Janice Podsada

Jim Shea Column: What did we do to bring all this upon ourselves?

courant.com — I'm of two minds this week. The New Englander in me is screaming, "Is that all you got?" While my whiny self is pleading, "Enough already!" I mean, this is getting a little ridiculous. First we were subjected to a non-stop barrage of nasty campaign ads, the extent of which was directly responsible for the premature deaths of millions of mute buttons.

Cash Crop -- Connecticut Company Sells Backyard Chicken Supplies, Rakes In Money

courant.com — While chicken diapers aren't My Pet Chicken's biggest seller, sales of the pastel-colored slings with the discreet vinyl liner helped the Connecticut backyard chicken supply company reach $2 million in sales last year and earn a spot on the Inc. 5000. That ain't chicken feed. Inc. magazine ranked the Monroe retailer No.

Buying House Before The Bust Leaves Family Mortgage Underwater

courant.com — The DeGrays are among the owners of 169,000 residential properties in Connecticut that have "underwater" mortgages - home loans that exceed the value of the property - as of June 30, according to a report from zillow.com, the real estate tracking company.

Electric Car Sales Accelerate Slowly In Connecticut

courant.com — Electric cars, whirring onto Connecticut roads and highways since early 2012, haven't quite caught on for consumers looking to escape high gas prices. As of last week, the Department of Motor Vehicles said, only 98 electric-only cars have been registered in Connecticut, a tiny slice of the state's 2.1 million registered vehicles.

Connecticut Organic Farm Facts

articles.courant.com — Roughly half of Connecticut's 82 organic farms are certified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Obtaining USDA approval, a designation that has been available for a decade but isn't required, is time- and paperwork-intensive, farmers say. Growers must provide detailed documentation to prove they comply with the strict regulations that govern the production, handling and harvesting of organic produce.

Simsbury Farmer Early Convert To Organic Approach

articles.courant.com — SIMSBURY - - These days, the corn, eggplant and tomatoes that George Hall grows on his organic farm sell for a premium. But 50 years ago, he didn't dare tell buyers that his produce was organically grown, coaxed from the soil without chemical fertilizers or pesticides. "They didn't want it," recalls the 85-year-old farmer.

Farm Fresh: New Generation Of Farmers Feed A Demand

courant.com — Farming is in the midst of a renaissance in Connecticut. And Fox and Billipp are emblematic of the bounding new energy in Connecticut agriculture as farmers seize the opportunity to meet growing public demand for fresh, safe and locally produced vegetables, fruits, meats and poultry.

Startup Program A Haven For Connecticut's Entrepreneurs

courant.com — Ned Gannon, chief executive officer of New Haven-based eBrevia LLC found it tedious to summarize stacks of legal documents. Asmau Ahmed, chief executive and founder of Color p.i./Plum Perfect in Stamford got tired of trying to find a purse to match her dress, and 14-year-old Keshav Patel, co-founder of MeritBooster, hated selling candy door-to-door to raise money for after-school activities at Catherine M.