Happy Earth Day Huntington CSA!

Happy spring!

New Membership Alert!
We now have 13 spots left to fill for the Spring Session of the CSA, and then about another 60 to fill the CSA for the year that can begin pickups on June 3rd. For the first time EVER Farmer Bill told me today that I can call the farm late Wednesday night with new members for this Thursday. The first week of the CSA season he wants the number of members on Monday night, and the rest of the year it’s been Tuesday nights, NEVER Wednesday! That means, if you know anyone who wishes to start picking up this week, attached is a CSA brochure and new member’s contract, and if they drop off their checks and contract at the Cinema Arts Centre by 10pm tonight, they can start picking up at the CSA Thursday, April 22nd. IF anyone’s planning to do that, please have them email or call me to know to look for their paperwork.

Correction…Haley Wiggins was the only one representing Huntington at the farm last weekend. The Jeff that was there was not OUR Jeff but a Brooklyn CSA Jeff.

I’ll be tabling for the CSA at the Earth Day event at Underwriters Lab in Melville from 11am to 2pm. If you know anyone that works there, tell them to stop by the Green Thumb CSA – Huntington table and say hi! I should be right next to the Healthy Planet table. And, you may see me lurking around the Green Expo this weekend trying to network and troll for possible new CSA members. My home base will probably be at the Cinema Arts Centre table (where I may be helping them with membership as well).


This email includes…
1. Your CSA needs YOU! We are looking for ONE (1) person to be at the CSA from 5:30 to 7:30pm this week.
2. What you’re getting at the CSA this week (subject to change without notice…farming is like that!)
3. BRING BAGS!
4. Event Calendar
5. Suggestions on how to cook all this new food
6. Anyone looking for a job in Roosevelt or Bellport as a Farm Market Manager (or know anyone who would be?)

1. Your CSA needs YOU! We are looking for ONE (1) person to be at the CSA from 5:30 to 7:30pm this week.

If interested, please respond to this email before 1pm Thursday OR call 631-421-4864 till 1pm Thursday OR call the CSA at 631-385-1079 after 3pm Thursday OR just show up a little before 5:30pm at the CSA and offer to work if help is still needed. You can even ask if help is needed at 3:30pm as you never know!



2. What you’re getting at the CSA this week (subject to change without notice…farming is like that!)

April 22, 2010 (Earth Day)
Week #1

1. Leeks
2. Jerusalem Artichokes
3. Sprouting Broccoli - Red (we’ve never had these before…like small bunched Broccoli Florets?)
4. Kale Raab (Rabe/Rape…all the same thing), Red (also pretty new to the farm and the CSA though Farmer Bill says we had these last year)
5. Greens, Turnip
6. Greens, Mustard
7. Kale, Curley – Green
Total Items: 7 (? – not sure if any of these will be choices or not…ex – Turnip Greens OR Mustard Greens)


3. BRING BAGS!

What more can you say about this?

At the CSA, we bag our own food. I’d suggest to bring a selection of plastic bags (especially for things that are dripping wet like Lettuces and other Greens which we get later in the season when they are picked from out in the fields…as opposed to the greenhouse where they are probably coming from now) AND paper bags (for things that don’t like plastic like Tomatoes…the moisture that plastic attracts will make them rot faster).

Keep a stash of bags in every vehicle you own, and replenish when the stash gets low! That way you’ll never be without.



4. Fun, Cool & Interesting Stuff to Do (new events added weekly)

Thursday, April 22nd

7:30pm

Fresh
Cinema Arts Centre
423 Park Ave
Huntington
Cinema Members - $9, General Public - $13 (partial proceeds are going to benefit the NY Coalition for Healthy School Food www.healthylunches.org )
For details and to purchase advance tickets…
http://www.cinemaartscentre.org/reel_to_reel1.html#fresh

If you liked Food, Inc (or didn’t see it but wanted to), you should like Fresh. This movie celebrates the farmers, thinkers and business people across America who are reinventing our food system. Featured in the film are Joel Salatin (outspoken farmer and owner of Polyface Farms), Michael Pollan (author of the Omnivore’s Dilemna) and Will Allen (urban farmer and recipient of the 2008 MacArthur Genius Award). There will be a cooking demonstration by Chef Zane Smith of Cooking Zen http://www.cookingzen.com/ , a reception with music provided by Hypnosmoothie, and snacks provided by Whole Foods (they’re sponsoring this event and another film…End of the Line…about seafood). Oh yeah, and there’ll be a speaker…suzanne j zoubeck, founder of Green Thumb CSA – Huntington.


Saturday, April 24th

11am to 5pm

Green Expo
Suffolk Community College
Health, Sports & Education Center
1001 Crooked Hill Rd
Brentwood
FREE
For more info…
http://www.greenlivingexpoli.com/

Bring things to recycle or trade (see website), buy new & gently used stuff for kids (see website), cooking demos (one is gluten free!), lectures, events for children, learn about saving energy around your home, and what other environmental groups are doing in our neighborhoods! Huntington groups the Cinema Arts Centre and Slow Food Huntington will be there…stop by and say hello!


