We've been looking for meltable vegetarian cheesy substitutes because we didn't know about dairies that treated their livestock well and we didn't want to add to the reservoir of pain in the world caused by factory farming. We didn't want to contribute to misery and we didn't want to consume it either.

So whenever we eat out, which is pretty much every day, we ask our servers where their cheese comes from, hoping to learn something about a farm run by kind, conscientious people that we could feel good about buying from.

We've found it.

The cows and goats at Sweet Grass Dairy in Thomasville roam free, eat grass and live three to five times longer than the cattle in a typical dairy operation do. This is a real, old-timey, family farm now owned and operated by Jessica and Jeremy Little after being founded by Jessica's parents, Al and Desiree Wehner in 2000.

The Sweet Grass web site lists area restaurants that carry its products and we were happy to find some of our old favorites, like Watershed and The Brick Store Pub, among them as well as a number of other local eateries we've been meaning to visit but haven't yet. Now, knowing where their cheese comes from gives us even more reason to get off our duffs and go.

Whole Foods was included on the retailer page, and since we were already heading into town so that I could hang out at Kay's studio for awhile before going to Meg's for dinner group, it only seemed right that we should swing by the store and grab up some tasty and cruelty-free cheese. 

In case you're not already a fan of Sweet Grass cheeses, let me be the one to tell you that they are excellent. They'll make you smile whether or not you're getting your picture taken. You can read more about them here at the Farm Stories page of the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Group web page or take a virtual tour of their farm by clicking here.

Then run down to Whole Foods and grab the few packs that were left after Larry and I finished shopping. Give yourself something to smile about. 

                    "Cheese."