Author Archives: Virtual Farmgirl

Critics of Henry Brockman, a local farmer who recently began charging for his plastic bags at the Evanston farmers market, might find solidarity with this organization: SaveThePlasticBag.com. Yes. It’s a real group and it’s suing Los Angeles, which has moved to phase out plastic bags and encourage the use of paper or reusable bags. MyContinue reading “Plastic Bag Lovers Fight Back”

I’ve signed the American Farmland Trust’s Keep it Local pledge. I think the pledge is a great idea, a way for us urbanites and suburbanites in particular to make a commitment to buying local. This should be easy to do during the summer, when farmers markets are a stone’s throw from my house and office.Continue reading “Pledging to Buy Local”

A cool summer breeze and break in the humidity made for a fine evening outside. And this gave us a chance to try the refreshingly sweetWild Blossom Meadery & Winery’s Green Apple Riesling that we bought at our church’s winter market. It’s pretty good. Not saccharine, but more of a true dessert wine compared withContinue reading “Perfect Evening for Supper in the Outdoor Kitchen”

Getting buggy this summer. I don’t think these Future Farmkids would ever get tired of catching, then releasing lightening bugs.

Few things surprise me when I read the paper, but this story in the Trib about a brouhaha over one local farmer charging for plastic bags, just stuck with me. I think I feel most sorry for the customer that sustainability expert farmer Henry Brockman outed in the press for strenuously complaining about his decisionContinue reading “Farmer Irritates Some With Plastic Bag Fee”

Finally! A Midwest grown and produced fruit wine that isn’t syrupy sweet! I can hardly believe how much I like the Apple Wine under the Illinois Cellars label in downstate Carrollton, Ill. It’s very Rieslingesq. A perfect pairing for cheese and crackers…or just on its own on a lazy summer weekend. Turns out it’s aContinue reading “Apples! Fermented & Fabulous”

Even in the pouring rain there was plenty of foot traffic at the Oak Park Farmers Market. There was NO line for the donuts. That was good for sopping wet me, but made me sad for the folks who were likely there to raise money for an event. And, of course, there was no bluegrass,Continue reading “Summer Bounty”

A new Chicago Locavore compatriot proposed a great idea for those of us who didn’t pay close enough attention to our grandmothers come harvest… Let’s have our own canning party! I so love that idea. Now I just need to find some sage canning expert to drop in and teach. If I could sucker PhotoContinue reading “A Hot Idea This Summer”

The iFarmer and I are trying to come up with some fresh designs and slogans for the Farmgirl Gear pages. I’m taking requests…so if you have a t-shirt idea, please share! I’m definitely going to have something for the farmkids this time around.

If, like me, you’ve had fears of canning and pickling, just read today’s Good Eating section in the Trib to get inspired. I love that the Trib quoted a state fair champ: Linda Amendt, author of several preserving books and a frequent state-fair prize winner, says: “The perception that home canning is old-fashioned and aContinue reading “Pickling Isn't Just for Cucumbers Anymore”