Thursday, May 30, 2013

Happy Spring (no matter how hot it might be this weekend…it’s not summer till June 21st)!

Help! Can anyone store a CSA share in their fridge for new CSA member Todd Berlent (and big fan of the Paleo diet) till he gets back into town on Friday (or maybe Saturday depending on if he’s getting back late on Friday or not)? If so, let the sign-in table folks, Karen or Priscilla, know that you can pick up for Todd, and then I’ll get Todd your info and vice versa so you guys can coordinate him getting his food. Thanks! 

Mystery of the week! By any chance did anyone take both Herbs last week (Tarragon AND Savory, instead of Tarragon OR Savory)? If so, please let me know as we were short one bunch of Herbs and that would explain it.

Question…Do any of you out there sell Shaklee products, or do you know anyone who does? One of our CSA members is looking to purchase some of their products so if you have a line on this, respond to this email and I’ll get you in touch with them.

Any gardeners? You can order certified organic herb and vegetable plants for your garden from our farm by calling Green Thumb Farm at 631-726-1900, 7 days a week, from 9:30 to 4pm, place your order with a credit card and they will be delivered to the CSA.

BJ’s has organic foodstuffs. If you’d like to check it out and you’re not a member, there’s a coupon on the sign-in desk to try it out that’s valid till July 14th. I’m a fan of their gas prices. Last time I was there it was $3.63 for regular.


This email includes…

1. You can still get in on the Herb Shares!
2. You can still get in on the Flower Shares!
3. Mushroom Share anyone?
4. This week’s list (subject to change without notice…farming is like that!)
5. Click activism
6. Get a guide that lists all the certified organic farms in NY State!
7. Event Listings
8. Any writers (or wanna be writers) out there?
9. What you actually got last week
10. And now for something completely different…



1. You can still get in on the Herb Shares!

If you’ve seen the Herb Share and it looks appealing…you can still get one! Yes, we do get Herbs as part of our regular share, but for some of us…it’s not enough AND believe it or not, Herbs have higher levels of antioxidants than high antioxidant foods like Blueberries (and Berries in general)!
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=news&dbid=35

We Americans don’t use them enough. If you aren’t going to use what Herbs you have within a week or so, you can freeze or dry them (depending on the Herb). So, if you’re interested in an Herb Share, talk to suzanne about how to jump in, and what the pro-rated cost would be. The price to start on June 13th will be $65 (for 2 bunches of Herbs twice a month) per Herb Share. Let me know if you’re interested!



2. You can still get in on the Flower Shares!

The first Flower Share usually turns up the first week in June and is often Peonies. The flowers are certified organic, grown on our farm (Green Thumb Organic Farm), and are a visual delight. I get two Flower Shares because I like fuller arrangements.

If you have a cutting garden in your home it allows you to keep more blossoms in the yard, and you can use these for your home.

If you share with someone and worry about not being there when the flowers show up…make an agreement that if the flowers show up on a week when you’re not there that your share partner can pay you $7 to take them home that week. Just a thought!

If you’re interested, the cost per Flower Share is $70 for 10 weeks (not consecutively but whenever the flowers are ready). Let me know if you’re interested!



3. Mushroom Share anyone?

Our first Mushroom Share delivery is going to be this week! We need to be getting the Mushrooms in 5 lb boxes and we’ve filled our first 5 lb order, and now I’ll be taking names for people interested in the next group. As soon as we get enough people interested, we can figure out when the delivery for the next group will start and how much it will cost. Any questions, just ask!

The same matchmaking service is available if anyone wants to share a Mushroom Share. Are you sharing a share and your share partner doesn’t want Mushrooms? Maybe someone else will share a Mushroom Share with you for the weeks you’re not picking up!

If you know anyone who’d be interested, have them get in touch. You can get a Mushroom Share and not be a CSA member. In fact, one of our Mushroom Share members is Nicole, owner of Sip Tea Lounge in Huntington Village…
http://siptealoungeny.com/

I happened to be watching the tv show Christina Cooks and she was making Tempeh Stroganoff with Shiitake Mushrooms and heard her say this…

Christina Pirello - Shiitake Mushrooms have been used in Chinese medicine for thousands of years and they’re known to lower cholesterol, lower blood pressure, and remove plaque from your arteries. And if you don’t have any heart problems, it also relieves tension in the body. I think those are reasons enough for everybody to include Shiitake Mushrooms in your diet on a regular basis!

Tempeh Stroganoff with Shiitake Mushrooms (hers are dried…just use your fresh ones!)
http://christinacooks.com/best-vegan-recipe/tempeh-stroganoff?A=SearchResult&SearchID=6790752&ObjectID=4154441&ObjectType=35

Her list of recipes using Shiitake Mushrooms…including Shiitake Tea!
http://christinacooks.com/Default.aspx?A=Search&PageID=5385313&Collections=X&OT=6,7,9,43,27,26,48



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

Week #6
May 30, 2013

1. Bok Choi (greenhouse) – 1 bunch
2. Mustard: Red (greenhouse) – 1 bunch
3. Tat Soi (greenhouse) – 1 bunch
4. Spinach – 1 bag
5. Radishes – 1 bunch
6. Scallions – 1 bunch

Total Items: 6 (?)



