Hop & Hen Farm

08/29/2026

Happy Saturday and nearly the end of August! That means: Ginger Snaps!

Today's menu also features: Sourdough Bagels, Euro Baguettes, Everything Sandwich Loaf, Apple and Peach Danishes (with fruit from ours and our neighbor's tree!), Pesto (very limited, from our garden!), Browned Butter Chocolate Chip cookies (Belgian chocolate always!), Scones, Organic Granola (made with our own maple syrup), Wild Blueberry Oat Bars, Dukkah (nut& seed bread dipping yum), and Sourdough mini boules.

My new Annie Goat Soaps are on the shelves and my new candles are getting gobbled up!🍁🍂 Other hints of fall are everywhere in here, so start outfitting your cozy space with meaningful, useful things that are handmade here! 🍂🍁🍂🍁✨✨

🌻Speaking of seasonal, have you signed up for our upcoming class?🌻 Details on the flyer, sign up our website, it's sunflower-y fun this autumn! 🌻🍁🍂🍁🌻 9/19 3-5.

Open 11-5, Bakes ready by noon.

08/27/2026

You know where to find us that day! And yes we'll have plenty of our best-selling Ginger Snaps and Browned Butter Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies, along with a few other surprises!

08/27/2026

When I talk about scratch baking and using the best ingredients I can, this is what I mean. My half gallon "mother" Bourbon Vanilla that has been aging for several years-and continues to age. It gets regular replenishments as I use it in my cottage bakes operation.

There are a lot of people trying to get into the cottage baking scene. *Many* are not licensed/certified and it shows.

Now I know most do it because they're trying to make a couple of bucks, but typically that also means their ingredients are the cheapest they can find, and they don't have the proper standards or precautions in place to prepare your food safely. It's dangerous.

Food-born illness is real.
Allergens are real, and hidden in everything!

These people are actually not and I don't consider them my competition. 🤷

It's just not how I do things. Not with my soaps and other body care items , and certainly not with my bakes.

There are others like me who are sincerely trying to improve the food system in ways that don't require poisoned ingredients or thoughtless additives.

They are licensed and certified and follow the cottage food guidelines of their jurisdictions. I respect these producers, and it's good competition because we're all offering the best items possible.

Get good at asking questions of anyone who you are getting food and other items you put in or on your body. The producer should be able to tell you everything, from purpose to origin.

And yes, these things cost more, but I believe they result in better results and better outcomes.

//Off my soapbox now.🧑‍🍳//

08/23/2026

Did you snuggle these cuties yesterday? They let us know they had a blast!🐐✨🐐♥️🐐♥️

We're so grateful for your visits, kind words, and support, near and far! We sold out of so many items, but I will restock the shelves and plan a new Bakes menu pronto! I'm adding an order ahead option on some specific items through the website; I feel badly when you show up and I'm already out! 🙃🫣♥️

Other orders through the website will ship tomorrow, so be checking for happy mail coming your way! 📦📭

Fall is coming, so don't be surprised when you see all of the autumn stuff filling the shop... finally 🍁🍂🍁! Have a fantastic weekend and week ahead!

08/22/2026

Hello friends and neighbors! It's baby goat snuggle day, but also Fresh Bakes Day! I have organic granola, dukkah, Everything Euro loaf, bagels sourdough, cinnamon peach scones, soup bread bowls, blueberry oat bars, baguettes, Danishes, both varieties of browned butter Belgian chocolate chip cookies. 🧑‍🍳🥖🌻 The peaches are from our garden!

We hope to see you today and make sure you wear the right footwear for our barnyard!! Goatie festivities take place 3-5. 59 + Petite Lake Rd., Lake Villa. Did you know we have 10 babies this season? Holy moly. You will not be able to resist them. 🐐♥️♥️🐐

08/20/2026

Our farm friends up the road have some great educational options for your kiddos!

Field trip season is here — come to the farm, or let the farm come to you!

Susanna Farms field trips connect students with animals, nature, and agriculture through hands-on, curiosity-driven learning. Every experience is designed to build compassion, spark questions, and support science and environmental learning standards.

Choose your topic:
Animal Interactions — meet our horses, mini donkey, goats, sheep, and chickens while learning about habitats, daily care and nutrition, animal behavior, health and wellness, and human-animal relationships. Our care practices follow the Five Domains of Animal Welfare Model.

The Lifecycle of a Pumpkin — follow the journey from seed to harvest: growth stages, pollination, seasonal change, and the role of pumpkins in agriculture.

Gardening & Growing — seeds and germination, soil health, plant life cycles, pollinators and beneficial insects, and growing food sustainably.

In person at the farm: $7 per child

Virtual field trips (live and interactive, from anywhere): 30-minute program — 1–4 classrooms $100 · 5–6 classrooms $125 · 7–8 classrooms $150 · additional classrooms $25 per every 1–2 · whole school special $250 60-minute program (deeper dive with demos and Q&A) — 1–4 classrooms $175 · additional classrooms $30 each · whole school special $400

Perfect for schools, homeschool groups, libraries, after-school programs, community organizations, and senior living communities.

📞 (224) 426-1951
✉️ [email protected]
🌐 susannafarms.net

Message us to check availability and build the field trip that fits your group.

08/20/2026

Coming this week to your favorite Lake County goat farm! These are a sneak 🫣 🧼