Thursday, December 10, 2009

Happy Autumn!

LAST CALL TO RETURN BUTTERNUT SQUASH SEEDS!!!

CSA refund checks will be mailed out in the next few weeks (it’s going to take a while to dig out from this computer fiasco).

CSA emails will continue on an irregular basis with the Dines Farm Winter Schedule, the 2010 CSA contract (in January) and events and info as they occur thru the winter.

*Reminder –
Please bring bags to the CSA to pack your food.
If someone is picking up for you, please let them know they need to have
them on hand or provide bags for them.
Tip to help not to forget…put bags in every vehicle you own in the trunk
and/or glove compartment and replenish when you’re getting low and you’ll
never be without.


This email contains...

1. The CSA needs help at 3:30pm ( 3 people) and 5:30pm (4 people)...see below
2. This week's list
3. Help save farmland in Nassau County
4. Farming at Caumsett State Park?
5. Protect children from toxic pesticides
6. Help keep the carcinogen, methyl iodide, off our food
7. Organic conferences this winter…
8. VERY SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY FOR SERIOUS GROWERS/WANNABE FARMERS!!!


1. The CSA needs help at 3:30pm (3 people) and 5:30pm (4 people)

If you're available...

A. Call 631-421-4864 up till 1pm on Thursday

B. Call 631-385-1079 from 3pm Thursday onward

C. Show up a little before 3:30 or 5:30 and ask if there is any help needed



2. This week's list

December 10, 2009
Week #34

1. Sweet Potatoes
2. Rosemary
3. Celeriac (Celery Root)
4. Beans: Black Turtle (dried)
5. Cauliflower: Romanesco OR White
6. Carrots

Total Items: 6



3. Help save farmland in Nassau County!

Click for info…
https://www.karma411.com/Markslist/campaign/display/profile.do?campaignId=3081



4. Farming at Caumsett State Park?

Do you folks know about this?

There was a meeting this past Tuesday about the status of Caumsett State Park possibly changing to a preserve. I couldn’t go because of a work commitment but I’m hoping someone who is interested in organic farming/gardening went and asked about how this change of status would effect the possibility of having any gardening/farming activities as it could be part of the historic use of the property.

I’d hate to see it if this would prevent anything happening like…putting in a fully functioning organic heirloom apple orchard in the walled garden where (I believe) there used to be one back in the day (I think there are apple trees there now but they were poorly taken care of the last time I saw them and seem more decorative to me)…having dairy cows back on the property which there was at one point…possibly having a kitchen garden near the house as it would have back in the day and a fully functioning one in the smaller cottage on the property. These are ideas off the top of my head. I’m sure more projects could be considered. A big one would be an organic farm with a cafe (there is at least one on public land in the northeast…I forget where). There at least could be a CSA connected to a farm or produce could be sold at the Huntington Farmer’s Market. Activities like these can provide food which, if were sold, could be part of the project’s fundraising making it (hopefully) sustaining.

Spread the word…find out what this is about and please let me know as I’d like to write a comment.

Comments may be submitted in writing by Jan 8th:
Ronald Foley, regional director
Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation
625 Belmont Ave
Babylon, NY 11704

Article written about this…

After a public meeting last year to develop a master plan for Caumsett State Historic Park in Lloyd Neck, the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation is ready to present its draft version at a second public hearing Tuesday, Dec. 8, at 6:30pm in the Cold Spring Harbor Public Library. Under the proposal, the park would become a state preserve, which gives it more protection. That means fewer alterations would be allowed to the park’s environmental and cultural or historical assets, the office’s regional director, Ron Foley, said. The parks department decided
the time has come to establish a written plan for the spectacular 1,500-acre parcel located on a scenic peninsula that extends into the Long Island Sound. “In this case, no real thought out planning had been done in the park since it was acquired more than 40 years,” said Foley. “It was acquired in 1961 and opened to the public in 1976. Th e evolution of it as a park has kind of been as
opportunities arose, things were done.”

He added, “Parks should have plans that talk about what can happen or what won’t happen over a period of time. This has been a product of public input from people who love and enjoy the place, and that’s what this process is all about.” A core planning team of state parks officials and two members of the Caumsett State Park Foundation convened to discuss the park’s future after last year’s hearing. Under the definition of a park preserve, no more than 15 percent of the preserve can be developed, Foley said.

As a park preserve, there would also be limits to the kinds of activities that can occur there. Major events, like rock concerts, would be forbidden. Small fundraisers, however, and film, television,
commercial and photo location shoots would still be permitted. For the most part, the draft recommends keeping the status quo throughout the park. Volunteers for Wildlife, the wildlife sanctuary and rehabilitation center, could remain headquartered near the park’s entrance. The equestrian center, with its horses, stables and pastures, and BOCES offices and environmental education center, located in the summer cottage, can also remain intact. The draft plan discusses potential uses for the main house, which was home to the Marshall Field family that owned the land for generations before donating it to the state as parkland. Built between 1923 and 1925, the 75-room Georgian revival mansion was used as a field study center by Queens College for many years but has been out of use for some time. The location of the house seems to pose problems. “It’s in the middle of the park and accessible by roads that are generally used by bicyclists and walkers,” Foley said. “So the access is not terrific.” The building is also in need of work; Foley described mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems as antiquated and said the building has not been adapted for handicapped accessibility. The plan offers three preferred alternatives for the building’s use:

• Develop a guided and self-guided tour of the building to interpret the history of the Field estate and educational programming.
• Seek proposals from potential licensees to occupy and use the house in a manner that is consistent with the historic use, which includes public use.
• Use the house for public programming and exhibit space.

“I think everybody in the planning function agreed that it needs to be used for something as part of its protection but use needs to be consistent with its value, its history, and preserving that history,” Foley said. After the Dec. 8 hearing, comments will be appended to the draft and could alter the fi nal master plan of the renamed Caumsett State Park and Preserve, which the commissioner would adopt in April 2010 Comments may be submitted in writing by Jan. 8 and mailed to:
Ronald Foley, regional director
Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
625 Belmont Avenue
Babylon, NY 11704



5. Protect children from toxic pesticides

Click for info…
http://www.ufwaction.org/campaign/pesticidedriftkern/7sswi74r7djtj87?



6. Help keep the carcinogen, Methyl Iodide, off our food

Click for info…
http://www.ufwaction.org/campaign/mi1009/7sswi7407ee6j78?


7. Organic conferences this winter…

Jan 14 & 15

LI Agricultural Forum (usually one of the two days features organic/sustainable topics)
http://ccesuffolk.org/long-island-agriculture-forum/2010-01-14


Jan 22 to 24

NOFA-NY
http://www.events.org/nofany-conference/cpage.aspx?e=21411

Jan 30

NOFA-NJ
http://www.nofanj.org/



8. VERY SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY FOR SERIOUS GROWERS/WANNABE FARMERS!!!

Jan 29th, John Jeavons, the author of “How to Grow More Vegetables” will be giving a one day workshop in New Jersey!

http://www.johnjeavons.info/workshop-main3.html

He’s based in California, travels the world, and isn’t in this neck of the woods very often so if you’re interested in a farming method that can feed a family of four for an entire year on one half acre of land and don’t mind dealing with numbers and computations (I HATE working with numbers but I managed to deal with it because I was determined to “get it” and was glad I did)…this may be worth your while. I took a 3 day class with John many years ago and it’s part of what got me to start this CSA (if I wasn’t going to be a farmer, I needed to actively support them). John Jeavons is one of the greats of contemporary organic/sustainable agriculture along with Eliot Coleman, Michael Phillips, Joel Salatin, Elizabeth Henderson, CR Lawn and others who are paving the path to an alternative to big agribusiness.

SPREAD THE WORD IF YOU KNOW OF ANYONE WHO WOULD BE INTERESTED!!!

###

Monday, December 7, 2009

Last week for weekly Dines Farm deliveries

Greetings!

This is the last week for weekly Dines Farm deliveries until the CSA starts up again in April.

Starting next month, Dines Farm will be delivering twice monthly by pre-orders only. Larry will give me the schedule this week and you’ll be receiving the entire winter schedule by email in addition to reminder emails prior to the ordering deadlines.

Spread the word to any and all who’d be interested in the winter deliveries so Dines will keep doing them!

If you’re a vegan/vegetarian, consider emailing this to your meat eating friends & family.

If you’ve never seen it, or it’s been a while, here’s the NY Times article about their Hot Dogs…
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/05/dining/05dog.html

If you need further reasons to be eating locally, humanely, sustainably raised meat (personally, or when talking to other people), this is an amazing article…
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/04/health/04meat.html


TO PRE-ORDER FOR DINES FARM…

Please email your order by 12pm, noon, Tuesday, December 8th.. Allow more time for special requests.

Email your order to: dinesfarms@gmail.com
In this email you MUST include:
Your name
Your phone number
Huntington CSA
Otherwise the farm won't know WHO placed the order, WHERE TO CALL in case you're running late or haven't shown up (it happens...people forget) and WHERE the order should end up.

You should get a confirmation email. If you don't, call Larry to check on your order (914-403-5828). Also, call Larry if you have any questions or need help placing your order.

Payment is made when you pick up your order this week. Acceptable for payment are cash, a check, or a debit/credit card.


