Blogs by Vicky Brown

The Chief Milkmaid || 20/20 Perfection Escapes Me

by Vicky Brown in Blogs

It seems appropriate that I am writing this on the day my husband goes in for his eye exam, but that isn’t the “20/20” I have been dwelling on lately.

The Chief Milkmaid || Island Hopping and Kids on the Farm

by Vicky Brown in Blogs, Food, Gardens, Nature

For more than a decade now spring has meant one thing to me.

The Chief Milkmaid || Life after farming

by Vicky Brown in Blogs, Culinary

Telling the public that you’re closing your dairy is one thing. Actually getting out of farming—quite another.

The Chief Milkmaid || Bittersweet

by Vicky Brown in Blogs, Community, Culinary

I’m back at market! It feels so good to get to see everyone again. I think I underestimated how valuable being at the market was to me. Bayview Farmers Holiday Market runs from the Saturday after Thanksgiving until the Saturday before Christmas, and I am back.

The Chief Milkmaid || Delicata Donuts for Dessert

by Vicky Brown in Blogs, Culinary

Harvest season is here. You can see the proof at farmers markets where the farmers haul out tons of produce they have worked all summer to produce. The bounty is in.

Greenbank Farm: Tiny Seeds Make a Big Impact

by Vicky Brown in Community, Culinary, Feature, Gardens, More Stories, Second Chance

It’s been ten years since I hung up my heels at the corporate office and traded them for muck boots. I went from Chief Financial Officer to Chief Milkmaid on a little five-acre farm in Freeland. My farm has goats, sheep and a llama. The Little Brown Farm is a working dairy. I make cheeses to sell at farmers markets and to exceptional chefs.

The Chief Milkmaid || Summer Relief… by the bowl

by Vicky Brown in Blogs, Culinary, Gardens

It’s SO hot! This is the chorus on beautiful Whidbey Island this summer. We’re experiencing weather that’s more consistent with Southern California than the Pacific Northwest. It’s been dry and hot.

Chief Milkmaid || A little perspective

by Vicky Brown in Blogs, Visual Art

They say a picture is worth a thousand words.

Last month I had the opportunity to put that theory to a test; I went on a PhotoAdventure in Coupeville with Whidbey Photo Adventures.

The Chief Milkmaid | Comfort food: The pot pie

by Vicky Brown in Blogs, Culinary

The weather has been unseasonably beautiful, but nice weather in February does not equal barbeque weather in our house. This week, warm comfort food is still on the menu.

The Chief Milkmaid | And then there was PIE.

by Vicky Brown in Blogs, Culinary

BY VICKY BROWN Dec. 3, 2014 Shirlee Read of The Kitchen Door makes pies and other goodies for the Bayview Farmers Market. The minute I learned about her pie class I knew I had to sign up. I’m grateful I was so decisive because it quickly filled up. The class was so popular Shirlee decided […]

The Chief Milkmaid | It’s not over until it’s over!

by Vicky Brown in Blogs, Culinary

BY VICKY BROWN Oct. 29, 2014 You may have thought Farmers Market season was over. In most areas Farmers Markets are very seasonal, often not starting until May or even June and ending in September. On Whidbey Island we are a heartier bunch. The earliest Farmers Market starts in Coupeville, the first Saturday in April. […]

The Chief Milkmaid | ‘The worst day farming is better than the best day at work’

by Vicky Brown in Blogs, Community, Culinary

BY VICKY BROWN September 12, 2014 There is an old saying that the worst day fishing is better than the best day at work. The farmers I know are the hardest working people I’ve ever met. Still, I feel like most of them would agree the worst days of farming are better than the best […]

The Chief Milkmaid | Barn Raising on the Prairie

by Vicky Brown in Blogs, Culinary, Feature, Winery

Saturday evening I had the privilege of attending “The Whale Wins on the Prairie” at Willowood Farm, a fundraising dinner for the Friends of Ebey’s.

Come Graze on the Prairie with Me

by Vicky Brown in Community, Culinary, Feature, More Stories

The Friends of Ebey’s will hold a fundraising dinner this Saturday, August 16 at the picturesque Historic Smith Barn at Willowood Farm on Ebey’s Prairie. Because I’m providing the cheese for the event, I had the perfect excuse to call Renee.

The Chief Milkmaid | Summer Bounty!

by Vicky Brown in Blogs, Culinary

Tis the season… of abundance.

The time of the longest, sunniest days of the year when gardens and orchards are starting to provide the rewards of your spring toiling.

The Chief Milkmaid | Spring on the Farm

by Vicky Brown in Blogs, Culinary

It’s spring!! Yee-haw!!
Days are getting longer. The weather is cooperating, even giving us flirtatious peeks of summertime.

Chief Milkmaid | Not your momma’s chicken noodle soup

by Vicky Brown in Blogs, Culinary

The last time I visited San Diego, I found the San Marcos Brewery had closed. Luckily, after several failed attempts, we found a way to recreate the experience from so many years ago in Southern California.

The Chief Milkmaid of Little Brown Farm talks tomatoes

by Vicky Brown in Blogs, Culinary

I had a customer at a local market tell me how she made a Caprese salad.

Chief Milkmaid says buck the trends and eat with the seasons

by Vicky Brown in Blogs, Culinary

It isn’t crazy. I will help you. I will keep posting seasonal recipes.

Vicky Brown indulges her love, actually, of Banoffee Pie

by Vicky Brown in Blogs, Culinary

Banoffee Pie is too decadent for most, I’ll warn you now.

Wintering over with Brown’s Cook on Clay local pork chops with purple potatoes

by Vicky Brown in Blogs, Culinary

Our family is quite busy, so when we prepare meals it needs to be quick, easy, nourishing and delicious.

Vicky Brown brings life on the farm into fall and winter focus

by Vicky Brown in Blogs, Culinary

At farmers markets people often ask me what a day is like on the farm. I think they want to know what goes into the product in their hand. I love that they are curious about where their food is coming from.

Cheesemaker Vicky Brown, Riff on ‘soul food’

by Vicky Brown in Blogs, Culinary

I am an eater. I like food, a lot.
I’ve had nearly every kind of food. I enjoy sushi and oysters and pasta and pizza. I like steaks and hamburgers and fries and salads. I like healthy food and I like comfort food and I like food that shouldn’t be classified as food.