Green Thumb Farm Huntington CSA

Happy Summer!

It’s time to weigh!!! Please read #2.

We could use a LOT more CSA members! If each of us (we’re now 47) managed to find five more members our farmer would be VERY happy. However, even one more member each would be a help and if THEY got one more member…you get the idea. Even ideas of where to leave CSA brochures or posters, and where to do lectures about CSA would be helpful. So far this season I participated in the 1st LI CSA Fair, the 2nd LI Small Farm Summit, and a health fair at the Vitamin Shoppe in Melville, gave a lecture to the Holistic Moms Network about eating local and just put an ad (VERY reasonably priced) in the brochure for a charity auction for the local Montessori School. I said I would do this last year and didn’t so, I’ll be walking the streets around the UUFH and leaving brochures with a cover sheet that’s an invite to visit the CSA in people’s mailboxes. The exercise will do me good  ! At the moment, I’m waiting to get confirmation as to if and when Dines Farm is returning before I print up any more CSA brochures or place any ads. Any and all suggestions would be appreciated and considered. Another thing that was talked about last year and not done that will be done this year is putting an a paid ad in The Beacon, the newsletter of the UUFH, for several issues.


This week’s email includes…

1. Your CSA does not need you this week, however…
2. It’s time to weigh our food!
3. Bags and you
4. This week’s list…subject to change without notice (farming is like that)
5. Still got your Kohlrabi hanging around?
6. Fun, Cool & Interesting Stuff to Do (new events added weekly)
7. Gardeners beware!
8. Health insurance rebates for CSA membership!!!
9. What you actually got last week
10. You can do a lot by just clicking!
11. And now…for something completely different



1. Your CSA does not need you this week, however…

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…life happens! 

If you didn’t get a confirmation email from Judi (occasionally it’s me), you’re not scheduled to work this week.



2. It’s time to weigh our food!

A. Check the wall chart before taking any food so you know what you’re taking and how much to take…assume nothing and ask questions! 

B. Bring your reading glasses or ask someone to help if you can’t see the numbers on the scale clearly.

C. PLEASE DO NOT GO OVER THE AMOUNT STATED on the Wall Chart. Please err on the under side of the weight posted…NEVER over. It may not seem like much to you but we have 47 members and if every person is off by ONE OUNCE (for crying out loud! It’s only an ounce!!!) …that means we’ll be short almost THREE POUNDS of produce and 3 CSA members won’t get the food they paid for. And I’m sure you wouldn’t want it to be you.

D. IF you are asked to weigh more than one food item at the same time…please follow the directions given to you and weigh in the order you are asked (you might not think there’s a good reason to be doing this but our farmer does and that should be enough of a reason right there…if you want a further explanation – ask suzanne…there is a method to the madness )



3. Bags and you

The short story is make sure to bring bags to pack your CSA food as the CSA does not provide them.

Suggestion…put bags (paper/plastic/cloth) in EVERY vehicle you own. Put them in the glove compartment, trunk, wherever, and make sure to replenish them when the supply is running low or you’re out of them. That way it will be hard to forget them.

And, if someone is picking up for you, please remind them about bringing bags with them.



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

Week #11
July 5, 2012

1. Peas: Sugar Snap
2. Lettuce
3. Radicchio*
4. Carrots
5. Beans: Fava**
6. Swiss Chard

Total Items: 6 (?)

Flower Share
Week #4
Snapdragons

Herb Share – July 1A
Thyme, Lemon AND Sage

*Radicchio
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radicchio
http://italianfood.about.com/library/rec/blr0094.htm
Comments about this page…pointed head is fine…small heads are fine when you know where they came from and how fresh they are (remember…they want you to buy from them and nowhere else!)
http://radicchio.com/for-chefs/
http://radicchio.com/blog/

**Beans: Fava (fresh…as opposed to dried)
Please read “Health Issues” especially if you’re taking MAO inhibitors and if you have favism (and then, read it anyway  )…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vicia_faba
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9163283
http://localfoods.about.com/od/favabeans/tp/All-About-Fava-Beans.htm
http://www.blogher.com/frame.php?url=http://www.honest-food.net/blog1/2008/04/30/fresh-fava-beans/
http://www.mnn.com/food/recipes/blogs/7-recipes-featuring-fresh-fava-beans