What:

Prices are per pound or as designated.
Prices are subject to change due to our increased costs for petroleum products and animal feed.

If you don't see something you're looking for...PLEASE ASK!


BEEF
Cocktail Franks - All Beef ($6.50)
Ground Beef ($5.00)
Hot Dogs - All Beef ($6.50)
Steaks:
NY Strip - Boneless ($13.00)
Rib Eye - Boneless ($12.00)
Stew Meat ($6.00)

Other cuts are available - PLEASE ASK!

CHICKEN
Eggs: Brown OR White, Extra Large ($4 per Dozen)
Breasts, Boneless ($7.00)
Chicken, Ground ($4.99)
Chicken, Whole ($3.50)
Leg & Thigh Quarters ($3.50)
Thighs, Boneless - Marinated ($6.00)
Thighs, Boneless - Plain($4.99)

Sausage, Chicken ($7.99 per pound)
Breakfast, Maple
Garlic & Sage
Italian, Hot
Italian, Sweet
Additional flavors will be available in the future (or ask)


DUCK

Breast ($13.00)
Whole ($5.50)


LAMB (as available)
Chops ($14.00)
Ground ($6.50)
Leg-of-Lamb, Bone In ($7.00)
Leg-of-Lamb, Boneless ($9.00)
Stew ($6.00)


PORK
Bacon ($6.00)
Chops, Pork Loin - Boneless ($7.00)
Roasts, Pork Loin - Boneless ($7.00)
Spare Ribs ($6.00)

Why: The better business is for Dines, the more likely they will continue to travel from Albany to Huntington. Please spread the word amongst family and friends as you don't have to be a CSA member to buy from Dines Farm!

###

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Green Thumb CSA - Huntington Weekly Reminder - Thursday, December 3, 2009

Happy Autumn!

DINES FARM NOT COMING THIS WEEK!!! Just got a call that Larry can’t make it but will be at the CSA next week (the last week) and you’ll be getting the winter schedule for Dines Farm in a future email.

CSA refund checks will be mailed out in the next few weeks (it’s going to take a while to dig out from this computer fiasco).

*Reminder –
Please bring bags to the CSA to pack your food.
If someone is picking up for you, please let them know they need to have
them on hand or provide bags for them.
Tip to help not to forget…put bags in every vehicle you own in the trunk
and/or glove compartment and replenish when you’re getting low and you’ll
never be without.


This email contains...

1. The CSA needs help at 3:30pm and 5:30pm...see below
2. This week's list



1. The CSA needs help at 3:30pm and 5:30pm

If you're available...

A. Call 631-421-4864 up till 1pm on Thursday

B. Call 631-385-1079 from 3pm Thursday onward

C. Show up a little before 3:30 or 5:30 and ask if there is any help needed



2. This week's list

December 3, 2009
Week #32

1. Sweet Potatoes
2. Tat Soi
3. Kale: Curly
4. Beets
5. Cauliflower: Purple OR Romanesco
6. Cabbage: Green OR Red OR Savoy

Total Items: 6

###

Monday, November 30, 2009

Dines Farms

Greetings!

If you’re a vegan/vegetarian, consider emailing this to your meat eating friends & family.

If you do eat meat, read on, and also consider forwarding this to potentially interested friends and family to support our other local farmer at the CSA, Jay Dines of Dines Farm.

Pre-ordering makes sure that when you show up at the CSA this week, Dines Farm hasn’t run out of what you want.

ALSO, if you want larger quantities of something PLEASE pre-order as one person can deprive everyone else of Hot Dogs, Ribs, Hamburgers, etc for the week (it’s been happening lately).

If you’ve never seen it, or it’s been a while, here’s the NY Times article about their Hot Dogs…
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/05/dining/05dog.html

TO PRE-ORDER FOR DINES FARM…

Please email your order by 12pm, noon, Tuesday, December 1st.. Allow more time for special requests.

Email your order to: dinesfarms@gmail.com
In this email you MUST include:
Your name
Your phone number
Huntington CSA
Otherwise the farm won't know WHO placed the order, WHERE TO CALL in case you're running late or haven't shown up (it happens...people forget) and WHERE the order should end up.

You should get a confirmation email. If you don't, call Larry to check on your order (914-403-5828). Also, call Larry if you have any questions or need help placing your order.

Payment is made when you pick up your order this week. Acceptable for payment are cash, a check, or a debit/credit card.


What:

Prices are per pound or as designated.
Prices are subject to change due to our increased costs for petroleum products and animal feed.

If you don't see something you're looking for...PLEASE ASK!


BEEF
Cocktail Franks - All Beef ($6.50)
Ground Beef ($5.00)
Hot Dogs - All Beef ($6.50)
Steaks:
NY Strip - Boneless ($13.00)
Rib Eye - Boneless ($12.00)
Stew Meat ($6.00)

Other cuts are available - PLEASE ASK!

CHICKEN
Eggs: Brown OR White, Extra Large ($4 per Dozen)
Breasts, Boneless ($7.00)
Chicken, Ground ($4.99)
Chicken, Whole ($3.50)
Leg & Thigh Quarters ($3.50)
Thighs, Boneless - Marinated ($6.00)
Thighs, Boneless - Plain($4.99)

Sausage, Chicken ($7.99 per pound)
Breakfast, Maple
Garlic & Sage
Italian, Hot
Italian, Sweet
Additional flavors will be available in the future (or ask)


DUCK

Breast ($13.00)
Whole ($5.50)


LAMB (as available)
Chops ($14.00)
Ground ($6.50)
Leg-of-Lamb, Bone In ($7.00)
Leg-of-Lamb, Boneless ($9.00)
Stew ($6.00)


PORK
Bacon ($6.00)
Chops, Pork Loin - Boneless ($7.00)
Roasts, Pork Loin - Boneless ($7.00)
Spare Ribs ($6.00)

Why: The better business is for Dines, the more likely they will continue to travel from Albany to Huntington. Please spread the word amongst family and friends as you don't have to be a CSA member to buy from Dines Farm!

###

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Happy Autumn!

Got the new computer but it’s still a mess and I don’t have all my email or other info (and I hope it’s retrievable) but Judi's is working and Jeff is holding down the fort with the postings at:
http://huntingtoncsa.blogspot.com

THANKSGIVING WEEK – Pickup is WEDNESDAY not Thursday AND pickups will start at 2:30pm (though Dines will arrive around 3pm for Turkey pickups, etc) and we’ll stay until everyone has picked up or 7:30…whichever comes first.

*Reminder –
Please bring bags to the CSA to pack your food.
If someone is picking up for you, please let them know they need to have
them on hand or provide bags for them.
Tip to help not to forget…put bags in every vehicle you own in the trunk
and/or glove compartment and replenish when you’re getting low and you’ll
never be without.


This email contains...

1. The CSA needs help at 2:30pm and 4:30pm...see below
2. This week's list



1. The CSA needs help at 2:30pm and 4:30pm

If you're available...

A. Call 631-421-4864 up till 12pm on Wednesday

B. Call 631-385-1079 from 2pm Wednesday onward

C. Show up a little before 2:30 or 4:30 and ask if there is any help needed



2. This week's list

November 25, 2009 (Wednesday)
Week #32

1. Sweet Potatoes
2. Rutabagas
3. Broccoli Raab (Rape/Rabe)
4. Fennel
5. Rosemary OR Sage

Total Items: 5

###

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Happy Autumn!

Got the new computer but it’s still a mess and I don’t have all my email or other info (and I hope it’s retrievable) but Judi's is working and Jeff is holding down the fort with the postings at:
http://huntingtoncsa.blogspot.com

THANKSGIVING WEEK – Pickup is WEDNESDAY not Thursday AND pickups will start at 2pm (though Dines will arrive around 3pm for Turkey pickups, etc) and we’ll stay until everyone has picked up or 7:30…whichever comes first.

*Reminder –
Please bring bags to the CSA to pack your food.
If someone is picking up for you, please let them know they need to have
them on hand or provide bags for them.
Tip to help not to forget…put bags in every vehicle you own in the trunk
and/or glove compartment and replenish when you’re getting low and you’ll
never be without.


This email contains...

1. The CSA needs help at 3:30pm and 5:30pm...see below
2. This week's list AND next week’s list
3. Notes from the Farm
4. Events


1. The CSA needs help at 3:30pm and 5:30pm

If you're available...

A. Call 631-421-4864 up till 1pm on Thursday

B. Call 631-385-1079 from 3pm Thursday onward

C. Show up a little before 3:30 or 5:30 and ask if there is any help needed



2. This week's list AND next week’s list

November 19, 2009
Week #31

1. Garlic
2. Kale: Russian, Red
3. Cauliflower: Green
4. Sweet Potatoes
5. Radicchio
6. Winter Radish Mix: Black Spanish, China Rose, Daikon, Misato (Watermelon)

Herb Share – Nov 2B – The End!
Marjoram AND Mint

November 25, 2009 (Wednesday)
Week #32

1. Sweet Potatoes
2. Turnip Mix: Rutabagas & ?
3. Collards
4. Fennel
5. Rosemary, Sage, Thyme



3. Notes from the Farm
November 13, 2009

Our harvest season is coming to a close with only a few delivery weeks left. We still are picking many types of roots – Winter Radishes, Turnips, Rutabagas, Beets, Carrots and Celery Root. Our cold hard greens are still producing as well – Kales, Collards, Asian “Choi”s & “Soi”’s and Mizuna & Mibuna, and Radicchio. Our Cabbages are just reading maturity – Red, Green and Savoy. Broccoli and Cauliflower are still happening as well. We also still have many more Sweet Potatoes to bring in over the next several weeks – these store well outside of your refrigerator – for several months! So, as we arrive at Thanksgiving, we on the farm have much to be thankful for – much variety and abundance over our growing season, and many CSA supporters who encourage us and keep our farm growing. We appreciate all of you!

