Start Making Your Own Cheese + How to Make Better Homestead Decisions

IN TODAY'S EDITION

1. Homestead Tip 🌱

2. Poll Results From Last Tuesday 📊

3. All Things Homestead: Make Your Own Cheese at Home 🧀

4. Personal Development: How to Make Intentional Choices on the Homestead 🧐

5. Today's Top Picks 🛍️

6. Let’s Keep It Reel 🤣

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

Control your own ingredients.... finally. Introducing the World´s First SMART Home Cheesemaker!

Enjoy eating natamycin, sorbic acid, and sodium phosphate? If not, then forget store-bought cheese and make it yourself! Join our community, and make healthy, delicious cheese in a few clicks with Fromaggio. Sign up now and receive a free E-book about cheese, discounts, and more.

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POLL RESULTS FROM LAST TUESDAY

Is it better for homesteaders to plant a wide variety of crops for biodiversity, or focus on a few key crops that provide most of their food needs?

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 A wide variety of crops ensures biodiversity and resilience.

🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️ Focusing on key crops is more efficient and manageable.

🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️ A mix of variety and focused crops provides balance.

🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️ It depends on the homestead’s size and available labor.

⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Others (Feel free to specify your answer after you've voted.)

via @beehiiv polls

Feel free to participate in fun polls in our next newsletters! 😉

Also, follow us on Facebook and Pinterest for daily homesteading inspiration and updates.

ALL THINGS HOMESTEAD

Make Your Own Cheese at Home 🧀

If you’ve ever thought about making your own cheese, there’s no better time to start! Not only is homemade cheese fresh and delicious, but it’s also a chance to know exactly what goes into your food. No preservatives, no mystery ingredients—just pure, simple cheese made right at home.

In this section, we’ll go through how to make three beginner-friendly cheeses: ricotta and mozzarella.

Why Make Your Own Cheese?

Making cheese at home has a ton of benefits beyond just taste:

• You Control the Ingredients: No preservatives, artificial flavors, or hidden additives—just clean, simple ingredients.

• Fresher Flavor: Homemade cheese has a flavor and freshness you won’t get from store-bought.

• It’s Fun!: There’s something so rewarding about creating your own food from scratch, and cheesemaking is no exception.

Essentials for Cheesemaking

First, let’s go over what you’ll need for these recipes:

Basic Ingredients:

• Milk: The base for all cheese. Whole milk is best for texture and flavor, but make sure it’s not ultra-pasteurized since that type doesn’t curdle well.

• Lemon Juice or Vinegar: This is used to curdle the milk.

• Salt: Adds flavor to the cheese.

Equipment:

• Large Pot: For heating the milk.

• Thermometer: Helps you keep track of the milk’s temperature.

• Slotted Spoon: For scooping curds.

• Cheesecloth: Used for draining the curds.

• Colander and Bowl: For straining the cheese.

If you’re using Fromaggio, it automates most of these steps. Just choose the cheese type on the machine, add your ingredients, and let it do the work.

Making Ricotta Cheese

Ricotta is a great cheese to start with—it’s simple, fresh, and doesn’t require a lot of special ingredients. Here’s how to make it:

1. Heat the Milk: Pour 4 cups of whole milk into a pot and warm it slowly to 185°F (85°C).

2. Add Acid: Take the pot off the heat and slowly add 2 tablespoons of lemon juice or vinegar. Stir gently as the curds start to form.

3. Let the Curds Sit: Leave the mixture alone for about 5 minutes to let the curds set.

4. Drain: Line a colander with cheesecloth and pour in the mixture. Let it drain for about 10-15 minutes, depending on how creamy or firm you want your ricotta.

5. Salt and Store: Sprinkle in a pinch of salt for flavor, give it a gentle stir, and transfer your ricotta to a container.

Troubleshooting Tips: If the curds don’t form, make sure your milk is hot enough or try adding a little extra acid.

