Week #27 October 23, 2014

Happy Autumn, Happy Farm to School* AND Happy Vegetarian Awareness** month!

Anybody make it out to the farm last Saturday? If so, please send any photos or comments about the experience and we’ll share with the rest of the CSA gang. Thanks!

Bring bags with you to the CSA! If anyone is picking up for you at the CSA…tell THEM they need to bring bags!!!
Put bags in every vehicle you own or might end up driving.
Bring an assortment of bags…cloth, plastic, paper…as you’ll find them all useful. Basic bagging issue is separating wet food from dry food so one doesn’t start the rotting process of the other. Tomatoes like to be stored in paper, not plastic.

Want BULK TOMATOES to can for the winter (sauce? stewed? freeze? dehydrate for the best sundried Tomatoes ever?)? Call our farm (631-726-1900) from 9:30am to 4:30am any day and order a 22 lb box of their certified organic Red Roma/Plum Tomatoes for $45.00 and they’ll be delivered to the CSA for you!

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! 

*
Join the National Farm to School Network (it’s free) and you’ll be entered to win $1,000 for a farm to school or farm to preschool project in your area (and can download Organic Valley coupons for members only)!
http://www.farmtoschool.org/join

**
More info about World Vegetarian Day, which is part of Vegetarian Awareness Month, and ends up with World Vegan Day on November 1st!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Vegetarian_Day
http://www.worldvegetarianday.org/
Dr. Weil’s 6 ways to celebrate Vegetarian Awareness Month…
http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/TIP05344/6-Ways-to-Celebrate-Vegetarian-Awareness-Month.html
Huff Post’s 30 reasons to go vegetarian and 30 reasons to go vegan…
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kathy-stevens/thirty-days-thirty-reason_b_1923921.html


This email contains…

1. Your CSA does not need you this week! However…
2. WE WEIGH!!!
3. This week’s list…
4. It’s getting chilly so what’s your preference? Coffee or tea?
5. What you actually got last week
6. Good news…
7. Event Listings…
8. Win some cookbooks (enter this week)!
9. Click, tap, or swipe here to help make the world a better place…
10. 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.

And if you got an email from Judi asking you to confirm that you’re working…you need to respond to that in the time frame stated in the email otherwise she’s going to try and find someone else to take your place.



2. 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!)…

October 23, 2014
Week #27

1. Lettuce
2. Tomatoes, Mini
3. Sweet Potatoes
4. Beans, Snap
5. Eggplant
6. Curly Cress*

Total Items: 6

Herb Share – Oct 2B
Cilantro AND Sage

*
Curly Cress (or Pepper Cress/Garden Cress/Peppergrass)…
http://www.bonappetit.com/test-kitchen/ingredients/article/peppercress
http://www.harvesttotable.com/2007/09/cress_cress_is_a_common/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garden_cress
http://completewellbeing.com/article/garden-cress-packed-with-power/
http://foodilicious.smeak.com/herbs/garden-cress/



4. It’s getting chilly so what’s your preference? Coffee or tea?

Tea…
Try Sip Tea Lounge in Huntington (see #7 under Nov 1st)…organic tea and food options…
http://siptealoungeny.com/
And the 4 options Dr. Weil suggests are all at Sip Tea Lounge!
http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/TIP05351/4-Healthy-Tea-Suggestions.html

Coffee…organic Colombian Coffee and NY milk…new kids on the block (6 weeks old) and trying to be local and sustainable…
Southdown Coffee
http://southdowncoffee.wordpress.com/



5. What you actually got last week

October 16, 2014
Week #26

1. Lettuce: Escarole – 1 head - $2.75
2. Tomatoes: Orange, Red, Paste/Plum/Roma: Red – up to 2 lbs - $5.75
3. Squash, Summer: Costata, Romanesco, Gold, Kousa, Patty Pan, Yellow, Zucchini – up to 2 lbs - $4.00
4. Beans, Snap: Dragon Tongue - ¾ lb - $2.75
5. Squash, Winter: Delicata – 1 - $1.50
6. Kale: Russian, Red – 1 bunch - $3.25

Total Items: 6
Total Amount: $20.00
(We pay $18.50 per week for our CSA share. Our farmer has give us $1.50 more this week than the $18.50 which we paid for so, the total so far is $20.50 more than what we’ve paid so far this season…that means we’ve gotten one extra share’s worth of food that we didn’t pay for, so if you missed a week of the CSA you didn’t lose any money…though I know it’s still annoying missing the food…been there done that myself with other CSAs I have been a member of in addition to being a member of this one…can’t have too many vegetables!)



