Organic from Grain to Slaughter

Who knew there'd be such a great Virtual Farmgirl news find in the Chicago Reader...But sure enough, this week's A1 story is about a downstate Illinois farmer who is building an organic slaughterhouse for the organic cattle he's raising.

Stan Schutte's been farming organic, acre by acre for nearly 30 years at Triple S Farms in Stewardson, Ill. After struggling for years to farm and work factory jobs, he switched gears and increased his farm profits by going organic. Now he's got a diversified organic operation - with fruits, veggies, poultry, hogs and popcorn to boot.

Schutte's trying to break into the Chicago market, so I'll be on the lookout for his organic beef.

Getting Your Apples from the Doctor

Love this story in the San Francisco Chronicle about the proliferation of farmers markets in the United States and California in particular. There are 90 markets in the Bay Area alone.

And their popularity is spreading, in part because enormous, deep-pocket companies like Kaiser Permanente are supporting "mini markets" throughout the state on hospital sites. And other organizations are sponsoring markets at schools and malls.

The paper notes that this "new approach" involves a growing number of companies looking to bring local markets to people.

Kaiser promotes its farmers market endeavor as "not as crazy as it sounds." And they're right: Eating more fruits and vegetables is part of good health.

I'd add that eating more locally produced fruits and vegetables is part of good physical, environmental and community health.

Back to Urbania...Score One for Rural

We had a great weekend at The Farm...Unfortunately our camp out/stargazing was rained out. But the periodic (and welcomed) rain showers didn't keep us from exploring:

First we got a visit from Chuck who lovingly restores, and likes to share, his Model A fleet. He took us for a spin around the block, including one lap with me standing on the running board so I could retrieve a hubcap he lost on a turn...



We spent the rest of the afternoon on an adventure to The River:

...Looking for arrowheads in the bean field. I only found shards, and what appears to be the remains of a drill bit...



...Checking out the sandbar, which was as exposed as I've ever seen it. There was plenty of room for the lot of us as we lined up to skip stones across the river. We spotted a tiny toad (about the size of my pinkie nail). I also managed to capture a spotted frog. I'm sure that was a sight.


I saw the remnants of my great grandfather's tree. Before a storm twisted it and threw half of it into the river a few years ago, I used to imagine him crawling up from the bank into the partially hallowed out trunk to hide away in this secret spot, where he'd be visible only to the fish and water fowl.



Lots of fun...too much to share in one post. Score one for The Rural Life since we didn't really want to come home.

A Break From the City

We're so looking forward to this weekend. Finally...a trip to The Farm.

We get to check out the garden first hand and see how those beans are doing. I'm eager to see the new herb section and to see how the thousands of lavender seeds are coming along.

We were planning on doing some camping and stargazing, but looking at the weather patterns, we may end up watching the rain from the picture window.

As much as I'd like to spend the time outside...Internet free...I'd be just as happy to see some relief from these dry few weeks.

Best of Show?

Hoosier Outsider's been checking out the county fair, with aspiring farmgirls and boys. Here's my favorite shot...

Demand Up for Raw Milk...But Another Recall

Here's a short story story in the Altoona Mirror wading into the raw milk debate. It leads with a lactose-intolerant man who has no problems drinking enzyme rich raw milk.

Demand for milk and cheese, unpasteurized and directly from the cow, is on the rise at Clover Creek Cheese Cellar in Williamsburg as more consumers add raw milk to their organic/buy local regimen.

But, like most stories, the Altoona piece also warns of the dangers listeria, E. coli and salmonella bacteria...all of which can contaminate raw milk.

Indeed, there was yet another raw milk "recall" this week...this time involving milk purchased from Piney Ridge Farm in New Bethlehem, Penn.

I think Thea and others I've heard from are right on when they talk about knowing the cow. They would argue that closer you are to the dairy operation, the more you can vouch for the safety of the milk.

'Factory' Dairy Farm Loses Organic Label

Catching up with Sustainable Table, I came across a note that a factory farm dairy -- with some 10,000 cows -- was stripped of its license to sell organic milk.

Wow. It looks like someone is paying attention to the organic standards that exist. As happy as I am to see more organic products appear on my local grocery shelves...their fairly speedy arrival is suspicious.

Indeed, the San Francisco Chronicle calls the license suspension a "rare enforcement action."

The Vander Eyk Dairy had its organic designation stripped in May, but word of the action didn't come until June when it was reported on the Chews Wise blog [an excellent organic watchdog site, btw].

I'll be curious to see if any more of these large dairies, clearly trying to capitalize on a growing consumer interest in organics, will also find themselves under the microscope.

Urban v. Rural...Point Urban

I've added a new label to my blog: Urban v. Rural.

While I sometimes long for the rural life --- the one I dreamed of while I struggled to fit in with urban/suburban surroundings [thoughts of raspberry hunts with grandpa, snapping beans on the back porch to feed my grandmother's never ending canning kitchen and our special trips to Ivahoe's Drive In for fresh hand dipped ice cream] --- I wonder if I've passed an urban point of no return.

Evidence of that came tonight when my husband suckered me into driving to get him some garlic butter fries at Sub Tender in Forest Park [big clue to quality fries...two of Chicago's finest crossed the border...technically two towns...to order supper as I walked out]. BTW...my husband had to interrupt his sister AT CHURCH to get me directions. (Randolph and DesPlaines Ave. if you're curious)

I was also in the mood for a little extra kick with my meal, so on my way home, I stopped by Mickey's in Oak Park and grabbed some rib tips and raspberry iced tea for balance.

I know for sure that...back home...on or near The Farm...or in The Mountains...these options are not available.

Score one for Chicagoland.

