I recently set out to learn how to make yogurt. In my initial
information gathering, two things made an impression on me because
they seemed at odds with each other. First, the practice of storing
milk in a goat's stomach is what most likely led to the discovery of
yogurt. Second it seems that if I want to make yogurt in 2012, I need
to purchase a plug-in appliance along with countless other products or
I would be doomed to immediate failure. This was according to various
voices of reason on the internet. I know I am not the first person to
come away from a day of online research feeling like I knew less than
when I started. It was as if I stepped into a never-ending
information labyrinth. A goat’s stomach was the only thing that a
yogurt-making website didn’t try to sell me. Luckily I had a goat,
but she had her own needs for her stomach. How could something so
simple like spontaneously fermented milk have gotten so complex?
I am after a simpler life. Getting by with the basics is part
philosophy and part necessity as a homesteader. More research
eventually led to a few sensible souls both online and in some good
old fashioned books. After sifting through the lower-tech approaches,
I looked around my kitchen and took stock of what I had that would
work. At the time, I was living in a trailer and working on a dairy
farm. It was about as bare bones of a kitchen as I have ever lived
with, at least indoors; but because I outfitted my kitchen correctly I
should have all necessary utensils to make yogurt.
Before I got bit by the homesteading bug, I worked as a professional
chef, so I had a fairly well-equipped kitchen. I am going to share
with you my simplified yogurt technique, but first let me suggest some
guidelines for outfitting your homestead kitchen.
Things to keep in mind when purchasing kitchen equipment:
1. When buying things that will be used almost daily, buy the best
that you can afford. This doesn’t mean you have to take out a loan,
but the better quality you buy the longer it will last.
2. Good kitchen equipment will outlive you if properly cared for. The
most functional tools tend require a higher level of skill and
maintenance. As another article in this library,
Easy as Pie by Sheri Dixon, has pointed out simple does not mean
easy. Real knives need to be sharpened regularly. Cast iron needs to
be properly handled to avoid ruining the seasoning or having it rust.
Some of being a homesteader is trading convenience for the
satisfaction of doing a task yourself. You could buy a never needs
sharpening knife off the TV or cook on Teflon for the rest of your
days, but does that really fit your lifestyle?
3. Seek out alternative sources when shopping for kitchen equipment.
Being a homesteader, you should know mall stores are not the best
place to get deals. I’ve found really good, and cheap, kitchen
equipment at thrift stores, flea markets, and garage sales. Of course
this takes some level of dedication and not needing said item TODAY.
Also, restaurant supply stores often sell to the general public and
usually have higher quality equipment at cheaper prices than a big box
retailer. If there is a foodservice cash-and-carry place near you,
they tend to stock basic kitchen tools.
4. Apply the
Permaculture design principle and stack kitchen equipment
functions. If you can use a tool in more ways than one it is a good
purchase. Obviously the converse is true. If something has only one
function you might want to consider passing on it. For example, in
order to have minced garlic you can buy a garlic press that has no
other use, or use a knife that is already in your collection; a metal
mixing bowl on top of any pot works just as good as a double boiler.
5. Our farming philosophy
has been one of slow and deliberate growth. This also applies to
buying kitchen equipment. My approach has been to acquire tools over
my lifetime, buying them when the need arises. This works well if you
have limited funds and don’t mind putting your kitchen together
gradually. This will also help you stock your kitchen with tools that
you will be using instead of just taking up space. You don’t need to
buy a sausage stuffer, until you know you are going to stuff sausage.
