If I were to put one word at the top of 2014 it would be change. Our business is going through a period of change and transition. Brian has chosen to leave and pursue other opportunities. Right now he is awaiting word on his Visa as he plans to spend a year in Ireland working on the Gubbeen Farm. We were faced with several decisions and have decided to keep the business going and Ralph and Sheila are going to take over the cheese production and customer relations. 

We have done some thinking and planning and this year we hope to focus on producing our four most popular cheeses: Charloe, Flat Rock, Black Swamp Gouda, and mmBossie Cheddar. The winter months involve little to no cheese production so we are looking forward to Spring, when the pastures are suitable to send the cows back out which will bring an increase in milk production.

We calve about 2/3 of our herd in the Spring and 1/3 in the Fall. We have just begun our calving season for this year and have had 5 calves so far. We hope to have around 40 calves this spring.

You will be hearing mostly from me, Renae, as I will be taking over the web site maintenance and social media interaction. I would welcome any comments or suggestions.

Enjoy the rest of this first day of Spring!

-Renae

Defiance Farmers Market - Nothing But Nature, Phil Sherry

Clintonville Farmers Market -http://www.clintonvillefarmersmarket.org/

New Albany Farmers Market

Hyde Park Farmers Market

Toledo Farmers Market - http://www.toledofarmersmarket.org/ 

Perrysburg Farmers Market - http://www.visitperrysburg.com/farmers.html 

2nd Street Market - E.A.T. Food for Life - Dayton, OH - http://www.metroparks.org/Parks/SecondStreetMarket/FoodBeverage_Shopping.aspx  

Local Roots - Wooster, OH - www.localrootswooster.com

Local Roots - Ashland, OH - www.localrootsashland.com

Stores that carry Canal Junction Farmstead Cheese

In Ohio

E.A.T Food for Life - Yorkshire, OH - www.eatfoodforlife.com

Sautter's Food Center - Sylvania, OH

The Food Store - Bluffton, OH

West Point Market - Akron, OH

Lucky Penny Creamery - Kent, OH - www.luckypennyfarm.com

Katzinger's Deli - Columbus, OH - www.katzingers.com

Curds & Whey - Columbus, OH - www.curdsandwheycolumbus.com

The Hill's Market - Columbus, OH - www.thehillsmarket.com

Wielands Gourmet Market - Columbus, OH

Sweet Meadows - Zanesville, OH

In Michigan

People Food Co-op - Ann Arbor, MI - www.peoplefood.coop

Pellston Market - Pellston, MI

In Indiana

3 Rivers Food Co-op - Ft. Wayne, IN - www.3riversfood.coop

In Illionis

Great American Cheese Collection - Chicago, IL - www.greatamericancheese.com

In Iowa

The Cheese Shop of Des Moines - Des Moines, IA - http://thecheeseshopdsm.com/

In Texas

Molto Formaggio - Dallas, TX - http://www.moltoformaggio.com/

In Colorado

The Truffle Cheese Shop - Denver, CO - http://denvertruffle.com/

In Oregon

Cheese Bar - Portland, OR - http://cheese-bar.com/

Restaurants using Canal Junction Farmstead Cheese

Alana's Food & Wine - Columbus, OH - www.alanas.com

Downtown 140 - Hudson, OH - http://www.downtown140.com/

Zingo's Mediterranean - Perrysburg, OH

Black Creek Bistro - Columbus, OH - www.blackcreekbistro.com

Granville Inn - Granville, OH - www.granvilleinn.com

Harvest Pizzeria - Columbus, OH - harvestpizzeria.com

Hilton Polaris - Columbus, OH - www1.hilton.com

The Refectory - Columbus, OH - www.refectoryrestaurant.com

Sage American Bistro - Columbus, OH - www.sageamericanbistro.com

Winerys offering Canal Junciton Farmstead Cheese

Troutman Winery - Wooster, OH - www.troutmanvineyards.com

Winery at Wolf Creek - Norton, OH - www.wineryatwolfcreek.com

Distributors carrying Canal Junction Farmstead Cheese

Cleveland area: Summit Select Provisions, contact: Dave Sharp - 330-606-9250

Columbus area: Insantwhip Foods, contact: Rusty Tuggle - 1-800-544-9447

Chicago area: Great American Cheese Collection, contact: Giles Schnierle - 773-779-5055

Originals - These cheeses were created right here on the farm; interweaving old practices and techniques with new ideas for a clean unique tasting experience.

Lock 21

 Type patterned after: Cheesemakers own creation

 Aged: 60 days - 4 months

 Price per Pound: $16.00

 Description: Slight mushroomy taste with a wonderful earthly overtone.

