making yogurt without a yogurt maker

[NorthernPixie]

I want to start making my own yogurt but I have no real idea where to start, other than that I know there are ways to do it without a yogurt maker.

Is it worth getting a yogurt maker? Or are the other ways (I don't have a woodstove) just as effective/easy? Is one or another likely to give better results?

I have some lovely organic whole milk yogurt I just bought from a local place - can I use that as starter?

Is there a website or book that will answer all my questions for me?

Thanks!

[BedHead]

There are tons of websites. You can use the yogurt you bought as long as it has live culture in it, which it probably does. Are you using raw milk or pasteurized? If you're using raw you won't want to heat it past about 110F. Then add the starter and incubate. I have a yogurt maker I haven't used yet, I've always used my oven to incubate it, or a cooler with a heating pad in it.

[BetsyS]

I use a heating pad with a stock pot turned over on top of it. Works great (I got the idea from Alton Brown).

[LessTraveledBy]

Not worth it! I have one but ever use it. After adding the old yoghurt, just wrap in a towel and leave in the warmest place of the house.