Category Archives: Uncategorized

Indiana Conservationist Jane Hardisty announced today that there’s precisely $766,948 available in the Hoosier state for a new initiative to encourage conservation on organic farms. The funding from the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service is part of the national Environmental Quality Incentives Program aimed at offering financial assistance to organic farmers and those making theContinue reading “Hoosier Funding for New Organic Initiative Announced”

Today, I met the “Worm Whisperer” of Oak Park. She’s only been worm composting for a year, but this woman knows how to get the most out of garbage. The Worm Whisperer nickname came from a fellow classmate this morning after our instructor, Theresa, informed us that she can tell when the compost mixture isContinue reading “Lessons From The 'Worm Whisperer'”

One of my resolutions this year is to waste less, including the scraps of food I run through the garbage disposal, throw in the trash or feed to the guinea pig. The best and fastest way I can see accomplishing that goal is to compost. So on Saturday, from 10-Noon, I’ll be in a zeroContinue reading “First Step Toward Zero Waste: Composting”

I’ve long known about the urban farm project by Hantz Farms aimed at reclaiming blighted Detroit blocks and turning them green. But a similar effort is underway in Hurricane Katrina-ravaged New Orleans, something I learned about in my latest e-news alert from American Farmland Trust. Villere Urban Farm is based in the city’s Lower NinthContinue reading “Vacant Lots in New Orleans Join Growing Urban Farming Landscape”

I’ve been hearing more and more about a hybrid grape that’s being promoted as producing the “signature wine” of the Midwest: Traminette. Because it’s so well adapted to the Midwest climate, and has been around literally since before I was born, surely I’ve had it in some form and hadn’t realized it. Anyway, I wasn’tContinue reading “What's Indiana's Signature Wine?”

Check out this intriguing design project from a University of Manchester student who envisions a meld of vertical urban farming and broadcasting. The project Urban F@m.i.n. (Urban farming and media interactive networks) was developed by Jack O’Reilly, who rightly asserts, that sustainability can be achieved, but “cannot survive without promotion.” And that promotion needs toContinue reading “Student Envisions Verdical Farm With Interactive Media”

If you’ve ever wondered what that word “organic” means on your milk jugs and meat packages, the USDA has narrowed the definition for you. On Friday, the department announced new rules that say cows producing so-called organic milk and meat must spend at least four months a year grazing on pasture. In the past, theContinue reading “USDA Defines 'Organic' on Milk and Meat Packaging”

Chicago health inspectors have destroyed thousands of dollars of food belonging to a pastry chef and catering business that didn’t have their licenses in order at inspection time. Inspectors visited Kitchen Chicago, a culinary incubator for emerging chefs, last week and again this week. I’m a big fan of the shared kitchen concept. The arrangementContinue reading “Inspectors Destroy Thousands of Dollars of Food at Shared Kitchen”

Connecticut food activist Mark Winne, who has long advocated for policies to fight hunger and make farm-fresh, organic food available to low-income residents, will be speaking at next month’s Food Summit 2010 in St. Louis. The summit is being organized by the Healthy Youth Partnership, which is looking for ways to combat childhood obesity. WinneContinue reading “Food Activist Mark Winne Headlines St. Louis Food Summit”

Tonight, I was rushing to try to get supper on the table. I was a little behind because we had to go to the polls to vote (conveniently located where we pick up our Future Farmkids) this evening. So when I got home, I set to making supper: baked chicken w/Spice House’s Milwaukee Iron SeasoningContinue reading “Processed Food Mishap”