Through the glass of Charm Farm Store’s back door, Coco, a black cow with deep brown eyes, peers in as the store’s self-appointed greeter, her wet snout leaving steamy circles on the window as she watches customers peruse the shelves.

Inside, wooden drawers repurposed as shelving and weathered vintage trunks create a rustic backdrop for an array of local delights – farm-fresh eggs, aromatic hand-poured candles, mason jars filled with homemade jams and carefully crafted soaps.

Even sourdough starters have a home at Haley and Dave Piskorowski’s farm store in Hopkinton.

“It’s a little paradise that we’ve created for ourselves,” Dave said, as the roosters outside crowed.

“I just remember when I walked into the farm store, I knew I wanted to make it feel inviting, comforting, charming, and like a little slice of home,” said Haley.

Two years ago, the Piskorowskis moved from Tennessee to Hopkinton, hoping for a fresh start after the burnout that so many healthcare workers, including them, felt during the grueling waves of the pandemic.

After feeling the weight of constant exhaustion, they knew something had to change — but instead of stepping away from the field or shifting careers like so many others, they decided to take a different path.

“We kind of just threw a dart at the map,” said Dave, a pulmonary critical care physician now practicing in Concord. “We were like, ‘Oh, New Hampshire — why don’t we go check that place out?’”

Haley is a registered nurse in critical care.

Dave, originally from Detroit, and Haley from Tennessee, found that Hopkinton offered the perfect middle ground for them — he was drawn to the cooler weather, while she loved the town’s rural charm.

The cherry on top was the industrial-grade cheese-making equipment that came with the house they found in Hopkinton, perfectly complementing their dream of starting something new.

“We actually wanted a house that came with a hobby,” Haley said.

The store operates on an honor system. By the door, an antique cash register adds a touch of nostalgia, sitting side by side with a sleek iPad for customers who prefer the convenience of paying by card.

From inside the store, customers can peek into the cheesemaking facility, where the Piskorowskis plan to craft a variety of cheeses, including Camembert, Triple Crème, Manchego, Gouda, Quark (in Dill or Garlic), Havarti, Gruyère and Robiolini.

With Contoocook Creamery just down the road, sourcing fresh milk for their creations will be a breeze.

“We’re going to do our best to only use stuff from the local areas,” Dave. “We’re going to try our best to not have to do anything from far away, keep it local, and then pay it back local.”

Cheesemaking runs deep in the history of this property. The previous owners also made cheese, and the Piskorowskis are proud to continue the tradition as the farm’s third cheesemakers.

“I know that the people we bought it from were just really excited that somebody was willing to again pick up the mantle and kind of keep going with that,” said Dave. “It’s going to be a lot of work, but we’d love to give it a try.”

Cheese isn’t the only thing on the menu. The couple hopes to also start making ice cream soon.

Once the ground thaws, Haley plans to grow an abundance of vegetables and berries to create fresh pasta sauces and other farm-to-table goods.

But that’s just the beginning. Haley and Dave are also busy converting their cozy loft into an Airbnb. Soon, visitors will have the chance to stay on the farm, waking up to the chatter of chickens, turkeys, ducks and guinea fowl — each with their own quirky personalities.

Above all, they’re eager to put down roots in Hopkinton.

“It’s been a good change of pace,” said Haley. “We both love our jobs and we love the community and just love where we live.”

Sruthi Gopalakrishnan can be reached at sgopalakrishnan@cmonitor.com