Get back to basics * Support farmers * Support Campbell’s ‘Grow Your Soup’ Barn Revival

Megan was a member of her school’s FFA organization. That stands for Future Farmers of America. She took Agriculture in 8th grade because she loves the earth and wanted to know more about how to help it grow. Then, in her junior year of high school, she took Horticulture and was the only girl person in the class that was not your typical farmer-type [read: she did not wear jeans and t-shirts every day].

Why did Megan take Horticulture when she is now and had always planned to study education? Music education, no less. She wanted to expand her horizons AND she loves her earth. Yes, she is a [gasp] treehugger. In fact, she recently called a professor a tree killer because he handed out notes, many, many pieces of paper, without using both sides. Go Megan!

We have a small farm

It is our sincere hope that our small farm does expand some, at least enough to support much more of our family’s nutritional needs. Currently we have a small garden, some fruit trees, and 18 chickens [16 hens and 2 roosters]. Next year we plan to expand our garden with the help of our recently restored [got to love a man who is handy] Farmall tractor and have a few cows grazing the property.

One thing I have learned since moving to Virginia is working the land is hard work. Which is why I do not do as much as I should. I do not like getting callouses. Oh, and the brown recluse spiders are all over the place out there. {shivers} But I am so grateful for all the men and women out there working hard to provide all of those things we take for granted: milk, eggs, beef, etc, etc, etc. You did not think these things just magically appeared at your local grocer, did you?

Together We Can Make Good Things Grow

Campbell’s will be preserving 5 barns across the United States based on your votes. That is right, you can help choose which barns will be preserved by heading over to Help Grow Your Soup and voting for your favorite barn out of the 10 nominees. I am voting for the Rollinghills Farm in Staunton, VA. Why? Well, because it is right down the road from me. Not literally, but it is only about 2 hours from where I live. And I want to support a local farm.

It gets even better. For every vote Campbell’s will donate $1 to FFA (up to $250,000). You can vote once each day. Voting started October 1, 2009 and continues through January 5, 2010, so there is plenty of time to cast those votes and help raise $250,000 in support of the FFA. Now doesn’t that give you a warm fuzzy feeling all over?

Great Eco Tips Delivered to Your Inbox

Have you signed up for ideal bite yet? They were the first to alert me to Campbell’s campaign to preserve barns and raise money for the FFA. That is right. They told me before Campbells did. Oh yes they did! Don’t you want to be the first to know about these great happenings? Well, then sign up today and get this and other great eco-friendly tips delivered directly to your inbox! Just click on the image below to get started.