Discover the Sassafras Farm experience.
All workshops take place at Sassafras Farm– home of Chickens in the Road–located in the beautiful Appalachian foothills of Roane County, West Virginia, approximately 30 minutes north of Charleston, WV.
Hard Cheese Made Easy Workshops
Explore the basic how and why of milk, cultures, rennet, cheese presses (homemade and spring-weighted), as well as resources and education about the basic supplies and equipment to set up a home cheese cave. You will practice hands-on making two hard cheeses–a washed curd cheese and a cheddar–from pot to press along with drying and waxing. Whether you’re thinking of getting your own cow or goat, or just want to experience the whole process from barn to kitchen, this retreat is for you. Every attendee will get hands-on practice milking a cow or goat both by hand and by machine and learn to handle fresh milk from filtering to skimming cream. Learn all about handling dairy livestock, breeding, housing, feeding, and managing babies along with managing a family dairy, hands on. Leave with hard cheese demystified and the skills to make your own at home. 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. One-day workshop. $75. Lunch is included.
Dates:
Saturday, April 22, 2017
Saturday, June 24, 2017
Saturday, October 21, 2017
Spaces are limited! Sign up to hold yours! Email [email protected] to sign up by mail. Or, you can also sign up on Etsy! Go here to register online via Etsy.
The Sassafras Farm Experience
Learn! Find old-time skills and fresh, new methods with in-person mentorship, in-depth and hands-on, at a real working family farm. Take home fun and functional know-how for self-sufficient living and old-fashioned crafting–and take home what you make, too. Your retreat day includes lunch plus all your instruction, supplies, and take-homes along with an opportunity to milk the cows or goats, visit the chickens, give treats to the animals, and rock on the porch while you watch the calves frolic. All you need to bring is an apron (optional), muck boots (recommended for forays to the barn), and your enthusiasm to learn! Every workshop is HANDS-ON with teacher and milk maid Suzanne McMinn, writer and creator of Chickens in the Road.
Accommodations are not included. See the Suggested Accommodations page.
Kids are welcome. Sassafras Farm retreats are family-friendly events. Teens may sign up to attend this retreat accompanied by a parent/guardian. (Both teens and parents must be paid attendees. Please be a good judge of your teen’s maturity, behavior, and interest in the subject matter.)
Location: All workshops take place at Sassafras Farm in Roane County, WV, about 30 minutes north of Charleston, WV near I-79.
Cost: Cost includes ALL instruction, supplies, lunch plus snacks, and take-homes. This retreat is $75 per person. If you sign up, please plan to attend. Retreat reservations are nonrefundable. If you can’t attend for some reason, your reservation payment may be applied to another retreat of your choice where there are openings available. (Retreats also make great gifts to friends and family!) And yes, many men attend workshops here!
Sign up! Email Suzanne at [email protected] with the full name for each attendee to sign up. (You may sign up for a friend if you are coming together.) Payment information will be sent at that time. Directions to the farm and other information will be provided to attendees in advance of the retreat. Or, you can also sign up on Etsy! Go here to register online via Etsy.
See more 2017 workshops at the farm: 2017 Workshops at Sassafras Farm
Private groups, corporate retreats, and school groups: See information here for Private Groups and Family Reunions or here for Corporate Retreats and Company Picnics or here for School and Camp Groups.
