Author Archives: Virtual Farmgirl

After I posted an update yesterday on the Farmers for the Future social network, Alpaca Farm Girl recommended another new media network: CattleGrower.com. You’d think from the name that the site is for cattle ranchers. But it’s more general than that. The site provides ways for all livestock farmers to connect. The think I likeContinue reading “A Social Network For Livestock Farmers Too”

I’m thinking that Future Farmers for America had their expectations set a bit too low when they launched their social networking site last October. The goal, as the founders would have us believe, was to have 100 members by year’s end. I got an email recently and saw this piece from Medill Reports that theContinue reading “Future Farmers Takes Root on the Web”

After four days of battling fever and all the other icky stuff that goes with stomach virus, we’ll be glad to go home today. Thankfully each day was saved by regular doses of Tylenol and lots of water. There wasn’t much to excite a Farmgirl at Disney. I didn’t even see the resort or parksContinue reading “Producing Food Without The Land”

The other night, we were prepping for our trip to Florida. I was mending a significant tear in Future Farmgirl’s beloved blankie. I’m no seamstress. But at this age, my children think I’m a marvel because I can thread a needle. The repair was shaky and in a slight zig-zag pattern. Still, they told meContinue reading “Sewing a Little Family History”

This week, as we set our sights and feet on the Sunshine State, where mockingbirds sing and the state flower is the orange blossom, I thought I’d focus on the current state of Florida agriculture. The state’s agriculture commissioner, Charles Bronson (would not want to mess with that guy…oh wait, probably not the Death WishContinue reading “Heading South for at Least Part of the Winter”

Sunday was the first day of Food Check-Out Week. I had never heard of it before, but the Farm Bureau program is in its 11th year. [I love that the program was started in the mid-90s in South Carolina (one of my favorite states) and had its inaugural national event in Chicago in 1998.] TheContinue reading “Checking Out Healthy Food on a Tight Budget”

Following up on my Tater Tot Delight post, I had to also point out some actual potato news: The Scottish have developed what agricultural geneticists are calling an eco-friendly spud. The BBC reports that the new potato comes in a handy oval shape attractive to grocers. But the ec0-friendly part is that the new potatoContinue reading “An 'Eco-Friendly' Potato On the Way?”

The other night, when I had an extreme craving, the iFarmer came through with a new invention. At least it was new to us. I’m calling it Tater Tot Delight. I suppose you could even do this in some organic fashion if you could find organic tater tots. All we had on hand were alphabetContinue reading “Totally Craving Tater Tot Delight”

The Washington Post reminded me that this is just about time to start lining up a CSA for the summer and fall harvests. If you’re in the DC area, the Post article has a nice guide to local CSAs. Too bad the Trib’s brief of the WashPo story didn’t have a similar guide. Lucky forContinue reading “Where to Sign Up for a CSA”

If you’re on the hunt for books that inspire your kids and your friend’s kids to get into the wild, check out Green Sugar Press. Lots of Chicagoland connections at this company. And I like their mission: Green Sugar Press exists to ensure that our future leaders understand Cheerios don’t come from a box, milkContinue reading “It's Never Too Early to Become an Environmentalist”