I loved this interview! Matthew McMahon is a “force of nature” with unlimited energy and big plans for the future. He seems to have a rare combination of people skills, practical knowledge and the willingness to work hard. Spending time with him was an absolute pleasure. Matthew is the farm manager at Gould Farm, a residential treatment community in the southwest corner of Massachusetts. It’s
Meredith Wecker in Heath, MA
The town of Heath (population 706) is way off “the beaten path,” even in rural western Massachusetts. Meredith lives only an hour’s drive from our shop but the last 5 miles or so are gravel road. Meredith and her husband, Andrew Kurowski own a well known wild blueberry farm, The Benson Place, named after the family who settled there in the early 1800’s. The Benson
Brigitte Ruthman in Sandisfield, MA
It’s rare that I get to interview a cheesemaker in person, particularly during this pandemic. But, it was a beautiful drive to the Berkshires in Western MA and I found Brigitte’s log cabin high on a mountain at the end of a dirt road with no other signs of civilization in sight. She invited me in and I couldn’t help but notice her cheese on
Kristen Whittle in Sunderland, MA
It’s winter here in Western Massachusetts and it was snowing the day I went to Little Brook Farm to visit Kristen Whittle. She was out in front of her house feeding Christmas trees to her goats and sheep. As we do here in New England, she invited me in for tea and we chatted about her life as a farmer and a home cheese maker.
New England Regional Cheese Competition 2019
In 2007, Elena Hovagimian was working for Donna Woolam, the Director of Agriculture at The Eastern States Exposition (The Big E). They thought it would be fun (!) to start a cheese competition at the fair. It was a daunting effort, but Elena began collecting all the information she could. She even went to the prestigious American Cheese Society Competition where John Greeley graciously showed
Nicholas Wilder in Maynard, MA
Nicholas and Sarah are getting married August 24th, only a few days from now. Yet, Nicholas found the time to do this interview! We’re very grateful and, of course, we send our very best wishes to the happy couple. When did you start making cheese? I first got interested in making cheese when I visited the Azores with my girlfriend (now wife-to-be) in May, 2017.
Stony Creek Farm in Montgomery, MA
Gabriella Steria, a Mennonite, was raised on a farm in upstate New York. She moved to Western Massachusetts 20 years ago when she was asked to teach at a Russian Christian school in Westfield. After a few years of working there, she and another teacher at the school (Janice Weaver) decided to buy the property where Gabriella now lives, so they wouldn’t have to pay
Sheila Litchfield in Heath, MA
Sheila Litchfield has been raising goats, making cheese and teaching cheese making for over 30 years. Western Massachusetts is mostly rural, but Heath is about as rural as it gets (population – 706). It’s what we call “the middle of nowhere,” up on a hill and way off the beaten path. Sheila Litchfield and her husband (Budge) moved there 43 years ago because they fell
- 1
- 2
- 3
- …
- 6
- Next Page »