Happy Summer!
We’re at the half way point of the CSA! We have a 34 week season this year (sometimes it’s 35) and this is week #17. There’s a lot more good eating to come from now till December 13th!
Bulk Certified Organic Paste (Roma) Tomatoes available from our farm…$45 per 20 lb box (to place an order, call the farm at 631-726-1900 between 9am to 5pm and be ready to pay with a credit card).
Sorry I didn’t see more of you at the NOFA Summer Conference! CSA member Vickie Muller was there, as well as fellow Long Islanders Jen of Jen’s Hens, Regina of the Center food Coop and Fox Hollow Farm, and I heard Lisa Mitten (former president of NOFA-NY LI/NYC Chapter) was there as well. There may have been other folks from Long Island out of the 1200 or so that attended this year but I was on the go from 7am to 9pm every day with all the workshops and parties, and I wasn’t necessarily checking everyone’s name tags for where they were from. A great time was had by all despite the torrential downpours for two out of the three days (think Woodstock but with no nudity or drugs) and there was a tornado one town over so at one point they kept us inside until the tornado warnings had past. Actually, I did meet one woman who was from Medford who is raising Goats and Rabbits on her property. Met her at a workshop about raw Milk while talking to everyone trying to broker a deal for three free dairy goats. I think I may have been successful finding the goats a good home with a cheesemaker!
We could use a LOT more CSA members! If each of us (we’re now 51) managed to find three more members our farmer would be VERY happy. We now have till the week after Labor Day to accept new members. After that, we’re talking April of 2013. If each of us got one more member to join, that would be great, 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 need you this week! We’re looking for ONE (1) person to work at the CSA from 3:30pm to 5:30pm and ONE (1) person to work from 5:30PpmTO 7:30pm
2. Honey Shares Still Available!
3. Bags and you
4. This week’s list…subject to change without notice (farming is like that)
5. Request for coupons and all things baby related…
6. Fun, Cool & Interesting Stuff to Do (new events added weekly)
7. Want to be in a movie this Saturday?
8. Notes from the Farm
9. What you actually got last week
10. You can do a lot by just clicking!
11. And now…for something completely different
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 to help from 5:30 to 7:30pm…
So far…I’m the only one that’s going to be at the CSA this week so please help out if you can…
If you can be at the CSA from 3:30 to 5:30pm and/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
3. Call the CSA at 631-385-1079 after 3pm THURSDAY ONLY and ask to speak to someone from the CSA and leave a message
4. Show up a little before 3:30pm or 5:30pm and see if there’s still any help needed
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!
2. Honey Shares Still Available!
Farmer Bill just let me know that his daughter has Honey for us to buy from her hives. She’s a biodynamic beekeeper who lives upstate New York by the St. Lawrence River. Honey can’t really be certified organic as Bees will fly within a 5 mile radius, on average, if they’re not happy where they are and not getting the pollen and nectar they’re looking for. I imagine these upstate Bees are happy as the proverbial clams are they’re living out in what might be called “God’s country” (ie – the sticks) and so, aren’t going anywhere and thereby the Honey is as organic as it’s going to get.
Info about Biodynamic Beekeeping…
http://www.themelissagarden.com/beekeeping.html
Biodynamic beekeeping class in November upstate NY…
https://www.paymenttrakker.com/pfeiffercenter/courses.aspx
The Honey is $10 per 1 lb container. They come in plastic squeeze bottles. I would prefer glass but this Honey is shipped and she tried glass jars the first time but there was too much breakage to have confidence it shipping it again using glass. Plus, I haven’t heard anything yet about there being an issue with anything from plastic leaching into Honey (just don’t heat up the Honey in the plastic bottle…if you do, I bet then there could be some leaching…microwave – definitely, warm, not hot, water – maybe none to some, hot water – more likely). And since she’s a Biodynamic beekeeper I’d hope she’d keep informed about such matters and would change to glass if it indeed was a problem.
To order…bring cash or check (made out to Halseys Green Thumb Farm) to the CSA sign-in table with your name on it, and the number of containers of Honey you want, and the dollar amount enclosed. We have three weeks to get the order together so we’d be getting the Honey near the end of August and we may or may not get another opportunity to order Honey from her this season. Often we’ve had two chances…June/July and then again in November/December but won’t guarantee this will happen this year.
Why aren’t we getting Honey from Green Thumb Farm? My belief is that Farmer Bill is trying to be supportive of his daughter’s ongoing beekeeping efforts in hopes that someday she will come back to the family farm and become their beekeeper.
