Just a quick update on our little Nelson Jameson incubator and the aerobic plate count petrifilm plates: It dawned on me that that is a great way to test our cheese brine for its microbiological safety. Ran the first test on Friday and the brine, which is about 6 months old now, had zero growth. … Continue reading Petrifilm plate count- Brine
Month: August 2011
Doing Standard Plate Counts- On the Farm
Who would have thought having your own on-farm lab would be so easy- and affordable? I am kicking myself for not trying this sooner. Doing our own, in house, milk quality tests will help our small, licensed dairy to stay on top of cleaning regimens and milk quality. Even though our results will not be … Continue reading Doing Standard Plate Counts- On the Farm
Doing your own Plate Counts
I finally plugged in the little petri-film incubator we purchased from Nelson Jameson and I am, at the moment, cooking our first anaerobic plate counts. It took me a long time to get around to this, but I think it will go a long way toward making sure our milk is super clean, as well … Continue reading Doing your own Plate Counts
“What’s it Going to Cost?” A Look at the Cost of Building a Farmstead Creamery
If you are considering turning your goat hobby into a business, either a milk or cheese dairy, then you are probably trying to find the answer to one very important question, what’s it going to cost to build? You have probably already figured out that there are no easy, one-size-fits-all answers to this question, but … Continue reading “What’s it Going to Cost?” A Look at the Cost of Building a Farmstead Creamery
Coming to Terms with Animal Cannibalism
It was my task, this last week, to care for our daughters rabbits while she was out of town. Amelia breeds Netherland Dwarf rabbits- cute little two pound balls of fluff with tiny ears and puss-in-boots eyes. Amelia loves to make thorough lists, so she left me with detailed instructions, including nick- names (I guess … Continue reading Coming to Terms with Animal Cannibalism