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GENERAL CHEESE MAKING BOARDS (Specific Cheese Making in Boards above) => Discussion => Topic started by: Likesspace on March 10, 2009, 01:58:16 AM

Title: Does everyone make cheese all year long?
Post by: Likesspace on March 10, 2009, 01:58:16 AM
Hi guys....
First of all, I apologize for not being more active on the board lately. My life has been pretty hectic and I forsee at least another month before things really begin to slow down for me.

Yesterday I made a batch of swiss (without the P. Shermanii) and added some jalepenos and red bell peppers to it. I did this because I really like the texture of a swiss and thought it might work nicely as a pepper cheese, curd.

Well while making this cheese (on a 72 degree day), I realized that it might be my final cheese of the "year", and I have to admit that I got a little depressed thinking about it.

I normally only make cheese during the winter months. This is because I worry about the excessive heat we get in southern Illinois and also I worry about little flying things that sometimes get into our house in the summer.

Another reason that I only make cheese in the winter is because I have a ton of other hobbies like swimming, astronomy, cycling, badminton, fishing, golf and gardening which I practice all summer long.

I also worry that if I were to make cheese all year long I might not enjoy the process as much as I do now. I hate winter weather but I always get a bit excited once the end of summer comes and I realize that cheese making season is right around the corner.
It's sort of like closing our pool at the end of summer...it brings a sense of depression when the season is over, but that time without the pool makes it really special once summer comes.

So, I was just sitting here wondering about everyone else.
Do you make cheese all year long or do you take a break in the summer?
When I told my wife, (yesterday),  that the season was nearly over, she simply stated that she figured I would continue to make it over the summer since I have enjoyed it so much this winter.

Looking forward to hearing what the rest of you have to say on this subject.

Dave
Title: Re: Does everyone make cheese all year long?
Post by: Cheese Head on March 10, 2009, 02:27:57 AM
I've only been making cheese one year but I made it year round, basically as consumed and thus required.

Summer here in Houston is equivalent of your winter, most everyone stays inside during daytime, or in swimming pool ;D, thus good time to make.

Plus of course summer for you is winter for everyone in the summer hemisphere! And then there are those that live on the equator with no real seasons!
Title: Re: Does everyone make cheese all year long?
Post by: thegregger on March 10, 2009, 02:46:44 AM
Dave:

I make it all year long.  In Northern California, the weather is a bit more consistent.
Title: Re: Does everyone make cheese all year long?
Post by: MrsKK on March 10, 2009, 01:59:01 PM
I'm coming into my cheesemaking break now, as I will be drying up my cow at the end of the month.  Production is slowing down and I'm working at freezing enough milk to drink and canning enough for making yogurt to get us through the dry period, so I don't know if I'll have enough to make any more cheese in the meantime.

It makes me kind of sad, as I've been making at least one five-gallon batch of cheese a week.  I will kind of miss it, but I will also enjoy having a break from milking.  Time to get some massive spring cleaning done!
Title: Re: Does everyone make cheese all year long?
Post by: chilipepper on March 10, 2009, 02:09:48 PM
Dave, good to hear from you again! 

I too am thinking that I'll at least taper off my cheese production once the weather gets a little nicer here.  Mostly by sheer lack of time to keep going with it.  I have my plate pretty full once I can get outside and do 'stuff' too.  We have a pretty big yard and garden to keep going as well as camping, fishing, hiking on weekends.  The kids seem to be in a bunch of different summer stuff too so I'm guessing my weekends will fill up pretty fast.  I'll try and sneak in whatever I can when I have the time and a lot will also depend on my raw milk supply too.

I'm also a little curious (maybe concerned) about the temp control in my cellar.  It is attached to the house and has a small roof that is facing west.   Last summer I put 2 inches of foam board on the room and new tin sheeting.  Over that I build a deck off the back of our house that will shade it.  Prior to that I was getting temps in there during July and August of 60 degrees.  So hopefully this summer I'll be able to keep it around that 50 mark through the hot months.  If not I have an old refrigerator in storage that I could pull and put into place for an emergency cave.   

None of this really effects production but rather the aging which of course will be an issue. So we'll have to wait and see.

Ryan
Title: Re: Does everyone make cheese all year long?
Post by: wharris on March 10, 2009, 02:15:44 PM
The only reason i am slowing down is that most of my mistakes have been due to insufficient hardware.  I am slowly modifying my setup to include a well regulated cave.

Title: Re: Does everyone make cheese all year long?
Post by: Likesspace on March 11, 2009, 01:53:46 AM
Okay guys, thanks for the replies...
I guess I'll probably try making at least a few batches of cheese over the summer.
I've gotten into this more this past winter than I have in any of the previous years.
After just eating a few slices of stirred curd cheddar and gouda I made a few months ago, I'm convinced that this is not a winter only sport.
If nothing else, I have to make another couple of Cheddars and Stiltons. I seem to be getting the hang of this and I don't want to take a chance on losing what I've gained.

Dave
Title: Re: Does everyone make cheese all year long?
Post by: DeejayDebi on April 05, 2009, 03:57:21 AM
I normally only make cheese in the winter but I am about to setup a cheese cave to make it easier.
Title: Re: Does everyone make cheese all year long?
Post by: PeterNZ on July 21, 2009, 04:25:23 AM
We here are also having a break because the goats are dry! I will start milking again in August once the kids have arrived. We just ate our last cheese from last season. So it almost brought us across into next season. But next season I'll milk 4 goats which is double the milk then. So I hope to have a fuller cheese store by the end of next season. And I just ordered a bigger mould too.

Cheers

Peter
Title: Re: Does everyone make cheese all year long?
Post by: wharris on July 21, 2009, 03:55:07 PM
it appears that I make cheese in the winter, and cheese making gear in the summer.   lol

Title: Re: Does everyone make cheese all year long?
Post by: DeejayDebi on July 23, 2009, 04:29:40 AM
DO we ever really stop making gear for our hobbies?  :D