If your concern is using Honey for the treatment of allergies, you want to use Honey within a 10 mile radius of where you live and it’s not just a matter of then getting any old nearby Honey and consuming it whenever. It’s more complicated than I had originally thought. I’d be happy to discuss this with anyone interested in more info and/or go to Frederique Keller’s website and I’m sure she could help out…
http://beepharm.com/BeepharmSite/Home.html
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 #17
August 16, 2012
1. Tomatoes
2. Lettuce
3. Cantaloupe
4. Basil
5. Cucumbers
6. Squash, Summer
7. Peppers (?)
Total Items: 7 (?)
Basil Share
Flower Share
Week #10 – THE END!
5. Request for coupons and all things baby related…
Lucille, who shares with CSA member Joanne Schenendorf, could use any coupons related to any items connected to babies…diapers, formula, baby food…whatever. AND, also possibly any baby clothes, furnishings, etc. She’s a hands on philanthropist working with young girls with babies in the Huntington area. Leave any coupons at the CSA sign-in desk and we’ll make sure to get them to Lucille, to help with her good works! As far as clothes and furniture, etc…contact me and I’ll get you in touch with Lucille.
6. Fun, Cool & Interesting Stuff to Do (new events added weekly)
.
Friday, August 17th
11am
2nd Annual Celebrate Grown on Long Island Day (county wide farmers market)
Suffolk County Farm
350 Yaphank Ave
Yaphank
FREE
No dogs allowed (though I imagine service dogs would be an exception)
For more info:
http://lifb.com/FINDAFARMSTAND/GrownonLongIslandFarmersMarket/tabid/125/Default.aspx
Includes wine and food tastings, farm tour, food drive for Island Harvest, visit farm animals, meet local farmers, roasted LI Corn, wagon rides ($2) and more…
As part of the day, New York Sea Grant is hosting a Chef Seafood Throwdown-two well-known local chefs will prepare a dish using local seafood and ingredients from the market. The dishes will then be judged by a panel of guest judges! The Throwdown begins at 11am and judging will be held at 12:30pm
Also, a Kids Sandwich Food Challenge for ages 9 and over will be held at 11am. Come with your favorite bread and we will provide the rest! Participants will “shop” at select vendors to make their sandwich creation. $5 entry fee. (Register in advance at 631-852-4602)
Saturday, August 18th
All day
Lemonade Freedom Day…
Have your kids open a Lemonade Stand for the day (hopefully, organic ) and see if you get arrested!
http://www.lemonadefreedom.com/
http://www.lemonadefreedom.com/what-is-lemonade-freedom-day/
http://www.forbes.com/sites/artcarden/2011/08/18/lemonade-and-liberty/
10am
Summer on the Farm
Stone Barns Center
Pocantico Hills, NY
For more info:
http://www.stonebarnscenter.org/sotf-2012/
Head upstate for a great day at one of NY’s premiere farm-to-table establishments. Activities for children 5 up and adults including a walk on Sunday with Wildman Steve Brill!
11am
Urban Zen Sensible Wellness Lecture Series – Dr Frank Lipman, Integrative Medicine
Urban Zen
4 Bay St
Sag Harbor
FREE
Since this is being held at Donna Karan’s store, Urban Zen, she may just be stopping by!
Sunday, August 19th
10am
Summer on the Farm
Stone Barns Center
Pocantico Hills, NY
For more info:
http://www.stonebarnscenter.org/sotf-2012/
Head upstate for a great day at one of NY’s premiere farm-to-table establishments. Activities for children 5 up and adults including a walk on Sunday with Wildman Steve Brill!
Tuesday, August 21st
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.
7pm
Slow Food NYC’s Manhattan Slur
Bell, Book and Candle
141 W 10th St
NYC
For more info about Bell, Book & Candle
http://bbandcnyc.com/
For more info about your local Slow Food chapter…
http://slowfoodhuntington.org/
The Slow Food NYC bi-monthly Happy Hour! It's fun, social, and informal. But it's also your opportunity to talk to the leadership of Slow Food NYC and let us know what you think. Got a great idea for an event? Looking for ways to get involved? Want to learn more about Slow Food? Just looking to have a relaxing drink with other "Slow" minded people? The Slur is your opportunity. With a focus on local, organic, and sustainable sources, the dark, intriguing subterranean bar and restaurant, Bell, Book, and Candle, offers up creative cocktails and bites that are reflective of the season. Boasting its own aeroponic rooftop garden, 60 percent of the restaurant's ingredients-including cucumbers, lettuces, tomatoes, mint, and basil-are grown right on the premises. Our Slur will congregate in the bar area to the left, where $1 oysters will be available. We hope to see you there!
