Chapter 5 - the secret to good pie...

Part of working on a farm is that there are lots of dirty jobs. As everyone continued to get to know me better, they started offering jobs that other WOOFers either found awesome or disgusted. Part of the farm routine is that we all share breakfast early in the morning. The longer I spent on the farm, the more my appetite improved. I also found that the family accepted me more when I could keep up with them in the dining room! By early July my stomach was finally starting to stretch out so I could keep up. Emma and I were a little competitive in the eating department, and we were usually neck and neck (or was it belly and belly) when the meal finished. After one particularly victorious breakfast, Lena suggested that it might be time for me to learn about how to make organic cheese. Loving all foods dairy, this sounded like a lovely idea.

Jan and I went to the barn where he handed me a giant shovel. He grabbed a large wheelbarrow, and we commenced walking to one of the cow pastures. Walking through one of the gates, I almost immediately stepped in a big cow pie. The warm softness actually felt good on my feet because of the morning chill. We grabbed several pails, and proceeded to a large concerte building near the barn. The first task of the morning was to generate milk. Already an expert, I was competitive with Jan in milking. Despite taking a break every few pails to have a glass of creamy warm fresh milk, in no time we generated many gallons of liquid. With each pail filled, we carried the milk to a large tub. I started carrying two pails at a time, and my friend took notice. He remarked that the boy who had arrived at the farm a few months ago would have not been able to lift a full pail, let alone move it all the way to the cheese factory. Feeling quite satisfied, I rolled up my sleeve to show him my guns---which he found adorable showing me his much stronger arms.

After the tub was about three quarters full of milk, we started the process of cheese making. As an organic farm we used ingredients that all came from the island. For this cheese, we took some yogurt culture and added it to the warm milk to begin the acdification process. By this time the morning was almost over, so it made sense to head back for lunch. Although I had already enjoyed almost a gallon of milk, I knew that my hosts would be offended if I did not enjoy the meal. I was served two generous sandwiches stuffed with meat and cheese similar to what we were making that morning. Offered a third sandwich, fortunately Jan took it off my plate. My stomach was again stuffed.

By the time we made it back to the cheese shed, the acidification process was complete and it was time to add rennet. Like most organic farms, our rennet was from the stomach of a baby calf. It served to solidify the cheese, and I must say watching the coagulation was fascinating. Once the cheese had a gel-like texture, I tested the firmness by touching it with my hand. It felt like the pillowy softness of my mothers' stomach. Once sufficiently firm, we cut the curd. Not sure if you have ever tried cheese curds, but the squeaky softness provided a fantastic afternoon snack. Jan and I spent the next hour stiring the curds. Drying the curds out, cheese slowly started to form. After this process finished, waited about ten minutes and then we drained the curds. Separating the curds and whey, we seasoned the solids and put them in a cool area to make cheese. We then bottled the whey. Apparently whey was all the rage in Dutch cooking. Jan commented that Leah used it to boost the protein content of her baked goods. This whole process took longer than usual, and can you I say I was ravenous? Eventually our work was finally over, and I headed back to the house to clean up. For the first time in ages, my stomach was completely empty. After recently graduating to some larger pants (don't think anyone but Leah knew), this new size would not stay on my waist. Digging for some older clothes, I found one size smaller even though it was a little tight.

Leah made an incredible spread for dinner. She expressed slight disappointment that I missed lunch, and told me that I needed enough nourishment to work a full day. My appetite reflected skipping a meal, and I took off like a horse at the Kentucky Derby! I started out with one of everything, and then had seconds. Well before I noticed Emma was finished with her meal. For the first time I was keeping up with Jan plate to plate. He started teasing me, saying that my appetite really had improved. (But joking that it did not count if I kept skipping meals.) Thirds became fourths, and my stomach finally started filling out. I finished when there was no food left on the table, and no more room in my tummy. Leah brought out dessert, and the yogurt/honey combination did sooth my stomach a bit. I drank one last glass of milk, and realized that my pants were starting to loose a button. Not wanting anyone to find out, I began heading upstairs. With every step, I felt the weight of my rock hard full belly. Once I arrived in my room, I immediately took off my pants and fell into a deep food coma.

I woke up around 3:30 in the morning needing to hit the head. Wearing just a towel, I made an impressive splash. I started heading back to my room, and realized that my hunger was again starting to return. I creeped downstairs, and had a big glass of milk, some toast with butter and an extra piece of cake from dinner. I must have made a noise, because Emma joined me in the kitchen right as I was finishing my cake. Joining me for another glass of milk, we had a lovely conversation about how much everyone enjoyed my work on the farm. She looked at me wearing just a towel for the first time in almost two months, and realized that my impressive eating was starting to have an effect on my body. Impressed with my broadening shoulders, and emerging biceps, she also noticed a little tummy starting to form along with abs. She thought it was cute, and commented that every day I kept on looking a little more like a farm boy. Although the farm lacked a scale, she could tell that pounds were continuing to accumulate. I told her she also had a healthy glow. Little did we know that my weight had crept up to 70 kgs. Our competition had added a pound or two to her frame, as well. Fortunately this was lost on her frame which was still over half a foot taller.