Thanks for all you do for us, in keeping us going!

Organically yours,
Farmer Bill (Halsey)



4. Events…

Saturday, November 21st

11am to 5pm

Green Living Expo
Suffolk Community College
Brentwood Campus
For directions and more info:
http://www.greenlivingexpoli.com/faq.html

Speakers include fitness expert John Basedow and wholistic lifestyle pundit and Top Chef contestant Andrea Beamon (and she’s also host of cable channel Veria’s healthy living shows Fed Up! and Wise Up!)

6pm to 10:30pm

UUFH Services Auction “Star Light, Star Bright”
http://www.uufh.org/calendar.html
Get ready for a sparkling evening of fun at our annual Services Auction! This event is a highlight of the Fellowship year and will definitely light up the night, and the year! By now members have received the Auction Booklet, and the offerings are also up on the Social Hall wall. Some of the things being auctioned thru the CSA are a Basket of Plenty from Green Thumb Farm, a Romantic Dinner & BBQ package from Dines Farm and a one year pass to the Cinema Arts Centre!
DInner (reservations required) is at 6:00 PM, and the Auction starts at 7:00. Entertainment, silent and oral bidding, raffles (beautiful baskets, 50-50, and the lovely UU Ewes afghan) and good company make this a memorable event for all!

Healthy Planet’s Annual Turkey-free Thanksgiving Dinner/Lecture
Sweet Hollow Hall
Gwynne Rd
Melville
For Reservations:
631-421-5591
Email: info@healthy-planet.org
http://www.healthy-planet.org

The lecturer this year will be Luanne Pennesi, RN, MS, Founder of the Metropolitan Wellness Group and a dynamic motivational speaker on “Living Authentically: How to be happy, healthy & financially free!” Hear Luanne’s inspiring story from being a Nursing Administrator for LIJ and contracting Hepatitis C, Epstein Barr, etc and jumping into the world of alternative medicine and now being disease free!
6pm – doors open, social time, live music, food provided by Whole Foods
7:30pm – dinner (Healthy Planet members & Guests) with contributions from House of Dosas and Green Melody
8:30 Lecture & afterwards, announcement of the “Taster’s Choice Awards”


Sunday, November 22nd

11am to 5pm

Green Living Expo
(see Saturday, November 21st)
=================================

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Happy Autumn!

Still no computer for me (possibly this weekend?) but Judi's working and Jeff is holding down the fort with the postings at: http://huntingtoncsa.blogspot.com

THANKSGIVING WEEK – Pickup is WEDNESDAY not Thursday. Stay tuned for the times as we may start earlier than the usual 3:30pm.

*Reminder –
Please bring bags to the CSA to pack your food.
If someone is picking up for you, please let them know they need to have
them on hand or provide bags for them.
Tip to help not to forget…put bags in every vehicle you own in the trunk
and/or glove compartment and replenish when you’re getting low and you’ll
never be without.


This email contains...

1. The CSA needs help at 3:30pm and 5:30pm...see below
2. This week's list


1. The CSA needs help at 3:30pm and 5:30pm

If you're available...

A. Call 631-421-4864 up till 1pm on Thursday

B. Call 631-385-1079 from 3pm Thursday onward

C. Show up a little before 3:30 or 5:30 and ask if there is any help needed



2. This week's list

November 12, 2009
Week #30

1. Lettuce
2. Mei Quing Choi – Green OR Red
3. Broccoli
4. Leeks
5. Turnips: Golden Globe AND/OR Red Japanese
6. Pepper: Anaheim (flesh is sweet and the seeds are hot)
7. Beans: Green (the last of these)

###

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Greetings!

Still no computer for me (maybe by next week) but Judi's is back and Jeff is holding down the fort with the postings at: http://huntingtoncsa.blogspot.com

*Reminder –
Please bring bags to the CSA to pack your food.
If someone is picking up for you, please let them know they need to have them on hand or provide bags for them.
Tip to help not to forget…put bags in every vehicle you own in the trunk and/or glove compartment and replenish when you’re getting low and you’ll never be without.


This email contains...

1. The CSA needs help at 3:30pm and 5:30pm!!!...see below
2. This week's list
3. Notes from the Farm


1. The CSA needs help at 3:30pm and 5:30pm!!!

If you're available...

A. Call 631-421-4864 up till 1pm on Thursday

B. Call 631-385-1079 from 3pm Thursday onward

C. Show up a little before 3:30 or 5:30 and ask if there is any help needed



2. This week's list

November 5, 2009
Week #29

1. Lettuce
2. Fennel
3. Cauliflower
4. Kale: Russian, White
5. Turnips, White (with purple shoulders)
6. Potatoes, Sweet
7. Beans: Cranberry (shelling)

Herb Share - Nov 1A
Lemon Verbena AND Marjoram



3. Notes from the Farm

November 1, 2009

November is here and we're down to our last bunch of weeks of the 2009 season. We still have lots left to bring in to all of our CSA shareholders. Sweet Potatoes have been a plentiful crop, so expect those several times. We raise five types of Kale so those, plus Collard Greens, will be on your late fall menu. We also raise three types of Turnips plus Rutabagas. Winter Radishes include Daikon and 4 other varieties. There are eight kinds of Asian Greens and several Italian green including Broccoli Raab (Rabe/Rape), Arugula and Radicchio. All of these will be brought in, in additon to Leeks, Sage, Rosemary, Thyme, four kinds of Cauliflower (even Green!) and maybe even more Purple Broccoli/Cauliflower.

We still have a few summer crops for a couple of weeks more which will include Peppers, Eggplants and Beans. Lettuces are also still quite abundant in our fields.

So, we have MUCH to be thankful for as we look to the final weeks (last one is December 10th) of our 2009 season.

Organically Yours,
Farmer Bill (Halsey)

###

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Green Thumb CSA - Huntington weekly reminder - Thurs., October 29, 2009

Happy Autumn!



Too good to last...my computer is still dead. Will take about 2 weeks to

get back to "normal" :) .



If you have friends that are CSA members, please email them (especially if

they are not working at the CSA this year) to tell them to check our blog

today or Thursday AM at: http://huntingtoncsa.blogspot.com


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Att: CSA Workers



Judi Soehren’s computer is still dead, so she can’t send out reminders or requests for workers…please check the CSA Work Schedule Sheets to see if you can help out where needed. I’ll try and catch NEXT week’s workers this week to remind y’all.

PS – If you don’t work this year (or complete your 10 hours) and plan to join the CSA next year, keep in mind you will be charged the $100 work deposit fee. The only way to avoid paying it is to work every year, without a break in membership or working. As far as refunds go for this year, if my computer would stop going kablooey, I’ll be able to process the current refunds.



---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


This email contains...



1. The CSA needs help at 3:30pm and 5:30pm...see below

2. This week's list




1. The CSA needs help at 3:30pm and 5:30pm



If you're available...



A. Call 631-421-4864 up till 1pm on Thursday

B. Call 631-385-1079 from 3pm Thursday onward

C. Show up a little before 3:30 or 5:30 and ask if there is any help needed




2. This week's list



October 29, 2009

Week #28



1. Lettuce

2. Kohlrabi

3. Cauliflower / Broccoli: Purple

4. Eggplant

5. Misato (watermelon raddish - Japanese)

6. Potatoes, Sweet

7. Beans: Romano and/or Dragon Tongue and/or shelling (Cranberry?)



=================================

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Attn: CSA Workers

Judi Soehren’s computer has just died as well and so she can’t send out reminders or requests for workers…please check the CSA Work Schedule Sheets to see if you can help out where needed. I’ll try and catch NEXT week’s workers this week to remind y’all.

PS – If you don’t work this year (or complete your 10 hours) and plan to join the CSA next year, keep in mind you will be charged the $100 work deposit fee. The only way to avoid paying it is to work every year, without a break in membership or working. As far as refunds go for this year, if my computer would stop going kablooey, I’ll be able to process the current refunds.


WEEKEND EVENTS!!!

Saturday, October 24th

9:30am, 11ish, 1ish, 2 ish (my notes are in the computer which is deceased)

Green Thumb Farm Annual CSA Pumpkin Picking Hay Ride Tour

Montauk Hwy

Water Mill

Reservations: 631-726-1900 (9:30am to 4:30pm)

NO CHARGE (one pumpkin per person)


Last time to tour this farm this year! You can probably even call the farm at 9am on Saturday and make it in time for one of the later tours. CSA members & immediate family ONLY (if you’re sharing with someone, you must decide who gets to go and use the name of the official CSA member…who is on the sign-in sheet).

