Author Archives: Virtual Farmgirl

When was the last time you went to a funeral that ended with wild applause? I don’t think the honoree, Rev. Dana Ferguson, would have had it any other way. Just a few moments before the standing-room-only crowd (about 1,200 or 1,500) began clapping, there probably wasn’t a dry eye in the house. It’s justContinue reading “Saying Goodbye to Dana”

Good news 4-H Champ and anyone who was surprised by the FFAers who told my future farming kin in Indy last week that the FFA wasn’t about farming anymore and instead was about business (not even agri-business). Why would an FFA member deny farming and not even talk about agriculture to a group of would-beContinue reading “Whew. Turns Out the FFA is Still Very Much Into Farming”

Our prayers go out tonight for the family, friends, 4th Pres co-workers and the people touched by the faith, love and devotion radiated by Rev. Dana Ferguson. We were sad to learn today that Dana died Monday of heart failure brought on by complications from cancer treatments. She was only 42. Our hearts ache forContinue reading “Remembering a Light in the City”

I couldn’t resist. We call this one “Screech,” for obvious reasons.

Just found this buried in an old file. So cute:

I’m getting excited about movie night this week because by Friday I should have my advance copy of Food Fight, a documentary about agricultural policy and food culture in the 20th Century. I expect we’ll see Michael Pollan and Alice Waters front and center in the film, but I won’t know until I watch it.Continue reading “Ready for a Food Fight?”

Still no word from the FFA. I sent the national organization an e-mail noting the exchange that 4-H Champ and family had with FFA conventioners this past weekend. I had hoped for at least a form message telling me that FFA still accomplishes its goals with an underlying agriculture teachings. No such luck. Meanwhile, I’veContinue reading “Farming Future Secure With These Young Innovators”

I received this curious dispatch today from 4-H Champ, who’s been enjoying a fall trip with family through the Hoosier state. While touring, they witnessed a blue-jacket invasion, some 53,000 Future Farmers of America in Indy for their national convention. But is the FFA even about farming these days? Or are members shunning their agContinue reading “FFA Not Into Farming Anymore? What's Up With That?”

So if my canning class falls through because not enough folks register by Sunday, I’m looking at an alternate activity this fall. On Nov. 8, at the Wellington Avenue United Church of Christ, there’s going to be a class on…hold your breath…backyard chicken management. I could hardly contain myself when I saw the note onContinue reading “Urban Ag Backup Plan”

This is for Chase…and because I’m feeling too icky to blog anything else. Espanola Butternut Squash Soup Extra virgin olive oil1 Medium Butternut Squash, peeled and chopped1 large sweet onion, chopped2 large carrots, sliced into small pieces1 stick of salted butter1/2 cup white winepinch of sagepinch of herbes de Provence1-1/2 tablespoon salt1 heaping tablespoon NewContinue reading “Here's the Soup Recipe”