Week #13 July 17, 2014

Happy Summer!

Possible mystery of the week…did anyone go home with either 1) an extra bunch of Winter Savory if you have an Herb Share (you must take one of each variety, not two of one kind), or 2) a bunch of Winter Savory if you don’t have an Herb Share?
We were short one bunch of Winter Savory last week but don’t know if it was a farmer or CSA member error. Any thoughts on this? It wasn’t counted before the CSA started so that’s one thing we usually do every week that didn’t get done last week.

As most of you heard, last week the reason the CSA was outside on the lawn was not because the weather was lovely (which it was), but because right before we arrived at the CSA, the UUFH had a visit from Terminex exterminating company spraying pesticides for Ants. I could taste it as I was checking out the room so I knew this was no place for organic produce, children, pregnant women, and people with compromised immune systems (all of which we have at the CSA) so we dragged the tables outside. As of last week, we have been told that any future visits from Terminex would be scheduled on a Monday or Friday. I have also offered to come up with non-toxic solutions to the problem of an overabundance of Ants which is not a health problem, but an aesthetic one mostly due to issues of insufficient food storage, insufficient cleaning, and unsealed entry points, all of which can be taken care of without the use of toxic pesticides. This information came from one of my favorite books in the universe, Common Sense Pest Control by Olkowski and Olkowski (of course, it’s out of print…and one of the commenters who thinks so too is Mike McGrath, former editor-in-chief of Organic Gardening magazine).
http://www.amazon.com/Common-Sense-Pest-Control-Least-Toxic-Solutions/dp/0942391632

This week starts our Basil Share deliveries! If you didn’t sign up but would like to get in on it here’s the deal…
You get 4 bunches of Basil for $10 per Basil Share! Pick your date(s) for delivery…July24, July 31 and/or August 7, and submit either cash, or check made out to Halseys Green Thumb. Then, let me know (email or phone) so I can put you on the list for the delivery day(s) on the date(s) you’d like!

Planting a garden this year? Get certified organic Herb (many varieties), Vegetable (many varieties) and Flower (some…ask!) plants grown at your farm, Green Thumb Farm! To order plants, call the farm at 631-726-1900 between 9:30am and 4pm any day of the week/weekend and have a credit card on hand for payment. They will be delivered with the next available CSA delivery!

If you’d like to visit our farm (Green Thumb Farm in Water Mill) on days besides our CSA Pumpkin picking in October, the farm stand is now open 7 days a week until Sunday, December 7th. Tell them at the farm stand that you’re a CSA member and it’s sure to bring a smile!

Seriously…put this phone number (631-385-1079) in your cell phone, on your fridge, or wherever you put phone numbers you’re glad to have when you need them! It’s the hall phone of the UUFH to be used only on Thursdays from 3pm to 8pm. We’ve already had a few people who wished they had it and didn’t, and others who had it and found out how handy it can be! 

This email contains…

1. Your CSA doesn’t need you this week but…
2. THIS WEEK WE WEIGH!!!
3. This week’s list…
4. Our certified organic Flower Shares are here! Are you ready and on the list?
5. What you actually got last week
6. Consider donating to help prevent and cure Cancer…
7. Leaf blower survey, babies and botulism…yes, there is a connection!
8. How to cook (most  ) everything this summer!
9. Change the world with a click of your mouse!
10. And now for something completely different…


1. Your CSA doesn’t need you this week but…

you can always show up at 3:30pm or 5:30pm and ask if we still need help!

Also, keep in mind that if you don’t get an email telling you that you’re working on a particular week…you’re not scheduled to work (but if you have any questions, get in touch with Judi and/or suzanne).