CSA Farm Tour WILL be rain or shine this time…heard it from Farmer Bill.


Sunday, October 25th
1pm to 5pm (or later?)

ATTENTION…to all crafters or fans of all things handcrafted…check out…

Handmade Nation

Cinema Arts Centre

423 Park Ave

Huntington

$10 – Cinema Arts Centre members, $13 – General Public, $7 Kids (non-ambulatory infants free)

For more info:

http://www.cinemaartscentre.org/009/09Oct/cac-Handmade.html#HANDMADE


CSA member, Patti Edwards, will demo/teach how to make her FABULOUS handbag made from recycled grocery store bags and much more! Filmmaker Faythe Levine will be there for a Q & A and booksigning after the film. There will be goodie bags for the first 50 attendees, make & takes, an art exhibit, cool stuff to purchase, performance art…hey – bring your knitting or something you’re working on and just craft away with the rest of the gang! There may be an appearance from Rev. Callie Janoff from the Church of Craft in Brooklyn (she also performs wedding ceremonies J ) who’s featured in the movie AND some of the Etsy gang may show up as well (google if you don’t know about Etsy). The program is being sponsored by Etsy! PLEASE FORWARD TO ANY INTERESTED FOLKS YOU MIGHT KNOW!

=================================

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

CSA info for Thursday 10-22-2009

Happy Autumn!

Too good to last...my computer is really dead. Will take about 2 weeks to
get back to "normal" :) .

If you have friends that are CSA members, please email them (especially if
they are not working at the CSA this year) to tell them to check our blog
today or Thursday AM at: http://huntingtoncsa.blogspot.com

This email contains...

1. I'm sure the CSA needs help at 3:30pm and 5:30pm...see below
2. This week's list
3. Notes from the Farm - regarding the farm tour this weekend though I
hear it may rain this Satuday and have no idea if they will cancel or
postpone till Sunday...I will call about it tonight.


1. I'm sure the CSA needs help at 3:30pm and 5:30pm

If you're available...

A. Call 631-421-4864 up till 1pm on Thursday
B. Call 631-385-1079 from 3pm Thursday onward
C. Show up a little before 3:30 or 5:30 and ask if there is any help needed


2. This week's list

October 22, 2009
Week #27 (?)

1. Lettuce
2. Mizuna
3. Peppers, Sweet
4. Eggplant
5. Daikon
6. Potatoes, Sweet
7. Beans: Green and/or Wax

Herb Share - Oct 2B
Cilantro AND Dill


3. Notes from the Farm

Due to the impending heavy rains, our CSA fall farm tour - pumpkin
picking- was postponed until this Saturday, October 24th. This give all
those who couldn't attend another chance.

Reservations on our tractor pulled trailer riding tour are still needed.
If you had reserved for a specific time on the 17th, that will still be
your time unless you call to change or cancel. Please call the farm at
631-726-1900 from 9:30am to 4:30pm any day.

As a CSA member appreciation thank you, there will be NO CHARGE for one
pumpkin per person.

This is our first postponement of a CSA farm tour in 14 years!

So happy farm tour and Happy Halloween!

Organically Yours,
Farmer Bill (Halsey)

###

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Happy Autumn!



No news is good news (about me) but there’s LOTS of news below…number one being this weekend’s CSA tour at our farm (look under #7 Fun, Cool & Interesting Stuff)!



Someone was nice enough to return the numerous rubber bands we get during the season…please don’t! Sorry, but with insurance liability being what it is, the farm will not reuse rubber bands we would give them (along with plastic bags and the paper containers we get Tomatoes, etc in – caveat on that one…they will take the Tomato containers IF they are PRISTINE and I can be the judge of that J ).



Question…did any of you guys see an article in Newsday (or wherever) about neighborhood complaints about people picking up vegetables from someone’s house? A CSA member mentioned it last week and I looked online in Newsday but couldn’t find it. I’m thinking it’s about a CSA pickup site and am curious as to which one, where and what happened!



Last Chance for Slow Food USA’s membership special!! Today, October 15th is the LAST day to join FOR ANY AMOUNT (I’ll assume till midnight)!
Give more if you can, less if you can't…a donation of any size to Slow Food USA will make you a member. Membership rates will return to $60 on October 16th.
So Donate Now and Become a Member: http://tinyurl.com/muwdec

If you don’t know about Slow Food…

http://www.slowfoodusa.org/

CSA member, Ann Rathkopf, started the Huntington Chapter. In our neck of the woods the Slow Food Chapters are…Huntington, Sag Harbor & NYC. Go Ann!



This email includes…



1. Your CSA needs you! The CSA could use THREE (3) people from 3:30pm to 5:30pm and THREE (3) folks from 5:30 to 7:30pm

2. It’s time to weigh our food!

3. This week’s list (subject to change…farming is like that)

4. SAVE THE BUTTERNUT SQUASH SEEDS!!!

5. What to do if you’re running late???

6. Support Organic Baby Food and Vote!

7. Fun, Cool & Interesting Stuff

8. Farmer’s use vending machines to sell produce!

9. For every piece of good news…

10. And now for something completely different J …



1. Your CSA needs you! The CSA could use FIVE (5) people from 3:30pm to 5:30pm and THREE (3) folks from 5:30 to 7:30pm



A. Reply to this email before 1pm today

B. Call before 1pm today – 631-421-4864

C. Call after 3pm today– 631-385-1079

D. Show up a little before 3:30 or 5:30pm to see if there are still slots to be filled




2. It’s time to weigh our food!



Yup! It’s that time of year. Sounds easy right? Put food in the scale and weigh it, right? Not exactly the case.



1. Bring your reading glasses if you need them OR have the person by the scale read it for you

2. Most important…PLEASE ERR ON THE SIDE OF BEING WEIGHING UNDER THE AMOUNT RATHER THAN OVER THE AMOUNT GIVEN!!!!



I can’t emphasize this enough. All we need is a few people thinking that it’s no big deal to be a smidge over the amount and….it is! Just think about it…1 oz…what’s that? Two Green Beans? So what???? Ok…we have 92 CSA members and if 32 of them go over by that 1 oz that adds up to 2 pound and it may mean that one or two people don’t get ANY Beans at the end of the night. Serves them right for coming late, huh? That’s not how the CSA works. Everyone paid the same amount to receive the same amount of food so it’s up to each one of us to make sure that happens.

3. Please don’t drop the scales…the top sometimes sticks to the bottom and lifts it up when you’re getting your food out of the measuring bowl and so the bottom then drops on the floor and breaks…just be aware and please be careful…thanks!

4. There will be a plastic bag in the scale…don’t take it with you! We use it to keep the vegetables from falling out of the bowl and, believe it or not, keep the weight consistant. Different plastic bags weigh different amounts. So, weigh it in the bag that’s in the scale and then dump the food into your own bag/basket/carrier. Thanks!

5. You’ll see a piece of tape on the part of the scale with the numbers on it. All you have to do is make sure the red line of the scale doesn’t go behind the tape so you can’t see it. Also, you have to stand directly in front of the scale (which should have the correct amount centered to the front of the table) because if you stand to the side…you can still see the red line but you’re going over the correct amount.



3. This week’s list (subject to change…farming is like that)…



October 15, 2009

Week #26



1. Lettuce

2. Carrots

3. Broccoli Rabe/Raab/Rape (all the same thing)

4. Pepper, Sweet

5. Scallions

6. Potatoes, Sweet

7. Beans: Green (mostly?)



Total Items: 7 (?)



4. SAVE THE BUTTERNUT SQUASH SEEDS!!!!



Our farmer needs the seeds from the Butternut Squash we got last week to grow more Butternut Squashes next year. He can’t buy more of these because these are unique. They are adapted to his farm and they are a natural hybrid of a disease resistant variety that barely survived this year’s lousy weather…but they did survive.



If you don’t save them properly…they will be thrown out so please follow these simple instructions so your efforts don’t go to waste…



1. Rinse in water and get all the gunk off the seeds

2. Pat dry with a towel or paper towels and place on a metal cookie sheet or in a Pyrex baking dish or a cutting board…DO NOT DRY ON NEWSPAPER OR PAPER TOWELS*

3. Keep in a dry, warm place till they are completely dry…and when you think they are dry…leave for another week…it won’t hurt them and better overly dry than not dry enough

4. Return in a paper bag…plastic if you must BUT if they’re in a plastic bag and not dry enough they will get moldy and can’t be used

5. Do not dry by putting them in your microwave or oven…this has happened in the past and it kills the seeds so they won’t grow when planted



*Why not on paper towels or newspaper? Farmer Bill is concerned about the paper having an effect on the seeds germinating and/or getting in the way of being a healthy plant…some paper towels have chlorine in them, etc. He doesn’t want to take any chances.



5. What to do if you’re running late???



It happens…you’re planning on making it to the CSA and something happens…I think they call it life.



So, what can you do if you don’t want to miss the CSA pickup (or die trying to get there at the speed of…very fast)?



