Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Happy New Year (Lunar - celebrated till Feb 7th)!

Was hoping to get the new CSA contract out to y’all today but things are a bit off schedule on Farmer Bill’s end as well as mine. So, the next date expected for the new CSA contract and Work Deposit refund is February 14th. Will be in touch.

That said, this Thursday (hey…I just got the phone call today so I’m getting this out as soon as I can) News 12 is going to be filming at this month’s Holistic Moms Network’s meeting, and Mary Mucci (News 12’s go-to holistic person) will be there. CSA member Vicki Muller is one of the founders of this group and she’ll be there as well. Consider attending to support Vickie, support the interest for these sorts of issues on News 12, and support this worthwhile organization by showing up and checking it out (and if you think it’s worthwhile and you’re able, consider becoming a member). See below under Thursday, Feb 2nd , for details. You don’t have to be a mom, parent, or female to attend. Last month, CSA member Andrew Rudin was there (neither parent or female  ) and it sounded like he’d consider attending again and the group was open to having him there. It’s a friendly and interesting bunch.


Anyone interested in getting an Organic Shiitake Mushroom Share this year? Why eat Shiitakes? Besides the fact that they’re really tasty, new research has them as possibly anticancer for stomach, colorectal, pancreatic and hepatocellular carcinoma cancers! Oh yeah, and they’re also anti-tumor, lower cholesterol and virus-inhibiting.
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=122
http://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/herb/shiitake-mushroom
http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/DietandNutrition/shiitake-mushroom

If so, let me know (and what size share you’re interested in) and I’ll put you on the list. We’d need to get at least 5 lbs of mushrooms ordered weekly for us to participate. The prices would be…

1 lb - $20 - $440
½ lb - $10 - $220
¼ lb - $5 - $110

You’d sign up for a 1 or ½ or ¼ lb share and it would be a weekly delivery that would last from the first week in June to the last week in October (22 weeks). It will be grown by David Falkowski of Open Minded Organics (certified organic by NOFA-NY Certified Organic LLC). David said that if he either ran out of Shiitakes one week OR had a lot of Oyster Mushrooms, we might get Oyster Mushrooms one week or so instead (YUM!!!).

You can read about David here…he was trained by Paul Stamets who’s the go-to mushroom guy in the USA…
http://www.seriouseats.com/2010/03/meet-your-farmers-david-falkowski-of-open-minded-organics-mushroom-farming-bridgehampton-hamptons-ny.html



This Valentine’s Day (or for any occasion), consider getting flowers from Organic Bouquet (I’ve used them once and would use them again)…
http://www.organicbouquet.com/Default.aspx?j=18541637&e=dskolnick@pb.net&l=2071778_HTML&u=201365816&mid=77616&jb=0



There are important events going on today that effect the future of organic food in our country…
http://www.foodrepublic.com/2012/01/31/nyc-protestors-come-out-against-monsanto

If you do nothing else…watch the 2nd video clip to the end…
http://awaytogarden.com/facing-monsanto-qa-with-fedcos-c-r-lawn

I’m sorry not more attended this morning…I didn’t go…I wonder how many supporters were able to be in the court or the courtroom…
http://urbanfoodguy.blogspot.com/

But at least I lent my support online and you can do the same if you’d like…
http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/sign/farmersvs_monsanto/

Click here to support labeling of GMO foods…
http://justlabelit.org/

If you feel strongly about this and feel you can afford to, consider contributing to the “It’s Our Right to Know” campaign…if anywhere will pass this legislation first, there’s a good chance it will be California…
http://www.labelgmos.org/



And on a more immediate and personal note…buying seeds for your garden this year? Please patronize the seed growers/sellers on this list if you’re interested in GMO-free food and supporting organic agriculture…
http://www.councilforresponsiblegenetics.org/ViewPage.aspx?pageId=261



Upcoming events…

Thursday, February 2nd

7pm

How to Reduce Environmental Toxins in Your Home
Holistic Moms Network
Elwood Public Library
1929 Jericho Tpke*
E Northport
FREE
For more info:
Library: 631-499-3722
http://elwoodlibrary.org/
Email: wsuffolkhmn@aol.com
http://www.holisticmoms.org/

*The Library is located at the northeast corner of Jericho Turnpike and Elwood Road in a strip mall. In the strip mall, it’s located on the Elwood Road side.

Join Stacey Funt, MD, and Jennifer Zethner, RN, MS, PNP, at an informative lecture about how we can create a healthier environment at home for ourselves and our families. PLUS, be part of filming this event to be aired on News 12! You don’t have to be a mom or even a female person to go! Last month CSA member Andrew Rudin attended the meeting (go Andrew!).

Bring your own mug for tea (hot water and a nice selection of teas and Honey – last time it was Green Thumb Farm – CSA Honey – is provided) and if you’re motivated, bring a healthy/organic/local snack to share.


Wednesday, February 15th

3rd Annual No Farms, No Food Rally
Albany
For more info:
http://newyork.farmland.org/new-york-policy/2012-no-farms-no-food%c2%ae-rally-%e2%80%94february-15-albany

Join farmers, food advocates, local officials, environmentalists and other New Yorkers at the State Capitol to urge state leaders to support funding and legislation that protects farmland and the environment, increases the availability of nutritious food grown in New York and strengthens the farm and food economy. Bus transportation roundtrip from New York City to Albany will be available. Online registration is coming soon!


