The Westcombe Project

Follow The Westcombe Project
Share on
Copy link to clipboard

Spend a year at Westcombe Dairy following their move towards a pasture fed system in search of a more delicious cheese!

thewestcombeproject


    • Oct 14, 2023 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 24m AVG DURATION
    • 16 EPISODES


    Search for episodes from The Westcombe Project with a specific topic:

    Latest episodes from The Westcombe Project

    Return to Westcombe - Episode 3

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 14, 2023 21:08


    The last in this short run of episodes and this time I meet a whole chorus of characters. Westcombe Dairy is not just about cheese, it is very much a place where exciting things happen and now there is a real community of makers, producing the very best food and drink in the UK. We chat to Andrew Lowkes of Landrace Bakery and Mill Adrian Peskin of Woodshedding Beer and Paul Burton of Westcombe Charcuterie In Tom's words, "It's a vibe".

    Return to Westcombe - Episode 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 5, 2023 25:34


    I'm back at Westcombe Dairy and this time I'm on the farm. I speak to Richard, Nick and Raymond and although there are definitely still differences of opinion there's a sense that the team are all pulling in the same direction.    Listen to the original series of The Westcombe Project below https://westcombedairy.com/blogcentre/2022/9/13/the-westcombe-project

    Return to Westcombe - Episode 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 28, 2023 17:46


    I'm back down at Westcombe Dairy and a year later a lot has changed! I chat to Richard and Tom Calver about how difficult situations can lead to great opportunities.  We also touch on the idea of Agricultural succession and how the realities of a family run business are not always straightforward. Listen to the orginal series of The Westcombe Project below https://westcombedairy.com/blogcentre/2022/9/13/the-westcombe-project

    The Westcombe Project - Final episode - June 2022

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 21, 2022 27:40


    Welcome back to Westcombe Dairy down in Somerset.  We look back across the series and we look forward at what's next at Westcombe Dairy... If you have enjoyed The Westcombe Project please do check out my Patreon page where you can support the ongoing work to bring stories of food and farming to a wider audiences. https://www.patreon.com/CellarmanSam

    The Westcombe Project - May 2022

    Play Episode Listen Later May 22, 2022 24:30


    It's May down at Westcombe Dairy and the countryside is lush and green, the cows are out on pasture and I am out to dinner at the incredible Landrace Upstairs. I chat to Andrew Lowkes, baker, business owner and visionary.  I speak to Mel Calver about her cut flower business, Re-Rooting and I catch up with Tom and Nick. The subject this time is the concept of "Landrace", what does it mean and why is it so useful when describing the Westcombe Project? If you want to join my Patreon page please do follow the link below and a big Thank you! https://www.patreon.com/CellarmanSam    

    10 The Westcombe Project

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2022 27:21


    Out under blue skies as the tracks start to go down at Manor Farm.  It's not all plain sailing however, I hear why from Richard and Nick and I revisit Raymond the Herdsman at Manor Farm. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    project herdsman
    9 The Westcombe Project

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2022 31:20


    Join me down in the pasture at Westcombe Dairy as we talk tree planting, Bio digesters, slurry, fuel prices and the role of the farmer.

    8 The Westcombe Project

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2022 40:07


    PORK We're not talking cheese this time, well we are a bit but that's not why I'm down at Westcombe Dairy again. This time I'm with Tom Calver and Paul Burton as we discuss charcuterie and all that encompasses.  It's longer than usual and frankly charcuterie deserves a whole series all its own!

    project paul burton
    7 The Westcombe Project

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2022 21:15


    I'm back down to Westcombe Dairy and its cold outside!  Fortunately the warm milk and steam from the cheesemaking is keeping everyone warm, not to mention the hard physical labour of cheddaring.  We catch up with Rob and Tom and talk the history of cheddaring, the reality of historical makes and the importance of lard.

    6 The Westcombe Project - Christmas!

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 24, 2021 30:46


    We join Tom Calver as the team from Neal's Yard Dairy visit Westcombe Dairy to make their selection for the coming months.  We travel up to London to spend time with David Lockwood, MD of Neal's Yard Dairy as we discuss what makes Westcombe Westcombe, the relevance of farming practices in cheesemaking and the importance of telling the story behind the cheese.

    christmas project md david lockwood
    5 - The Westcombe Project

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2021 19:19


    Im back down at Westcombe Dairy and chatting to Richard, Tom and Nick.  We discuss the harsh reality of TB and assess the success or otherwise of the breeding programme at Westcombe Dairy.

    4 The Westcombe Project

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 17, 2021 22:08


    I'm out of the fields and into the dairy as I chat to Rob Howard, Head Cheesemaker at Westcombe Dairy. We talk Historical Makes, Culture and Rob's Philosophy of cheesemaking.     We also hear from some owls and a Cockerel.  

    3 The Westcombe Project - August

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 19, 2021 23:20


    I'm back down at Westcombe and we're starting to take those first steps towards milk.  What really goes into making "quality" milk?

    2 The Westcombe Project - July 2021

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 15, 2021 29:27


    I'm back down at Westcombe Dairy in Somerset and out on the early morning rounds with Richard Calver.   This is an episode about man management, the challenges of old versus new and how to persuade a diverse range of people along the same path, to the same goal.

    1 The Westcombe Project - June 2021

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 18, 2021 32:48


    It's high summer as I visit Westcombe Dairy for the very first time.  I talk to to father and son, Tom and Richard Calver and spend time in the meadows with Nick Millard.  We discuss the benefits of a pasture led system of dairying and how it may lead to a more delicious cheese.   This is part one of a 12 part series following the seasons on one farm with one group of people.  If you love cheese and are fascinated by farming then this is the podcast for you!

    The Westcombe Project - Trailer

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 11, 2021 0:52


    Join me as I spend a full cycle of the seasons at Westcombe Dairy.

    Claim The Westcombe Project

    In order to claim this podcast we'll send an email to with a verification link. Simply click the link and you will be able to edit tags, request a refresh, and other features to take control of your podcast page!

    Claim Cancel