A. Call the UUFH Hall Phone (631-385-1079) no later than 7:30pm and see (if you won’t be too late) if someone can wait for you. We’re usually cleaning up till about 8pm but are often out earlier

B. Call the UUFH Phone (631-385-1079) no later than 7:30pm and have your fellow CSA members pack a bag for you and you can pick it up at CSA member Debbie Greenwood’s house (on a bench by her front door). Debbie’s address is 2 Recreation Lane…so easy! Go down Lovers Lane (if you walk out of the UUFH and look to your right, you’re looking up Lovers Lane) to the first left turn, go down three blocks & it’s the last house on the left (not scary at all…movie reference you’ll get…or not) and you can’t go any further without turning left or right. Pull into the driveway and please be careful of wandering pets in the driveway…

http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Huntington&state=NY&address=2+Recreation+Lane&zipcode=11743



C. Do you know at least two other CSA members? If not, I’ll be emailing about that next week. Get at least two other CSA members’ contact info so if you’re in a spot, you can contact them to get your food for you and they could hold it till the next day or whatever you arrange.



Keep the UUFH Hall Phone number in whatever you need to make sure you have it AT ALL TIMES! It could come in handy. However, only use it on Thursdays between 3pm and 8pm otherwise whoever picks up may have NO IDEA what the heck you’re talking about.



6. Support Organic Baby Food and Vote!



Ran across this contest where you can vote for an organic baby food company that also feeds hungry children in Africa (watch the video for details) and they’ll get mucho dinero…



http://shinealight.ivillage.com/



7. Fun, Cool & Interesting Stuff



Saturday, October 17th



9:30am, 11am, 12:30pm and 2pm



Green Thumb Farm Annual CSA Pumpkin Picking Tour

Rt 27

Water Mill, NY

Reservations: 631-726-1900 (call between 9:30am to 4:30pm)

Cost: $1



This is your last chance to tour the farm this season and Farmer Bill and his family hopes you can come if you didn’t make it in June (or even if you did)! RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED (though I’m sure you could call the farm at 9:30am and still make the 11am tours on IF there’s still room). It’s for CSA members and their immediate family only (if you’re sharing with someone, you must use the name of the person on the sign-in sheet and only ONE family can attened). It will be a tour on a tractor driven wagon filled with hay so seating is limited. RAIN OR SHINE (they have to work in the rain so why can’t you visit when it’s raining…we get the easier of the deal J ). There will be a $1 charge for the Pumpkin picking as Green Thumb Farm does not grow these Pumpkins but purchase them from a local farmer..


Sunday, October 25th



12:30pm



Wildman Foraging Tour

Sunken Meadow Park

Kings Park

For more info & reservations:

www.wildmanstevebrill.com

914-835-2153

$15 - Adults, $10 - younger than 12



If you've never been...you should treat yourself to go at least once. If you've gone...you know why you want to check this out!



Sunday, November 1st



11:45pm



Wildman Foraging Tour

Muttown Preserve

East Norwich

For more info & reservations:

www.wildmanstevebrill.com

914-835-2153

$15 - Adults, $10 - younger than 12



If you've never been...you should treat yourself to go at least once. If you've gone...you know why you want to check this out!



Saturday, November 7th



Noon – 2 pm



A Vegetarian Thanksgiving
The Viking Cooking School in Garden City presents Eating Green with Bhavani Jaroff

For more information and to register: http://www.vikingcookingschool.com


Eating a diet centered more around vegetables and less on meat is healthier for our bodies and for the environment, but making the transition can be a challenge. Bhavani Jaroff of iEat Green, has designed a series of classes to help you in that transition, and to inspire the creative, health conscious, but flavor-seeking chef in us all. All of the ingredients used will be organic and local, whenever possible.



Sunday, November 8th



2pm to 5pm



Nose to Tail Eating: Lamb Butchering - Demo, Tasting, and Auction Presented by Slow Food NYC
The Institute for Culinary Education (ICE)

50 West 23rd St

Manhattan
Tickets: Slow Food Members - $55 / Non-members - $75 , available ONLY on-line at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/76318
(Note, please DO NOT contact ICE about tickets for this event. )



See Master Butcher Rudi Weid break down the carcass of a 110 lb sustainably and humanely raised lamb (straight from the pastures of Three Corner Field Farm in Shushan, N.Y.) into primals, sub-primals, and, ultimately, into roasts, chops, and miscellaneous cuts, like organ meat and stewing meat. In the age of "boxed" and vacuum packaged meat, this is a truly unique opportunity.

As Master Butcher Rudi wields his knives from head to hind quarter, he will discuss each section, muscle, and cut and you will enjoy another lamb, roasted, seared, and grilled, accompanied by New York State wine specially selected for the occasion. When Rudi is done, you will have opportunity to bid on cuts to take home. (Cash and checks will be accepted.) Proceeds from this event will benefit the Slow Food NYC Harvest Time program of good food education at schools in East Harlem, on the Lower East Side, and in Williamsburg.



Saturday, Nov 21st


11am to 6pm


Green Living Expo

Suffolk County Community College

Brentwood Campus
Sports/Exhibition Complex

101 Crooked Hill Road

Brentwood, NY 11717
For more info:

http://www.greenlivingexpoli.com/

http://www.greenlivingexpoli.com/schedule.html

$10.00 (under 12 years old free)



The Green Living Expo is a 2-day event designed to provide Long Island residents and business owners with the information they need to support a greener way of life here on Long Island. “Green Living” is a new concept for many Long Islanders, for others it has been a way of life for years. Regardless of which category you fall into, being “green” is a notion that has firmly taken root in our society.

The Green Living Expo will be the catalyst between businesses, organizations, and consumers looking for information, inspiration, and innovation. It will provide information to help move us in the direction of a lifestyle that is both economically viable and ecologically sound.

The Green Living Expo will have two full days of programming to make the event both educational and fun. Speakers have been selected for their passion, commitment, innovation, and authority on their “green” topic. There is no additional fee required to attend the programs/lectures/classes.



Sunday, Nov 22nd



11am to 5pm



Green Living Expo

(see Saturday, Nov 21st)



Tuesday, December 8th, 2009



7-9 pm



Holiday Baking with Whole Grains

The Viking Cooking School in Garden City presents Eating Green with Bhavani Jaroff

For more information and to register: http://www.vikingcookingschool.com


Eating a diet centered more around vegetables and less on meat is healthier for our bodies and for the environment, but making the transition can be a challenge. Bhavani Jaroff of iEat Green, has designed a series of classes to help you in that transition, and to inspire the creative, health conscious, but flavor-seeking chef in us all. All of the ingredients used will be organic and local, whenever possible.


8. Farmer’s use vending machines to sell produce!


How cool is this? Imagine this in public schools!

http://www.mnn.com/food/farms-gardens/stories/farmers-use-vending-machines-to-sell-produce


9. For every piece of good news…



http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/chi-leafy-greens-safety-07-oct07,0,5313229.story



Mark my word…pieces like this are preparation for the public accepting all food being irradiated (and or chlorinated) to kill anything considered a bacteria or pathogen. Of course, not all bacteria is bad and not all pathogens will make us ill. Irradiation (and chlorine treatment) will also destroys nutrients that make food worth eating in the first place AND especially with meat products, irradiation produces new chemicals compounds that have never existed before, aren’t tested for short or long term health problems and some are already suspected of being carcinogens. These are both expensive and questionable excuses for not being clean.


What’s the answer?


1. Wash your food in plain water for 20 seconds (singing “happy birthday” twice should do it)…veggie wash not needed (according to a study done by Cornell University)

2. Know where your food is coming from (if you’re a CSA member and buying from Dines Farm you already do)

3. Require the USDA to enforce rules and regulations for inspection and cleaning up food operations, insisting that the USDA keep track of where food is coming from so when an outbreak occurs they know where it happened (for the most part these days they are clueless) & requiring food corporations to be more open to inspections and being able to inspect their record keeping, and insist that our government spend the money needed for additional inspectors and testing to get the job done



10. And now for something completely different J …

I stumbled upon this recently…(and can anyone translate what the heck she’s singing about…besides Potatoes J …it’s in Italian)…



My Name is Potato – Rita Pavone - 1977

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdXfML9gUmU

If you’re curious to know who the heck this woman is…

http://www.last.fm/music/Rita+Pavone/+wiki



###

Monday, October 12, 2009

CSA - Dines Farm Pre-Order info for Oct 15th pickup AND for Thanksgiving

Greetings!



If you’re a vegan/vegetarian, consider emailing this to your meat eating friends & family.



If you do eat meat, read on, and also consider forwarding this to potentially interested friends and family to support our other local farmer at the CSA, Jay Dines of Dines Farm.



It’s getting kinda chilly for BBQs but I know some hardcore grillers are out there in the snow! There are family gatherings all year long and it’s time to start thinking about Turkeys so what’s better than celebrating with Hot Dogs, Hamburgers, Steaks and Ribs, etc from Dines Farm. You need to pre-order to make sure that when you show up at the CSA this week, Dines Farm hasn’t run out of what you want.



ALSO, if you want larger quantities of something PLEASE pre-order as one person can deprive everyone else of Hot Dogs, Ribs, Hamburgers, etc for the week (it’s been happening lately).



If you’ve never seen it, or it’s been a while, here’s the NY Times article about their Hot Dogs…

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/05/dining/05dog.html





When: Please email your order by 12pm, noon, Tuesday, October 13th.. Allow more time for special requests.





