and the 6% commission is proportionately excessive compared to the home values in San Francisco. Most of the homes in San Francisco sell themselves and it is easy to shop for homes online. In my house hunting experience, the real estate agent merely carried the keys to various houses. I don't really need someone to point out which room is the bathroom and which room is the kitchen. And I'm not really sure what a top producer is - since the agent isn't producing anything... except more fees in a (nearly) fixed inventory market. I'm sure Barbara is good person. But, as real estate prices continue to climb in San Francisco, Real estate agents are slowly becoming a pariah to home buyers and sellers in this City.
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