Little Qualicum Cheeseworks
Parksville, BC
In January of 1999 Clarke and Nancy Gourlay and their 3 boys, returned from Switzerland where they had been living for several years. Inspired by the magnificient Swiss cheeses, they set out to learn and practice the ancient and noble art of cheese making in the shadow of Vancouver Island's Mt. Arrowsmith. The cool, moist climate proved to be ideal for the ripening of washed-rind cheeses.
They are milking a small mixed herd of Holstein, Ayrshire, Brown Swiss, and Canadienne dairy cows. After the European model, they strive to use the best quality milk for cheese making. Thus they feed their cows only sweet grass and grains, with no fermented feeds. 100% of their cheese is made from their own milk, right there on the farm.