HOW TO PRE-ORDER FOR DINES FARM…



Email your order to: dinesfarms@gmail.com

In this email you MUST include:

Your name

Your phone number

Huntington CSA

Otherwise the farm won't know WHO placed the order, WHERE TO CALL in case you're running late or haven't shown up (it happens...people forget) and WHERE the order should end up.



You should get a confirmation email. If you don't, call Larry to check on your order (914-403-5828). Also, call Larry if you have any questions or need help placing your order.


Payment is made when you pick up your order this week. Acceptable for payment are cash, a check, or a debit/credit card.




What:



Prices are per pound or as designated.

Prices are subject to change due to our increased costs for petroleum products and animal feed.



If you don't see something you're looking for...PLEASE ASK!




CHICKEN


Eggs: Brown OR White, Extra Large ($3.50 per Dozen)



Breasts, Boneless ($7.00)

Chicken, Ground ($4.99)

Chicken, Whole ($3.50)

Leg & Thigh Quarters ($3.50)

Thighs, Boneless - Marinated ($6.00)

Thighs, Boneless - Plain($4.99)



Sausage, Chicken ($7.99 per pound)

Breakfast, Maple

Garlic & Sage

Italian, Hot

Italian, Sweet

Additional flavors will be available in the future (or ask)





DUCK



Breast ($13.00)

Whole ($5.50)





LAMB (as available)

Chops ($14.00)

Ground ($6.50)

Leg-of-Lamb, Bone In ($7.00)

Leg-of-Lamb, Boneless ($9.00)

Stew ($6.00)



PORK

Bacon ($6.00)

Chops, Pork Loin - Boneless ($7.00)

Roasts, Pork Loin - Boneless ($7.00)

Spare Ribs ($6.00)




BEEF

Cocktail Franks - All Beef ($6.50)

Ground Beef ($5.00)

Hot Dogs - All Beef ($6.50)

Steaks:

NY Strip - Boneless ($13.00)

Rib Eye - Boneless ($12.00)

Stew Meat ($6.00)



Other cuts are available - PLEASE ASK!



THANKSGIVING TURKEYS

Available from 12 to 25 lbs ($4.99)

When ordering, you must include the size you want in your email but please be aware that there may be as much as a 3 lb variation in size…we do the best we can to get the size you want.

Order as early as possible as there are only so many and when they are gone, they’re all gone. Turkeys will be allocated in the order we receive the orders.



Why: The better business is for Dines, the more likely they will continue to travel from Albany to Huntington. Please spread the word amongst family and friends as you don't have to be a CSA member to buy from Dines Farm!



###

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Green Thumb CSA - Huntington Weekly Reminder - October 8, 2009

Happy Autumn!



Just got over cold/flu and today a big tree branch has fallen on the power lines in front of my house (though still attached to the tree)…still waiting for LIPA to help though Town & Police have been here already. If branch breaks off, power lines will go down (this is about 10 feet from my front door) and then fire dept will be called. Jeez! Maybe next week will be uneventful (please??? J ).



LAST CALL FOR HONEY!!!

This is the last week we’re taking Honey Orders.

Keep in mind it’s a great stocking stuffer for the upcoming holidays!

$10 for a 12 oz glass jar of NY biodynamically raised Wildflower Honey from the daughter of our farmer, Bill Halsey. The hives are in the Adirondacks by the Vermont border.

Bring your money (cash or a check made out to Halseys Green Thumb Farm) in an envelope with your name and phone number on it and the number of jars you want.





This email includes…



1. Your CSA needs you! The CSA could use FIVE (5) people from 3:30pm to 5:30pm and THREE (3) folks from 5:30 to 7:30pm

2. This week’s list (subject to change…farming is like that)

3. SAVE THE BUTTERNUT SQUASH SEEDS!!!





1. Your CSA needs you! The CSA could use FIVE (5) people from 3:30pm to 5:30pm and THREE (3) folks from 5:30 to 7:30pm



A. Reply to this email before 1pm today

B. Call before 1pm today – 631-421-4864

C. Call after 3pm today– 631-385-1079

D. Show up a little before 3:30 or 5:30pm to see if there are still slots to be filled







2. This week’s list (subject to change…farming is like that)…



October 8, 2009

Week #25



1. Lettuce

2. Pak Choi, Red

3. Broccoli

4. Pepper, Sweet

5. Leeks

6. Arugula

7. Beans: Green AND/OR Wax/Yellow AND/OR Dragon Tongue AND/OR Cranberry (shelling)

8. Squash, Summer



Total Items: 8 (?)



Herb Share – Oct 1A



Chives AND Parsley, Italian Flat Leaf







3. SAVE THE BUTTERNUT SQUASH SEEDS!!!!



Our farmer needs these seeds from the Butternut Squash you got last week to grow more Butternut Squashes next year. He can’t buy more of these because these are unique. They are adapted to his farm and they are a natural hybrid of a disease resistant variety that barely survived this year’s lousy weather…but they did survive.



If you don’t save them properly…they will be thrown out so please follow these simple instructions…



1. Rinse in water and get all the gunk off the seeds

2. Pat dry with a town or paper towels and place on a metal cookie sheet or in a Pyrex baking dish or a cutting board…DO NOT DRY ON NEWSPAPER OR PAPER TOWELS

3. Keep in a dry, warm place till they are completely dry…and when you think they are dry…leave for another week…it won’t hurt them and better overly dry than not dry enough

4. Return in a paper bag…plastic if you must BUT if they’re in a plastic bag and not dry enough they will get moldy and can’t be used

5. Do not dry by putting them in your microwave or oven…this has happened in the past and it kills the seeds so they won’t grow when planted



###

Thursday, October 1, 2009

CSA-Huntington 10-1-2009

Happy Autumn!



Computer back…Wifi still not working…internet connection spotty so I’ll make this fast before it decides to disconnect again!



This email includes…



1. Your CSA needs you!

2. This week’s list (subject to change…farming is like that)







1. Your CSA needs you! The CSA could use THREE (3) people from 5:30pm to 7:30pm…



A. Reply to this email before 1pm today

B. Call before 1pm today – 631-421-4864

C. Call after 3pm today– 631-385-1079

D. Show up a little before 5:30pm to see if there are still slots to be filled







2. This week’s list (subject to change…farming is like that)…



October 1, 2009

Week #24



1. Lettuce

2. Tat Soi

3. Squash, Winter: Butternut

4. Pepper, Sweet

5. Eggplant

6. Parsley OR Mint

7. Beans: Green

8. Husk Tomatoes (I think he means what’s also called a Ground Cherry…as well as Cape Gooseberries and Strawberry Tomatoes…Tomatillos are also considered Husk Tomatoes but I don’t think that’s what’s showing up today)*

9. Squash, Summer



Total Items: 9 (?)



*Raw in a salad or, believe it or not, in cereal (if they are orange or yellow…if they are more greenish they are tangier and go better in savory preparations)

http://www.tradewindsfruit.com/ground_cherry.htm

http://tastingtable.com/entry_detail/chicago/595/Ground_cherries_are_the_seasons_best-tasting_identity_crisis.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physalis

http://www.territorialseed.com/product/3988/66

http://veganyumyum.com/2008/09/ground-cherry-cupcake-pies/

http://ourhomeworks.com/2009/08/16/pineapple-ground-cherry-salsa/

http://blog.kitchentherapy.us/2009/08/ground-cherry-salsa/



###

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Thursday, September 24, 2009

CSA list for September 24, 2009 (subject to change because farming is like that)…

1. Tomatillos
2. Cilantro
3. Scallions
4. Lettuce: Leaf, Rad
5. Mei Quing Choi (think Bok Choi)
6. Eggplant
7. Pepper, Sweet (as opposed to Hot)
8. Beans: Green, Romano AND/OR Lima

Total Items: 8

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Happy Summer!



Included in this email...



1. Your CSA REALLY needs you this week!! We’re looking for THREE (3) people to work from 3:30 to 5:30pm and FOUR (4) people to work from 5:30 to 7:30pm.

2. It’s time to weigh our food!

3. This week’s list (subject to change without notice…farming is like that J )

4. What to do if you’re running late???

5. Fun, Cool & Interesting Stuff (new stuff added weekly...really!)

6. Do you garden? Want organic seedlings from your CSA farm???

7. Notes from the Farm







1. Your CSA needs you this week!! We’re looking for THREE (3) people to work from 3:30 to 5:30pm and FOUR (4) people to work from 5:30 to 7:30pm.



If interested, please respond to this email before 1pm today OR call 631-421-4864 till 1pm today OR call the CSA at 631-385-1079 after 3pm today OR just show up a little before 3:30 or 5:30pm at the CSA and offer to work if there's still an empty slot on the CSA Work Sign-up Sheet. ALWAYS FILL THE CSA WORK SHEET OUT IN PENCIL!!! Life is too unpredictable for being written in pen!







2. It’s time to weigh our food!



Yup! It’s that time of year. Sounds easy right? Put food in the scale and weigh it, right? Not exactly the case.