5. Still got your Kohlrabi hanging around?

Kohlrabi Potato Pancakes courtesy of the South Philly Food Co-op…
http://southphillyfoodcoop.org/2012/07/03/kohlrabi-potato-pancakes/#more-3850



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

Thursday, July 5th

7pm

1st Anniversary of the Holistic Moms Network Huntington Chapter!
1929 Elwood Public Library
E Northport
Jericho Tpke (intersection of Elwood Rd in the shopping center on the northeast corner)
FREE
For more info:
www.holisticmoms.org
Email: huntingtonhmn@aol.com

Join the gang (this group was started by CSA member Vickie Muller) for an informal evening of socializing and planning events for the coming year. Come connect with other parents (and grandparents) interested in holistic health and green living.


Tuesday, July 10th

7pm

Huntington Food Share – Food Not Bombs
Fairground Ave and E 6th St (outside of All Weather Tires)
Huntington Station
For more info and to get involved:
http://www.lifnb.com/chapters/huntington_food_share

Distribution of food and clothing to all who attend and are in need.


Wednesday, July 11th

4pm to 5pm

iEat Green
http://prn.fm/shows/lifestyle-shows/i-eat-green/

iEat Green is hosted by Slow Food Huntington’s Bhavani Jharoff. Listen to this internet radio show either live or if you miss this show, you can listen to it on the archives and it’s available for downloading on iTunes for your iPhone.

Today’s guest will be Majora Carter. Majora is an economic consultant, public radio host and environmental justice advocate from the South Bronx area of New York City. By, 2003 Majora coined the term: "Green The Ghetto" as she pioneered one of the nation's first urban green-collar job training & placement systems, and spearheaded legislation that fueled demand for those jobs.


Thursday, July 26th

6pm (movie starts at 7pm)

Sustainable Film Series presents Dirt
Molloy College
Suffolk Center
Farmingdale
$5 suggested donation
For more info, to watch the movie trailer, and to RSVP:
http://www.molloy.edu/news-and-events/news-archive/dirt

This event, brought to my attention by CSA member Kenny Friedman, features the film Dirt, narrated by Jaime Lee Curtis. This film brings to life the environmental, economic, social and political impact that the soil has. It shares the stories of experts from all over the world who study and are able to harness the beauty and power of a respectful and mutually beneficial relationship with soil. It tells the story of Earth's most valuable and underappreciated source of fertility-from its miraculous beginning to its crippling degradation.


Thursday, August 2nd to Sunday, August 5th

6th National Farm to Cafeteria Conference
Burlington, VT
For more info and to register:
http://farmtocafeteriaconference.org/6/
Farm to Cafeteria is Digging In! Whether you are new to the movement or have years of wisdom to share, the 6th National Farm to Cafeteria Conference: Digging In! is a great opportunity to network, build skills and get energized!
Farm to Cafeteria began with the common goal of building strong communities, healthy individuals and resilient local farms. Across the country great progress has been made connecting farm-fresh foods with K-12 schools, pre-schools, childcare settings, colleges, universities, hospitals, prisons and beyond – now we are Digging In!
The conference will bring together food service professionals, farmers, educators, policy makers, representatives from government agencies and nonprofits, entrepreneurs, students and others who are breaking down barriers and expanding the impact of Farm to Cafeteria.
There will be skill-building short-courses, field trips to innovative Vermont farms and institutions, a diverse workshop program, and plenty of opportunities to network with inspiring individuals from across the country.