5. Click activism…

Urge supermarkets, food companies and seafood restaurants to not sell GE Salmon…
http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/o/1881/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=10107



6. Get a guide that lists all the certified organic farms in NY State!

The NOFA-NY 2013 Food & Farm Guide is about to come out and YOU can be the first on your block to have it.

You have to join NOFA-NY to get it but you know what? It’s worth every penny!

In addition to the guide, you also get subscriptions to The Natural Farmer and NY Organic News, both great publications…especially if you’re at all interested in organic food, gardening and farming!

The suggested minimum amount to join is $30 but if you’re really strapped for cash, they’ll accept $10!
https://www.nofany.org/join



7. Event Listings

Thursday, May 2nd to Sunday, December 8th

9am to 4:30pm

Green Thumb Organic Farm
Montauk Hwy
Water Mill

Our CSA farm’s farm stand is open for the season! If you’re passing by, stop in and say hi and tell them you’re a CSA member and you’re sure to get a smile! There are plants for your garden, flowers for your home and friends you might be visiting in the area and food…lots of food! 


Wednesday, May 1st to Friday, May 31st

The month of May is the Great American Shake Sale! Donate $2 to Share Our Strength to help end childhood hunger, and get a coupon for a free shake ($5 value) to be used on your next visit. Shake Shack uses Fair Trade and local foods (ex - chocolate from Mast Brothers of Brooklyn), and the building is part solar and was built using green building concepts.
For more info:
www.shakeshack.com


Saturday, May 25th to Monday, Sept 2nd

Swedish Culinary Summer
East Hampton
For more info:
www.swedishculinarysummer.com

Swedish cuisine, and worldwide interest in it, has grown exponentially over the last 20 years. Zagat just placed Swedish restaurants in the number two and number three positions in the top ten restaurants in the world and there are three Swedish restaurants on Pellegrino's World's 50 Best Restaurants list. Swedish food is now the darling of media worldwide and especially in the U.S. Swedish Culinary Summer uses food as the universal ambassador to "open the doors" at key charity events in the Hamptons during the summer season: a full summer of top Swedish chefs, food, beverages and consumer goods, plus there will be cooking classes and special dinners available at the Maidstone Hotel.


Saturday, June 1st

Hay House World Summit
online
FREE
Register here:
http://www.hayhouseworldsummit.com/home-registered/
For more info:
http://www.hayhouseworldsummit.com/about-us/

Access to over 100 hours of lectures from people such as Louse Hay, Wayne Dyer, Suze Orman, Baron Baptiste, Kriss Carr, Caroline Myss, Christiane Northrup MD, Joan Borysanko, Deepak Chopra, Sonia Choquette, Mark Hyman MD, Cheryl Richardson and a LOT more. It would cost a FORTUNE to take workshops with these people so this is a pretty good deal.


12pm to 1pm

Food Chain Radio Show…What’s Eating What with Michael Olson
http://metrofarm.com/food-chain-radio

Check out the archives…there’s a LOT of good stuff in there!


5pm to 8pm

Salsa with a Healer Dance Party…for the Gift of Life!
Fred Astaire Dance Studio
132 W Jericho Tpke
Huntington Station
$20 for a Raffle Ticket suggested to be purchased if attending
To register “like” this Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/SalsaWithAHealerForTheGiftOfLife?fref=ts
Info about Gift of Life…
http://www.giftoflifeinternational.org/pages/index.php

This is a benefit for the Gift of Life International. There will be dancing, food, Larocca Organic Wine, raffle prizes (including an Omega juicer!) and lots of like-minded folks interested in health, healing and fun! Attending will be the following single health providers…Donna Martini - is the Ambasador For Wellness in Nassau County, Michael Antonelli, NTP is partner in Nutritional Frontiers, Michael Berlin, DC - is Founder of the Wellness Center in Plainview, Karen Barbosa, DO - is a Breast Surgeon at Winthrop Hospital, Peter Testani - is a Wealth Manager for David Lerner & Associates, Don Nelson - is a Psychotherapist in NYC and Speaker Coach.


Monday, June 10th

4pm to 8pm

The Edible Academy Family Garden Picnic w/ Mario Batali
NY Botanical Garden
Bronx, NY
$40 and up
For more info and to get tickets:
http://www.nybg.org/exhibitions/2013/batali-family-picnic.php

For the kids…make pickles, climb trees, etc, and for the big kids…booksigning, cooking demo (special guest Daphne Oz), and cocktail party. All proceeds benefit The Edible Academy children’s gardening program.