2. THIS WEEK WE WEIGH!!!

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 51 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 over THREE POUNDS of produce and some 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. This week’s list (subject to change without notice because…farming is like that!)…

July 17, 2014
Week #13

1. Lettuce
2. Peas OR Broccoli (farmer not sure which one it will be yet)
3. Squash, Summer
4. Beans, Green
5. Onions
6. Swiss Chard

Total Items: 6

Basil Share #1

Flower Share #4



4. Our certified organic Flower Shares are here! Are you ready and on the list?

Did you take a look at the Flower Shares the other week? Amazing, right?

Do you now want one (or two)?

The way to get them now is to let me know ASAP either at the CSA, or by phone or email (by Wednesday midnight latest for me to try and get the word to the farm) and let me tell you how much the CSA share will be and you can pay cash or by check.

The amount for the next one will be $49. The Flowers come to the CSA when they’re ready so it’s not necessarily for 10 consecutive weeks.

If you’re sharing with someone and you buy a Flower Share and they show up when your share partner is picking up you can either pick your Flowers up from them, or have them pay you for the Flower for that week or each of you get a Flower Share and then…you can figure it out! 

Also, keep in mind that one person can have more than one Flower Share. A number of us (I’m one of them) get 2 Flower Shares because they are just that nice!!! 



5. What you actually got last week

July 10, 2014
Week #12

1. Lettuce: Leaf, Red – 1 head - $2.75
2. Peas, Snow – ½ lb - $3.25
3. Radicchio: Chiogga OR Traviso * - 1 head - $3.50
4. Cabbage: Green – 1 head - $3.00
5. Beans, Fava** - ¾ lb - $3.25
6. Mustard Greens*** - 1 bunch - $3.00

Total Items: 6
Total Amount: $18.75
(We pay $18.50 per week for our CSA share. Our farmer has give us $.25 more this week over what we paid. It doesn’t sound like much but it does add up over the course of the CSA season. The total so far is $4.25 more than what we’ve paid so far)


Flower Share #3

Herb Share – July 1A
Dill AND Savory, Winter

*
Radicchio – if you think you don’t like it, have you tried grilling it? 
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/michael-chiarello/perfectly-grilled-radicchio-recipe.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radicchio
http://www.marthastewart.com/286437/radicchio-recipes/@center/1009854/winter-produce
http://www.jmarchinifarms.com/recipes/radicchio-recipes.html
http://radicchio.com/recipes/
Booze and Radicchio!
http://radicchio.com/for-chefs/salads-for-adults/

**
Fava Beans – REMOVE THE BEANS AND DO NOT EAT THE PODS!
Read the health indications if you’ve never eaten these before…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vicia_faba
This has some nutrition info…
http://www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org/fava-beans-nutrition-selection-storage
http://www.marthastewart.com/975835/fava-bean-recipes/@center/1009726/spring-produce
To not peel the individual Beans…most of the countries that don’t remove the coating also cook Fava Beans longer than most American cooks would take the time to do…
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424127887324659404578501233872401520
Or to peel them (I vote on peeling…I’ve eaten them with the coating on in a lovely restaurant in a delicious dish and had to spit them out as they were inedible even after much chewing)…
http://www.thekitchn.com/timesaving-mindblowing-tip-you-dont-have-to-peel-fava-beans-190462

***
Mustard Green Recipe
http://www.veria.com/healthy-recipe/easy-vegetarian-recipes-daily-greens-with-tahini-miso-sauce/

The recipe is a little wacky in that the ingredient list doesn’t have Collard Greens in it, but the instructions do. The tv version was just Cabbage and Mustard Greens so I’d go with that on the first go round. The recipe says “drain” and on tv, the woman was squeezing the water out of the Mustard Greens that were wrapped in paper towels (a clean dish towel would be more “green”  ).

To tweak this recipe, I’d probably steam my vegetables instead of boil them, and substitute basic Green Cabbage for the Napa Cabbage depending on price and which is available. And clearly, you could use any combination of greens. I believe the basic idea here is to pair a spicy/bitter/tangy green with a mild one to tone the spicy/bitter/tangy quality down a notch, and still get the benefits of eating those more intensely flavored vegetables!



