Last September we posted our interview with Jamie Ryer, a master cheesemaker in Fairfax, Virginia (https://blog.cheesemaking.com/jamie-ryer-in-fairfax-virginia/). Then, in March he sent us a report about his experiences at a cheesemaking retreat taught by Kate Johnson in Hawaii (https://blog.cheesemaking.com/cheesemaking-in-paradise/). Now, after suffering a set-back in his life, he is pivoting in a new direction. We’re honored that he shared his plan with us and we’re happy
Hastings Farm in Suffield, Connecticut: Update
Six years ago, I wrote an article about Hastings Farm – click here. It was based on an email interview with pictures from their Facebook page. At that time, Megan and her sister, Lauren were just beginning to change the direction of their family’s dairy farm. Megan had been bottling milk and making yogurt for a year and Lauren was beginning to raise beef cattle
Beltane Farm in Lebanon, Connecticut
It’s a crazy scene at Beltane Farm this time of year – there are baby goats everywhere (they call it March Madness!) There were 80 born in the last month! Fortunately, you can go there any Sunday afternoon in April or May to see the baby goats, sample their cheeses and tour the farm. Beltane is located at the start of a dirt road in
Connecticut Celebrates Artisan Cheese in a Big Whey!
Brian Civitello This past weekend, the Coventry Regional Farmer’s Market at the Nathan Hale Homestead hosted the fabulous Connecticut Cheese Festival. The farmer’s market alone is always fabulous, with all kinds of interesting vendors, but this particular weekend it was enhanced by cheese classes, demonstrations, pairing seminars and the wildly popular cheese rolling contest. We were there, too! Our friend, Brian Civitello had invited
Hastings Farm in Suffield, Connecticut
Lauren Hastings Some farms just make it look easy… Did you ever notice how some dairy farms are so beautiful, you can’t believe anyone actually works there? Hastings Farm is like that and it appears to be run efficiently by little invisible elves. Of course, the elves are, in reality, the Hastings family and they have worked very hard for many generations.