Green Thumb Farm Huntington CSA

Happy Summer!

MYSTERY OF THE WEEK!!! If you’re tired of reading about this…you can imagine how frustrated I am having to report this (and having no one helping to solve some of these mysteries).

Last week there was a choice between Rosemary and Mint. There were TWO bunches of herbs missing at the end of the night and the most likely scenario is that 2 people took BOTH of the herbs and didn’t choose just one. ANYONE OUT THERE WHO KNOWS WHAT HAPPENED? This isn’t about being punitive but finding out what happened and making things right. It just so happens that not everyone showed up so fortunately, no one went without.

And as you’ve heard before (and will continue to hear until this stops happening)…
1. PLEASE READ THE WALL CHART!!!

2. DON’T ASSUME YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO TAKE ONE OF EVERYTHING THAT LOOKS DIFFERENT!!!

3. PLEASE ASK QUESTIONS!!!

4. BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE CSA…READ THE WALL CHART AGAIN AND MAKE SURE YOU TOOK THE CORRECT ITEMS AND THE CORRECT AMOUNTS!!!

And if someone is picking up food who’s never done it before, please school them in what they’re supposed to do (and make sure they bring bags with them) or make sure they at least tell the person at the sign-in desk that they’ve never done this before so we can walk them through it. Thanks!

We’re getting close…to our second 5 lb batch of Mushrooms to be able to start our next group of Mushroom Share folks! See #5 for details!

This email includes…

1. Your CSA does not need you this week, however…
2. It’s time to weigh!!!
3. We still could sure use some more CSA members!
4. CSA member, Amy Norris Wenzel, could use your help this weekend!
5. You can still get in on the Flower Shares, Herb Shares and Mushroom Shares!
6. This week’s list (subject to change without notice…farming is like that!)
7. CSA member, Margaret Corvini, is looking for a tutor…anyone have a suggestion?
8. Local activism
9. Event Listings
10. What you actually got last week
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…

A. Check the wall chart before taking any food so you know what you’re taking and how much to take…assume nothing and please 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 56 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 AND A HALF 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. We still could sure use some more CSA members!

If each of us could get one other person/family to join the CSA, our membership would go from the current 56 members to 110. If at least half of those folks would work at the CSA (more is always better), I bet we could finally have an Exchange Table again. That’s where we start with an entire CSA share on the table and CSA members can exchange one entire food item for another because they want more of something, or are allergic to something, or for whatever the reason. Believe me, once you try it, you’d like it.

However, we don’t have one because we barely have enough working CSA members to do the minimal amount of what needs to be done and as they say…many hands make light work!

Contact me if you need attachments of any CSA info to forward, any CSA brochures to distribute, and I’d be happy to receive any phone numbers to call anyone, email addresses to email, places to go leave CSA brochures, and I’m sure you know I’d go anywhere and talk to anyone about the wonderfulness that is Green Thumb CSA – Huntington (or heck, CSAs in general)! 



4. CSA member, Amy Norris Wenzel, could use your help this weekend!

This weekend, CSA member Amy Norris Wenzel is going to be bike riding in the Pan-Mass Challenge to raise money for cancer treatment and research at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston in honor of her brother, Craig Norris, who lost his battle with cancer last year during Hurricane Sandy. She’ll be riding this Sunday along with 5,500 other bike riders.

She has a personal goal of raising $1,000 so if you’d like to help her meet that goal, keep in mind that the donations are tax deductible and 100% of the money goes to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute.

Here’s the link to make a $25 donation so that Amy will get credit for it online…
https://www2.pmc.org/egifts/giftinfo.asp

If you’d prefer to write a check you could make it out to…
The PMC, The Jimmy Fund, or Dana Farber Cancer Institute and mail it directly to…
Amy Norris Wenzel
14 Cornell Pl
Farmingdale, NY 11735
Or leave it at the sign-in desk at the CSA and we’ll get it to her when she picks up her CSA share

For more info and to donate online…
http://www.pmc.org/



5. You can still get in on the Flower Shares, Herb Shares and Mushroom Shares!

If you’re interested…ask! If the only thing that’s stopping you is that you share with someone and they don’t want what you want…ask! I bet I could find someone for you to share with (or at least I’d try  ). If you have a share and want more than your one share…ask!

