Green Thumb Farm Huntington CSA

Happy Summer!

Anyone interested in Pine Nuts (NOT from China…if you don’t know why this is an issue…Google it) and Sundried Tomatoes? CSA member Fritz Lang wants to do a bulk order but needs some people to split the booty. He can give you the details so let me know if you’re interested and I’ll make the connection. The Pine Nuts could be organic and grown in the USA IF there are enough takers and the order gets in quickly enough.

TIME TO START WEIGHING!!! Digital scales are here. The main thing is to err on the side of under weighing rather than being over the amount stated on the Wall Chart. The second thing is to please follow the weighing directions given by whoever is working by the scales (usually that means weighing more than one thing at a time in a certain order…this is what our farmer wants so this is what we do).

Flower Shares and Herb Shares still available (see #5).

BRING BAGS TO PACK YOUR CSA SHARE…now and forever! Put bags (paper/plastic/canvas) in every car you own so you’ll never be without. In your trunk, glove compartment, back seat…whatever works for you. You’ll be needing them every week for the next 30 weeks and the CSA is not set up to provide them. If you are sending someone else to pick up your CSA share (spouse, relative, friend, offspring), this is the most important thing to tell them.

We still have 75 intrepid CSAers for the seventeenth week of the CSA season and we still have room for about 75 CSA members for the rest of the season. If each CSA member were to find ONE more member…ONLY ONE EACH…we could fill the CSA. Green Thumb Farms’ Brooklyn CSA is closed for membership with 200 members, their Queens CSA is closed for the season with 110 members and we’re last on the totem pole still trying to get to 100, and at that point seeing if our farmer will allow us to get to 150 members. Back a few years ago, he would have LOVED for us to have 200 members but since we’ve never come close, I think he’s given up hope…but would be amused and pleased if it ever happened. Plus it’s wacky…with everyone sharing, people having multiple email addresses, and the fact that there are people who want to get our emails who aren’t CSA members (events, veg sheets, etc), I’m sending this email to 110 email addresses! I’d be so happy if that translated to 110 CSA members but not yet!

Attached in the next email will be the CSA “kit” consisting of the contract for new members, brochure and fee sheet. Let’s do this thing! The sooner I don’t have to beat the bushes for members, the more time I have for things like managing the CSA better, finding cool new things to add to the CSA mix (Mushrooms, Tempeh, a Winter CSA Share?) and doing the extra work it would entail.

I’d be happy to place brochures, do a lecture, call, email…do whatever’s needed to spread the good word about CSA. If you have suggestions, please make them known.

This email includes…

1. Your CSA DOES need you this week! We’re looking for TWO (2) folks from 3:30 to 5:30pm and TWO (2) folks from 5:30 to 7:30pm
2. Notes from the Farm
3. The list…subject to change without notice…farming is like that!
4. New Bitter Melon/Foo Gwa recipe…
5. Dines Farm Report…same as last week
6. Do you buy non-local Honey or processed food products that contain Honey?
7. We still have plenty of Herb Shares and Flower Shares available. Why would you want one?
8. What you actually got last week
9. Fun, Cool & Interesting Stuff to Do (new events added weekly)
10. Before you eat that Cantaloupe…read this!
11. Certified Organic Seedlings Available from Green Thumb Farm!
12. Squash is Squash!
13. Dr Weil says…eat local, eat organic, join a CSA!



1. Your CSA DOES need you this week! We’re looking for ONE (1) person from 3:30 to 5:30pm.

If interested and available…
1. reply to this email before 1pm today
2. call 631-421-4864 before 1pm today
3. call the CSA at 631-385-1079 after 3pm

You can ALWAYS show up a little before 3:30 or 5:30pm at the CSA and offer to work IF help is still needed…you never know! Everyone that’s scheduled doesn’t always show up on time…or at all.

If you didn’t get a confirmation email from Judi, you’re not on the schedule to work this week. If you did, you are.



2. Notes from the Farm

July 22, 2011

Summer’s heat has arrived!!!!

The last week the heat has been excessive, and our crops are beginning to show the results. Lettuces are bolting (going to seed), Beans are becoming drier, other greens are either wilting or going through their life cycle with no size (no increased growth). The heat pushes the vegetable plants to grow faster, but with no increased size. And, our Peas are finished.

