Author Archives: Virtual Farmgirl

This San Francisco Chronicle story, “What raw milk and the economic meltdown have in common,” might be the best argument I’ve seen to buy local. Here’s the lesson from the piece, which compares the global financial crisis to the melamine contaminated raw milk from China: The hopeful news in all this is that in theContinue reading “New Ag Labeling is So Un-COOL”

The Midwest apple harvest is in full swing, so many of us are finding ourselves loaded down with extra fruit. Thanks to 4H-Champ, I learned how easy it is to make crock pot applesauce. The hardest part is actually cutting, coring and peeling the apples. There are gadgets available that make that easier. It tookContinue reading “Nothing Like Waking Up to the Smell of Warm, Spiced Apples”

I’m liking the Bonterra Vineyards Merlot. It’s not local to us here in Chicagoland. The grapes are from Mendocino County. But it’s an organic wine and is really smooth. I had a sip (hey, it is my day off) before adding some to my simmering pasta sauce. The taste reminded me that I hadn’t notedContinue reading “A Toast to the Melding of New & Old World Traditions”

In honor of Columbus Day, we’re celebrating with some Americas-inspired treats: Peanut butter, chocolate chip cookies and oven roasted pumpkin seeds. I don’t know enough of my food history to credit Columbus with peanut butter. As I recall, the Spaniards, after Columbus reached the Americas, are widely believed to have spread this legume throughout theContinue reading “Columbus Day Treats”

…to popcorn. I don’t have my own popcorn maker. I never really considered getting one, except for campfires. But I’ve changed my mind. And I now have my first entry on my Christmas wish list: A 6 Quart Silver Whirley Pop Stovetop Popcorn Popper. I saw one in action on Saturday. When the 4H ChampContinue reading “I Confess. I'm Addicted…”

What a fantastic day. It wasn’t the day I planned, but thanks to some good company, great produce and fairly well-behaved kids, we ended up with the makings to have quite an adventure. 4H-Champ, 3 Future Farmkids and 1 VFG started the day thinking we were going to be picking apples at County Line OrchardContinue reading “Today's Agri-Tour Near Misadventure”

I got a message today from Chef Daniel Orr at FARMBloomington about reducing, re-using and recycling. He does all three. In addition to farm-fresh ingredients when he can get them, the So. Indiana chef does his share of composting of kitchen waste and coffee grounds. He also uses biodegradable containers for carry out to decreaseContinue reading “Bloomington Restaurant Cooks Up Three Rs”

Thanks to Urban Dweller for sending me this great story in the New York Times this past weekend about a small town in Vermont, just the size of Gas City, that’s trying to rebuild itself as a collective farming community after its granite businesses went bust. One of my favorite parts of the story isContinue reading “Town on the Rocks Looks to Farming for Salvation”

Today I threw out an entire bottle of apple juice. I had wondered why my kids didn’t want juice anymore. Then I went through my own fruit craving period recently and tried the juice myself. Ick! It had a horrid metalic aftertaste. No wonder my Future Farmkids — who are thankfully (and cursedly) developing tasteContinue reading “Cheap Apple Juice Goes Down Down Down…the Drain”

I’ve been enjoying finding grocers and chefs who buy direct from local farmers. But this grocer in San Fran has earned a special place in this Virtual Farmgirl’s heart. Not only is Bi-Rite Market committed to selling local produce, it’s growing its own on a 1/3 acre in Sonoma. The San Francisco Chronicle has thisContinue reading “Bay Area Grocery Farms Own Produce”