Here’s an initial overview of where to look for cheesemaking courses in your area:

Visit Local Harvest, a great resources for cheesemaking classes and many other fun ones like beekeeping, hydroponic gardening, farmers’ markets, cook-offs, pierogi making, sewing and breadmaking. These classes tend to be for beginners and there are kid-friendly options too.

Cheese stores are a great place to take cheesemaking classes in a relaxed environment. For example, the reknowned Murray’s cheese offers a nice cheese class schedule. Most classes have to do more with learning about and tasting cheese, but they do offer a mozzarella making class. Another wonderful option is the New England Cheesemaking Supply Company who offers cheesemaking workshops for both beginners and advanced students.

Cheese-related organizations such as the Artisanal Cheese Center based in New York City offer both cheese tasting and cheesemaking courses in one-time sessions. They have also partnered with the Viking Cooking School to offer classes throughout the country in places like Atlanta, Bryn Mawr, PA, and Memphis TN.

Many states have their own artisan cheese guild, a group of artisan cheesemakers who adhere to certain requirements in making artisan cheeses in order to be accepted as members. Artisan cheese guild websites usually include a member directory of dairies and farms, and cheese and cheesemaking-related events open to the public. Here’s a list of state artisan cheese guilds to get you started.

The adult education class programs of community colleges often offer one-evening or multi-session cheesemaking classes.

If you’re more than a hobbyist, universities with food studies programs, such as the University of Washington, offers cheesemaking classes. Also, the University of Vermont is home of the Vermont Institute for Artisan Cheese.

For serious cheesemakers, there are destination cheesemaking courses such as the 3-day workshops through Three Shepherds Cheese in Vermont.

Finally, ask around. Ask the sellers at your local farmer’s market if they are aware of any cheesemaking class opportunities. If your dairy and cheese vendor doesn’t currently offer cheesemaking classes, they might consider starting something up in their dairy barn if the interest is there. (and is it ever!) You can also join in cheese discussion forums to find out about local and national cheesemaking courses and events. Check out Rick and Lynne’s cheesemaking forum, Chowhound, hook up with Culture magazine on Facebook .

Remember, no matter where you live, always register early for cheesemaking classes because from what we’ve seen over and over, they sell out quickly.

More cheesemaking class resources to come!