Week #4 June 25, 2015

Happy Summer!

If you didn’t make it to the Annual CSA Farm Tour and Strawberry Picking event last weekend, sorry to tell you but you missed the last Strawberries of the season. They’re now gone at the CSA till next year (but 3 quarts out of 3 weeks is nothing to sneeze at, the most we ever get is 4 quarts in 4 weeks). However, let’s see if we have a dry enough summer to get Melons whenever they’re ready to show up! With every crop that’s gone for the season, there’s another tasty, interesting, wonderful, healthy food to take its place! 

This is the fourth week, of the 18th year, for Green Thumb CSA – Huntington, at our CSA’s new location at the Cinema Arts Centre’s Sky Room Café (423 Park Ave, Huntington)! It’s going to take a while for the CSA to get its bearings in the new space so please be patient. 

Anybody want an Herb Share? This week it’s Dill and Cilantro! If you’re interested, the cost is $55 from July to December. Let me know!

CSA Basics 101 –
Please read the Wall Chart that the farmer brings in every week, follow the direction on the Wall Chart, and it’s not a bad idea to refer to it before you leave the CSA to make sure you haven’t taken too much OR too little before you leave the CSA.
I can’t tell you how many times I have left the CSA, gotten home, and realized I THOUGHT I took everything in the share for the week, didn’t, and it’s too late to do anything about it as anything left over at the end of the night is donated and gone at 7:31pm (unless prior arrangements have been made by CSA members for late pickups).

CSA Parking suggestion…try parking all the way around the building in the upper parking lot where the day care center play area is. You hopefully will find a spot, and it’s a short walk down the stairs to the entrance from there, and most people don’t seem to think of parking up there. If you park illegally you can get a parking ticket, it does happen!

If you are going to show up at the CSA later than 7:30pm, but before the Box Office is closing for the night (may be different every week but will probably be open till at least 10pm) and it’s the last minute and you’re running late…call the Cinema Arts Centre Box Office at 631-423-7610 xt 0 and ask them to transfer the call to the café so we can pack a bag for you, put your name on it and leave it at the Box Office. If you don’t get to the Cinema before the Box Office closes, your food will NOT be there the next day. The Cinema is under no obligation to store your food, and we don’t want to be the cause of bugs being attracted to our wonderful CSA food.

Sky Room Café Deal of the Week…if you’re picking up your food and want a snack, this week the special is their Antipasto Salad with a 16 oz bottle of water…the salad is a mix of romaine lettuce and spring mix, topped with sweet red and green peppers, green queen & kalamata olives, cucumbers, tomatoes, mushrooms, and carrots. Sprinkled with a blend of premium mozzarella, asiago, romano, and parmesan cheese! $7.00 while supplies last.
New menu item…the Blue Note Burger - signature black bean veggie burger, topped with a rich crumbled Gorgonzola cheese, just a dash of creamy blue cheese, and a drizzle of buffalo style hot sauce, garnished with crisp romaine lettuce, spring mix and fresh cut vine tomato, on a toasted brioche bun for $5.00!

This email contains…

1.We bag our own!
2. The CSA is looking for ONE (1) person from 5:30pm to 7:30pm to work at the CSA today…
3.This week’s list…occasionally subject to change without prior notice because farming is like that!
4.Veggie Info Sheets
5.Black Turtle Beans and Lavender redux…
6.Events (things to do both near and far)
7.Produce wrangler and counselor
8. What you actually got last week
9. Weigh stuff and check your receipts before leaving any grocery store!


1.We bag our own

CSA basic, for this CSA anyways, is that you need to bring your own supply of bags for packing up your CSA share every week from now till December 10th!

So, my suggestion…put bags that you’re setting aside for your CSA share in EVERY vehicle you own or might ride in!  Put them in the trunk, or the glove compartment, or in a bigger bag somewhere in the car, or whatever you think will work for your situation. That way, you don’t even have to remember, they’re just there.

The CSA is under no obligation to provide you with bags for your food.

