The Milton resident makes her own butter and fresh cheeses and recently shared her knowledge with potential entrants in the first amatuer cheese and butter making competition at the Milton Show next month. 

This year’s theme is Milk and Meat and Vanessa said it’s been well-embraced. 

The Milton Show Committee member recently hosted a butter and soft cheese making workshop.

“We had 11 ladies come and we do some butter making in a jar and in a mix master, made some ricotta and they all had a turn at hand shaping butter pats,” she said. 

“They were an eclectic group of women, some young, some elderly, but they were all very keen to do another workshop so after the show we might continue that.” 

While the butter and cheese section will be judged by a mystery judge at the Milton Show, Vanessa is hoping to see many of the participants creations in the fridge.

A former nurse, Vanessa and her husband moved from the Northern Beaches to Milton 20 years ago and embraced the lifestyle change. 

She said more and more people are interested in producing their own food. 

“I think that a lot of people move here for the lifestyle and they’re after the quieter, more alternative life,” she said. 

“Home cheese making is becoming very popular in our district.”

Exhibits for the amateur butter and cheese section must be delivered to the display pavilion at Milton Showground between 8am and 1am on Thursday, March 1.

Each butter and cheese exhibit must weigh no more than 250 grams. 

For more information on the new section head to the Milton Show website.