Yearly Archives: 2007

There’s a great story this week in the Pioneer Press about the front lines of the farm aid debate. The story masterfully draws the battle lines between big-farming operations supported by big subsidies and family farm operations supported by tiny subsidies. In Congress, it’s pitting Representative against Representative. Big farm against small farm. Eastern MinnesotaContinue reading “Big Farm v. Small Farm Battle Lines Drawn”

We had the sweetest corn I’ve had since my grandfather picked it fresh out of the garden and my grandmother dunked it ever so briefly in a pot of boiling water. This corn was so fresh and so sweet, it hardly needed cooking at all. And the best part was we got it for free…atContinue reading “The Sweetest Corn for a Sweet Price”

For a second Sunday in a row, the Chicago Tribune has a Farmgirl featured on the front of one of its print news sections. This week it’s the Q Section’s tug-at-the-heartstrings story of Farmgirl Terry Starks, who coped with the death of her 21-year-old son by nurturing a fledgling organic farm she named after himContinue reading “Farmgirl Combats Grief with Green Thumb”

Looks like more and more urban dwellers are catching on that homegrown eggs are tastier and healthier than mass commercial eggs. But, of course, that means we’ll also see more crowing about this from neighbors who will resist any rural intrusion. I’m still not sure my enlightened neighbors would be thrilled with us having backyardContinue reading “Was that a Rooster Crow or a Car Alarm?”

The Chicago Tribune may need to start a farm section considering all the ink it’s given to farming and farmers markets this year. I especially love the emphasis on sustainable/organic farming. But my favorite part is that the Trib continues to build on its earlier prediction that farmers will be the next rock stars. Indeed,Continue reading “Meet a Rock Star on Your Next Market Trip”

Despite widespread, but I’d say gradually changing, thinking to the contrary, researchers at the University of Michigan believe that organic farming can produce three times the yield of pesticide-based farming operations. In a release [plus podcast] on July 10, U of M Natural Resources and Environment Professor Ivette Perfecto talked about her research that foundContinue reading “Organic Can Feed the World, Study Says”

The Chicago Tribune is generally a Farmgirl must read, especially on Sundays. And this Sunday was no disappointment with microbiologist turned model turned Farmgirl Johari Cole-Kweli gracing the cover of Tribune Magazine…standing on her tractor no less. Turns out Farmgirl Johari is deep into the organic movement in Kankakee County, Ill., where her 45 acresContinue reading “Covergirl on the Farm”

It’s been way too long since I’ve provided an update…but not too late to share our farm adventures from last weekend. We were in Southern Indiana for some family business and spent our free time at The Goat Farm where my husband spent some of the best parts of his childhood. And let me tellContinue reading “Feeding Goats Feeds the Spirit”

We think we’ve finally found a CSA to join. I wish I could say we chose Sandhill Organics because we’ve done a bunch of research. But we’re making the choice purely out of convenience…because we can walk to the veggie drop-off site. [The drop-off site negative is that it’s a cafe that now serves someContinue reading “Looking Forward to Farm Fresh Veggies”

I’ll admit that I get nostalgic when I think about and visit my family’s farm. [I’m not old enough to remember how the sheep kept the hillsides manicured. I’m just barely old enough to remember exploring the hay loft in the red barn before time and storms brought it down.] And I realize that fewerContinue reading “My Little Rant”