Farmgirl Heroes Alert

I was reading this story on CattleNetwork.com about the death of Nebraska’s anti-corporate farming law and the threat to North Dakota’s legislation because of recent court rulings, when I came across a quote from someone who seemed suspiciously farmgirlish. Indeed, Jessica Shoemaker, a staff attorney with the Farmers Legal Action Group in St. Paul, Minn.,Continue reading “Farmgirl Heroes Alert”

Grassland Farmgirls Honored in Kansas

Kansas Farmgirl Betty Bonjour and her daughter Jessica just won a grassland award for their brand of rotational farming at Double B Ranch. Betty operates a 150-head cow-calf herd and five registered quarter horses. Jessica tells the Marysville Advocate that farming has been her dream since she graduated from high school. And her Farmgirl motherContinue reading “Grassland Farmgirls Honored in Kansas”

The True Virtual Farmers Are Gaming it Up

I thought I was a true virtual farmgirl until I read this piece in RP Gamer about Natsume’s latest fantasy video games: Rune Factory: A Fantasy Harvest Moon and Innocent Life: A Futuristic Harvest Moon. For the past decade, the games have featured a city boy who heads to rural lands to try his handContinue reading “The True Virtual Farmers Are Gaming it Up”

Grass Farmer's Model a Continued Success

It’s easy to become engrossed in the works of Shenandoah Valley alternative farmer Joel Salatin, who also happens to be a prolific author and innovator. Joel’s a third-generation farmer and was most recently featured in this story in American Farm, though he’s attracted and generated a lot of press over the years. The American FarmContinue reading “Grass Farmer's Model a Continued Success”

Maple Syrup Farm Offers 'Sweet' Skiing this Winter

Check out these agricultural-themed, treasure hunt Nordic Quests in Vermont. This story in the Times Argus features the Morse Farm experience, with the quest about how farming has evolved over the centuries. I love how this farm figured a way to bring winter events, snow shoeing, cross country skiing and these farm history-themed treasure hunts,Continue reading “Maple Syrup Farm Offers 'Sweet' Skiing this Winter”

Pilot Project to Treat, Separate Dairy Cow Waste

Dealing with animal waste is a huge issue for farming operations, large and small. So I’ll be curious to see how this pilot project near Canton, Ohio, plays out. The project, featured in the Canton Repository, marries sewage treatment experts, family farms, environmental groups and local businesses to separate dairy cow waste into liquid andContinue reading “Pilot Project to Treat, Separate Dairy Cow Waste”

'Green Farming' Takes Root at Michigan Tree Farm

I’m not completely convinced of this Trim Pines Farm position that farmers were the “original environmentalists.” I can believe that they have long appreciated nature and the land. And I do believe that farmers, including folks like Mike Yancho Sr. and his farmgirl daughter Christina, can and are turning things around. According to The FlintContinue reading “'Green Farming' Takes Root at Michigan Tree Farm”

Farmgirls Rally to Oppose Factory Farms

I’ve discovered a few Hoosier Farmgirl Heroes mentioned in this Muncie Star Press piece about the CAFO counter movement. The article notes that “Organizers of local CAFO opponents are typically grandmothers and/or mothers who own farms that have been in their families for decades.” My favorite of the bunch is Barbara Cox, a retired nurse,Continue reading “Farmgirls Rally to Oppose Factory Farms”

To Pasteurize or Not…Raw Milk Safety Debate Rages On

After last night’s post mentioning raw milk, I looked at more posts on the Net (including posts here, here, here and this excellent story in the Oct. 1 Washington Post with a great anecdote featuring Farmgirl Kitty and her Hedgebrook Farm) and I could plainly see that there is no clear consensus about the safetyContinue reading “To Pasteurize or Not…Raw Milk Safety Debate Rages On”

Jersey Farm Couple Sees Raw Milk as Missing Piece of Biodynamic Operation

They have 25 milk goats, 100 roasting chickens, 250 laying hens, six pigs and three shepherding donkeys on 15 acres…all part of Farmgirl Dana and her husband Ray’s progressive “commonsensical” farmstead, according to this piece in American Farm. The all-natural DanaRay Farm the article says, is complete with vegetables, fruit tress and herb gardens… allContinue reading “Jersey Farm Couple Sees Raw Milk as Missing Piece of Biodynamic Operation”