Farmgirls On the Map

I got my Women in Ag sampler today and was alerted to this super cool interactive map.

One of the Agriculture Online editors tweaked a mapping program to enable the Farmgirls participating in the chat to show one another where they lived. If you go to the map you can add your location and join the discussion.

See if you can find me.

Hoping for Rain

Word is that it's pretty dry in Central Indiana. There's been less than a 1/2 inch of rain the last month. The soybeans aren't stressed, but they're not growing as fast.

Up in Chicagoland, we've had some downpours. At least our grass is still green.

I haven't planted the backyard herb garden yet. That'll be a nice project for the weekend.

Longing for a Good Co-Op and Hand-Cranked Ice Cream

I was raised to know better about healthy eating.

We shopped at food co-ops...bought granola, wheat germ, rice and beans in bulk. In the mountains, we grew our own food or only ate food from gardens I could walk to.

For a while I slept in a cozy loft overlooking a greenhouse full of tomatoes.

We weren't afraid to drink "raw" milk from goats and cows we knew and milked. [I'll never forget the taste of fresh cow's milk and nearly overripe apricots blended together. My first smoothie.] And I knew the names of the chickens where I gathered my eggs.

Because we didn't have electricity, ice cream was a rare treat. And anytime someone brought some in from town or made a batch, it was for sharing. Not one to let ice cream go to waste, I could spread the word pretty quick...zipping (likely in my bare feet) from the upper field to the lower field in no time.

So why is it so hard to plan smart-eating menus for my family? The best I could do tonight was a compromise..."traditional" store-bought tacos, but with a ton of sides...black beans, pan-roasted orange peppers and onions.

With access to farmers markets and more organic options at the local Jewel, I'm feeling a little better. But there are no co-ops around here like I remember as a kid.

As much as I like the idea of Whole Foods...it's just too expensive for everyday menu-planning.

One area farmgirl suggested I check out Northern Illinois CSAs. Definitely something to consider.

For now I'll just keep daydreaming of my neighborhood landing a Trader Joe's.

And I'll enjoy the summer markets close to the office and home.

This Week's Market: Music, Salsa, Good Neighbors and...Donuts

I made up for not getting to the Daley Center Farmer's Market by going to the one at Pilgrim Church in Oak Park.

I had nearly forgotten the charm of the market. Not only is there fabulous "local" in-season produce, organic meats and cheeses, but there's bluegrass music and, of course, the church's famous cinnamon donuts.

[I waited in the longest donut live I've ever seen there...it snaked around the church down the public sidewalk. But well worth the wait...especially since my husband took over for me in the line about 3/4 of the way through so I could grocery shop.]

I was on the hunt for corn...but alas...too early...so we opted for asparagus for our weekend cookout.

After shopping and donut wait, we met a lovely woman Jean who goes to her weekly peace group before grabbing a donut at the market.

And it turns out her daughter and I are both big fans of the Wisconsin CSA Tomato Mountain Farm...so much so I spent 8 bucks on tomatillo salsa. She bought tomato preserves for Jean.

Next time I'm going for the strawberry/raspberry preserves...and...more donuts.

Speaking of Rhubarb...

I didn't get a chance to get to the farmer's market for more rhubarb today...but I did learn a nifty little fact while watching the Colbert Report.

Congressman Adam Smith was the night's brave guest and seemed to hold his own. During Smith's "interview" it was noted that Pierce County, Wash. (the heart of Smith's district), leads the United States in rhubarb production. And according to the county's web site it raises 50 percent of the nation's supply.

So much for the notion that rhubarb is purely a Midwestern thing.

I started to wonder though how much Washington state rhubarb I've consumed. Probably not a whole lot since most of the rhubarb I had growing up came from the front yard and most of the rhubarb I buy now is from local farmers.

Now That's a Garden!

So...what's on the seed order list this year?

Lavender?

Strawberries?

I'm hoping for some green beans, tomatoes and corn in the mix...if dad can figure out how to keep the bugs and rabbits out.

Future Farmgirl

In addition to organic produce and dairy, this Wisconsin family is growing future farmers at Grassway Organics in Eastern Wisconsin.

The Sheboygan Press article about the family and store features testimonials from those who swear by the power of organic food.

And there's plenty food stuffs to be found at the Craig family farm...grass-fed beef;pastured turkey; producer; frozen foods; organic dairy; and, of course, raw-milk (for farm share members only). Just in case you're wondering, the membership fee is 10 bucks...for a lifetime membership. Not a bad deal.

I was checking out the inventory list from the family store and discovered that they do not sell organic mustard. And they do sell non-organic Terra chips. Though they're apparently so good, it's worth straying from organic, just this once. I'm sold.

And, as usual when I read about food late at night, I'm hungry...I think I'll heat up my homemade strawberry rhubarb pie. It's a little tart, but tastes great with vanilla ice cream.

The rhubarb was from the Daley Center farmer's market in Chicago. I'm going with more cash...weather permitting...tomorrow.

There's a new young hobby farm couple (read "young" as anyone younger than 40) at the market this season with some tasty jams and salsas. I'm hoping they'll be there this week too since I ran out of money before I hit their table last time.

White Gold: Organic Milk?

All this debate over raw milk made me wonder what's happening with the organic movements. I had to look no further than the Columbian in Wash. state to learn about the 150 healthy Holsteins at Farmgirl Karen van Tol's pesticide-free pastures.

Despite increasing demand for raw milk, organic daily still brings in a premium. The cows produce about a third less milk than large factory farm-housed cows, but command 20-40 percent more.

The van Tol's had a conventional dairy for nearly 30 years before deciding to go organic for "financial" reasons.

I couldn't find a website for the Van Tol Dairy, but I saw a listing that they also sell organic U-Pick blueberries.