We need to find enough people for 2 lbs of Mushrooms for the next batch of folks to be able to start eating Mushrooms! Anybody interested in the Mushroom Share who hasn’t spoken up yet? Let me know! 

Anyone who HAS a Mushroom Share…want to upgrade your share to get more Mushrooms? Just a thought! 



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

Week #14
August 1, 2013

1. Lettuce
2. Tomatoes, Mini
3. Squash, Summer *
4. Fennel
5. Basil
6. Scallions

Total Items: 6 (?)

Basil Shares
4 bunches per Share

Flower Share
Week #7

Mushroom Shares

*
You can use pretty much ANY recipe for Zucchini with any other type of Summer Squash (as long as the pieces are cut up in the same size as the recipe suggests)…Zucchini is a Summer Squash but not all Summer Squashes are Zucchini…
http://www.ediblebrooklyn.com/topics/food-dining/how-do-you-solve-a-problem-like-zucchini/



7. CSA member, Margaret Corvini, is looking for a tutor…anyone have any recommendations?

She is looking for an SAT tutor -- or tutors…someone who specializes in math or reading/writing -- for her daughter, Elizabeth. Anyone know of anyone good?

Respond to this email and it will be forwarded to Margaret.



8. Local activism…

Bonnie Sagar (sharing with CSA member Joe Wetherell), has a passion and a cause! It’s to ban leafblowers in Huntington.

Why you may ask (or you may not need any convincing)?

I didn’t realize Dr. Andrew Weil wasn’t a fan…
http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/id/ART02059

And I found this NY Times article which says the Mt Sinai School of Medicine’s Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit provided a letter of support for a ban of gas leaf blowers…
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/20/nyregion/nyregionspecial2/20blowerwe.html?_r=0

And all the dust kicked up makes solar panels less efficient (and/or you’d have to get up there and clean them up more often…or pay to have them cleaned off)

If you’re in agreement, please sign her petition at the CSA Sign-in Desk today! 

And of course, there’s a Facebook page for it too…
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ban-Leaf-Blowers/127067643995637

And a website in Arizona…
http://banleafblowers.webs.com/



9. Event Listings

Thursday, May 2nd to Sunday, December 8th

8:30am to 5:30pm

Green Thumb Organic Farm
829 Montauk Hwy (east of the windmill)
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/or friends you might be visiting in the area, and food…lots of food! 


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.


Wednesday, July 31st

2pm

Recipe Lab
www.nytimes.com/dining

Join Julia Moskin, and Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi (authors of the cookbook Jerusalem) discussing the recipe from their book…Jerusalem Chicken with carmelized Onions and Cardamon Rice in a live video chat. To REALLY participate, make the dish and share your results, comments and questions online. The recipe is on the website.


Friday, August 2nd

8:30pm

Open Mike Poetry Night
Sip Tea Lounge
286C New York Ave
Huntington
To register to read and for more info…
store@theteaplant.com

Say hi to owner Nicole Basso (and CSA Mushroom Shareholder), and share your favorite and original poetry…and have some tea and snacks!


Saturday, August 3rd

9am to noon

Shed the Meds
Huntington Fire Dept
1 Leverich Pl
Huntington

Improperly disposed of medication (flushed down the toilet, poured down the drain, etc) can end up polluting our drinking water and local waterways! So, drop off unwanted/expired medication and dispose of them properly! Supervised by the Suffolk County Police Department.


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!


Friday, August 9th

6pm to 7pm

The Healthy Planet Radio Show
WUSB-FM (90.1 FM)
To listen live or on the archives…
http://wusb.fm/station/schedule/week
For more info:
http://www.healthy-planet.org/


Saturday, August 10th

12pm to 6pm

Vegan Shop Up
Pine Box Rock Shop
12 Grattan St
Bushwick, Brooklyn
For more info:
http://veganshopup.wordpress.com/2013/07/29/sweat-it-out-vegan-shop-up-august-10th/

NYC’s only all vegan pop up market!


Saturday, August 24th

10:30am

Monthly Green Thumb CSA – Huntington Meeting
Cinema Arts Centre
423 Park Ave
Huntington
For more info:
631-421-4864
Email: dskolnick@pb.net

Stay tuned for more details. Snacks as always!


