One of my urban-dwelling friends turned my attention to this piece today in the Chicago Tribune about “city slickers” being drawn in to hobby farming.
“Lifestyle” farms apparently make up half of the 2.1 million American farms, according to the USDA, and are increasing at a 2 percent pace per year. The Trib notes that many of these farmers are Boomers and Gen-Xers looking to get their hands dirty. [A more detailed version of the story appeared in the LA Times in March.]
Indeed, meet San Diego County Farmgirl Ellen Sullivan, who along with her husband grow lavender and extract oils for sale in various products they market under their Lavender Fields label. Also featured is Glendora, Calif., Farmgirl Nanci Sutton, who raises llamas to support her organic weaving business.
As much as I love a good alpaca cousin llama story, the lavender farming kept me surfing, checking out farms all over the country. What a beautiful, aromatic crop.
Virtual Farmgirl 