Our Tomatoes are beginning. We started picking a few this week and expect to begin our CSA deliveries of them this week. Mini Tomatoes most always come first, and then the others. Eggplants and Peppers will also soon begin.

So it is…some crops will always do well while others don’t. Our CSA is based on seasonal availability so depending on weather conditions, this is what we will be bringing to all our CSA members.

THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

Organically yours,
Farmer Bill (Halsey)



3. The list…subject to change without notice…farming is like that!

Vegetable Info Sheets attached to email (keep in a notebook – by the end of the year you’ll have a cookbook!)

Week #17
August 18, 2011

1. Cantaloupe - 1
2. Leeks – 1 bunch
3. Tomatoes, Mini – 1 pt
4. Snap Beans
5. Peppers, Sweet
6. Squash, Summer
7. Eggplant
8. Bitter Melon (?)

Total Items: 8 (?)



4. New Bitter Melon/Foo Gwa recipe…

Discovered by CSA member Lisa McInnis…
http://amisvegetariandelicacies.blogspot.com/2011/07/bitter-melon-salad.html



5. Dines Farm Report…

The short story is that…
1. Dines Farm won’t be here till further notice…I’ll let you know what I know when I know it. In the meanwhile, you can find him on Saturday mornings from 8am to 1pm at the Northport farmer’s market
http://northportfarmersmarket.org/
CSA member, Haley Wiggins reported that Dines Farm was not at the Northport Market last weekend. I will call Larry and Jay before next week to see what’s up. I checked the Northport Farmer’s website and they are still listed (though that could be from inattention to updating the website rather than Dines Farm still being there).

2. Jay Dine is looking for a loan of $50,000 to be able to stay in business. He needs to get USDA certification to be able to sell his meats retail and that would make his life a lot easier (and more profitable). If you have less than a certain number of animals you don’t need USDA certification but he needs/wants to expand his business to stay afloat with the price of gas, etc. It’s a long story. If you are interested, or know anyone who might be (1 person or 50 people loaning $1,000 a piece…why not?), please get in touch with me for further details. He would be eternally grateful and I imagine that person (or persons) would be very well fed.



6. Do you buy non-local Honey or processed food products that contain Honey?

Sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings but the Chinese are at it again…
http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2011/08/honey-laundering/

I sent a quick email to the maker of Kind Bars to tell them I won’t buy any of their products containing Honey unless they can show me that they’re testing, or can prove, that their Honey doesn’t contain heavy metals or any of the other dreadful things they’re finding in Chinese Honey. I just got a reply saying they don’t buy ANYTHING from China, try to get everything from the USA but since they do nuts and tropical fruits…must source globally. With the chicanery going on with the Honey…not sure I feel as confident as I’d like to be. I’ll probably write back but not today.

PS – We’ll have another Honey order in the fall for NY State Honey from Biodynamically raised bees.



7. We still have plenty of Herb Shares, Basil Shares, and Flower Shares available. Why would you want one?

Why a Flower Share?

You’re paying $7 for a bunch of flowers that might easily cost $10 elsewhere (I just paid $10 for two VERY SMALL stems of Lilac the other week at the Sweet Hollow Hall market and they were on their way out after two days…the gal didn’t cut them properly as I learned in my research AND she should have had little packs of flower food to include for that price) AND the Flower Share flowers are organic. I get two Flower Shares every year and they are a joy to behold!

You don’t have to cut the ones in your garden and you can leave them to beautify your landscape.

They’re organically grown so you can sniff with impunity!

The first ones we usually get are Peonies (that’s enough of a reason for me) and then it may be followed by (and not in this order) Sunflowers, Zinneas, Sweet Williams, Snapdragons, Straw Flowers, Gomphrena, Flamingo Feathers…some are everlasts (can be dried) and some are not…all depending on what’s ready and when. The flowers do NOT come every week.

Why an Herb Share or a Basil Share?

Tired of eating the same vegetable more than one week in a row…USE HERBS! They can totally change the flavor profile of what you’re cooking.

Just like we get Vegetable Information Sheets, we have Herb Information Sheets (and we may put an order in for an Herb Wheel…later for that).

You can freeze or dry them for use during the winter (or when you don’t have them fresh on hand).