Wednesday, August 22nd
12:30pm
Don’t Frack NY Rally
Sheraton NY Hotel
811 7th Ave (at 53rd St)
NYC
To sign up to attend:
http://act.credoaction.com/event/events/event.html?r=6939198&event_id=2403&id=45049-4129632-AubrVfx
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 my guest will be Gwen Schantz. Gwen is an experienced urban farmer, a long-time sustainable food advocate, and co-founder of the Bushwick Food Cooperative & CSA. Gwen is also Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Brooklyn Grange. Brooklyn Grange is not your typical farm. In fact, it is a self-sustaining organic farm with over two acres of rooftops under cultivation in Brooklyn and Queens. They have sold over 40,000 lbs of vegetables to restaurants, CSA members and directly to the public, via weekly farm stands.
Thursday, August 23rd
6pm
iEat Green’s Farm to Table Cooking Series: Vegetarian
Old Westbury
$89
To register email:
Bhavani
Bhavani@iEatGreen.com
Saturday, August 25th
11am
Urban Zen Sensible Wellness Lecture Series – Stephanie Sacks, nutrition
Urban Zen
4 Bay St
Sag Harbor
FREE
Since this is being held at Donna Karan’s store, Urban Zen, she may just be stopping by!
Monday, August 27th
7pm
I Could Write a Book: the story of Beverly Fite
East Meadow Public Library
1886 Front St
East Meadow
For more info:
516-794-2949
http://www.eastmeadow.info/
This movie is about CSA member Polly Hanson Greenberg’s mom and Polly and her mom will be attending! From pre-Civil Rights Alabama to Rodgers and Hammerstein-era Broadway to present-day suburban Long Island, this whimsical and heartwarming documentary tells the story of the life, career and indomitable spirit of a truly inspiring American voice. Beverly Fite began her Broadway career in the original Broadway production of Oklahoma! Her father, a country lawyer from a small town in Alabama was disbarred. Join Beverly on an emotional journey in search of the real story of her father's disbarment and ultimately the meaning of her own life's journey. Directed by special guest Emmy Award-winning Long Island filmmaker Ron Rudaitis.
Thursday, August 30th
6pm
iEat Green’s Farm to Table Cooking Series: Fish
Old Westbury
$89
To register email:
Bhavani
Bhavani@iEatGreen.com
Saturday, September 1st
11am
Urban Zen Sensible Wellness Lecture Series – Ragan Finalborgo, Hamptons Wellness Services
Urban Zen
4 Bay St
Sag Harbor
FREE
Since this is being held at Donna Karan’s store, Urban Zen, she may just be stopping by!
Saturday, September 22nd
Farm Aid
Hersheypark Stadium
PA
$37.75 to $101.46
For more info:
http://www.farmaid.org/site/c.qlI5IhNVJsE/b.2723605/k.C7B8/Concert.htm
For ticket info:
http://www.farmaid.org/site/c.qlI5IhNVJsE/b.5307325/k.93C0/Ticket_Info.htm?msource=concert
So far it’s Willie, Neil, John, and Jack Johnson and Dave Mathews…and more!
Wednesday, October 3rd
6pm
Let Us Eat Local
The Altman Building
135 W 18th St
NYC
$175 (before October 3rd…after $200)
For more info and to get tickets:
http://luel.eventbrite.com/
This event is a benefit for Just Food, the group that organizes CSA in all five boroughs of NYC, in addition to being involved in the City Chickens project, City Farms and getting more local food into food pantries as well as being involved in fighting hunger in NYC. They do great work and are a great bunch of folks. This will be a locavore’s delight if you see the list of participating restaurants.
Wednesday, October 10th
6:30pm
Plant a Healthy School Lunch…
The NY Coalition for Healthy School Food’s Fall Gala
NY Academy of Medicine
1216 Fifth Ave (at 103rd St)
NYC
$100
For more info about NY Coalition for Healthy School Food:
http://www.healthylunches.org/
For more info about the gala:
http://www.healthylunches.org/events.htm
Ex-Long Islander Amie Hamlin is the Executive Director of this organization, and Joy Pierson (of Candle Café and Candle 79) is their board chair. A lot of the food at this event will be organic, local, vegan and raw (check the website and look who’d providing it).
