I, Tom (Dr Cheese), am a retired, third-generation cheesemaker from central Wisconsin, earning my PhD from the Department of Food Science at UW-Madison. My career was devoted in it's entirety to the art of cheesemaking, specifically research and quality control for local Wisconsin companies. Hence the photo of the wood burning oven which is a feature in our cabin where my wife, Karen, and I pursue our hobby of pizza making and wood-oven delicacies when our friends and family gather - the cabin then is humorously referred to as 'PIZZA AND PAD' ! Karen and I have been bringing our family up to the northwoods area to vacation for years and years so it was without hesitation that we chose this area to retire. Now we are blessed to spend all of our time in the splendor of the four seasons here northern Wisconsin. We feel especially blessed to be able to share Birchwood with guests.