Herbs are amazing for our health. We don’t eat enough of them. They have more antioxidants than Blueberries! Use them in Juices (in small quantities), on Salad, in Salad Dressings, on most anything you cook…Vegetables, Meat, Fish, Eggs, Soups…anything!

Herbs are green…anything that’s green is ultra healthy. Here’s some info from Dr. Andrew Weil…
To turn down pain: Like some over-the-counter painkillers, some plants also act as natural COX 2 inhibitors, thus reducing pain and inflammation. Adding Basil to the diet may be useful for those with minor aches and pains.
To fight infections: In India, Basil is commonly used a home remedy for coughs and colds and topically for minor cuts and scrapes. Research has now shown that the herb indeed has potent antimicrobial activity and may reduce bronchial spasm, said Dr. Low Dog. Thyme is another herb to consider when fighting off a cold. It is approved in Europe for use in upper respiratory infections; it’s also effective against oral thrush. Likewise, Sage tea is effective for sore throats.
To calm and soothe: Rosemary is a traditional remedy for headaches—perhaps due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Sage is approved in Germany for those troubled by excessive perspiration, and herbalists commonly recommend it for menopausal women troubled with night sweats.
To improve your outlook: Another promising herb for brain health may be Sage. Dr. Low Dog presented some of the research that suggests the herb may improve some symptoms of early Alzheimer’s disease. She also noted that the word “sage” is used to signify a wise elder. Maybe the ancients were on to somethin
We DO get Herbs as part of our basic CSA share (this week we’re getting Parsley) but you get more of them with the CSA share…

We will most likely be getting Celery at some point this season…
Please Pass the Parsley … and the Celery
Parsley and celery contain a compound that may help protect against breast cancer, possibly by blocking the growth of tumor cells. This interesting finding, from a University of Missouri animal study, suggests that apigenin, a flavonoid found in parsley, celery, apples, oranges, nuts and other plant products, seemed to block or delay tumor formation in rats that had been programmed to develop breast cancer when exposed to MPA (medroxyprogesterone acetate). MPA is a synthetic hormone that has been found to accelerate human breast tumor development in women on hormone replacement therapy. In the rat study, apigenin blocked the formation of new blood vessels needed by breast tumors, and also reduced the overall number of tumors the rats developed. However, apigenin didn't stop cancer cells from forming in the breast in the first place. The investigators said that they're not yet sure what dose of apigenin would be appropriate for humans, but suggested that eating some parsley and fruit daily could help ensure that you're getting the minimal amount. The study was published online April 19, 2011 by Cancer Prevention Research.
How to I get an Herb, Basil or Flower Share after the CSA season start?

It’s easy…ASK or EMAIL! You need to join AT the CSA because…it’s a timing thing.



8. What you actually got last week

August 8, 2011
Week #16

1. Onions: Red AND/OR White – 1 lb
2. Peppers, Sweet: Bell, Green AND/OR Bell, Purple AND/OR Hungarian Wax – 1 lb
3. Squash, Summer: Zucchini, 8 Ball, Yellow, Magda…I could swear Farmer Bill told me it was called Zohra but let’s amend that (Middle Eastern Cousa…Arabic word for Summer Squash) AND/OR Bitter Melon/Foo Gwa – 1 lb
1 to 3 weighed together for a total weight of 3 lbs and a total price of - $7.00
4. Carrots: Yellow, Orange, Red/Purple Mixed – 1 bunch - $3.25
5. Dill OR Cilantro – 1 bunch - $2.25
6. Cucumber, Kirby – 1 - $.50
7. Tomatoes: Orange AND/OR Red – 2 lbs - $5.25

Total Items: 7
Total Amount: $18.25 ($.75 more than we paid for our weekly share…it adds up over the course of the season)

Herb Share – Aug 1A
Mint AND Savory, Summer

Flower Share
Week #7
Zinnia/Statice Mixed Bunch



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


September 1st to September 30th

The NY Locavore Challenge

Eat fresh, local, in season, organic…for a day, a week, a month! Put on by the Northeast Organic Farmer’s Association, this is the 2nd year for this event.