I also recommend a selection of canvas, paper and plastic. I bag my CSA share up in my paper (Strawberries) and plastic bags (most everything else) and put it in my bigger canvas bag so when I get home, everything’s pretty much (with some exceptions…like herbs) ready to be put right into the fridge.



2.The CSA is looking for ONE (1) person from 5:30pm to 7:30pm to work at the CSA today…

If you’re available, please..

1. Respond to this email from now till 1pm, Thursday, June 18th
2. Call 631-421-4864 from now till 1pm, Thursday, June 18th
3. Call the Cinema Box Office at 631-423-7610 xt 0 from 2:30pm to 5:30pm and make sure we get the message that you’re coming to work and when
4. Just stop by the CSA a little before 3:30pm and 5:30pm and see if we still need help.
5. Will be getting back to whoever responds about 1pm in the order of who contacted me first

If you didn’t already get an email from Hayley or/and suzanne talking to you about being at the CSA on the Early Shift (3:30pm to 5:30pm) or the Late Shift (5:30pm to 7:30pm) this week, you’re not on the schedule for this week.

You can always show up a little before 3:30pm or 5:30pm and offer to help out just in case someone doesn’t show up (stuff happens  ).



3.This week’s list…occasionally subject to change without prior notice because farming is like that!

CSA #101 – The Basics – when trying any new food item, start small and start slow. See how your body and palate reacts. And if you aren’t crazy about the taste, texture, smell, something…try at least SIX completely different ways of preparing it before you give it the heave-ho (raw, steamed, stir-fried, fried …maybe not so healthy but ANYTHING usually tastes good fried, in a salad, in a soup, in a sandwich, in a stew, in a smoothie, and on and on)!  Am glad to provide suggestions for this one.

June 25, 2015
Week #4

1.Peas, Sugar Snap
2.Lettuce
3.Radishes
4.Peas, Snow
5.Mustard Greens (also see Braising Green Veggie Info Sheet)
6. Mint

Total Items: 6

Herb Share – June 2B
Cilantro AND Dill

Flower Share – Week #2



4.Veggie Info Sheets

The attachments to this email are your Veggie Info Sheets. You’ll be getting them every week, and if you print them out and put them in a notebook (and put in plastic sleeves if you want to keep them clean), you’ll have a CSA cookbook by the end of the CSA season!

If we get something that doesn’t have a Veggie Info Sheet, there will be links to click to help you out.



5.Black Turtle Beans and Lavender redux…

Black Turtle Beans…
Beans stored properly for 30 years were ok (notice I did say properly  )…
http://extension.usu.edu/foodstorage/htm/dry-beans

And the new thing is there’s no reason to pre-soak Beans other than to cut down cooking time…
http://www.latimes.com/food/dailydish/la-dd-dont-soak-dried-beans-20140911-story.html#page=1

Lavender…
CSA member Sharon Levy submitted this recipe which she may or may not have tried (I don’t think we had enough for a cup of Lavender but I would probably try it with what we had and checked it out anyway)…it’s from the movie “It’s Complicated”…
http://www.bakespace.com/recipes/detail/Lavender-Ice-Cream:-it's-Complicated/45913/

And if you happen to be in the city and like Coffee, check out the Coconut-Lavender Iced Cappuccino!
http://www.grubstreet.com/2015/06/creative-iced-coffee-drinks.html



6.Events

Thursday, June 25th

5pm to 10pm

Hush Restaurant Restaurant Week Last Night!
291 Main St
Farmingdale
$30 three course tasting menu (beverages not included)
To make a reservation:
516-293-4874
For more info:
http://hushamericanbistro.com/

Hush is a Modern American restaurant (farm-to-tablesque) owned by African American chef Marc Anthony Bynum. It’s on my list of places to check out.


