Author Archives: Virtual Farmgirl

Those attending a FamilyFarmed.org Expo in Chicago this weekend will be treated to a special sneak preview of an exciting new documentary that features four Illinois families who have farmed their land for at least 150 years, according to this piece in the Daily Herald. The film, “Deep Roots: Legacy of 150-year-old Family Farms,” willContinue reading “Film Features 150-Year-Old Family Farms at Chicago Expo”

I saw today in the NW Indiana Times that there’s a new cookbook – “More Recipes From the Farm: Family Recipes and Memories of a Lifetime” (Pediment Press, 2007, $29.95) – on its way from one of the farm-connected journalists in Northwest Indiana. Columnist Phil Potempa writes a “From the Farm” column each week, withContinue reading “Farm-Inspired Recipes in New Book”

I got my Women in Ag newsletter today and homed in on a great Letterman-like Top 10 list: “You know you’re a farm wife when…” There were some cute one-liners in the newsletter. But the best were on the Women in Ag discussion board. Here are of my favorites, from a post published on MarchContinue reading “Farm Wife Top 10”

BusinessWeek.com has a vivid little story – dated Monday – featuring a young family making a go of a small raw milk goat farm in Michigan. The story chronicles a typical day in the lives of the Klaty brood – Farmgirl mom Tamra, dad Robb and their five children – at their Simple Times FarmContinue reading “Family Enjoys "Simple Times" with Raw Goat's Milk Dairy”

I’ve been thinking of those adorable, cuddly looking alpacas lately so it was great to see this enticing headline: “N.C. Woman Quits Banking to Raise Alpacas.” Raise alpacas indeed. Farmgirl Erin McCarthy’s Belleauwood Farm is one of the largest alpaca operations in the country. While many farms have an average of 12 alpacas at anyContinue reading “MBA-Wielding Farmgirl Banks on Alpacas”

Pennsylvanians celebrated Women’s History Month today with a lunch in Harrisburg featuring Farmgirl Hero Jane Alexander, the first woman in the country to become a state deputy secretary of agriculture. That was way back in 1972. Alexander, aka the “Gavel Girl,” is a lawyer and heads the progressive J&J Agri-Products & Services, a consulting agencyContinue reading “Farmgirl, Lawyer, Pioneer, 'Girlie' Ag Secretary”

I was checking out the American Agriculturalist this morning and a piece headlined “Women Will ‘Rule’ Farming” definitely caught my attention. The article notes that during the next 20 years, 400 million acres of U.S. farmland will change hands and that women will inherit 75 percent. The numbers are even higher in the New EnglandContinue reading “Farmgirls Will 'Rule'”

This day in history, circa some 7,000 years ago, our early relatives couldn’t digest milk. At least so says new research by University College London scientists who claim that human ancestors lacked the gene required to produce the enzymes most of us have now to process cow’s milk. The working theory, according to the KhaleejContinue reading “Farmgirl History Lesson: Dairy Farming Emerged As Ancestors Developed Taste for Cow's Milk”

My mother-in-law died very early this morning and for some reason, I can’t get this image of her as a young woman driving a tractor out of my mind. I’ve heard stories about her family farming background for years and despite declining health in the last few months, I will remember her strong and vibrant,Continue reading “Celebrating a Farmgirl”

NASCAR has yet to make the switch, but beginning this racing season, cars at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway will be fueled 100 percent by ethanol. It’s a move Speedway President Tony George says was prompted by a desire by the IRL to be “socially responsible and innovative at the same time,” according to this pieceContinue reading “Farms Fueling 500, Indy Cars Racing on 100% Ethanol this May”