For more info, to register, and to get involved…keep coming back as clearly it’s early in the planning stages…unless YOU want to help plan and be actively involved…
https://www.nofany.org/?q=node/237
https://www.nofany.org/events/ny-locavore-challenge


Saturday, September 10th

9am to 10am (submit entries)
11am – prizes awarded (Tomatoes can’t be picked up till 5pm)

14th Annual Hicks Nurseries Tomato Contest
Hicks Nursery
100 Jericho Tpke
Westbury
For more info:
516-334-0066

Prizes awarded for heaviest, largest circumference, most unusual looking and tiniest red Tomato.

9am to noon

13th Annual Great Tomato Taste-Off
Quail Hill Farm
Deep Lane
Amagansett
$10 (kids under 12 free)
For more info:
http://www.peconiclandtrust.org/events.php?Ym=20110901#10

Heavy rains will cancel event.


Healthy Planet Membership Fun Drive
The Water Well
386 NY Ave
Huntington
For more info:
631-421-5591
www.healthy-planet.org

Socializing and speakers all day…music all night!


Friday, September 23

6 to 7pm

The Healthy Planet Radio Show
WUSB-FM 90.1

HealthyPlanet's Executive Director, Bob DiBenedetto's, “The Healthy Planet” radio program is airing on WUSB (90.1 FM), broadcasting out of SUNY Stony Brook. This is part of “Natural Alternatives” which airs every Friday from 6 to 7 PM. “The Healthy Planet” will be on at least one Friday each month.


Saturday, September 24th

Moving Planet
For more info:
631-421-5591
www.healthy-planet.org

Join Healthy Planet, 350.org and other groups in a bike ride rally to demand solutions to the climate crisis


Sunday, October 9th

Healthy Planet Restaurant Outing and Lecture featuring Michael Greger, MD

For more info and reservations:
631-421-5591
www.healthy-planet.org

HealthyPlanet Restaurant Outings are social outings with a purpose. Bring together delicious food and knowledgeable speakers on informative topics of all kinds, and you get the perfect mix of fun and growth-promoting education. They are also designed to establish a relationship with restaurants which encourages them to offer more health-enriching, plant-based options. These events are also an opportunity to meet and enjoy the company of other concerned community members. Good friends make the best partners when it comes to making a difference in our world!


Monday, October 24th

Food Day
For more info:



10. Before you eat that Cantaloupe…read this!

Eat seasonal

Eat local (avoids many steps on the chain to contamination)…Picked on farm (person #1) and put in a container…brought to CSA…placed on table (person #2)…picked up by CSA member (person #3) and brought home…much different from produce purchased elsewhere!

Do yourself and your family and PLEASE wash your food before you eat it…even if it’s organic…even if it’s from the CSA…even if it’s from a farmstand or greenmarket!!!

I’d differ from this article and say to NOT wash your Melon until you’re going to eat it (washing it early will make it go bad faster). With organic produce, soil is a protective covering. Wash before eating (don’t bother with veggie washes…Cornell U did tests and water alone does fine and some of the soaps are things you don’t want to be consuming…natural or not!), and dry it off so you don’t drag soil…whatever…into the interior of your melon when you’re cutting it up…
http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2011/03/melons-stand-out-as-produce-safety-problem/



11. Certified Organic Seedlings Available from Green Thumb Farm!

Order certified organic seedlings grown at Green Thumb Farm and have them delivered to the CSA for your garden!

How:
Have your credit card ready (to be paid only by credit card) and call the farm at 631-726-1900 between 9:30 to 4pm any day of the week and they will tell you, depending on when you place your order, what week they will arrive at the CSA…and make sure you don’t forget to pick them up!

How much:
$5.50 per pot (4” pot) with a 4 pot minimum order

What:
(if you don’t see what you’re looking for on this list, or want more details…call the farm and ask)

Flowers
Marigolds, Bonanza
Marigolds, Genie (edible)
Nasturtiums
Petunias

Herbs
Basil
Chives
Oregano
Parsley
Sage
Tarragon, French
Thyme

Tomatoes
Heirlooms
Minis
Red

Vegetables
Broccoli
Cabbage
Kale
Swiss Chard



12. Squash is Squash!

http://www.finegardening.com/how-to/articles/cooking-summer-squash-sautee.aspx



13. Dr Weil says…eat local, eat organic, join a CSA!

http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/TIP04159/Shopping-Local-and-Organic.html

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