Yogurt is a yummy treat to enjoy on its own or use in recipes from smoothies to sauces to desserts. Plus yogurt has protein and vitamin B12 (good for your red blood cells and nervous system), and yogurt contains live cultures that are good for your gut health.

How does yogurt making work? Milk is heated to denature its protein so it doesn’t curdle. The milk is then cooled and yogurt bacteria are added to the milk and allowed to ferment for a period of time. During the fermentation, the bacteria eat the milk’s sugars and create lactic acid. The lactic acid causes the milk protein to form its creamy, thick texture and tangy flavor.

What bacteria are in yogurt? Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus.

Here are instructions for how to make a basic plain yogurt:

Click here to watch a video on how to make yogurt that we filmed with the Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts as part of their ALCA-Seltzer Series:

Our 2nd collaboration with Adirondack Lake Center for the Arts had brought forth all you need to know about helping your garden and house plants by harvesting the power of the humble Red Wriggler worm!

Creating and supporting a worm bin is a fun project for anyone, especially if you like gardening, are interested in biology, or just want to do something good for the planet.

Feel free to email any questions about vermiculture to ind-director@sals.edu

Here’s a link to the instructional video from ALCA:

Here’s the instructions that will help you figure out what you’re getting into:

VERMICULTURE-INSTRUCTIONS