6. Good news…

The next time you’re in NYC you might want to visit the restaurant, Colors. This restaurant was started by workers from Windows on the World who survived 9/11, and it’s back (they had a hard time the first go round but they haven’t given up)! It’s a gluten-free, worker owned and operated, restaurant that pays its workers a living wage, and it’s connected with ROC (Restaurant Opportunities Center), the group that’s trying to get a living wage for restaurant workers…
http://www.grubstreet.com/2014/10/colors-lafayette-street.html
http://www.thehighroadnyc.com/



7. Event Listings…

Thursday, October 23rd

6:30pm to 9pm

Cowspiracy
Molloy College
The Madison Theater
1000 Hempstead Ave
Rockville Center
FREE but you must RSVP:
http://www.molloy.edu/about-molloy-college/news-and-events/news-archive/the-sustainable-living-film-series-screening-of-cowspiracy

COWSPIRACY: The Sustainability Secret" is a groundbreaking feature-length environmental documentary following an intrepid filmmaker as he uncovers the most destructive industry facing the planet today, and investigates why the world's leading environmental organizations are too afraid to talk about it.


Friday, October 24th

Food Day…a nationwide celebration and movement for healthy, sustainable and affordable food
For more info and event listings…
http://www.foodday.org/

Local events listed on the website…

10am to 8pm

Bareburger (all organic and local everything…craft beers…not doing anything special but it’s an appropriate place to be eating today)
32 Middle Neck Road
Great Neck
http://eatreal.org/locations/bareburger-middle-neck-rd-ny/

noon to 3pm

Farmer’s Market
Plainview Hospital
888 Old Country Rd
Plainview
RSVP:
mgurlide@nshs.edu
516-719-2333

noon to 3pm

Eating Local on $4 a Day
North Shore University Hospital
Employee Cafeteria and Main entrance
300 Community Drive
Manhasset

Pretty impressive actually…they’ll offer local produce and homemade foods, patients will be getting Applesauce made from NY State Apples, and in the cafeteria they’ll be offering free range Eggs and Antibiotic –free Chicken cutlets and Beef patties, and they’ll be planting Spinach and Garlic somewhere (hospital garden?).

4pm to 8pm

Union Square: Cider Week Night Market
Union Square
17th St between Park and Broadway
NYC
FREE (food for purchase)
For more info:
http://www.grownyc.org/nightmarkets

Local farms and restaurants, local Cider & Beer, live music, Pumpkin patch and more! Sponsored by Taste NY, with eleven local cideries on hand to sell our favorite seasonal adult beverage. Local restaurants will also serve up delectable fall dishes and glasses of cider and other local brews will be available for purchase in our beer garden. This night isn't just for the adults, though. There will be a pumpkin patch and a pumpkin carving demonstration by Maniac Pumpkin Carvers, just in time for Halloween, so make sure you bring the whole family.
6:30pm to 9pm

The 10th Annual Gala for the NY Coalition for Healthy School Food
NY Academy of Medicine
1216 5th Ave (entrance on 103rd St)
NYC
$100 to $10,000
For more info and to get tickets:
http://www.healthyschoolfood.org/events.htm?utm_source=Fall+Gala+2014+%232&utm_campaign=12-18-13--9PM%28Year+End+27th+2013%29&utm_medium=email

This is quite the event with a raffle, silent auction and amazing healthy vegan food, organic wine and spirits, great gift bags, and live music.


Saturday, October 25th and Sunday, October 26th

10am to 5pm

Oktoberfest at Garden of Eve Farm
4558 Sound Ave
Riverhead
$15 – tickets must be purchased in advance and include one tasting from each of the brewery in attendance/21 and under FREE
For more info and to purchase tickets:
http://www.gardenofevefarm.com/Oktoberfest.htm

Rain or shine, enjoy craft beers from (to be confirmed) Greenpoint Harbor Brewing, Long Ireland Brewing Company, Pt Jefferson Brewery, Rocky Point Artisanal Brewing and Southampton Publick House. None of these breweries are organic but they are all local. There will also be Pumpkin picking, live music, craft vendors, food, hay rides, pony rides, games and petting zoo. This is a benefit for WUSB radio, out of SUNY Stony Brook.

Sunday, October 26th

9am to 7pm

Navel Expo
Huntington Hilton
598 Broadhollow Rd (Rt 110)
Melville, NY
$10 (though you can sometimes find free tickets around at places like the Vitamin Shoppe, etc)
For more info and to get tickets in advance:
http://www.navelexpo.com/expo.php

If you’re at all interested in healthy eating, healthy living, alternative healing, and/or if you have an illness (you name it, they probably have a workshop for you) that you’re trying to deal with in a more holistic way…THIS IS THE PLACE TO BE!!!

For the caliber of speakers (Ellen Kamhi, the Natural Nurse, holistic chiropractor Garry D’Brant, and Howard Robins – longtime member of the Gary Null Posse and ozone expert, among MANY others) and the number of lectures you can take advantage of hearing (36 lectures to choose from) for the price of only $10 for the day…it is a GREAT bargain compared to what you’d have to pay for an event like this in NYC. Plus there is healthy food to buy to eat there, and samples (Vitamix will be there…see #10  ) to eat too, and a HUGE market area to check out all sorts of interesting things to do and buy and learn about.

