Author Archives: Virtual Farmgirl

Having spent a good bit of time in a hospital this week, I was drawn to this story in the Green Bay Gazette about the Aurora BayCare Medical Center’s effort to “ruin the image of hospital food.” How are they going to do that? They’re one of the latest of 125 health organizations to takeContinue reading “Greening the Hospital Cafeteria Menu”

I’d known for a while that the Chipotle was working to use locally grown and raised produce and meats, but I missed until a tip from the iFarmer’s Twin led me to see on Ethicurean that sustainable farmer extraordiniare Joel Salatin was supplying one of the local chains. According to the Washington Post, the CharlottesvilleContinue reading “Fast, Local, Naturally Raised Food”

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”