Friday, June 26th

11am to 2pm and 4pm to 8pm

Seafood Fest (as part of National Sustainable Seafood Week in NYC)
Union Square Greenmarket
NYC
FREE (but I’m sure there will be a charge to purchase food)
For more info about this event:
http://www.grownyc.org/nightmarkets
and more info about Sustainable Seafood Week…
http://www.sswnational.com/nyc

Farmer’s Market – Beer and Cider Garden – Live Music – Local Restaurants


Saturday, June 27th
10am-1pm

Sustainable Seafood Cooking Demo
Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket
Prospect Park West and Flatbush Ave
Brooklyn
FREE
For more info about this event:
http://www.grownyc.org/greenmarket/brooklyn-grand-army-plaza
and more info about Sustainable Seafood Week…
http://www.sswnational.com/nyc

Celebrate Sustainable Seafood Week with local Brooklyn chef, John Poiarkoff, of The Pines and new restaurant, Willow. He will be leading a guest seafood cooking demonstration in collaboration with Blue Moon Fish.


Sunday, June 28th

12pm to 5pm

Vegan Shop-Up
Spreadhouse
116 Suffolk St
NYC
For more info:
https://veganshopup.wordpress.com/about/

All vegan pop-up event to eat and shop!


Tuesday, July 8th

10am to noon

Lost Ladybird Search
Quail Hill Farm farm stand
660 Old Stone Highway
Amagansett
FREE
Directions:
http://www.peconiclandtrust.org/pdf/pdf%20directions/Directions%20to%20Quail%20Hill%20Farm.pdf
For more info about this project:
http://www.lostladybug.org/

Help find native ladybugs and let scientists know where they are and how they’re doing! Heavy rains cancels this event.


Thursday, July 9th

8pm (doors open at 6:30pm)

A Comedy Benefit for Homecoming Farm in Amityville
Governor’s Comedy Club
90 Division Ave
Levittown
$20 (plus 2 drink minimum)
To get tickets (which must be purchased before the event from Sister Jean Clark of Homecoming Farm)…
Call Sister Jean Clark at 631-842-6000 xt 338
Or email Sister Jean at earthhomej@aol.com
For more info about Homecoming Farm…
http://homecomingearth.org/

Homecoming Farm is a CSA project run by Dominican nuns on their property in Amityville. The featured comic is Tim Krompier who has a new comedy CD titled Fifty Shades of Fatherhood.


Saturday, July 11th

2pm to 4pm

If I Could Write a Book: the Beverly Fite story
Cold Spring Harbor Public Library
Large Meeting Room
95 Harbor Rd
Cold Spring Harbor
FREE
Advance Registration Requested
631-692-6820

CSA member Lenore Hanson’s mother-in-law, B Hanson (also a long time CSA member), is the subject of this documentary directed by Emmy Award winning director Ron Rudaitis. B Hanson will be here for a Q & A after the film. I’ll be there…will you? 

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. Join B (Beverly Fite) Hanson on an emotional and revelatory journey back to Alabama in search of the real story of her father's disbarment and ultimately the meaning of her own life's journey.


Tuesday, July 14th

10am to 12pm

Seed Saving Workshop
Quail Hill Farm – Apple Orchard
660 Old Stone Highway
Amagansett
$5 Members/$10 General Public
Directions:
http://www.peconiclandtrust.org/pdf/pdf%20directions/Directions%20to%20Quail%20Hill%20Farm.pdf

Heavy rains will move this event indoors.


Thursday, July 23rd

7:30pm

Conversations: Ina Garten – The Barefoot Contessa
NYCB Theatre at Westbury
960 Brush Hollow Rd
Westbury
$85
For more info and tickets:
http://concerts.livenation.com/ina-garten-westbury-new-york-07-23-2015/event/00004E74BA6A7E2B?tm_link=edp_onsale&bba=1

An in depth talk with questions from you! Ina Garten, best-selling cookbook author and star of Food Network’s Barefoot Contessa, shares her natural approach to food; sharing tips, stories and maybe even some recipes. Onstage, Ina Garten delivers a charming insider’s view of the world of the Barefoot Contessa and the pleasures of good food, cooked with love and passion, and engages the audience in an interactive Q&A. Moderated by Julia Turshen. This is a new project in association with Book Revue of Huntington!


