Author Archives: Virtual Farmgirl

At the Schlittlers’ 105-year-old farm in Pennsylvania, the customers are raw milk enthusiasts. Some are recent converts, a part of a growing raw milk subculture. But many others are immigrants from Russia, Egypt and Central America. They pay $5 a gallon for the unpasteurized, non homogenized, sweet milk, the Center Daily Times reports. The farm,Continue reading “Family Farm Finds Raw Milk Market With Immigrants”

I thought we’d end the evening sad, but we’re celebrating a Manning Dynasty. This, by far, was the best Super Bowl I’ve ever seen. That’s saying a lot since the Indy Colts were last year’s champs.

Tom Petty rocked the half-time show, even leading off with one of VFG’s favorite songs. The iFarmer picked that song for me a looong time ago, way before we were a couple. Does it fit?[You can hear American Girl along with a bunch of my other favorites on my finetune widget.]

Great story in the Battle Creek Enquirer about the growth of farmers markets, CSAs and interest in knowing the source of your food in Michigan. The number of farmers markets in Mich. has increased from 90 to 160 in three years. Farmgirl Pam Bosserd, of Bosserd Family Farm Market in Marshall Township, tells the paperContinue reading “Farmers Market Boom in Michigan”

I have a house divided, in that FFB is a Patriots fan and the rest of us are for the Giants. Well, I’m not sure about FFG. I think she’s a Giants fan. When I asked, she said she was for the flashlights. Anyway, go Eli. Oh, and worst commercial so far? The Audi commercialContinue reading “Go Giants!”

I have something cooking in the kitchen that kept me from taking the kiddies to the big sledding hill. So I made one for them in the backyard. It’s not built for speed, but Future Farmboy enjoyed setting some distance records while Future Farmgirl did her best to reign over the hill. Pix below… MyContinue reading “Snow Day”

I’ve got a territory battle being waged in my backyard. Maybe it’s the snow or the writers strike, but I was completely consumed this morning watching a pair of young cardinals fighting with a group of house sparrows for the right to sit on my fencepost. In all fairness, the sparrows have been here longer.Continue reading “Cardinal v. House Sparrow”

Just a quick note to pass on word that Indiana health authorities are warning cheese buyers to check their purchases of Grassy Meadows raw milk varieties. Grassy Meadows dairy, based in Howe, sold the suspect cheeses directly to consumers, the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette is reporting. High levels of staph were detected in routine testing.Continue reading “Ind. Raw Milk Cheeses Recalled”

Good news from a friend of VFG: There’s a new Butler Winery tasting room getting ready to open in Chesterton. I’ll be looking forward to that. I love that little artist’s community by the lake. Chesterton is full of suburban Chicago and NWI hidden treasures. Now back to American Idol.

I opened a bottle of Indiana Red from Butler Winery near Bloomington this week. I’d say it’s much better than my experience with the too-sweet Reggae Red. Indiana Red, on the other hand, is a nice, smooth table wine. Still a bit on the sweet side, but just about right for me. Butler Winery billsContinue reading “Hoosier Wine Update: Butler Winery”