Cheesemaking Is Fancy Composting: Why Milk Wants to Transform with Robyn Jackson

Everyday Ancestral

In this episode, I sit down with Robyn Jackson, founder of Cheese From Scratch and a passionate advocate for traditional cheesemaking. For over a decade, Robyn has been turning raw milk into artisanal cheese while teaching thousands of people how to embrace this timeless skill. As a homesteader, mom, and educator, she’s on a mission to preserve the art of natural cheesemaking, which has been transformed by modern pasteurization practices.

We discuss the journey from fresh milk to aged cheese, the nutritional power of raw dairy, and how anyone can get started with yogurt, kefir, or even cream cheese. Whether you're a curious beginner or a seasoned homesteader, this conversation will inspire you to reconnect with the roots of food preservation.

Key Takeaways

The Science of Fermentation – How natural bacteria turn milk into nutritious, preserved dairy products.

Raw Milk vs. Pasteurized Milk – What makes raw milk special and how pasteurization has changed the cheesemaking process.

Getting Started – Why yogurt and cream cheese are perfect entry points into homemade dairy.

Milk Preservation for the Future – How cheesemaking offers resilience and sustainability for homesteading communities.

Choosing Quality Ingredients – How to select the best milk and avoid overly processed options in store-bought cheese.

Where to Find Our Guest

Find Robyn Jackson’s cheesemaking resources at http://www.cheesefromscratch.com.

Follow her on Instagram for tutorials and tips at https://www.instagram.com/cheese_from_scratch

Join her Milkmaid Society membership at https://cheesefromscratch.com/milk-maid-society for step-by-step cheesemaking guides.

Links & Resources

Explore cheesemaking supplies at http://www.cheesemaking.com (U.S.) and https://glengarrycheesemaking.on.ca/ (Canada).

Discover raw milk sources at http://www.realmilk.com.

Subscribe to Robyn’s newsletter for updates on her upcoming book, launching Spring 2025, at http://www.cheesefromscratch.com.

Get 20% off Pluck Superfood Seasonings using code EA20 at http://www.eatpluck.com.

Call to Action

Ready to dive into cheesemaking? Start with yogurt or kefir and control your ingredients for better health. Visit https://eatpluck.com/everydayancestral/ for more on this episode and don’t forget to grab your Pluck Superfood Seasonings with 20% off using code EA20 at http://www.eatpluck.com.