Friday and Saturday, February 24th and 25th

Fri – 8am to 7:30pm
Sat – 8am to 6pm

Eat. Work. Grow the Movement: Just Food’s 2012 Conference
Food and Finance High School
525 W 50th St
NYC
$15 to $50
To purchase tickets:
http://jfconference2012.eventbrite.com/
For more info:
http://justfood.org/events

Join Just Food, local food lovers and advocates, CSA members, community gardeners, urban and rural farmers, food professionals and entrepreneurs for two days of hands-on workshops, discussions, skill building sessions, and good food. Learn about cooking and food preservations techniques, CSA trends and the food justice movement in NYC and beyond, as well as ways you can mobilize to create good food projects in your own community.

On Friday, we’ll conclude with a Good Food Jobs Fair and on Saturday, we’ll celebrate the end of the conference with an Expo featuring exemplary local food artisans, sustainable businesses, and organizations.


Wednesday, February 29th

13th Annual Organic Turf Show
SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale
For more info and to register:
631-963-5454
http://www.longislandnn.org/events/trade_show.htm

The Neighborhood Network Turf Show, which is designed for turf care professionals, features vendors of 100% natural horticulture products, and workshops on organic care of lawns, athletic fields, and even non-toxic indoor pest control. Come learn about the latest in organic turf and land care. Featured speakers includes Vincent Simeone from Planting Fields Arboretum (and occasional guest on the Martha Stewart tv show).


Saturday, March 31st

10am to 1pm

1st Long Island CSA Fair
Cinema Arts Centre
432 Park Ave
Huntington
FREE

Will include a showing of the movie The Real Dirt on Farmer John (great CSA theme in it).

More info TBA.


Saturday, April 14th

8:30am to 4pm

Spring Gardening School
The Academy of St Joseph
Brentwood
$55 (includes continental breakfast, box lunch, afternoon refreshments, soil test, plant diagnosis and exhibits)/$50 if you register before March 2nd
For more info and to register:
http://ccesuffolk.org/2012-spring-gardening-school/2012-04-14

Copy of the registration brochure that lists the classes being given…
http://ccesuffolk.org/assets/galleries/Gardening/SGS2012811.pdf

This is a GREAT opportunity to learn about gardening (mostly organic) AND attend a plant sale of the highest quality AND participate in a raffle of some very lovely prizes. Take my word on this…I can’t imagine you’d be disappointed if you’re interested in growing plants of any sort. I’ve attended a bunch of years and will be going again this year on April 21st. I’d go both days but the LI Small Farm Summit is today otherwise I’d be here. Teachers I’d recommend are Peter Garnham, Caroline Kiang, Colette Mealy-Wampole, Sandra Menasha, Sharon Ott, and Dr. Tamson Yeh…not that the others probably aren’t wonderful but these are people I know and have studied with before (Kiang/Mealy-Wampole/Ott/Yeh), or that I’ve wanted to study with. PS – the food provided has been, in the past, standard college cafeteria fare…you might want to bring your own. That said…if you take a class at places like the Brooklyn Botanic Garden or the NY Botanic Garden, one class might be more pricey than the full day of classes/workshops you get here. It’d be a bargain at twice the price.


Small Farm Summit 2012
Hofstra University
900 Fulton Ave
Hempstead
For more info or to volunteer and get involved:
http://www.longislandsmallfarmcentral.com/

Keynote speakers: Will Allen, CEO of Growing Power (featured in the movie Fresh) and Chef Ann Cooper, the Renegade Lunch Lady (former executive chef of the Ross School in East Hampton).


Saturday, April 21st

8:30am to 4pm

Spring Gardening School
Riverhead Middle School
Riverhead
$55 (includes continental breakfast, box lunch, afternoon refreshments, soil test, plant diagnosis and exhibits)/$50 if you register before March 2nd
For more info and to register:
http://ccesuffolk.org/2012-spring-gardening-school/2012-04-14

Copy of the registration brochure that lists the classes being given…
http://ccesuffolk.org/assets/galleries/Gardening/SGS2012811.pdf

This is a GREAT opportunity to learn about gardening (mostly organic) AND attend a plant sale of the highest quality AND participate in a raffle of some very lovely prizes. Take my word on this…I can’t imagine you’d be disappointed if you’re interested in growing plants of any sort. I’ve attended a bunch of years and will be going again this year on April 21st. Teachers I’d recommend are Peter Garnham, Caroline Kiang, Colette Mealy-Wampole, Sandra Menasha, Sharon Ott, and Dr. Tamson Yeh…not that the others probably aren’t wonderful but these are people I know and have studied with before (Kiang/Mealy-Wampole/Ott/Yeh), or that I’ve wanted to study with. PS – the food provided has been, in the past, standard college cafeteria fare…you might want to bring your own. That said…if you take a class at places like the Brooklyn Botanic Garden or the NY Botanic Garden, one class might be more pricey than the full day of classes/workshops you get here. It’d be a bargain at twice the price.

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