6. Consider donating to help prevent and cure Cancer…

CSA member, Amy Norris Wenzel, lost her beloved brother Craig way too soon and is riding in the LI Bicycle Challenge in his memory and honor. Last year her crew rode 25 miles and raised $7,000 to help prevent and cure cancer. This year the goal is to ride 40 miles and raise even more money to prevent and cure cancer, diabetes and other illnesses.

To learn more about this event and where the money goes…
http://www.lichallenge.org/About.html

If you’re interested in donating to this cause, go to this website, and click on the name Amy Norris Wenzel under “Craig’s Crew”…
http://www.lichallenge.org/sponsorarider.html

Check here to see if your employer matches donations…
https://doublethedonation.com/lichallenge

If you prefer to write a check please make checks payable to: Long Island Bicycle Challenge. You can send checks directly to Long Island Bike Challenge at 1366 Odell Street, Wantagh, NY 11793. Please put the name “Amy Norris Wenzel” in the memo.



7. Leaf blower survey, babies and botulism…yes, there is a connection!

Was lucky enough to see this on the news today…
http://7online.com/health/race-against-time-to-save-baby-diagnosed-with-botulism/192894/

This is what can happen when leaf blowers stir up soil, and then have these particles that can include botulism float around in the air for several hours after the leaf blowing is finished, and then these particles can be inhaled by infants, children, pets, and those with compromised immune systems.

So, if you live in the Town of Huntington and would like to have leafblowers banned, fill out this survey…
http://huntingtonny.gov/leaf-blower-survey

I included this website in my survey in the part where you can add additional comments and this is what I said…

Please read this website and see that other places in the country have totally banned leaf blowers (as early as 1987) and landscape businesses didn't have to raise their fees or go out of business, and life went on as usual as it did before the invention of leaf blowers...
http://www.nonoise.org/quietnet/cqs/other.htm

My only problem with this survey is the last three questions didn't allow for an "I don't know" answer. I know the answer to the last two are yes from various health studies I've read, but am honestly guessing about #9 and if it were an option, I would have said that I don't know.

Someone else I know commented on the fact that they found all these other choices confusing as they simply wanted leafblowers banned…period. And all the others options seemed confusing and diluting the message of banning them altogether…as if it’s not possible (see above website to see that it is).



8. How to cook (most  ) everything this summer!

Your summer cooking toolkit…grilling and salads and you’re good to go…it’s an option!
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/07/15/dining/your-summer-cooking-tool-kit.html?_r=0

And chilled pasta salads are other options for your summer CSA produce…
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/16/dining/recipes-for-room-temperature-pasta-dishes.html



9. Change the world with a click of your mouse!

A. Want clean water? Sign this…
https://secure3.convio.net/ucs/site/Advocacy;jsessionid=762B32734E51D6415582A529C16088FC.app321b?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=4239&autologin=true

And then sign this (even though June 16th was the deadline, it still seems to be taking signatures)…
http://salsa4.salsalabs.com/o/50923/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=11349


B. Tell congress to oppose Agent Orange crops (2,4D pesticides on GMO crops)…
http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/o/1881/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=14470



10. And now for something completely different…

Weird Al’s newest song “Tacky” (with Jack Black, Margaret Cho, Aisha Tyler, Eric Stonestreet, and Kristen Schaal from the Daily Show) is a spot-on spoof of Pharell’s Happy. Even though it’s not exclusively about food, there are a few food references so I think it fits the bill…
http://www.nerdist.com/vepisode/weird-al-yankovic-gets-tacky-with-pharrells-happy/

Lyrics…
http://www.nerdist.com/vepisode/weird-al-yankovic-gets-tacky-with-pharrells-happy/

If by chance you don’t know the original song (to check it out or see how spot-on the spoof is comparing it to the original)…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6Sxv-sUYtM

And if you really like the original, then there’s the 24 hour version of the song…really!
http://24hoursofhappy.com/

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