Green Thumb Farm Huntington CSA

Happy Autumn!

Next week is the week of Thanksgiving and the pickup is WEDNESDAY, November 23rd. Watch your emails as the pickup time may be a bit earlier as I’m sure many of us need to head out of town, or get as much food shopping done as early as possible (and our farmer would like to get on the road ASAP to deal with holiday traffic headed east).

Because people are asking already…the last day of the CSA is December 15th.

Where are all the seeds from the Farsi Winter Squashes??? PLEASE save and return them (see below). Farmer Bill got the seeds when he was in Nepal so if you don’t return them, he can’t buy more and he’s not going back to Nepal any time soon…if ever.

This week’s email includes…

1. HELP! Your CSA needs you this week!!! We’re looking for ONE (1) person from 3:30 to 5:30pm and ONE (1) person from 5:30 to 7:30pm…
2. GREAT article on why buying local Honey is the way to go (know your beekeeper!)…
3. This week’s list…subject to change without notice (farming is like that)…
4. Buying local is now big business…about $4.8 BILLION dollars worth in 2008 and possibly up to $7 BILLION this year!
5. Saving seeds


1. HELP! Your CSA needs you this week!!! We’re looking for ONE (1) person from 3:30 to 5:30pm and ONE (1) person from 5:30 to 7:30pm…

If you can be at the CSA from either 3:30 to 5:30pm or 5:30 to 7:30pm this week please…
1. Respond to this email before 1pm Thursday
2. Call 631-421-4864 and leave a message before 1pm Thursday
2. Call the CSA at 631-385-1079 after 3pm THURSDAY ONLY and ask to speak to someone from the CSA and leave a message
3. Show up a little before 3:30pm or 5:30pm and see if there’s still any openings

You can ALWAYS stop by the CSA a little before 3:30 or 5:30 to offer to help in case someone doesn’t show up (or is late) without letting anyone know.



2. GREAT article on why buying local Honey is the way to go (know your beekeeper!)…

And read your ingredient labels! If there’s Honey in it you might want to put it back on the shelf (unless you know and trust the company as to where that Honey is coming from…but THEY might not know they’ve been deceived)…
http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2011/11/tests-show-most-store-honey-isnt-honey/



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

November 10, 2011

1. Cauliflower: Cheddar OR Purple – 1 head total
2. Lettuce – 1 bag
3. Collard Greens – 1 bunch
4. Jerusalem Artichokes – 1 bag
5. Mizuna: Green OR Red – 1 bunch total
6. Carrots: Rainbow – 1 bunch

Total Items: 6



4. Buying local is now big business…about $4.8 BILLION dollars worth in 2008 and possibly up to $7 BILLION this year!

More individuals and businesses are buying local and the numbers show it! Yeah!!!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/usda-locally-grown-food-a-48-billion-business-much-bigger-than-previously-thought/2011/11/14/gIQAVj85JN_story.html



5. Saving Seeds

It’s that time of year again when Farmer Bill asks us to save the seeds for one or two varieties of our Winter Squashes.

How to save Winter Squash seeds…

Mission…remove gunk – dry out – prevent mold (if any of these actions are not accomplished the seeds need to be thrown out and your efforts will have been wasted) – label correctly (if you don’t do this, the incorrect plant may hybridize with another similar plant which defeats the efforts of saving the seeds…it’s being done to save a particular variety of plant – not to create a new one)

1. Remove seeds from Winter Squash and get off all the gunk (not a botanical or culinary term but the best I can come up with at the moment) by putting the seeds in a bowl of water and rubbing the gunk off COMPLETELY
2. Once all the gunk is off, drain off the water in a colander
3. Spread out the seeds in a single layer on a baking tray or a large piece of cardboard or any non-porous surface (don’t use newspapers or paper towels as it may stick to the seeds and…there are reasons but the short version is the farmer doesn’t want ANYTHING stuck to the seeds)
4. Every day move the seeds around to help facilitate drying and prevent mold
5. Let them dry for a week or two…longer than you think would possibly be necessary (do not try and speed process along by drying in a microwave or oven…it will kill the seed…yes, it’s been done by CSA members in the past)
6. When completely dry, pack in a paper bag or wrap in newspaper (NEVER in anything plastic) and label exactly what they are…This week I believe it will be Winter Squash - Farsi
7. Save a few for yourself if you wish to grow them next season in your own garden but please return the rest to the CSA (leave at the sign-in table) as the farm needs them more than you do

Any question…please ask.

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