Yogurt Making at The Commons

On October 3, 2019, the SWF core team gathered in the kitchen of the Think Do House to learn how to make yogurt from Human-In-Residence, Jen Rae. Jen transported the yogurt culture from her home in Australia to Chicago for Then a Cunning Voice - Food to Be Experienced, an overnight performance event at Calumet Park on September 28, and then brought it to The Commons during her residency to share the practice of yogurt making with SWF. Read on to learn more about the history of the yogurt and the activities the team participated in during the afternoon.

Jen spent a week with the SWF team during her visit Chicago for the overnight performance for Then A Cunning Voice - Food to Be Experienced at Calumet Park. Jen is a Canadian Métis/Austrailian who has spent time and energy focusing on climate change and food systems, particularly via a project known as Fair Share Fare that sparks conversation about the impact of climate change on food systems and how marginalized communities are impacted. During the week, Jen engaged with the SWF team and shared her wisdom on various topics, including climate change, ethical food systems, and yogurt making. On October 3, the SWF team joined Jen in the kitchen of the Think-Do House for a yogurt making demonstration. 

History of Martha’s Heirloom Yoghurt

In 2013, Jen met Martha (pronounced Mar-ta) through her daughter Priscilla and learned how to make her homemade yogurt. Martha, a Lebanese Refugee living in Australia, shared with Jen that when she first moved to Australia, she did not have access to yogurt, a staple in Lebanese cooking. One day (47 years ago) Martha heard a man speaking her native language and asked him if he had any yogurt. The man gave her two tablespoons of yogurt culture and Martha has kept it alive ever since. Jen brought the culture to The Commons to share the practice of yogurt making with the SWF community. 

The full history of Martha’s Heirloom Yoghurt and detailed instructions on the yogurt making process can be found on the Fair Share Fare website here.

The SWF team is grateful to Jen for sharing the practice of yogurt making and has continued to keep the culture alive at The Commons. Every two weeks, a new batch of yogurt is made and eaten. The yogurt making process has been shared with visitors from all walks of life. We invite you to join us at The Commons to learn how to make yogurt and bring some of the culture home to share with your family and friends!