Shirley and her husband, Randy have 6 grown kids and 9 grandchildren, so far. Due to Covid, daycare options are limited so they are finding themselves babysitting quite a bit right now.
This is hard to imagine because their normal schedule alone is grueling by any standards (as in leaving home at 3am to go to farmer’s markets and getting home at 7-8pm).
Their business, Hampshire Farms demands their attention 7 days/week. They sell vegetables, herbs, chickens, eggs, wood-fired brick-oven breads and muffins, stoneground flour, soup beans and more.
Last month, in February, they did manage to take 19 days off. They took a road trip to visit family, friends, museums, a wedding and an organic farming conference. In 9 of those days, they drove 5,000 miles!
Despite all this, Shirley took the time to tell us about her life and how cheese making fits into it . . .
Shirley’s Story
I am a 30-year baker of whole grain sourdough breads baked in a wood fired brick oven from grains grown and milled on the farm.
We turned our one-car garage into a licensed bakery in 1992.
I can bake forty 1 1/2# loaves at a time, up to 3 batches on a firing. My record is 30 pizzas to feed a crowd.
We have a 20-inch stone mill plus two 8-inch stone mills. We grow hard red wheat, spelt, rye, buckwheat and corn for flour.
Our farm has been certified organic since 1988.
We have 18 pastured Jersey cows not yet certified as organic because herd shares in Michigan are about as legal as marijuana.
We were working on biodynamic certification but the certifier went out of business and we haven’t looked into it more.
We provide fresh milk to about 150 families each week and we are listed on your Good Milk List.
After we fill jugs for our herd share twice a week, we run the leftover milk through a cream separator. Some cream goes to the herd share owners after I have all I want.
Skim goes to the chickens and pigs when we have them.
Every week, there are herd share owners who do not pick up their milk and some of it comes home. Those gallons find their way into my big cheese pot, where two gallons at a time is turned into cheese.
How I got started:
My neighbor bought the 30 Minute Mozzarella & Ricotta Kit years ago and shared it/made cheese with me. Luckily, I can buy rennet and citric acid locally at our bulk food store.
I only make a little cheese – easy stuff like full fat mozzarella and full fat ricotta for pizza, nibbling, and lasagna.
My 20-quart Hobart mixer can turn 6 quarts of cream into butter in short order. We also have a 1 1/2 gallon ice cream freezer and our own eggs, so we can make ice cream for a crowd.
Goals for cheese making:
As I ease into retirement, my husband has offered to make me a cheese press so I can expand my cheese making. I am very fond of cheddar, Gouda and provolone.
Hampshire Farms
7300 Legg Rd.
Kingston MI 48741
989-827-9067
E-Mail: hampshirefarmsorganic@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hampshirefarmsorganic/
Farmer’s Markets:
Royal Oak in Royal Oak and Eastern Market in Detroit
Rhonda Bates says
Hi Shirley You are Such an Inspiration! You work hard but it looks like you have a beautiful and delicious life! Filled with lots of love and fresh air. I’m trying to ease into retirement too but I find myself still working hard doing all the things I’ve wanted to do like Cheese Making. It could turn into another business. ( Be careful) What a Great Article and Congratulations on a Wonderful life and some recognition. I want to come and meet you one day!
Ricki Carroll says
Dear Shirley, Wow, wow and wow! So generous of you to share your story, taking time out of your fabulously busy life. You are truly an inspiration, and you have my admiration for all you do in the world. I’m curious because you tried to get biodynamic certification, are you a part of the Waldorf world? My sister has been a part of it for all of her adult life. Poppy looks like she was getting tired of the hills and perhaps thought she had found an ingenious solution…until it didn’t quite work the way she might have planned. Better luck next time Poppy. Thanks for sharing your story with our cheese making family, good luck with your wonder-filled adventures, have fun with all the grandkids and thank you so much for teaching another generation about what matters.
In Peace, Love and Cheese, Ricki
Shirley Hampshire says
We had been interested in biodynamic farming for years. The biggest hurdle to jump was finding a way to bring cattle back to our farm. Herd shares became legal and off we went.
I am aware of the Waldorf schools, but they are two hours away in the city. We chose to homeschool instead. It worked well for us.
Oh my gosh, Shirley, you are one busy lady! I love that you are living your life making wholesome food for so many people. Thanks for sharing your story.
Thanks for your hard work producing great food, Hampshire Family!
– Ray M