Author Archives: Virtual Farmgirl

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”

That distracting Chicago Tribune almost derailed my entire day today with its 145-plus Peep diorama slide show. They are absolutely hysterical. If I can keep from eating all the Peeps, I’ll try to come up with one or two dioramas this weekend. But, for now, here are my favorites from the Trib submissions… I thinkContinue reading “A Sweet Distraction”

OK. I confess. I bought David Cook’s single, an alternative interpretation of Lionel Richie’s “Hello.” He’s now one of my two favorite guys…David and super hottie Michael Johns. Among the girls, my standout favs are Carly Smithson and Brooke White. Oh…and as much as I like Wham [Yes. I have them in vinyl. And, IContinue reading “Doing Some Idol Shopping Tonight”

It’s Wednesday night and we’re still not all recovered from this weekend’s flu assault. By Sunday we were all sick as dogs. All four of us. We were a sight. Our babysitters…Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Curious George and My Friends Tigger & Pooh…proved to be our only salvation during the weekend. The shows gave the iFarmerContinue reading “On the Mend? We Hope”

I read story after story about people who decide they want to live the rural life, then fight like hell to sterilize nature. Apparently the Farm Bureau folks in Utah have noticed this, in part because a farmer spent $70,000 defending against a nuisance suit brought by neighbors, the Salt Lake Tribune reports. “People moveContinue reading “Are Farms a Nuisance?”

After a few days of feeling nauseous, it’s becoming painfully clear…I have the flu. And I even had a flu shot. Actually all of us did. But this is no ordinary late-winter cold. All but Future Farmboy have been struck. I thought, no way could we have the flu. But I woke up this morningContinue reading “When Will This Winter End?”

I finally got my copy of Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day from Amazon. I’m eager to try out the recipe for Olive Bread in the Peasant Loaves section. And I know the family will like it if I test out the Pecan Caramel Rolls. I have a good idea of what I willContinue reading “Getting a Rise Out of Fresh Bread”

For the raw milk enthusiasts, there was Making Their Case for Raw Milk, in Sunday’s New York Times. The article notes that continuing and unwavering warnings from the FDA, its popularity continues to grow. Connecticut is one of only a handful of states that leads the pack in raw milk sales, making it possible forContinue reading “Connecticut Embraces Raw Milk”

This article in the Chicago Tribune — Farmer Bob turns water into swine — wins the prize for the most captivating story featuring agriculture v. urban sprawl. Here’s the gist. Farmer Bob, aka Bob Wargaski, is fighting a proposed water tower that city planners hope to erect near his Island Lake area property. At aContinue reading “Pigs or Clean Water? Neighbors Pick Pigs”