There Had Better Be Cheese in There

Choosing Your Treasure

There is something ridiculously entertaining about standing in front of a vending machine and choosing cheese.

Normally my vending-machine decisions involve deciding whether I want salt-and-vinegar chips or something involving an irresponsible amount of chocolate.

Here, the stakes are considerably higher.

The creamery is known for artisan cheese. When the vending machine first appeared in 2022, CHEK reported that it was stocked with the farm’s cheddars and goudas.

And apparently I’m not the only person who considers emergency cheese a legitimate situation.

Shortly after the machine was installed, the creamery told CHEK about someone arriving one Halloween evening in desperate need of cheese.

The solution?

Vending machine.

Cheese crisis averted.

Finally, technology being used for what truly matters.

There’s a Lovely Story Behind the Cheese

Kindness Is Part of the Recipe

The charm of Cowichan Station Creamery goes well beyond its vending machine.

The farm says its cows socialise, have access to grazing and varied terrain throughout the year, and are kept in a low-stress environment. The creamery’s philosophy is that kindness towards its cows ultimately makes a difference in its cheese.

That philosophy is also part of why the vending machine exists.

Owners Henry Rekers and Renee Davy told CHEK that because there were only two of them and plenty of cheese to make, the automated machine allowed them to sell their products while spending more time working with their cows.

Suddenly the quirky vending machine starts making an awful lot of sense.

It’s funny.

It’s practical.

And it helps a small farm sell directly to people without someone having to stand behind a counter all day.

I like it even more now.

Forget the Souvenir Magnet

This Is My Kind of Travel Stop

This is exactly why I love taking detours when I travel.

Nobody comes home raving about the perfectly predictable petrol station they stopped at.

You remember the weird things.

The tiny roadside stand.

The unexpected local bakery.

The enormous fibreglass animal you absolutely did not need a photograph with but took one anyway.

And apparently, the vending machine where you bought yourself a block of locally made cheese.

These little discoveries rarely make the headline itinerary.

But somehow they’re often the stories you end up telling afterwards.

Why It’s Worth It

Come for the Novelty, Leave With the Cheese

Would I drive across Vancouver Island solely to press a button and watch cheese fall out of a vending machine?

Honestly…

I don’t think we should rule it out.

But that’s not really why Cowichan Station Creamery is worth finding.

It’s a small local producer doing things a little differently. The farm grows the grass, raises and milks its cows, makes the cheese and sells it directly to customers.

The Shoppertron simply turns that philosophy into one of the most wonderfully memorable farm stands I’ve encountered.

It’s local.

It’s delicious.

It’s slightly ridiculous.

And it dispenses cheese.

What more do you want from a road trip?

It was absolutely worth it.

_{Please note that I have not received these products for free or at a discounted price in exchange for my opinion.  There may be links that are affiliate links but at the time of posting this review, I have not received any monetary kickbacks.}