It’s not all about illness either, some wellness issues covered are…healthy cooking, exercise, beauty from the inside and out, creating a healthy home, and massage. Some of the conditions and treatments that will be covered…allergies, arthritis, cancer, Candidiasis, chiropractic, Crohn’s, digestive issues, dentistry, eyesight, heart disease, Herpes, HIV, menopause, mental health, neurology, ozone therapy, weight loss…and this is glossing over what happens here. Go online or get the booklet (online) to get details.

If you’re going, let me know if you’re willing to hand out “free organic food” fliers in any lectures you might attend. I went last time and shamelessly accosted any and all who were interested and am planning on doing it again. All you need to do is announce at the end of the lecture that if anyone is interested in getting a sample of free certified organic food in Huntington, they should take a flier from you and call and/or email to schedule a visit (and that info is on the flier). Any questions, you can just tell them to call, unless you feel like talking to them about the CSA.


Saturday, November 1st

9:30am to 3pm

Living Healthy from the Outside In: a bi-lingual (English/Spanish) meditation retreat
Science of Spirituality Meditation Center
79 County Line Rd
Amityville
FREE
To register:
631-822-7979
For more info:
http://www.sos.org/icl/locator/SecondLevel/United+States/Thirdlevel/Tristate/State/NY/Meetingname/Amityville.html

Workshops on healthy living, plant based eating, yoga, meditation and more! The food should be pretty good too if you like Indian food as I’ve been to one of these before.

11am

Knit/Crochet Club
Sip Tea Lounge
Huntington
For more info:
631-683-5777

Join Sara and bring your yarn and needles (whether you’re a beginner or experienced knitter), and have some tea and a snack! The first project is going to be a teapot cozy. Call for more info.
http://www.craftleftovers.com/patterns/knitteacozy.pdf


Friday, January 23rd to Sunday, January 25th

Soil: The Root of the Movement
33rd Annual Organic Farming & Gardening Conference
Saratoga Hilton & City Center
Saratoga Springs, NY
For more info:
http://www.nofany.org/events/winter-conference

Keynote speaker: Wes Jackson, The Land Institute
http://www.landinstitute.org/
Farmer of the year: Lakeview Organic Grain, Klaas & Mary-Howell Martens
http://www.lakevieworganicgrain.com/

There’s a children’s conference (ages 6 to 13) and childcare available (ages 3 to 5) as well so it’s fun for families, single folk, young and old. The food is local and/or organic as much as possible in January and accommodates all styles of eating (raw, vegan, gluten free, paleo).

It’s too early to register so either get on the NOFA-NY email list (not a bad thing to do if you’re interested in eating organic food or gardening organically), or joining NOFA-NY (same as I just said) so you can be apprised of when registration starts.

Want to go for free (well, almost…you still have to pay for room and board)???
Enter the Annual Winter Conference T-shirt Contest by October 22nd and if you win you get your registration paid for and 2 t-shirts when your design is printed (and the cool factor of having your t-shirt be THE t-shirt for the NOFA-NY Winter Conference)…
http://www.nofany.org/tshirtcontest



8. Win some cookbooks (enter this week)!

Not sure when the deadline is but if you enter by end of day Friday I think you’d be ok…

A.Win a cookbook by the guys at Baked (there’s a LOT of really good bakers in Brooklyn)…visit them in Red Hook sometime…
http://www.seriouseats.com/2014/10/win-a-copy-of-baked-occasions.html

B. Win the cookbook Heritage by southern superstar chef, Sean Brock…
http://www.seriouseats.com/2014/10/win-a-copy-of-plenty-more-yotam-ottolenghi.html



9. Click, tap, or swipe here to help make the world a better place…and feel free to spread the word!

Tell Starbucks to use only organic milk!
http://gmoinside.org/starbucks/

I see in Huntington on Main St. they’re already using organic soy milk (I asked to see if they were at least using non-GMO soy milk and the gal showed me the carton and it said organic)



10. And now for something completely different…

This isn’t scientific and not sure what it means but it is interesting…
http://www.grubstreet.com/2014/10/fast-food-burgers-age-grow-mold.html

The scariest thing for me was how little the McDonald’s Hamburger changed. It’s like the Dorian Gray of foodstuffs!

If you don’t know about Dorian Gray…look it up and read the book (good one around Halloween).

Further investigation provides an explanation as to why the McDonald’s burger doesn’t rot (but still not going to eat it  )…
http://aht.seriouseats.com/archives/2010/11/the-burger-lab-revisiting-the-myth-of-the-12-year-old-burger-testing-results.html

I have to admit, I would go to McDonald’s once or twice a year for a Fish sandwich but after learning about the yoga mat buns I haven’t gone at all. I guess I could ask for it without a bun and wrapped in Lettuce.

And now this…

Yoga mat buns, hormone and GMO fed beef, an anti-foaming agent used in the oil to make Chicken McNuggets (don’t ask me to spell it…read the article), ingredients banned in Europe used in the USA, labor abuse, and Consumer Reports rated its basic burger as the worst of the chain bunch (tastewise)…and this is an article about the GOOD things about Mickey D’s…

http://www.motherjones.com/tom-philpott/2014/10/mcdonalds-world-ask-me-anything

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