Kate Johnson, founder and owner of The Art of Cheese in Longmont, Colorado is always up to something! We have done numerous articles about her book & DVD, her online classes, her certification program, her cheese chats and her cheesemaking vacations in Hawaii. Now, she’s on the cutting edge of the cheese board again with her mobile classroom. In fact, she may be bringing her classes to a town near you!
Swing Low, Cheese Chariot!
By Kate Johnson
The Art of Cheese’s new mobile cheesemaking classroom (dubbed The Cheese Chariot) is on a roll! With our first two classes behind us, it looks like we’re onto something.
We rolled into Cañon City, Colorado on September 20th and Penrose, Colorado on October 16th to teach Cheesemaking 101 with Cheese and Wine/Cider pairings to two sold out crowds.
Here’s how we do it:
We joined Harvest Hosts which gives us a nationwide directory of Wineries, Cideries, Breweries, Distilleries and Farms that will let us camp out on their property for a night.
We search for the area we want to head to and then contact the locations in that area that might be interested in hosting a class. We then send them an email proposal for a class at their location. In our first two inquiries, we got a resounding YES the same day!
Once we set the date, we run with it. We set up the class on our website, encourage the host site to link to it from their own website, and then we send out press releases to news outlets in their area.
That landed us a gig on a local daytime program on a Fox television station where we did a cheesemaking demo and promoted the upcoming class. (See that demo at https://www.fox21news.com/living-local/the-art-of-cheese-takes-cheesemaking-on-the-road-in-their-new-cheese-chariot/)
We then handle all the registrations and bring the cheeses and the cheese class to them. We bring along 10 tables and 20 chairs and set up just outside the Chariot as weather allows, or can move indoors when needed for inclement days. The Chariot serves as our prep kitchen and temporary lodging while we’re on the road.
So far, our hosts have been a winery and a cidery and we paired their libations with the cheeses and paid them for their part out of the registration fees.
The goal is to make it as easy for our hosts as possible, as enjoyable for our students as possible, and to introduce the students to both cheesemaking and to the host site. So, it’s a win-win for all.
We’ve already been asked to bring the Chariot to several more Colorado and Wyoming locations as well as some pretty distant spots including Idaho, Washington and North Carolina. We might plan some trips in those directions next year, but for now, we’re staying a little closer to home.
We’re also hoping to offer some small private events inside the Chariot later this season. It can comfortably seat 8 folks for a Cheesemaking 101 demonstration and Guided Cheese Tasting session and we’re envisioning this being a popular Holiday Party option for nearby folks.
Here’s what people have been saying:
“We had a great time…you kept the class interesting and made us all feel like we could make cheese!! We loved it!” ~ Amy A.
“It was great to meet you…thank you so much for your awesome cheesemaking class!” ~ Lydia R.
“You did an awesome class! Just the right pace.” ~ Diane R.
Meanwhile, back at the farm…
Classes continue back at our on-farm classroom with our other two instructors when I’m on the road, and we also have our 50+ On Demand classes that were developed during the pandemic shut down so, no matter where students are, they can learn to make cheese with us!
Cathy Van Blerkom says
Hi Kate! I’ve been following with amazement your next adventures and hope you make it down to us in Durango next year. The scene here seems “ripe” for a visit. Such a great idea, but no surprise that you could make it happen! P.S. I miss the girls (and the boys, too.)
Kate Johnson says
Hey Cathy! I was just thinking about you the other day and wondering how your transition to Durango has been going?! Yes, I’d love to come down there next spring or summer so let’s get to planning! Drop me an email update when you get a chance.
Hi KATE, GREAT TO SEE YOU ARE ON THE ROAD DOING MOBILE CHEESE CLASSES. iM IN SYDNEY AUSTRALIA AND HAVE JUST BOUGHT A TRAILER AND I DO CHEESE CLASSES,CAN YOU GIVE ME SOME TIPS ON HOW TO TRAVEL WITH CHEESE CLASSES. ALSO DO YOU HAVE ANY PHOTOS OF YOUR VAN ON THE INSIDE SO I CAN LEARN HELPFUL IDEAS DURING TRAVELLING . THANKS SO MUCH SHARON CHAPPLE
Hi Sharon! How fun that you’re doing this in Australia! So far, because of Covid, we’ve only been teaching outdoor classes with the Chariot. And we’ve limited it to demonstration style classes with cheese tastings and pairings. I bring tables and chairs and set up just outside the trailer. I’m considering doing similar smaller more intimate classes inside the trailer eventually but not full hands-on classes – just demos and tastings. We save the hands-on classes for our brick and mortar classroom!
Best of luck! Feel free to email me at kate@theartofcheese.com for more conversation!
Am in Colorado Springs and unable to do a decent Brie. (Although I keep trying. ) Coming here? I hope. Am willing to help you with whatever.
Brie and Camembert can be tricky but very satisfying when you get it right! It all has to do with getting the humidity right during the first few days to a week of aging. I have a virtual class in the On Demand section of my class listings that covers these and many people have found it very helpful. Happy to email back and forth if you watch it and have questions. We’ll probably also offer an in-person class on this in December or January if you want to make the drive up to Longmont!
Arkansas has several great wineries you could contact.
Thanks! If I ever get out that way I’ll check them out!
Have trailer, will travel. What a great idea for education. What cheeses do you make in the class? Also, please let me know if you are coming to the New Orleans area any time.
Ooh that would be fun! So far, we’ve mainly been showing how to make Chevre or ricotta but mozzarella a possibility too. Most of the aged cheeses don’t lend themselves too well to this setting.
Hey, Kate!
My hat again goes off to you!
You are such an inspiring teacher and mentor.
I only wish next year you could come East. We need you here, too!
Rebecca
aww thanks Rebecca! You’ve been such a great and loyal student. If I ever get to PA you know I’ll look you up!
It says “We” but I don’t know who the other “we” is to whom she refers? Inquiring minds are curious.
I have several other instructors that help out and sometimes an occasional family member gets roped into joining me!