Sunday, April 25th

11am to 4pm

Green Expo (see Saturday, April 24th)


Thursday, April 29th

7:30pm

The End of the Line
Cinema Arts Centre
423 Park Ave
Huntington, NY
Cinema Members: $9/ General Public: $13 (partial proceeds will benefit the NY Coalition for Healthy School Food www.healthylunches.org )
For more info and to purchase advance tickets:
http://www.cinemaartscentre.org/reel_to_reel1.html#endline

A wake-up call to the world, The End of the Line is the first major documentary to reveal the impact of over-fishing on our oceans and the profound implications of a future without fish. The guest speaker is Carl Safina, Author & Founding President of Blue Ocean Institute, Cold Spring Harbor. Dr. Carl Safina brought ocean conservation into the environmental mainstream. His hundred-plus publications and award-winning books include Song for the Blue Ocean and Voyage of the Turtle. He’s been profiled by the New York Times, Nightline, and Bill Moyers. His awards include a Pew Fellowship, Lannan Literary Award, John Burroughs Medal, and a MacArthur Prize, among others. www.blueocean.org . Reception with refreshments sponsored by Whole Foods.


Saturday, May 8th

1pm to 4pm

Wildman Steve Brill
Muttontown Preserve
4 Muttontown Lane
East Norwich, NY
Suggested Donation: $15, under 10 years old $10
For more info and to reserve a spot…
http://www.wildmanstevebrill.com/

If you’ve never experienced Wildman Steve Brill and you like eating locally and/or organically…this is a must! You will leave with interesting things to cook for dinner, and may start to look differently at the “weeds” that come up in your backyard. You MUST read his website carefully and follow the instructions if you are to maximize your experience by dressing properly and bringing what you need to bring on this adventure. I’ve been told he’s corny…well, that’s true…but he’s also brilliant, and knows about eating and foraging in the wild like nobody’s business. Since he’s a fairly recent father, the event is a family friendly experience.


Saturday, June 26th

Green Thumb CSA Member’s Annual Strawberry Farm Tour
Details to be announced


Saturday, September 4th

12:30pm to 3:30pm

Wildman Steve Brill
Sunken Meadow Park
Parking lot by the Sunken Meadow Bathhouse
Suggested Donation: $15, under 10 years old $10
For more info and to reserve a spot…
http://www.wildmanstevebrill.com/

If you’ve never experienced Wildman Steve Brill and you like eating locally and/or organically…this is a must! You will leave with interesting things to cook for dinner, and may start to look differently at the “weeds” that come up in your backyard. You MUST read his website carefully and follow the instructions if you are to maximize your experience by dressing properly and bringing what you need to bring on this adventure. I’ve been told he’s corny…well, that’s true…but he’s also brilliant, and knows about eating and foraging in the wild like nobody’s business. Since he’s a fairly recent father, the event is a family friendly experience.


Saturday, October 16th

Green Thumb CSA Member’s Annual Tractor-pulled Hayride & Pumpkin Picking Farm Tour
Details to be announced


Sunday, October 24th

12:30 to 3:30pm

Wildman Steve Brill
Sunken Meadow Park
Suggested Donation: $15, under 10 years old $10
For more info and to reserve a spot…
http://www.wildmanstevebrill.com/

If you’ve never experienced Wildman Steve Brill and you like eating locally and/or organically…this is a must! You will leave with interesting things to cook for dinner, and may start to look differently at the “weeds” that come up in your backyard. You MUST read his website carefully and follow the instructions if you are to maximize your experience by dressing properly and bringing what you need to bring on this adventure. I’ve been told he’s corny…well, that’s true…but he’s also brilliant, and knows about eating and foraging in the wild like nobody’s business. Since he’s a fairly recent father, the event is a family friendly experience.



5. Suggestions on how to cook all this new food

I’ll be writing about this periodically and asking for suggestions as well.

A. Look at the cookbooks you own!

You’d be amazed at what you probably have right under your nose. I often am  . Many people own The Joy of Cooking (any addition) and don’t use it. It’s a lot handier than one might think and has a lot of what we get at the CSA.

B. Buy this book!

One book I do recommend is “How to Cook Everything” by Mark Bittman. We keep a copy for reference at the CSA and again, it has MOST of what we get at the CSA but not everything (sorry Bittman). It’s a favorite on many top 10 cookbook lists of chefs and other food professionals.

C. Consider subscribing to Martha Stewart Living and/or Everyday Food

Both are very conscious of seasonal cooking/eating.

Glancing at the May issue of Living I saw the following ingredients in their recipes which you will be getting at the CSA…and that was glancing…
Arugula - Cilantro – Dill – Fava Beans – Melons - Mint – Parsley - Peas – Radishes – Rhubarb – Scallions – Strawberries – Tomatoes

Plus, I noticed a deal for Visa Signature cardholders to be able to subscribe to BOTH Living and Everyday Food for $22 on page 39 of the May Living issue!


6. Anyone looking for a job in Roosevelt or Bellport as a Farm Market Manager (or know anyone who would be?)

Sustainable Long Island is looking to hire two Farmers Market Managers, part-time, seasonal (30 hours per week, approximately 7 months) to manage markets in Roosevelt and Bellport. Applications for the positions are due by next Thursday and the jobs will begin in mid-May. If you would like to receive a pdf the complete job description, please send me an email and I’ll forward it to the appropriate person.

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