 Available: Yes

 On any canal there is a series of locks that makes the canal work. Just 2 1/2 miles from the farm there is Lock #21. This cheese was a creation of the cheesemaker one day. What resulted was a white rinded cheese, that has a slight mushroom taste with a wonderful earthly overtone. This is a seasonal cheese that is made only when the cows are on pasture.

Charloe - 2012 Good Food Award Winner

        Type patterned after: Cheesemakers own creation

 Aged: 60 - 120 days

 Price per Pound: $16.00

 Description: This cheese is a washed rind cheese thats aroma is earthy along with toasted peanuts. Smooth  and creamy with hints of toasted peanuts.

 Available: Yes

 Named for the little town of Charloe. This town was a boom town during the canal era. It was also home to the Charloe Indians and housed the counties first court house.

 Burr Oak

 Type patterned after: Hard Grating Cheese

         Aged: at least 1 year

  Price per Pound: $16.00

  Description: Nutty, Wild grapes, Yeasty, with a little sweet to the finish

          Available: May 2012, reserve yours today!

 Grate this over any dish and enjoy. We are now producing two batches a year of this wonderful cheese. One in May and the other in September. Reserve yours today as it goes fast.

Standards - These cheeses are modeled after another cheese, typically of European origin.

Miami Erie Canal

Type patterned after: Emmentaler or Swiss

Aged: 4-6 months

Price per Pound: $14.60

Description: Nutty with a sweet note

Available: Yes

Named after one of the two canals which run just a couple of miles from the farm running north and south and following the eastern boundary of the farm.

Wabash Erie Canal

Type patterned after: Gruyere

Aged: 4-6 months

Price per Pound: $14.60

Description: Nutty with a complex finish

Available: Yes

Named for one of the two canals which run just a couple of miles from the farm running east and west.

Flat Rock

Type patterened after: Abondance ( a French mountain cheese)

Price per Pound: $14.60

        Description:

        Available: Yes

mmBossie Cheddar - not availabe for wholesale

Type patterned after: Bandaged stirr curd cheddar

Aged: 60 days - 6 months

Price per Pound: $13.00

Description: Creamy and gets sharper and more complex as it ages

Available: Yes

mmboss, mmboss, brings the cows into the barn when it is time for milking.

Black Swamp Gouda

Type patterened after: Gouda or Edam

Aged: 60 days - 6 months

Price per Pound: $14.60

Available: Yes

Description: Ranges from creamy and mild to harder and sharper depending upon when it is made during the year. Changes much more drastically than any of the other cheeses.

Named after the Great Black Swamp in northwest Ohio. This swamp at one time covered approximately 3 million acres.

We are west of Defiance and east of the state line. Look for County Road 143. Head south on rd 143. You will be heading into Paulding County. That is correct. Continue on rd 143, do not turn off of rd 143. This will turn into State Highway 637. Head south on St. Rt. 637 to County Road 168. Turn east onto rd 168. Go a half mile, we are on the north side of the road. There is a sign (C/J Natural Meats) at the end of the driveway. The store is the brown building with the pine tree in front of it.

From the South (U.S. 30)

Take the Middle Point exit and head north. You will be on a country road. The first stop sign that you come to is State Highway 224. Turn and head west on St. Rt. 224 to St. Rt. 637. Turn and head north on St. Rt. 637. You will go through a small town called Grover Hill. From there you will then cross a Rail Road track. At that point you have about 5 miles to county road 168. Turn and head east on rd 168. Go a half mile and we are on the north side of the road. There is a sign (C/J Natural Meats) at the bottom of the drive. The store is the brown building with the pine tree in front of it.

There is a white sign on St. Rt. 637 that reads, C/J Natural Meats, thats us. 

If lost call us at 419-399-2350. We live in Paulding County but have a Defiance address. If you are using GPS or internet directions. You will type in Defiance, OH 43512,  DO NOT use Paulding, OH 45879. It does not recognize 18637 Rd 168, Paulding, OH.

www.cjgrassfed.com - The farm where it all takes place. (where Canal Junction Farmstead Cheese is located) If you are looking for any of the meat info look here.

www.cheezsorce.com - Cheesemaking resource from Farm to Market. Great People to work with, who know the craft and business of cheesemaking.

www.smalldairy.com - a wealth of information for both the consumer and producer. There is a listing of producers who make a variety of dairy products along with listings of equipment dealers and equipment for sale.

http://hoeggerfarmyard.com/ - a great place to find high quality equipment for both making cheese and anything goat.

http://www.cheesemaking.com/ - New England Cheesemaking Supply Company, anything and everything cheesemaking. Also a wealth of information.

http://www.veggieu.org/index2.htm