Debby Zygielbaum is a certified organic vineyard farmer in Napa Valley. She also raises sheep and grows grapes, olives, and fruits. She started a group for women in viticulture called "Vit Women." Robert Sinskey

Debby Zygielbaum is a certified organic vineyard farmer in Napa Valley. She also raises sheep and grows grapes, olives, and fruits. She started a group for women in viticulture called "Vit Women." Robert Sinskey
Hayleen Green, the "Garden Queen," farms an acre of land in Atlanta. She grows foreign fruits and vegetables, often from seeds from the Caribbean. Green is known for her "huge fatty bum-bum tropical pumpkins," pictured here.

Hayleen Green, the "Garden Queen," farms an acre of land in Atlanta. She grows foreign fruits and vegetables, often from seeds from the Caribbean. Green is known for her "huge fatty bum-bum tropical pumpkins," pictured here.
During World War I, British women farmed under the Women's Land Army banner. The U.S. had its own Women's Land Army during World War II. National Archives (photo no. 16-G-323-28)

During World War I, British women farmed under the Women's Land Army banner. The U.S. had its own Women's Land Army during World War II. National Archives (photo no. 16-G-323-28)
Members of the British Women's Land Army harvesting beets. Wikipedia

Members of the British Women's Land Army harvesting beets. Wikipedia
Twenty-five-year-old Hannah Breckbill is the owner and operator of Humble Hands Harvest in Elgin, Minn. This is her first season of farming on rented land.

Twenty-five-year-old Hannah Breckbill is the owner and operator of Humble Hands Harvest in Elgin, Minn. This is her first season of farming on rented land.
Ariana Thao, left, started a 10-acre flower farm with her husband 15 years ago.

Ariana Thao, left, started a 10-acre flower farm with her husband 15 years ago.
Temra Costa, author of Farmer Jane, recently moved to Sebastopol, Calif., where she's homesteading, raising her own food and poultry while writing about women in farming.

Temra Costa, author of Farmer Jane, recently moved to Sebastopol, Calif., where she's homesteading, raising her own food and poultry while writing about women in farming.
Members of the National Women in Agriculture Association. They all farm in pink to show that although the work the land as farmers, they're still feminine -- and women.

Members of the National Women in Agriculture Association. They all farm in pink to show that although the work the land as farmers, they're still feminine -- and women.
Monique Grider co-farms with Kai Wingo in Cleveland, Ohio. They run Kai's Culture Mushrooms where they culture shiitake, lion's mane, oyster, and garden giant mushrooms.

Monique Grider co-farms with Kai Wingo in Cleveland, Ohio. They run Kai's Culture Mushrooms where they culture shiitake, lion's mane, oyster, and garden giant mushrooms.
Noreen Thomas and Louie the Icelandic lamb. Thomas grows certified organic wheat, blue corn, soybeans, turkeys, lamb, beef, rolled oats, mushrooms, and more on the Doubting Thomas Farm in Moorhead, Minn.

Noreen Thomas and Louie the Icelandic lamb. Thomas grows certified organic wheat, blue corn, soybeans, turkeys, lamb, beef, rolled oats, mushrooms, and more on the Doubting Thomas Farm in Moorhead, Minn.

Food

Farmers fatales: Here are the women who grow your food [SLIDESHOW]

By Lori Rotenberk on Jun 3, 2013

When somebody says “farmer,” do you automatically think “fella”? Well, think again. Almost one in three U.S. farmers is female — and that number is rising. “My belief is that the 2012 Agricultural Census will show robust growth in the number of women owning farms,” says Kathleen Merrigan, former deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. “There aren’t the same type of gender barriers there once were. I’m heartened by it. More women are at the helm.”