Friday, September 13th

6pm to 7pm

The Healthy Planet Radio Show
WUSB-FM (90.1 FM)
To listen live or on the archives…
http://wusb.fm/station/schedule/week
For more info:
http://www.healthy-planet.org/


Friday, October 18th

6pm to 7pm

The Healthy Planet Radio Show
WUSB-FM (90.1 FM)
To listen live or on the archives…
http://wusb.fm/station/schedule/week
For more info:
http://www.healthy-planet.org/


Friday, November 15th

6pm to 7pm

The Healthy Planet Radio Show
WUSB-FM (90.1 FM)
To listen live or on the archives…
http://wusb.fm/station/schedule/week
For more info:
http://www.healthy-planet.org/


Friday, December 6th

6pm to 7pm

The Healthy Planet Radio Show
WUSB-FM (90.1 FM)
To listen live or on the archives…
http://wusb.fm/station/schedule/week
For more info:
http://www.healthy-planet.org/


Saturday, March 1st, 2014

10am to 5pm

TEDx Manhattan Viewing Party
Cinema Arts Centre
423 Park Ave
Huntington
FREE

Check out a sample of last year’s speakers such as chef Michel Nischan, LaDonna Redmond, Anna Lappe, White House chef Bill Yosses, Annemarie Colbin, etc, here…
http://www.youtube.com/tedxman

Details TBA



10. What you actually got last week

Week #13
July 25, 2013

1. Lettuce: Leaf, Green – 1 head - $2.50
2. Radicchio: Chiogga* - 1 head - $2.75
4. Cucumbers: Kirby (pickles) and Regular – up to .75 lb (3/4 lb) weighed first and then weigh with Squash…
3. Squash, Summer: Costata Romanesco, 8 Ball, Gold, Kousa, Patty Pan: Green and Yellow, Yellow – up to .75 lb (3/4 lb) weighed together with Cucumbers for a total weight up to 1.5 lbs (1 ½ lbs) - $4.25
5. Beets – 1 bunch - $3.25
6. Mint OR Rosemary – 1 bunch - $2.50
7. Radish Pods ** - ¼ lb - $3.00

Total Items: 7
Total Amount: $18.25 (we pay $17.50 for our weekly CSA share and this week we’ve gotten an extra $.75 so the total extra value we’ve gotten so far this season…is $11.50)

*
Radicchio info…
Besides putting it in a salad…
Grill it…
http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/grilled_radicchio_salad/
Saute it (I’d spritz some fresh Lemon juice on this before serving)…
http://localfoods.about.com/od/strifysaute/r/Sauteed-Radicchio.htm
And more…
http://italianfood.about.com/library/rec/blr0094.htm

**
Radish Pod info (file under…you learn something new every day…whether you want to or not!!!)
According to Farmer Bill…use in stir fries
http://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/radish-seed-pods-zm0z12jjzwar.aspx#axzz2ZwlKwoVH
Written by one of the great horticulture writers, Barbara Damrosch (companion of organic farming superstar Eliot Coleman)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/09/AR2006080900474.html
http://kgi.org/rat-tailed-radish
http://blogs.ajc.com/food-and-more/2013/05/02/edible-radish-pods-showing-up-around-town/ (I’m convinced that there’s a farmer’s collective consciousness at work…this article is from Atlanta Georgia in May of this year and I know our farmer hasn’t gone to any conferences last winter and somehow many farmers end up growing the same new crops without any articles being published about the crops, or having had any discussions about these crops with any other farmers…and ours doesn’t use a computer so it’s not like he’s on the internet finding this stuff out and chatting with other farmers!!!)
http://www.gardenbetty.com/2013/04/radish-seed-pods-and-some-pickles/

Basil Shares…not to be confused with the Herb Shares (which they were!)
4 bunches per Share

Flower Share
Week #6
Zinnias

Herb Share
July 2B
Basil, Lemon AND Basil, Thai

Mushroom Shares



11. And now for something completely different…

I wonder if they’re organic gardeners and if any of the plants used are edible? 
http://www.boredpanda.com/plant-sculptures-montreal-international-mosaicultures-2013/

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