10. Slingin' cheese

I’ve settled into my stay at Ferme de la Ceppe in the mountains near Lugarde, France. My hosts, Dennis and Lina, have a love for animals that exceeds the capacity of their home. Along with the regular woofers, they host forty milking goats, three jersey cows, three horses, three parakeets, three ducks, two roosters, two pigs, two rabbits, six guinea pigs, nine dogs (plus puppies), and innumerable cats. Dennis’s affection for animals is clear. He goes into the barn in the morning and listens to the goats for a while before milking them. The dogs all pack around him wherever he is on the property, and there seems to be no animal he won’t kiss. Although it gives me the heebie-jeebies to watch a man kiss a bird, it’s clear this man is where he belongs. 

Getting to know Dennis over the last couple days has been really interesting. Originally from Germany, he spent some time in Florida working at Disneyworld before moving to Paris and eventually Cantal (a region in South-Central France). My first day started at six o’clock with watching Dennis milk the goats and cows. The mama goats are milked four at a time, directly into tanks in the adjacent fromagerie. After a busy day at the Bort les Orgues market, Dennis showed me some of his techniques in making cheese and yogurt. There was a lot to prepare in order to have enough for Sunday’s market in Clermont-Ferrand. Some of the milk had been left at the wrong temperature and could not be used for yogurts, but we brought everything he had. At the stand with customers, Dennis is in his element. He is jovial and poised. He makes quality products and serves many repeat customers, always looking to introduce something new. Today (Sunday) was a record-setting day in sales and Dennis shed a few tears of relief when it was finally over. The farm has had some financial struggles in the last few years. If this trend continues, though, they will be able to keep their spot.

Now that the busy weekend markets are finished, we’ve set our sights on a few projects for the week. Both the barn and the tack room need new doors. Fortunately, I think I may be able to contribute some here. 

Á bientôt,

Clayton

Busy day! Dennis sold out of a lot of cheese and all the yogurt and crepes. I helped with set-up and gathering used cartons and bottles, but spent most of the market day wandering.