CheeseForum.org ยป Forum
GENERAL BOARDS => Introductions => Topic started by: zeker on December 16, 2013, 02:25:23 PM
-
just logged in and reading reading reading.. lotsa good info here and glad to see so many canucks.
never made cheese b4 but used to milk a jersey and we made our own butter.. cant fathom why cheese never entered into the picture back then? duh..
my biggest concern rite now is getting raw milk.. altho I am surrounded by mennonite farmers, they seem to be hesitant to even discuss raw milk.. pose i cant blame them.
I did learn recently that if I ask for it for petfood, I mite have a better chance.. will try that.
I live somewhat rustic (no running water) so, I,m sure, sanitation, will be a challenge.
mostly interested in cheddars
cheers
-
Hi Zeker, welcome to the forum. Raw milk is a touchy subject in our neck of the woods. I guess the Mennonites are being cautious. This forum has helped me greatly in making cheese at home (better than any book on the market IMO).
As for sanitation, I would suggest Star San. It's an acid based sanitizer. Just clean everything with regular water and dish soap like you normally would. Once dry, dunk everything in a mix of star san and water for 60 seconds and let air dry. You can even sanitize your kitchen with that stuff in a spray bottle. Safest and simplest way to sanitize IMO.
Good luck and have fun making cheese :D
-
Hi!
Offer those Mennonites some cheese from their raw milk. We mennos love a good trade...
Trent
-
Welcome to the site!
-
Howdy Zeker. Like Spoons said raw milk is a bit of a conundrum. I tried it but now am sold on a locally produced low temperature pasturized, non-homogenized milk. It's reasonably priced and makes great cheese. In Gianiclis Calwell's wonderful book "Mastering Artisan Cheesemaking" she has a sidebar where she discusses milk that says "Raw Milk: Don't be Niave" and goes on to say that she has less of a concern for bacterial contamination from the environment than she does for the "passing of disease of disease from animals to humans". I know as much about milk contamination as Elsie the cow know about glue ???, so heed the advice of others here (and you as well as an ex-milker). Best of luck in your sojourn, raw milk or not.
-
my biggest concern rite now is getting raw milk.. altho I am surrounded by mennonite farmers, they seem to be hesitant to even discuss raw milk.. pose i cant blame them.
I did learn recently that if I ask for it for petfood, I mite have a better chance.. will try that.
Long time lurker here. My cheeses are so embarassing that I can't even bring myself to take a photo. I'll get there, one day.
Raw milk is expressly illegal to sell, or give away, or trade, in Ontario. No cow-shares either. Sadly, this is a law that is actually enforced:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-raw-milk-farmer-fined-9k-1.1108091 (http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-raw-milk-farmer-fined-9k-1.1108091)
But as you noted, it is legal to sell milk for non-human consumption. Thus, the Menonites could sell it to you for your pets.
TOS