Saturday, October 12th
8:30am
Holistic Moms Network presents…
9th Annual Natural Living Conference
Chicago, IL
$80 Member/$90 General Public/$45 child over 3 (lunch included)
For more info and to register:
http://register.holisticmoms.org/2012_HMN_NLC.pdf
Celebrate holistic parenting with special guests Andrea Beaman (natural foods chef, author, tv host and Top Chef contestant..and she cured herself of thyroid disease thru diet and natural methods) and Barbara Loe Fisher (National Vaccine Information Center Co-Founder). Learn…share…connect!
Tuesday, October 23rd
6pm
Taste of the Harvest
Crest Hollow Country Club
Jericho Tpke
Woodbury
$295
For more info and to buy tickets:
http://www.islandharvest.org/page.aspx?name=fundraisingevents&eventid=123
Island Harvest is celebrating 20 years of service fighting hunger and touching lives, and honoring Stop and Shop.
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! CSA member Ann Rathkopf (one of the founders of Slow Food Huntington) will be attending, and she’s been there before, so ask her if you have any questions.
7. Want to be in a movie this Saturday?
A local filmmaker is making a documentary about Michael Rothbard from IMAC, and Vic Skolnick of the Cinema Arts Centre (my “father-in-law”).
If anyone has any good stories to tell about either one of them, and/or how they effected your life, plan on being at the Cinema Arts Centre’s Sky Room Café on Saturday, August 18th between 10am and 2pm.
The filmmaker would like you to be succinct, and brief if possible.
If you would like to participate, you MUST contact STEVEN TAUB to schedule your approximate time slot. 631-454-1759 or steve@steventaubproductions.com
8. Notes from the Farm
August 2, 2012
Summer is in full swing. Tomatoes are here over the next two months. We’ll be bringing in many varieties. We have over eight types of mini-Tomatoes as well as large Red, Yellow Orange and some different heirloom types. Also, Italian Paste Red, Yellow, Black and Striped. Hopefully, we’ll be bringing in many of these over the next weeks. Peppers have also done well. Green are here now along with Purples, Reds, Yellows, and Orange will be flowing. Also several types of Sweet Smaller varieties will be brought in.
As far as our fall crops go, many have been planted. Sweet Potatoes still are looking good. Leeks are about ready, Winter Squashes are growing well.. Rutabagas, Tat Soil, Turnip,Greens, and more Beets, Carots and Chard have all been recently planted for October through November harvests. So much comng in and much to look forwar d ot!
We still have lost of Lettuces, Beans, Summer Squashes, Cumcumbers, Scallions and Herbs for a while more. So, enjoy it all because it doesn’t really last that long!
Organically yours,
Farmer Bill (Halsey)
9. What you actually got last week
Week #15
August 2, 2012
1. Leeks – 1 bunch - $3.75
2. Kirby Pickle Cucumber – 1 –
3. Cucumbers – 2 –
4. Peppers, Sweet: Green – 2 - $2.75
4. Tomatoes, Mini: Grape - Red, Grape - Yellow – 1 box - $4.25
5. Beans, Snap: Green – 1 lb - $3.25
6. Lettuce: Crisp, Green – 1 head - $2.75
7. Chives OR Oregano – 1 bunch - $2.50
Total Items: 7
Total Amount: $20.75 (We pay $17.50 per week to our farmer for the food we get every week. Today we’ve gotten $3.25 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 $16.25)
Flower Share
Week #9
Zinnias and Gomphrena
Herb Share
Rosemary AND Thyme
10. You can do a lot by just clicking!
Tell the USDA to reject Agent Orange Soy…
http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/o/1881/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=8232
Tell Gov Cuomo that fracking and Yogurt don’t mix!
http://action.foodandwaterwatch.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=11389
11. And now for something completely different…
Julia Child raps and sings!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80ZrUI7RNfI&feature=player_embedded
George Carlin on the environment…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FFgVayrWjs&feature=plcp
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12 generations of the Raymond Halsey family have grown and sold fruits and vegetables on the same farm since 1644. USDA certified Organic, NOFA-NY Certified organic LLC since 1989! Today the farm grows over 100 varieties of flowers and over 300 different varieties of organic veggies, herbs & fruits.
