Monger Musings 032
Planting lots of "cheese seeds"... let's see what sprouts!
Confession: I’m not a gardener. Aspiring gardener? Yes. Seed catalog ogler? Mhmm. Pinterest board filled with DIY raised bed projects? Absolutely. But I have yet to take the leap from garden-dreamer to garden-doer.
I know I’ll get there someday. I know I can start small. I know. It’s just… I’m in a phase of life where I need to keep two tiny humans, two small businesses, oh, and myself alive so adding a tomato plant to the mix just doesn’t seem feasible right now.
The thing I admire most about gardeners is the planning and the patience. I love the metaphor of planting seeds, cultivating them, seeing what grows. I’ve been planting quite a few “cheese seeds” with my MV Cheesery/Fairy Cheesemother endeavors right now. I’d love to cultivate these ideas by sharing them with you! And now I just need a little patience to see what sprouts…
🌱 I’d love to continue facilitating events with Slough Farm. We’re brainstorming programs for the fall and winter and I’ve already proposed gatherings like Seasonal Guided Cheese Tastings, a Cooking with Cheese Series, a Feb-EWE-ary Cheese Tasting, and continuing the The Art of the Snack Plate Series, among others!
🌱 I’m keen to reengage with the island Libraries to host Cheese 101 + Guided Tasting programs. So far I’ve done these events at the Vineyard Haven and Oak Bluffs Libraries… and I’m in cahoots with librarians at Edgartown and West Tisbury to expand my reach!
🌱 I’ve already reached out to the MV Family Center to facilitate a Baby + Caregiver Cheese Tasting. An inclusive, baby-friendly cheese tasting where caregivers can relax, enjoy great cheese, and bring their little ones without any pressure. I think this is a really promising collaboration that could grow to include kids of all ages!
🌱 I’m excited about an upcoming Charcuterie and Mixology Event that Social Coast Beverage Co. and I are facilitating for The Boathouse in Edgartown. I’m already thinking about what other membership-based organizations with programming budgets I may be able to connect with… yacht clubs, golf clubs, tennis clubs…
🌱 I’m eager to expand my Raclette Party offerings! I’m looking to partner with adventurous home cooks, chefs, and other culinary creatives to offer a fun raclette add-on to their typical dinner parties. Basically, I provide the equipment, the wheel(s) of cheese, and a few hours of my scraping skills. Essentially acting as a cheese-pro subcontractor ready to ooze hot melty cheese over anything!
🌱 I look forward to facilitating more Guided Cheese Tasting Experiences for private groups and parties. I have done a few bachelorette parties this year and honestly, yapping about cheese with a gaggle of gals is about as good as it gets!
🌱 I want to reconnect with existing community partners such as The FARM Institute and MV Museum and consider new organizations with fun venues that may want to host a cheese-centric event.
🌱 I’m excited to keep writing! Cheese writing, food writing, parenting writing, travel writing… I’m excited for it all! I’ve had a few opportunities to write for The Infatuation, The Vine, and Culture Magazine and I’m going to start working on some more pitches for even more outlets!
🌱 I really want to get to work on creating content as the Fairy Cheesemother! I have so many ideas for exploring the intersection of childhood + cheese in a playful and engaging way. Silly videos, funny songs, getting wild and whacky in the name of cheese!
🌱 I’m feeling pulled to start a Monthly Cheese Club. Subscription based, curated selection, fun descriptions, suggested pairings. I think there could really be a demand for this here on the island! Especially since Grey Barn closed. Ruminating on this…
🌱 I wonder if there’s an opportunity to partner with some year-round restaurants to do a Cheese Pairing Series. There are some really wonderful year-round spots with great wine lists, creative cocktail menus, and fun bites and I think it would be neat to partner up!
So there you have it. A bunch of little cheese seeds that I’m planting for my business. Some might take root right away. Some may sprout faster than others. Some might stay dormant for a while.
I’m working on exercising patience while I tend this garden! And maybe sometime in the not so distant future, I might actually start a “real garden” of my own.
I see a cheese-themed children’s picture book in the Fairy Cheesemother’s future. Just sayin’.
lots of wonderful seeds being planted here! you amaze me...