Yearly Archives: 2007

My aunt sent me some pix of the old barn, since torn down, an empty lot in its place. This photo was taken in the ’70s. Back then, the barn was still in good enough shape for me to climb around the lofts, chasing after and herding kitten litters that the feral cats would tryContinue reading “Memory Lane”

Just in this week, a photo of a previously overgrown pathway that’s being cleared. In the background? We’re told some 40 bushels/acre of soybeans!

I was out shopping over the weekend and saw my first sweater made with alpaca fleece on a regular department store sales rack, not some fancy boutique. Still not made in the U.S., but it made me wonder how American farmgirls are faring as they continue to push for greater use of alpaca fleece inContinue reading “Farmers Are Pushing Alpacas on the Masses”

The great thing about Virtual Farmgirl is that this virtual space takes me in directions that force me to think beyond my regular day-to-day life. It transports me outside my community and, in many ways, connects me closer to it. One of the no-duh parts of farmers markets is that they offer not only farm-freshContinue reading “A Fusion of Flavors”

My mother-in-law used to ask us at every supper to share our happy moment of the day. On the best days, it’s hard to pick. But today, my happy moment stood out when I left work late and was waiting on the Blue Line platform. I get to hear street performers pretty regularly, but they’reContinue reading “Entertainment Everywhere”

So I made a last-minute trip to southern California this weekend. Because the visit was so quick, I didn’t have time to schedule a tour of a farmers market. That’s a shame because California agriculture is a force. I did, however, get to hear about the San Diego farmers market at Hillcrest today from myContinue reading “Produce Buying & People Watching at SoCal Markets”

There are a couple of savory throwbacks from my childhood that I’m thrilled I can now share with my virtual farmkids… Kefir, which is now marketed as “probiotic” and a healthy part of a weight loss routine. I just remember it being a milkshake that my parents didn’t cringe at serving me. And, then there’sContinue reading “The Healthy Flavors of Childhood”

I love fall. It’s been a wonderful, cool, sunny week. And I’ve enjoyed almost every bit, especially the farmer’s market this weekend. Even though we were too late to taste any donuts, we picked up the best multicolored corn I can remember. It went perfect with organic BBQ chicken (4-H winning recipe) on the backyardContinue reading “Celebrating Fall”

Having just taken my first vacation in ages, I know how necessary they are. But have you ever wondered whether farmers get vacations? I can see heading to greener pastures or sandy beaches after harvest. But when there are animals to tend, someone’s got to feed and water them. And since there aren’t boarding housesContinue reading “Need a Sitter for Your Cows?”

Great little story in the Forest City Summit about an Iowa farm family who had the foresight to invest in wind turbines more than a decade ago. Now instead of paying an electric bill each month, they get a check. Some nifty enviro tidbits in the piece, including: *A 1.5-megawatt turbine displaces 2,700 tons ofContinue reading “Family Farm Turns Tables, er Windmills on Utility Company”