1. Bring your reading glasses if you need them OR have the person by the scale read it for you

2. Most important…PLEASE ERR ON THE SIDE OF BEING WEIGHING UNDER THE AMOUNT RATHER THAN OVER THE AMOUNT GIVEN!!!!



I can’t emphasize this enough. All we need is a few people thinking that it’s no big deal to be a smidge over the amount and….it is! Just think about it…1 oz…what’s that? Two Green Beans? So what???? Ok…we have 92 CSA members and if 32 of them go over by that 1 oz that adds up to 2 pound and it may mean that one or two people don’t get ANY Beans at the end of the night. Serves them right for coming late, huh? That’s not how the CSA works. Everyone paid the same amount to receive the same amount of food so it’s up to each one of us to make sure that happens.

3. Please don’t drop the scales…the top sometimes sticks to the bottom and lifts it up when you’re getting your food out of the measuring bowl and so the bottom then drops on the floor and breaks…just be aware and please be careful…thanks!

4. There will be a plastic bag in the scale…don’t take it with you! We use it to keep the vegetables from falling out of the bowl and, believe it or not, keep the weight consistant. Different plastic bags weigh different amounts. So, weigh it in the bag that’s in the scale and then dump the food into your own bag/basket/carrier. Thanks!

5. You’ll see a piece of tape on the part of the scale with the numbers on it. All you have to do is make sure the red line of the scale doesn’t go behind the tape so you can’t see it. Also, you have to stand directly in front of the scale (which should have the correct amount centered to the front of the table) because if you stand to the side…you can still see the red line but you’re going over the correct amount.







3. This week’s list (subject to change without notice…farming is like that J )



September 17, 2009

Week # 22



1. Tomatoes, Mini – 1 pt

2. Lettuce: Boston, Green

3. Carrots – 1 bunch

4. Basil: Red OR Green – 1 bunch

5. Squash, Summer

6. Beans: Soy

7. Beans: Black-Eyed Peas (they’re actually beans) AND/OR Cranberry AND/OR Dragon Tongue



Total Items – 7 (?)



Herb Share – Sept 2B



Basil, Red AND Thyme







4. What to do if you’re running late???



It happens…you’re planning on making it to the CSA and something happens…I think they call it life.



So, what can you do if you don’t want to miss the CSA pickup (or die trying to get there at the speed of…very fast)?



A. Call the UUFH Hall Phone (631-385-1079) no later than 7:30pm and see (if you won’t be too late) if someone can wait for you. We’re usually cleaning up till about 8pm but are often out earlier

B. Call the UUFH Phone (631-385-1079) no later than 7:30pm and have your fellow CSA members pack a bag for you and you can pick it up at CSA member Debbie Greenwood’s house (on a bench by her front door). Debbie’s address is 2 Recreation Lane…so easy! Go down Lovers Lane (if you walk out of the UUFH and look to your right, you’re looking up Lovers Lane) to the first left turn, go down three blocks & it’s the last house on the left (not scary at all…movie reference you’ll get…or not) and you can’t go any further without turning left or right. Pull into the driveway and please be careful of wandering pets in the driveway…

http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Huntington&state=NY&address=2+Recreation+Lane&zipcode=11743



C. Do you know at least two other CSA members? If not, I’ll be emailing about that next week. Get at least two other CSA members’ contact info so if you’re in a spot, you can contact them to get your food for you and they could hold it till the next day or whatever you arrange.



Keep the UUFH Hall Phone number in whatever you need to make sure you have it AT ALL TIMES! It could come in handy. However, only use it on Thursdays between 3pm and 8pm otherwise whoever picks up may have NO IDEA what the heck you’re talking about.







5. Fun, Cool & Interesting Stuff





Saturday, September 26th



10am-6pm



Sixth Annual Long Island Garlic Festival

Garden of Eve Farm

4558 Sound Avenue

Riverhead

Admission just $2 per person, children under 6 free. A portion of the proceeds are donated to NOFA-NY

map and directions at www.gardenofevefarm.com


Love Garlic? You will want to check out Long Island's only Garlic Festival, dedicated to celebrating food, farming, and family fun. This all-weekend celebration features organic garlic, a wide variety of garlic inspired foods, crafts, live music, puppet theater, and sustainability information.. Rain or Shine.



10am to 4pm



LI Naturally 12th Annual Environmental Fair

Manor Farm

210 Manor Rd

Huntington

FREE

For more info:

www.starflowerexperience.org



Live music, learn about green cleaning, energy, etc., games & activities, raffles, community yard sale. Food provided by Whole Foods Market. Rain date is Sunday, September 27th.



10pm



The Hotline at…

Giacomo Jack’s

www.thehotline.net



CSA member John Morina is the drummer with the rock/blues/funk quartet, The Hotline. Check it out for big fun!





Sunday, September 27th



10am to 6pm



Sixth Annual Long Island Garlic Festival

(see September 26th)





Sunday, October 25th



12:30pm



Wildman Foraging Tour

Sunken Meadow Park

Kings Park

For more info & reservations:

www.wildmanstevebrill.com

914-835-2153

$15 - Adults, $10 - younger than 12



If you've never been...you should treat yourself to go at least once. If you've gone...you know why you want to check this out!





Sunday, November 1st



11:45pm



Wildman Foraging Tour

Muttown Preserve

East Norwich

For more info & reservations:

www.wildmanstevebrill.com

914-835-2153

$15 - Adults, $10 - younger than 12



If you've never been...you should treat yourself to go at least once. If you've gone...you know why you want to check this out!





Saturday, Nov 21st



11am to 6pm





Green Living Expo

Suffolk County Community College

Brentwood Campus
Sports/Exhibition Complex

101 Crooked Hill Road

Brentwood, NY 11717
For more info:

http://www.greenlivingexpoli.com/

http://www.greenlivingexpoli.com/schedule.html

$10.00 (under 12 years old free)





The Green Living Expo is a 2-day event designed to provide Long Island residents and business owners with the information they need to support a greener way of life here on Long Island. “Green Living” is a new concept for many Long Islanders, for others it has been a way of life for years. Regardless of which category you fall into, being “green” is a notion that has firmly taken root in our society.

The Green Living Expo will be the catalyst between businesses, organizations, and consumers looking for information, inspiration, and innovation. It will provide information to help move us in the direction of a lifestyle that is both economically viable and ecologically sound.

The Green Living Expo will have two full days of programming to make the event both educational and fun. Speakers have been selected for their passion, commitment, innovation, and authority on their “green” topic. There is no additional fee required to attend the programs/lectures/classes.



Sunday, Nov 22nd



11am to 5pm



Green Living Expo

(see Saturday, Nov 21st)







6. Do you garden? Want organic seedlings from your CSA farm???



You can order certified organic seedlings for your garden from our CSA farm, Halsey's Green Thumb Farm, that will be delivered to you when you pick up your CSA share! AND, the prices are the same as last year! If you want something not on the list, call and ask...there's a decent chance they have, or will have, it. Fliers about this are on the CSA Sign-In Table.



How?



Call the farm (631-726-1900) from 9:30am to 4:30pm, order using a credit card (minimum order of $20) and coordinate when you'll be picking up your seedlings with your CSA pickup.



What?



All the pots are 4 1/2" and the cost of each pot is $5.00



Basil, Green

Marigold: Orange (8" to 10")

Mint, Cat

Oregano, Greek

Parsley, Italian Flat Leaf

Petunias: Blue OR Mixed OR Rose

Rosemary

Sorrel

Strawberries, Alpine (very small)

Swiss Chard: Gold OR Green OR Red

Tarragon, French

More varieties coming soon!







7. Notes from the Farm



September 14, 2009



Fall is upon us. Our summer crops will be coming to an end soon as our cooler weather crops begin…Tat Soi, Pak Choi, Bok Choi, Broccoli Raab, Arugula, Mustards (both Red and Green), Kales (several kinds), Broccoli, Cauliflower and much more in the next two months. Beets, Carrots, Leeks, a few more Tomatoes, Summer Squash, and some Winter Squash and Beans, will all be arriving at our CSA Pick-Up Sites.



Also, this fall our Pumpkin picking farm tour will be happening on Saturday, October 17th, at 9:30am, 11am, 12:30pm and 2pm. RESERVATION ARE REQUIRED (for CSA members and their immediate family ONLY…if you are sharing with someone, you must reserve in the name of the person on the CSA Sign-In list and only ONE family can come from one share). It is a tour on a wagon pulled by a tractor so seating is limited. There will be a $1 charge for the Pumpkin picking as we do not grow these Pumpkins but purchase them from a local farmer.. Please call the farm (631-726-1900) from 9:30 am to 4:30pm any day of the week to reserve your spot. This is the last chance to visit the farm this year and we hope all can come out to see us!



Organically Yours,

Farmer Bill (Halsey)



###

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Green Thumb CSA - Huntington Weekly Reminder - September 10, 2009

Happy Summer!

Can anyone help out another CSA member? Lisa McInnis needs someone to hold her share till Monday, Sept 14th. If you can help out…

1. Reply to this email BEFORE 1pm today

2. Call the CSA between 3pm and 7:30pm on the UUFH hall phone at 631-385-1079

3. Offer when you’re at the CSA

Included in this email...

1. Your CSA REALLY needs you this week!! We’re looking for SIX (6) people to work from 3:30 to 5:30pm and FOUR (4) people to work from 5:30 to 7:30pm.