Thursday, August 2nd

6pm

iEat Green’s Farm to Table Cooking Series: Vegan
Old Westbury
$89
To register email:
Bhavani
Bhavani@iEatGreen.com


Thursday, August 9th

6pm

iEat Green’s Farm to Table Cooking Series: Raw
Old Westbury
$89
To register email:
Bhavani
Bhavani@iEatGreen.com


August 10th to 12th

NOFA (Northeast Organic Farming Association) Summer Conference
University of Massachusetts
Amherst, MA
For more info:
http://www.nofasummerconference.org/
And to register and see a listing of workshops:
http://www.nofasummerconference.org/pdfs/2012_SC_regform.pdf

Featured speaker this year is Jeffery Smith, author of Seeds of Destruction and an authority on GE/GMO foods. Over 200 workshops, kid friendly, fun for everyone…singles, seniors, families – everyone! Great food and a good time will be had by all who attend.


Thursday, August 23rd

6pm

iEat Green’s Farm to Table Cooking Series: Vegetarian
Old Westbury
$89
To register email:
Bhavani
Bhavani@iEatGreen.com


Thursday, August 30th

6pm

iEat Green’s Farm to Table Cooking Series: Fish
Old Westbury
$89
To register email:
Bhavani
Bhavani@iEatGreen.com


Thursday, October 25th to Sunday, October 29th

Salone del Gusto & Terre Madre
Turin, Italy
For more info and to get tickets:
http://salonedelgustoterramadre.slowfood.com/

This is Slow Food’s biannual international event in the land where the organization Slow Food began…Italy!



7. Gardeners beware!

Tulsa, OK code enforcement inspectors destroy home garden of woman who used herbs for medicine and edibles for food…
http://www.newson6.com/story/18802728/woman-sues-city-of-tulsa-for-cutting-down-her-edible-garden

This article has a link for a petition for the city of Tulsa to replant the woman’s garden…
http://www.naturalnews.com/036234_edible_landscaping_medicinal_plants_Tulsa.html



8. Health insurance rebates for CSA membership!!!

How can we do this in NY???
http://www.prlog.org/11781936-health-insurance-companies-provide-rebates-to-consumers-who-buy-from-local-farms.html



9. What you actually got last week

Week #10
June 28, 2012

1. Peas: Sugar Snap – 1/2 lb - $3.00
2. Peas: Snow – .75 lb - $4.25
3. Kohlrabi – 1 bunch - $3.00
4. Radishes: French Breakfast OR Red OR Mixed – 1 bunch - $2.50
5. Fennel – 1 bunch - $3.25
6. Lettuce: Boston, Green – 1 head - $2.75

Total Items: 6
Total Amount: $18.75 (We pay $17.50 per week to our farmer for the food we get every week. Today we’ve gotten $1.00 extra, making the total extra that we’ve received from our farmer [over and above the $17.50 we pay per week] for the year so far $8.50)

Herb Share – June 2A
Upland Cress AND Chives



10. You can do a lot by just clicking!

Tell FDA…your inaction is threatening our health!!!
It’s about E coli and antibiotics in food…
https://secure.nrdconline.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=2821&autologin=true&utm_source=alert&utm_medium=actr&utm_campaign=email&

GE mosquitoes to be let out in the wild in Florida…please stop this!
https://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/455/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=10797&tag=actcenter3

Urge Trader Joe’s to only sell meat that isn’t raised using antibiotics…
http://hq-salsa3.salsalabs.com/o/1881/p/dia/action/public/index.sjs?action_KEY=8006



11. And now for something completely different…

Two videos…one featuring vegetables (not so crazy about the product being advertised but they do have a version that’s organic that uses organic rapeseed oil – which is a questionable choice but…) and the other one is a mini-documentary about a burger joint across from St Pat’s in NYC (there’s a million stories in the windy city and in NYC too!)…
http://newyork.grubstreet.com/2012/02/lurpak-vegetable-ad-prime-burger-profile-video.html

Spot all the vegetables in the video that we get at the CSA?
Asparagus, Beets, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Celery, Daikon, Eggplant, Garlic, Green Beans, Hot Peppers, Kale (? Or something that looks like it), Leeks, Okra, Onions, Red Cabbage, Scallions, Shelling Peas, Sugar Snap Peas, Tomatoes, Winter Squash, Zucchini…did I forget anything? We don’t get White Potatoes.

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