Author Archives: Virtual Farmgirl

I’ve added a new label to my blog: Urban v. Rural. While I sometimes long for the rural life — the one I dreamed of while I struggled to fit in with urban/suburban surroundings [thoughts of raspberry hunts with grandpa, snapping beans on the back porch to feed my grandmother’s never ending canning kitchen andContinue reading “Urban v. Rural…Point Urban”

I got my Women in Ag sampler today and was alerted to this super cool interactive map. One of the Agriculture Online editors tweaked a mapping program to enable the Farmgirls participating in the chat to show one another where they lived. If you go to the map you can add your location and joinContinue reading “Farmgirls On the Map”

Word is that it’s pretty dry in Central Indiana. There’s been less than a 1/2 inch of rain the last month. The soybeans aren’t stressed, but they’re not growing as fast. Up in Chicagoland, we’ve had some downpours. At least our grass is still green. I haven’t planted the backyard herb garden yet. That’ll beContinue reading “Hoping for Rain”

I was raised to know better about healthy eating. We shopped at food co-ops…bought granola, wheat germ, rice and beans in bulk. In the mountains, we grew our own food or only ate food from gardens I could walk to. For a while I slept in a cozy loft overlooking a greenhouse full of tomatoes.Continue reading “Longing for a Good Co-Op and Hand-Cranked Ice Cream”

I made up for not getting to the Daley Center Farmer’s Market by going to the one at Pilgrim Church in Oak Park. I had nearly forgotten the charm of the market. Not only is there fabulous “local” in-season produce, organic meats and cheeses, but there’s bluegrass music and, of course, the church’s famous cinnamonContinue reading “This Week's Market: Music, Salsa, Good Neighbors and…Donuts”

I didn’t get a chance to get to the farmer’s market for more rhubarb today…but I did learn a nifty little fact while watching the Colbert Report. Congressman Adam Smith was the night’s brave guest and seemed to hold his own. During Smith’s “interview” it was noted that Pierce County, Wash. (the heart of Smith’sContinue reading “Speaking of Rhubarb…”

So…what’s on the seed order list this year? Lavender? Strawberries? I’m hoping for some green beans, tomatoes and corn in the mix…if dad can figure out how to keep the bugs and rabbits out.

In addition to organic produce and dairy, this Wisconsin family is growing future farmers at Grassway Organics in Eastern Wisconsin. The Sheboygan Press article about the family and store features testimonials from those who swear by the power of organic food. And there’s plenty food stuffs to be found at the Craig family farm…grass-fed beef;pasturedContinue reading “Future Farmgirl”

All this debate over raw milk made me wonder what’s happening with the organic movements. I had to look no further than the Columbian in Wash. state to learn about the 150 healthy Holsteins at Farmgirl Karen van Tol’s pesticide-free pastures. Despite increasing demand for raw milk, organic daily still brings in a premium. TheContinue reading “White Gold: Organic Milk?”

I was checking out my former paper the [Gary] Post-Tribune and found onetime Farmboy Carrol Vertrees musing about the raw milk of his childhood. I’ve read loads of raw milk stories, but the tidbit about Carrol’s milking expertise is a new one for me: I was adept, udderly adept, being able to squirt milk intoContinue reading “A Raw Milk, Hungry Cat Story”