2. It’s time to weigh our food!

3. This week’s list (subject to change without notice…farming is like that J )

4. What to do if you’re running late???

5. Fun, Cool & Interesting Stuff (new stuff added weekly...really!)

6. Do you garden? Want organic seedlings from your CSA farm???

1. Your CSA needs you this week!! We’re looking for SIX (6) people to work from 3:30 to 5:30pm and FOUR (4) people to work from 5:30 to 7:30pm.

If interested, please respond to this email before 1pm today OR call 631-421-4864 till 1pm today OR call the CSA at 631-385-1079 after 3pm today OR just show up a little before 3:30 or 5:30pm at the CSA and offer to work if there's still an empty slot on the CSA Work Sign-up Sheet. ALWAYS FILL THE CSA WORK SHEET OUT IN PENCIL!!! Life is too unpredictable for being written in pen!

2. It’s time to weigh our food!

Yup! It’s that time of year. Sounds easy right? Put food in the scale and weigh it, right? Not exactly the case.

1. Bring your reading glasses if you need them OR have the person by the scale read it for you

2. Most important…PLEASE ERR ON THE SIDE OF BEING WEIGHING UNDER THE AMOUNT RATHER THAN OVER THE AMOUNT GIVEN!!!!

I can’t emphasize this enough. All we need is a few people thinking that it’s no big deal to be a smidge over the amount and….it is! Just think about it…1 oz…what’s that? Two Green Beans? So what???? Ok…we have 92 CSA members and if 32 of them go over by that 1 oz that adds up to 2 pound and it may mean that one or two people don’t get ANY Beans at the end of the night. Serves them right for coming late, huh? That’s not how the CSA works. Everyone paid the same amount to receive the same amount of food so it’s up to each one of us to make sure that happens.

3. Please don’t drop the scales…the top sometimes sticks to the bottom and lifts it up when you’re getting your food out of the measuring bowl and so the bottom then drops on the floor and breaks…just be aware and please be careful…thanks!

4. There will be a plastic bag in the scale…don’t take it with you! We use it to keep the vegetables from falling out of the bowl and, believe it or not, keep the weight consistant. Different plastic bags weigh different amounts. So, weigh it in the bag that’s in the scale and then dump the food into your own bag/basket/carrier. Thanks!

5. You’ll see a piece of tape on the part of the scale with the numbers on it. All you have to do is make sure the red line of the scale doesn’t go behind the tape so you can’t see it. Also, you have to stand directly in front of the scale (which should have the correct amount centered to the front of the table) because if you stand to the side…you can still see the red line but you’re going over the correct amount.

3. This week’s list (subject to change without notice…farming is like that J )

September 10, 2009

Week # 21

1. Eggplant

2. Lettuce

3. Beets

4. Tat Soi

5. Squash, Winter: Acorn

6. Beans: Soy

7. Dill OR Cilantro

8. Cantaloupe…maybe

Total Items – 8 (?)

4. What to do if you’re running late???

It happens…you’re planning on making it to the CSA and something happens…I think they call it life.

So, what can you do if you don’t want to miss the CSA pickup (or die trying to get there at the speed of…very fast)?

A. Call the UUFH Hall Phone (631-385-1079) no later than 7:30pm and see (if you won’t be too late) if someone can wait for you. We’re usually cleaning up till about 8pm but are often out earlier

B. Call the UUFH Phone (631-385-1079) no later than 7:30pm and have your fellow CSA members pack a bag for you and you can pick it up at CSA member Debbie Greenwood’s house (on a bench by her front door). Debbie’s address is 2 Recreation Lane…so easy! Go down Lovers Lane (if you walk out of the UUFH and look to your right, you’re looking up Lovers Lane) to the first left turn, go down three blocks & it’s the last house on the left (not scary at all…movie reference you’ll get…or not) and you can’t go any further without turning left or right. Pull into the driveway and please be careful of wandering pets in the driveway…

http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Huntington&state=NY&address=2+Recreation+Lane&zipcode=11743

C. Do you know at least two other CSA members? If not, I’ll be emailing about that next week. Get at least two other CSA members’ contact info so if you’re in a spot, you can contact them to get your food for you and they could hold it till the next day or whatever you arrange.

Keep the UUFH Hall Phone number in whatever you need to make sure you have it AT ALL TIMES! It could come in handy. However, only use it on Thursdays between 3pm and 8pm otherwise whoever picks up may have NO IDEA what the heck you’re talking about.

5. Fun, Cool & Interesting Stuff

Thursday, September 10th

3 to 6pm

Help Work the Farm at Historic Sylvester Manor, followed by potluck/cookout and farm work song singalong

RSVP required to info@gardenofevefarm.com , NOFA (Northeast Organic Farmers Association www.nofany.org ) Members ONLY $5

Come see unique, historic Sylvester Manor and Bennett Konesni's recent efforts to bring the Manor's fields back into their agricultural glory. Gather at 3 pm for a tour of the grounds and house, including an 1810 wind-powered flour mill, and learn about the Manor's unique place in the history of American food. At 4 pm we'll all lend a hand towards the field work, wherever we are needed. At 6:30pm we'll break to enjoy a potluck supper/cookout, and then we'll gather round the fire make music into the night! Bring grill food, drinks, instruments and voices, a song or poem, and be prepared to play and sing traditional agrarian music, from field hollers to appalachian ballads.

Saturday, September 26th

10am-6pm

Sixth Annual Long Island Garlic Festival

Garden of Eve Farm

4558 Sound Avenue

Riverhead

Admission just $2 per person, children under 6 free. A portion of the proceeds are donated to NOFA-NY

map and directions at www.gardenofevefarm.com


Love Garlic? You will want to check out Long Island's only Garlic Festival, dedicated to celebrating food, farming, and family fun. This all-weekend celebration features organic garlic, a wide variety of garlic inspired foods, crafts, live music, puppet theater, and sustainability information.. Rain or Shine.

10am to 4pm

LI Naturally 12th Annual Environmental Fair

Manor Farm

210 Manor Rd

Huntington

FREE

For more info:

www.starflowerexperience.org

Live music, learn about green cleaning, energy, etc., games & activities, raffles, community yard sale. Food provided by Whole Foods Market. Rain date is Sunday, September 27th.

10pm

The Hotline at…

Giacomo Jack’s

www.thehotline.net

CSA member John Morina is the drummer with the rock/blues/funk quartet, The Hotline. Check it out for big fun!

Sunday, September 27th

10am to 6pm

Sixth Annual Long Island Garlic Festival

(see September 26th)

Sunday, October 25th

12:30pm

Wildman Foraging Tour

Sunken Meadow Park

Kings Park

For more info & reservations:

www.wildmanstevebrill.com

914-835-2153

$15 - Adults, $10 - younger than 12

If you've never been...you should treat yourself to go at least once. If you've gone...you know why you want to check this out!

Sunday, November 1st

11:45pm

Wildman Foraging Tour

Muttown Preserve

East Norwich

For more info & reservations:

www.wildmanstevebrill.com

914-835-2153

$15 - Adults, $10 - younger than 12

If you've never been...you should treat yourself to go at least once. If you've gone...you know why you want to check this out!

Saturday, Nov 21st

11am to 6pm

Green Living Expo

Suffolk County Community College

Brentwood Campus
Sports/Exhibition Complex

101 Crooked Hill Road

Brentwood, NY 11717
For more info:

http://www.greenlivingexpoli.com/

http://www.greenlivingexpoli.com/schedule.html

$10.00 (under 12 years old free)

The Green Living Expo is a 2-day event designed to provide Long Island residents and business owners with the information they need to support a greener way of life here on Long Island. “Green Living” is a new concept for many Long Islanders, for others it has been a way of life for years. Regardless of which category you fall into, being “green” is a notion that has firmly taken root in our society.

The Green Living Expo will be the catalyst between businesses, organizations, and consumers looking for information, inspiration, and innovation. It will provide information to help move us in the direction of a lifestyle that is both economically viable and ecologically sound.

The Green Living Expo will have two full days of programming to make the event both educational and fun. Speakers have been selected for their passion, commitment, innovation, and authority on their “green” topic. There is no additional fee required to attend the programs/lectures/classes.

Sunday, Nov 22nd

11am to 5pm

Green Living Expo

(see Saturday, Nov 21st)

6. Do you garden? Want organic seedlings from your CSA farm???

You can order certified organic seedlings for your garden from our CSA farm, Halsey's Green Thumb Farm, that will be delivered to you when you pick up your CSA share! AND, the prices are the same as last year! If you want something not on the list, call and ask...there's a decent chance they have, or will have, it. Fliers about this are on the CSA Sign-In Table.

How?

Call the farm (631-726-1900) from 9:30am to 4:30pm, order using a credit card (minimum order of $20) and coordinate when you'll be picking up your seedlings with your CSA pickup.

What?

All the pots are 4 1/2" and the cost of each pot is $5.00

Basil, Green

Marigold: Orange (8" to 10")

Mint, Cat

Oregano, Greek

Parsley, Italian Flat Leaf

Petunias: Blue OR Mixed OR Rose

Rosemary

Sorrel

Strawberries, Alpine (very small)

Swiss Chard: Gold OR Green OR Red

Tarragon, French

More varieties coming soon!

###