Author Archives: Virtual Farmgirl

For ag movie lovers, there’s a nice post at Bill’s Movie News and Reviews about the National Archives, which on Saturday hosted an environmental film festival “For a Better America: The New Deal on Film.” Bill reviews the films and provides links, including for one that I’d like to see, “Power and the Land” (1940,Continue reading “Farms on Film”

Thanks to Vital Information for the tip on some fantastic-looking granola made by a local chef, Carol Watson. The Milk & Honey Granola site has a teaser link to recipes, but there are only two on the list. Still, the granola – chock full of sunflower seeds, almonds and dried cherries combined with hints ofContinue reading “Buy Local Tip of the Day”

Sad news in Southern Indiana with death of Joe Huber, who turned his 260-acre farm in Starlight into a massive u-pick operation. Huber, described by the News and Tribune as an “agri-business icon,” started the first u-pick farm in the Midwest in 1967. When the u-pick biz lost its momentum in the 1980s, Huber andContinue reading “RIP U-Pick Pioneer”

I was uploading some pix from my camera and realized I had these gems of a decaying public building from 1892. Anyone know where/what this is? I actually can’t recall precisely. I forgot to write it down, though I pass it every time I visit The Farm. For those of you who are not intimatelyContinue reading “Name That Building/Town”

David Cook rocked American Idol, yet again. [It was surprisingly entertaining and exciting to see Idol get access to the Lennon/McCartney songbook. I was worried the Idol contestants couldn’t measure up (can you say David Hernandez?)]. I’m so thrilled to have heard Cook’s rock out version of the haunting ballad Eleanor Rigby, one of myContinue reading “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da”

It’s just me and the kids this week. The iFarmer is working nights, raising money for good deeds. But we haven’t used his absence as an excuse to let loose, sit around, watch TV and eat pizza. I admit it. I’ve done that. And coming off the flu, I was tempted. But this week, we’veContinue reading “This Week: Mommy & Me Bake-a-thon”

I am still obsessed with the Trib’s Peep diorama contest (up to 189 self entries at this writing). And, I have a new favorite: BRAVO Scoob7. Bravo!

Q: How do you know when your local farmers market is a success? A: When the produce is gone even before the market opens. That’s what early risers are discovering at the Santa Barbara Farmers Market. Bigger companies are swiping up the fresh greens by placing advance orders, the LA Times reports on its EmeraldContinue reading “Food Fight at So. Cal. Farmers Market”

There was a nice perspective piece in the Trib today from Robert Gardner, a localvore, who blogs at Vital Information. Gardner talks about how his family has devoted themselves to eating local and seasonally to maximize their consumption of only the freshest produce from area farmers and growers. He’s also turned his Oak Park atticContinue reading “A Localvore's Debut”

I learned from the 4H Champion that there’s a fantastic new farmers market just outside of Elkhart. American Countryside bills itself as the Midwest’s largest farmers market. It does look pretty expansive from the slide shows. And the best part is that it’s open year round. Well, the best part is that it offers fresh,Continue reading “Midwest's Farmers Market Leader”