Cheesy Goals for the New Year 🧀
Thinking about becoming a CCP
It’s the last week of the year — that time between Christmas and New Year where time feels different somehow. Days feel short, yet reflective.
The success of this newsletter this holiday season — a big thank you to my subscribers — has given me the encouragement to focus on my cheese career in 2025.
I loved my job this holiday season. It brought me so much joy to share these special American cheeses with my customers at the shop — and with you here.
I hope to grow Curd Culture in the new year — adding a bi-monthly Cheese Chat for paid subscribers, and a series of newsletters highlighting American creameries. I also have thoughts about a podcast, but that’s in the “ephemera of my mind” development stages.
Also on the horizon — I’m considering applying for the American Cheese Society’s Certified Cheese Professional exam.
And what is the Certified Cheese Professional exam?
The closest equivalent is a wine professional taking the sommelier test.
There are only 1,100 Certified Cheese Pros in the world, and it would be a big step for me in my career — a commitment to cheese that might open some new doors.
It costs $650 to sit for the test, which is a chunk of change, but I have a few months to decide. I’ve been browsing practice tests online and I’m going to have to crack the cheese books.
Luckily I have a few already
I figured that I would start by studying the books I already have in January — and revisit the practice test in February to see how comfortable I feel.
If I think I can pass, the deadline to apply for the exam is in March.
Come along for the ride with me.
If you’re able, a paid subscription would be a big help in paying the exam fee!
What else am I thinking about in 2025?
Starting cheese classes at the shop — and maybe doing online classes here?
I’m also planning on turning our balcony into an urban wildlife sanctuary.
We live at the edge of the city of Richmond, on a hill near a big park. When we moved here from the DC area, the wildlife was much more abundant than we were used to in the megalopolis.
The bugs are crazy. BIG BUGS!
Our apartment has a wonderful — though small — balcony that we enjoy but don’t use as much as we should.
I think we need to change that.
Inspired by Alexandra Fasulo at House of Green, I want to plant milkweed and other butterfly friendly plants on our balcony this spring. I’d also like to hang a canopy on one side for privacy and to block the sun in the morning.
We never drink our coffee out there because of the sun. Coffee on the balcony in 2025!
Our apartment is a little slice of heaven, and I want to make it just a little better this year.
That’s all we can really do, right?
Take small steps and make incremental progress to create beauty and lasting change.
Here’s your holiday pic of Mr. Kitty
He was so smart to discover this new use for Christmas stockings.
This kitty loves his back support.
Curd Culture is a reader supported publication. Thank you for supporting my dream of using my cheese experience to make a difference on two issues I care about: sustainable family farming and animal welfare.