Author Archives: Virtual Farmgirl

I’m not much of a conspiracy theorist, but I’m starting to get paranoid that Mother Nature simply doesn’t want me to raise my children as campers. This appears to be our third planned camping trip in a row that will be rained out. We’ll see. Maybe we’ll get enough of a break in the HurricaneContinue reading “Another Rainout? Time for Plan B”

I was skeptical about whether our crock pot ribs would be overcooked. Turns out, they were probably a bit overdone. But they were fantastic. The sauce that the iFarmer customized was particularly plate-licking good. I had no time to go to the farmers market, so we sided the meal with a bib lettuce salad, greenContinue reading “Ribs Update”

We just finished trying a new slow cooker recipe for Honey Chipotle Ribs. We bought the rack of baby backs for a guest, but never ended up using it. As we ran out the clock on the time to grill them, we opted for the slow cooker. I’m taking this as a first real sign,Continue reading “Supper's in the Pot, Veggies Still on the Farm”

Because my SoCal sister is thinking seriously about getting some backyard chickens and because I live vicariously through others (hence the name VFG), I’ve been catching up on my Urban Chicken reading. This post “Our noisy urban chickens get busted” is one every prospective backyard chicken owner should read. Not only do backyard chicken ownersContinue reading “Introducing Your Noisy Hens to the Joneses”

Loved this piece by the AP via South Bend Tribune, “Slow Food needs to ease up on the snoot factor.” Not only do I appreciate it, I agree that the Slow Food proponents need to think less gourmet served on Wedgewood and more good eats served on Corelle. The article takes a critical look atContinue reading “Slow Food Needs to Be More than 'Wine & Cheese Party' to Make a Difference”

My culinary adventures in Hotlanta this week weren’t exactly the farmgirl fare I tend to aim for. But when in Rome… Seriously, I was not leaving the South without some good BBQ (the sports bar KC pulled pork I had was horrid). Thanks to a hot tip from The Newcomer columnist for the AJC, IContinue reading “Atlanta Food Outings at #SPJ08”

I’m too tired to write much about this, but I liked this Canadian Press story I tripped over about urban farming. Favorite quote: “The actual phenomenon of urban farming is absolutely taking off even more,” said Taja Sevelle, founder and executive director of Urban Farming, a Detroit-based nonprofit that turns vacant lots into gardens. “PeopleContinue reading “Urban Farming is 'Taking Off'”

Having worked as a checker and seen how easy it is for low-income families to fall into a vicious cycle of buying and eating cheap junk food, while healthier, yet more expensive options stay shelved, it’s good news to see that more and more farmers markets across the U.S. are accepting food stamps. This helpsContinue reading “Farmers Markets Get More Accessible”

A reporter in West Virginia who was looking at changes in the ag industry picked the Grantham family as an example of how family farming has evolved over seven generations. Over the past 230 years, the Grantham clan has gone from substance farming to exporting crops, then to near ruin from neglect and a resurgenceContinue reading “Evolution of Farming as Seen Through One Family's History”

Three cheers to this organization – North Dakota-based Farm Rescue – which rolls in to help farmers who’ve been injured are ill or whose farms have been devastated by natural disaster. I learned about Farm Rescue from this story in The Prairie Star online, which reports that the organization has added Montana to its territory.Continue reading “Farm Heroes Rescue Family Farmers in Distress”