“The Female Farmer Project becomes even more valuable if considered in the context of the International Year of Family Farming, launched by the United Nations in 2014 to highlight the major role and potential of family farmers in the struggle against hunger and the preservation of natural resources. ”

“The subjects of Audra Mulkern’s photographs are diverse: They’re former biologists, artists, journalists, and public administrators. They also have something awesome in common: They’re part of a growing group of female farmers. Take a look at some of the beautiful photographs on Modern Farmer, then check out her Female Farmer project. ”

“Audra Mulkern is an American griot. Her beautiful photographs and elegantly told stories are recording a rising movement of women taking on the leadership needed to stand up the three legged stool of sustainable agriculture: production of flavorful and nutritious foods; conservation of environmental resources; and healthy management of human resources. To boot, her modernized storytelling is making agriculture and a return to land stewardship cool again not only for adult women, but for our daughters, too!”

“Plenty of folks experience what Oprah dubbed an “a-ha moment,” in which a sudden realization shifts a person’s point-of-view, perhaps even spurring action. But few go on to radically change their lives, and the lives of others, the way Audra Mulkern has. After noticing that women staffed most of the booths at her Washington state, farmer’s market, Mulkern morphed from a stay-at-home mom into a world-class photographer, filmmaker, writer, and public speaker—acquiring any skill necessary to bring attention to agriculture’s unsung female workforce. Through her non-profit The Female Farmer Project, she’s raised awareness via podcasts, social media, TEDx talks, and photography exhibits around the world, including a permanent installation at the USDA in Washington, D.C. A children’s coloring book titled Girls Can Be Farmers Too and the documentary Women’s Work are forthcoming. ”

“The best ideas come out of one’s personal experience and passion. When Audra Mulkern set out to find out where her produce came from, she got more than she bargained for. She stumbled upon a movement and a mission: a growing number of women are turning to farming as a profession, and Audra is showcasing these women’s stories through the Female Farmer Project. ”

“Mulkern’s photographs evoke a sense of beauty and realism, depicting the hard work and simple satisfaction of women in the farm-to-table movement.”

“First came the sense of surprise, then, right on its heels, the surprise that she was surprised. In the fall of 2012, Audra Mulkern, a former business development manager at Microsoft, was making one of her frequent strolls through the Carnation farmers market near her Duvall home when something dawned on her. Virtually all the people behind the market tables were women. That observation led her to wonder what stereotype she had bought into that made it seem unusual to see so many female farmers.”

“Before Mulkern developed her photography series, The Female Farmer Project, she was just your average CSA member and friendly farmers market shopper in rural Washington. Many of us can attest to being part of this early Sunday morning crowd—moseying over to our local farmers market with organic teas at hand, ready with reusable totes, small change, and a slew of children and/or dogs ready and willing to stock up on vegetables, fruits, and assorted goodies for the week—but Mulkern was interested in more than the farm-fed organic lifestyle.”

“Audra Gaines Mulkern would probably not describe herself as an activist, yet her mission, these days, is advocacy on behalf of farms in general and female farmers in particular. She fiercely believes that the plethora of “future of food” conferences that dot the urban landscape pay scant attention to farms and farmers, and even less to female farmers.”

“Audra Mulkern is changing the way we look at farming and the food on our plates, one story at a time. Her blog, The Female Farmer Project, presents in-depth stories of women who have pioneered and persevered in agriculture, personalizing the honest and hard-working daily life of the people who make good food possible. Her heartfelt words and photography have taken The Female Farmer Project throughout the Northwest and across the country, to over a dozen farms, collecting stories as well as highlighting the importance of quality ingredients. ”

“The Female Farmer Project really resonates with us and I am so happy to have someone like Audra out there telling the stories of all these hardworking women! ”

“Audra’s photos are arresting. Shot well with beautiful but restrained post-production, and capturing the authenticity of the women who provide the food we eat - what’s not to love! I’m the third generation of a farming family in Prosser, Washington, and grew up next to my Mom and Grandmother in the vineyard. Audra’s images capture both the apparent strength and femininity that (to my eyes anyway) seem to define a true female farmer. It’s great to see her images added to the canon of “farm life” photography; let’s hope they help start a discussion about the stereotypes that exist beyond the world of Barbie and TV shows.
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“In 2014 I attended a workshop at the International Food Blogger Conference by Audra Mulkern called “Cooking Backwards: The Art and Science of Local and Seasonal Cooking”. It was about the best one I have attended at any conference. It hit so hard, I wanted to leave after, and go home and dig up my property.
Well....I did. And I spent all fall and winter on it - and having been so influenced by the workshop, I am proud to say that 6 months later I am living my suburban homesteading dreams. It even changed how I blog as well, I did a 180 after it.
I’d go as far to bet I might the only person who walked away that fired up - but it made the entire weekend worth it for me. Just one class can make THAT big of a difference.
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