Wednesday, June 12th

7:30pm

Let’s Eat: Food on Film presents…How to Cook Your Life
Cinema Arts Centre
423 Park Ave
Huntington
$10 Members/$15 General Public (includes reception and Skype with Edward Espe Brown)
For more info and to buy tickets (this will probably sell out):
http://www.cinemaartscentre.org/event/how-to-cook-your-life/

Filmmaker Doris Dörrie turns her attention to Buddhism and that age-old saying, you are what you eat. In How To Cook Your Life, Dörrie enlists the help of the charismatic Zen Master, chef, and Tessajara Bread Book author Edward Espe Brown to explain the guiding principles of Zen Buddhism as they apply to the preparation of food as well as life itself. This event is co-presented with Slow Food Huntington.


Monday, June 17th

12pm to 3pm

NY Crossroads: Rally to stop fracking and demand alternative energy
East Capitol Lawn
Albany
For more info and to sign up:
https://www.facebook.com/events/200220593434997/
http://nyagainstfracking.org/

There are supposed to be buses from Long Island going and car pools.


Thursday, June 27th

6pm to 9pm

Art With a Purpose
Rush Arts Gallery
526 W 26th St, Suite 311
NYC
$150
For more info and to buy tickets:
http://www.healthyschoolfood.org/events.htm?utm_source=Art+With+a+Purpose+-+1&utm_campaign=Year+End+27th+2012&utm_medium=email

An art exhibit/event with works for sale by such artists as Peter Max and Sue Coe, benefitting the NY Coalition for Healthy School Food. There’ll be vegan food donated by Candle 79 and Candle Café West, and wine donated by Pure Food & Wine and Verity Wine Partners. Jazz music provided by Miles of Music.


Friday, August 9th to Sunday, August 11th

NOFA Summer Conference
U Mass
Amherst, MA
For more info and to register (early bird pricing till July 9th):
http://www.nofasummerconference.org/registration.php
What is NOFA (in particular NOFA-NY)?
https://www.nofany.org/about

CSA members Vickie Muller (along with her daughter) and suzanne j zoubeck attended last year and may be going again this year. If you have any questions, ask one of them. If you’re at all interested in organic gardening, food, food politics, the environment, green living, green housing, renewable energy, alternative health, etc. this is an AMAZING event to attend (over 200 workshops to choose from)! The food is local and organic and there are enough choices whether your diet is gluten-free, raw, vegan or paleo. There are farm tours and parties at night. Also, there are workshops and activities for children from ages 2 to 17 so it’s fun for the whole family…or for singles…or seniors…or anyone!


8. Any writers (or wanna be writers) out there?

Enter the Locavore Challenge Essay Contest!

In 500 words or less tell NOFA-NY what it means to you to take on the challenge of eating locally and organically. Be inspiring. Be creative. Be engaging.

The winner of the essay contest will have their essay printed in the fall "Locavore Challenge" issue of New York Organic News. They will also receive $50 worth of books from the Storey Publishing catalog and a one-year subscription to a wonderful new quarterly magazine entitled Taproot.

Essays must be submitted via e-mail in a word document to tanya@nofany.org by midnight June 15th.

To learn more about our Locavore Challenge,click https://www.nofany.org/events/locavore-challenge . If you would like to receive a free copy of the "Locavore Challenge" issue of our New York Organic News, please send your name and address to membership@nofany.org



9. What you actually got last week


Week #5
May 23, 2013

1. Arugula (greenhouse) – 1 bunch - $3.25
2. Mizuna (greenhouse) – 1 bunch - $3.25
3. Tat Soi (greenhouse) – 1 bunch - $3.25
4. Leeks – 1 bunch - $3.50
5. Kale, Siberian: White (last week of Kale for a while) – 1 bunch - $3.50
6. Tarragon* OR Savory, Winter **– 1 bunch - $2.50

Total Items: 6
Total Amount: $19.25 (we pay $17.50 for our weekly CSA share so this week we’ve gotten $1.75 worth of food more than we paid for PLUS a bunch of Cilantro on top of that…so the total extra value we’ve gotten so far this season…is $7.50)

Herb Share
May – Week B
Mint AND Thyme

*
Tarragon – no Veg Info Sheet on this so here’s some online info…
http://www.tasteofhome.com/Herbs-and-Spices/Tarragon
http://www.herbinfosite.com/?page_id=357
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarragon
http://homecooking.about.com/od/herbsspices1/a/tarragontips.htm
http://www.nutrition-and-you.com/tarragon-herb.html
http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/learn/tarragon.php
http://botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/t/tarrag07.html
http://www.nwitimes.com/niche/get-healthy/healthy-living/herbal-healer-what-is-tarragon/article_ec5d25b8-37f6-5211-a0fe-6013fd127863.html

**
Savory - no Veg Info Sheet on this so here’s some online info…
http://www.gardenherbs.org/savory.htm
Winter Savory
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter_savory
http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/s/savwin25.html
http://extension.psu.edu/plants/gardening/herbs/all-herbs/winter-savory
http://www.campaignforrealfarming.org/2012/01/herb-of-the-month-winter-savory/



10. And now for something completely different…

Why can’t I find this at BJ’s (or anywhere else in the USA for that matter)?
http://kotaku.com/5991860/the-creepiest-fruit-china-has-to-offer

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