Vermont's Independent Voice
Browse Home
Browse News + Opinion
Browse Arts + Life
Browse Food + Drink
Browse Music
Browse Movies
Browse Events
Browse Classifieds
Browse Personals
New Technology at Old Shaw Farm
...And on their farm they have a blog, e-i-e-i-o
By Suzanne PodhaizerAt Peter and Maryellen Griffins farm in South Peacham, blogging is now one of the daily chores. Posts include recipes, such as a recent one for delicata squash and bleu cheese quiche, and information about what its like to run a small, organic, CSA farm.
Beginning a blog wasnt part of the Griffins plan Im not a computer whiz, claims Peter. It was actually a farm-warming present to the couple from a tech-savvy friend. In April of 2003, he helped get their site set up, and the couple began posting about their big empty barn, the progress of their seedlings, and the complications involved in buying a tractor.
We have family scattered all over the country, says Peter, who figured the blog would be a way for them to keep track of what were up to. To his surprise, they began to receive emails from all over the world. Using tracking software, Peter has learned that oldshawfarm.com gets more than 1200 unique visitors a month from 50-plus countries.
Despite the sites popularity, the Griffins plan to keep it simple. Peter is happy that the page helps us keep in touch with our current customers, and hed love to find an hour to add links to other food and farm blogs he and Maryellen enjoy. Weve had a couple people mention that we could make money having ads on our blog, which seems bizarre, frankly, Peter says.
What kind of entries are customer favorites? Recipes for unusual vegetables get them excellent rankings on Google, Peter reports. Were pretty high up there for garlic scapes, I think. He adds that prospective farmers are encouraged by posts about how to deal with a new farming operation. The in-laws? Maryellens mother would rather have it all be about the grandkids.
More by Suzanne Podhaizer
Speaking of Food
-
Eat this Week, April 12 to 18, 2017: Green Garden Spirits
Apr 11, 2017 -
An Evening of Food and Storytelling at Bird to Branch
Mar 8, 2017 -
NECI Sale ‘Imminent’ as New President Takes Over
Jan 6, 2017 -
New Owner for Black River Produce
Oct 17, 2016 -
Senate Advances GMO Bill That Would Preempt Vermont Law
Jul 6, 2016 - More »
Latest in Category
Recent Comments
-
Courtney Chandler: Is this available through mail order. I used to take dry Spirulina that was purchaed from Amazon. I…
Re: Cultivating Spirulina on a Vermont Farm
-
Scott Weber: I was lucky enough to intern with Bread and Puppet for a summer, learning shape note singing, print…
Re: Talking Rye With Bread and Puppet's Peter Schumann
- More »