Making Mozzarella Cheese

Mozzarella is a bit more hands-on, but it’s worth it for the stretchy, delicious results. Here’s how to make it at home:

1. Heat the Milk: Pour 1 gallon of whole milk into a pot and heat to 90°F (32°C).

2. Add Rennet: Dissolve ¼ rennet tablet (or ¼ teaspoon liquid rennet) in a bit of water and stir it into the milk.

3. Let the Curds Form: Wait about 5-10 minutes, then check for curds. They should look like a soft gel.

4. Cut the Curds: Use a knife to cut the curds into cubes.

5. Heat the Curds: Warm the curds to 105°F (40°C), stirring gently. This helps release more whey.

6. Stretching: Transfer the curds to a microwave-safe bowl, heat in 15-second intervals until stretchy, then pull and fold the curds until smooth and shiny. Sprinkle in some salt if you like.

Tips for Stretching: Try not to over-stretch the mozzarella, as it can make it tough. Aim for a nice, smooth, elastic texture.

Serving Suggestions: Fresh mozzarella is amazing on salads, pizza, or just with a little olive oil and herbs.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

How to Make Intentional Choices on the Homestead 🧐

Homesteading is all about making decisions—big and small. From what crops to grow to whether you should expand your chicken coop, the choices you make affect how smoothly things run and how they align with your long-term goals.

Know What Matters Most

Before you jump into any decisions, it helps to know what’s most important to you. Why did you start homesteading? Are you focused on sustainability, saving money, or just enjoying a simpler life? Whatever your main goals are, they should guide your choices. For example, if sustainability is your top priority, that might influence decisions like reusing materials instead of buying new, or focusing on organic growing methods.

Quick Tip: Write down your top 3 homesteading values and keep them somewhere you can easily see. Use them as a reminder when making decisions about your homestead.

Take Time to Think Before Acting

It’s easy to get caught up in the daily rush—especially when things get busy around the homestead. But making quick decisions without thinking them through can lead to regret.

When you’re about to make a decision—whether it’s buying new equipment, adding livestock, or expanding your garden—ask yourself these questions:

• Does this align with my homesteading values?

• How will this impact my homestead in the future?

• Am I being influenced by others, like social media or comparison?

Slowing down gives you the chance to reflect and make choices that truly support your goals.

Simple Exercises for Better Decisions

One practical tool for mindful decision-making is using a “decision filter.” This means writing down the pros and cons of a choice while keeping your core values in mind.

Example: If your goal is self-sufficiency, expanding your livestock makes sense. But if you're already stretched thin with time, it might not be the right move just yet.

Another strategy is to give yourself time before making a big decision. If you’re debating something major—like whether to expand your garden—set a 24-hour “thinking period.” This gives you space to weigh the pros and cons and avoid rushed decisions.

THE STEADY HOME’S GIGGLE CHAMBER

How do apples stay cool in the summer?

They chill in the fridge until fall.

TODAY'S TOP PICKS

Vacuum Sealer Machine

Label Maker

Wide Mouth Mason Jars

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LET’S KEEP IT REEL!

I've put together some fantastic farm videos that are sure to make you laugh. Take a look and enjoy the fun!

1. Not exactly a joke, but definitely cool: Have you met the goat master?

@c_wondersoffarming

King of goat! #goat #farming #funny

2. When they say to sing to your plants, but don’t mention if you need to be in tune or not! 😂 It’s the thought that counts, right?

@plantmeinthedirt

The “Ow” always gets me 😂😂#MemeCut #MemeCut #MemeCut #Meme #MemeCut #plants #plantsoftiktok #houseplants #plantmom #planttok #plantparents

3. Goats were clearly meant to be parkour pros:

@garyandgertrude

Goats are good at parkour! #goats #goatsoftiktok #nigeriandwarfgoats #petsoftiktok #pets #parkour #theoffice #michealscott #jump #funny #fyp

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