Author Archives: Virtual Farmgirl

I finally caught up with my Tribune Good Eating section for this week and was giddy to discover that a new “artisanal” bakery has opened, with a name that took my breath away: Hoosier Mama Pie Co.Love it. And I especially love that the owner of this new Ukrainian Village sweet shop has a HoosierContinue reading “'Luxury on a Fork' at New Area Bakery”

If you’re searching for examples of CSAs really building and feeding communities, look no further than Petaluma Bounty. Petaluma Bounty is a four-part system meant to change the way people of all ages and income brackets get their food. 1. Bounty Farm, an urban farm.2. Bounty Box, a weekly CSA sold wholesale to low-income families.3.Continue reading “A Model CSA Any Urban Area Would Covet”

My cousin actually “found” this band and I haven’t been formally introduced. But I like what I see so far on YouTube and Facebook. I love that they chronicle their road tours via social media. And according to an interview on the Steve Levy Show, their van has more than 190,000 miles on it. Wow.Continue reading “Local Music Find: Josh & The Empty Pockets”

Not much of a locavore weekend here in the flood zone, with two delicious exceptions. For lunch with my cousin and aunts, then at a small dinner party tonight, we set out XX Hot Heirloom Salsa from River Valley Kitchens. The recipe, according to the label, is from Rick Bayless. I almost didn’t break theContinue reading “Local Finds: Super Salsa and Tangy 2-Year Cheddar”

I’ve often wondered if folks think that “organic” means safer. These days I’m not sure it means that it tastes better, is healthier or even is better for the environment. Why? Because organic is a label that’s become so diluted and complicated, it’s untrustworthy. I hear locavores talk about how you’re better off if youContinue reading “Organic. Is it Worth it?”

I’m very excited about a new website that I’ve been getting more and more familiar with over the last few days: The Local Beet. The site is chock full of information, well-written blogs (one by Vital Information’s Rob Gardner), features and forums, all focused on “a practical approach to local eating.” There’s also a niceContinue reading “Exploring The Local Beet”

The keeper of Chicago Locavores, Nina Interlandi Bell, delivered some sad news to my inbox today. She’s had it with all the blood, sweat and tears that she poured into growing this free resource for those looking for ways to take advantage of local produce, CSAs and restaurants that support sustainable food systems. I don’tContinue reading “RIP: Chicago Locavores”

Our sisters north of the border are providing some good examples of farm ingenuity. Take Ruth Klahsen, who’s making a go out of what may be Canada’s first cheese CSA. According to The Locavore, aka Sarah Elton of the CBC’s Here & Now, Klahsen chose the CSA route after the lease ran out on herContinue reading “First Ever Cheese CSA Up North? Any in the States?”

My new favorite celebrity Farmgirl is Neko Case, an alternative rock/country singer/songwriter who has a 100-acre farm in Vermont. She seems like she’s been a shrewd businesswoman (with a home in Arizona too) and remains fairly grounded in reality. She also still has ties to the indie rock group The New Pornographers. I heard herContinue reading “Neko Case is Growing More than Music on Her Vermont Farm”

The time is now to join a CSA. If you procrastinate, you may miss out and have to wait until the next growing cycle to buy a share. I’m sure that’s why this Denmark operation, Aarstiderne, is getting attention these days from places like the Huffington Post and American Farmland Trust. The company delivers weeklyContinue reading “World's Largest CSA Gives Up Some 'High-Church Ethics' to Make 50K Weekly Deliveries”