Saturday, August 8th

1pm to 5pm

North Fork Craft Beer Festival
Calverton Links Golf Course
149 Edwards Ave
Calverton
$10 to $75
For more info and to buy tickets:
http://northforkcraftbeerfestival.com/tickets.html

Featuring 50 + breweries with 100+ beers, food trucks and live music! No kids, no pets.


Tuesday, August 11th

10am to noon

Lost Ladybird Search
Quail Hill Farm farm stand
660 Old Stone Highway
Amagansett
FREE
Directions:
http://www.peconiclandtrust.org/pdf/pdf%20directions/Directions%20to%20Quail%20Hill%20Farm.pdf
For more info about this project:
http://www.lostladybug.org/

Help find native ladybugs and let scientists know where they are and how they’re doing! Heavy rains cancels this event.


Friday, August 14th to Sunday, August 16th

NOFA Summer Conference
U Mass at Amherst
Amherst, MA
For more info and to register:
http://www.nofasummerconference.org/

This is where all the cool kids of all ages go  . Keynote speakers this year will be Ronnie Cummins of the Organic Consumers Association, and Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride (developer of the GAPS…gut and psychology syndrome…diet used to treat and reverse chronic neurological and digestive illnesses).


Saturday, September 19th

12pm to 8pm

7th Annual Gaia’s Essence Women’s Wellness Conference
Islandia Marriott Long Island
3635 Expressway Drive North
Islandia
$25
For more info and to get tickets:
http://gewwc.com/

Their mission statement for this event is be empowered…be inspired…your perception…your reality. This year they’ll be having a kid’s room with special programs just for kids! Sponsors include Fit Healthy Mamas, LI Dietetic Association, Natural Awakenings magazine, So Delicious, Vitamix, and Whole Foods.


Thursday, October 29th

8pm

Conversations: Michael Pollan – In Defense of Food
NYCB Theatre at Westbury
960 Brush Hollow Rd
Westbury
$63
For more info and to buy tickets…
http://concerts.livenation.com/event/00004E75D4FC4D1F?crosssite=TM_US:1236523:141?crosssite=TM_US:1236523:141

An in depth talk with questions from you! For the past 20 years, Michael Pollan has been writing books and articles about the places where the human and natural worlds intersect: food, agricul¬ture, gardens, drugs and architecture. He is the author of the best-sellers In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto and The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals. Join us in a moderated conversation with audience Q&A and a book signing to follow. This is a new project in association with Book Revue of Huntington!



7.Produce Wrangler and Veggie Counselor

In addition to being the CSA founder, organizer, and matchmaker, I’m also a Produce Wrangler and Veggie Counselor!  Please feel free to ask me/contact me about ANYTHING to do with ANYTHING you get at the CSA! I’m happy to share my knowledge about cooking, food storage, etc. and if I don’t know, I’m happy to keep on learning so we can both find out. Oh yeah, and my basic cooking style is lazy working class gourmet (few ingredients, not a lot of time, good results). I’m a fan of the Working Class Foodie videos, and I steal their credo…local, seasonal and affordable…
http://blip.tv/wcfoodies/



8.What you actually got last week

June 18, 2015

Week #3

1.Peas, Snow – .4 lb - $3.25
2.Curly Cress (aka Pepper Cress/Garden Cress) – 1 bunch - $3.00
3.Lavender – 1 bunch - $3.00
4.Lettuce: Boston, Red – 1 head - $3.00
5. Strawberries – 1 qt - $6.50

Total Items: 5
Total Amount: $18.75
It has begun! We pay $18.50 per week for the food the farmer is giving us, and this week he’s given us $.50 more than we paid for. Doesn’t sound like much but see how every little bit extra he gives us adds up over the course of 28 weeks (so far it’s $1.25 total extra between last week and this week).



9.Weigh stuff and check your receipts before leaving any grocery store!

It’s never a bad idea to weigh stuff and check your receipts before you leave the store. While Whole Foods is the main target of this article, 70% of the stores checked had similar errors…
http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/exclusive-foods-faces-city-probe-overcharges-article-1.2268695

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