Author Archives: Virtual Farmgirl

My big trip to Milwaukee didn’t have as much of a buy local culinary flare as I would have liked. I did manage to eat a lot of grilled Wisconsin cheese…at the hotel downtown [If you’re ever at the Intercontinental, try the Big Gooey for lunch.] and at Mars Cheese Castle on my way backContinue reading “Just Give Me Good Cheese and Beer, I'm Happy”

I was very excited today to see this letter from the Center for Rural Affairs to presumptive Ag. Sec. Tom Vilsack. I can get behind every point…but was especially excited to see this under point No. 1: We also need your leadership in developing a plan to get affordable high-speed internet service to every ruralContinue reading “High-Speed Internet for Every Farmer…Yes We Can”

I’m not going to Arizona this weekend, but I am headed out of town — to Milwaukee — and on the hunt for some good places for breakfast and lunch. I won’t have a car the first night, but I’d love to check out the Riverwest Co-Op Grocery & Cafe. I’d have to be inContinue reading “Any Tips for Local, Organic Eats in Milwaukee?”

If I was headed to Tucson, Arizona, this weekend, I’d definitely be sure to get a car and drive a couple hours north to Gilbert, which appears to be a suburb of Phoenix. Why? Because I’d for sure want to check out Joe’s Farm Grill. I just caught the tale end of a Food NetworkContinue reading “I'm Hungry. Anyone Up for a Road Trip to Arizona?”

VFG turned two this weekend. I didn’t do much celebrating. I’m celebrated out and ready to get back to my normal routine. But because this is a 2-year anniversary post, I’m going to note some programming highlights from the last year. I try to file a post five to six days a week. In ’08,Continue reading “Happy Birthday to VFG”

So check it out. MaryJane Butters and her organic farm in Idaho have piqued the interest of Travel + Leisure Magazine and the Today Show, which are suggesting that Farm Vacations will be a trend in 2009. The Travel + Leisure Mag editor notes that agriturismos, in which tourists are put to work on anContinue reading “Hot '09 Travel Tip: Farm Vacations”

As has been our tradition over the last six years, to celebrate the New Year, we’ve fired up the grill…no matter how cold. The iFarmer has control of the main course. This year it was baby back ribs, seasoned with a dry rub, then basted with a chipotle BBQ sauce the iFarmer dreamed up thisContinue reading “The Perfect Couple: Chocolate & Guinness”

There are now more than 100,000 members of the group, “Hey, Facebook, breastfeeding is not obscene!” It’s disturbing that Facebook officials are removing breastfeeding shots. Good gracious. What could be more natural than feeding your child the way God intended? I joined, though it’s been a couple years since I’ve been a member of theContinue reading “Nursing Obscene? I Don't Think So”

After nearly two weeks of abstaining from alcohol because of this nasty, seemingly endless cold, I have broken my dry streak. I just couldn’t wait any longer to taste some of the wine we got during our holiday party. After all, the kids get to play with their Christmas toys, right? Looking for something sweet…thatContinue reading “My Turn to Play with My Christmas Toys”

We’re just settled in at home and, despite my cough, I’m looking forward to a week with just me and the kids. I was hunting for things to do in the city and thanks to @VisitChicago on Twitter, I found a great way to get the kids thinking about something besides the toys they gotContinue reading “Gearing Up for a Windy City Staycation”