Week #6 July 9, 2015 GREAT NEWS! Rodale’s Organic Gardening magazine has chosen our Green Thumb farm stand as the “Best Farm Stand” in New York State!

Happy Summer!

We need help at the CSA this week (see #2), and our farm got some very cool news (see #7…I’ve always known how great our farm is, but it’s nice to be given recognition for the literal fruits and vegetables of one’s labors ).

Anybody want an Herb Share? If you’re interested and want to try it out, you can buy this week’s Herb Share for $5, and then the cost for the remainder of the Herb Share is $50 from July to December (the next delivery will be in 2 weeks). Let me know!

**CSA Parking suggestion…if you’re coming to the Cinema Arts Centre to pick up at the CSA between 3:45pm and 4:30pm, be aware there will be YMCA camp pickups going on till August 28th. Tell the people directing traffic that you’re not picking anyone up at the YMCA and they’ll let you go around the line of cars to be able to park in the back by the day care center for the CSA.
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!

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).

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 Hot & Spicy Hummus Platter - A hefty helping of our signature garlic hummus, drizzled with extra virgin olive oil, sprinkled with crushed red pepper, and topped with hot & spicy cherry peppers ! Served with toasted whole grain pita! $5.00 (while supplies last).
New menu item…Potato Latkes - Our traditional potato pancakes, heated to perfection, and served with a side of sour cream! $4.00


This email contains…

1.We bag our own!
2. HELP! We don’t have anyone to work at the CSA from 5:30pm to 7:30pm this week!!!
3.This week’s list…occasionally subject to change without prior notice because farming is like that!
4.Notes from the Farm
5.This week…WE WEIGH!!!
6.Events (things to do both near and far)
7. Eat fish? Got cats? Check this out…
8. What you actually got last week
9.And now for something completely different…


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!

And if you ask anyone to pick up your CSA food for you, please let them know that they need to bring bags to pack the food in.

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. HELP! We don’t have anyone to work at the CSA from 5:30pm to 7:30pm this week!!!

We’re looking for THREE (3) people to be at the CSA this week from 5:30pm to 7:30pm.

If you’re available, please..

1. Respond to this email from now till 1pm, Thursday, July 9th
2. Call 631-421-4864 from now till 1pm, Thursday, July 9th
3. Call the Cinema Box Office at 631-423-7610 xt 0 from 2:30pm to 5:30pm on Thursday, July 9th, and make sure we get the message that you’re coming to work and when
4. Just stop by the CSA a little before 5:30pm and see if we still need help.

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  ).

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.



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.

July 2, 2015
Week #6

1.Peas, Sugar Snap – 1 bag
2.Lettuce – 1 head
3.Squash, Summer…we will probably start weighing this week!*
4.Onions, Spring – 1 bunch**
5.Radicchio – 1 head
6. Sorrel – 1 bunch

Total Items: 5

Flower Share – Week #4

Herb Share – July 1A
Chives, Garlic AND Savory (Winter? Summer?)

*
Zucchini Butter…I’m sure you can substitute any Summer Squash for this one
http://justfood.org/blog/category/recipes/2015-07-07/zucchini-butter
And again…most any Zucchini recipe can often be substituted with other Summer Squashes (and you can make pasta with Costata Romenesco, Golden, Kousa, and Yellow Summer Squash)…
http://feedfeed.info/Zucchini

**
Dr. Weil says to eat more Onions! Though, not just Onions but anything in the Allium family which includes…Scallions, Chives, Garlic (which we get at the CSA)…
http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/TIP05605/Eat-More-Onions.html
Creamed Chard and Spring Onions…
http://smittenkitchen.com/blog/2010/04/creamed-chard-and-spring-onions/
Spring Onion Curry (can get these ingredients at Patel Brothers Market in Hicksville)…
http://saffrontrail.blogspot.com/2006/07/simple-spring-onion-curry.html



4. Notes from the Farm

July 3, 2015

Happy July!

Our crops are coming in now! Beets - Red, Gold and Chiogga; Carrots - Baby Orange, Red, and Rainbow; Fennel, two types of Radicchio, red and white Onions all have started to come in this week.
Still picking Peas, (mostly Sugar Snaps) and Summer Squash has begun, and we’re now picking 15 types of Lettuce and all sorts of herbs. So there’s plenty to choose from to bring in the next several weeks.

In other farm news, the editors of Organic Life magazine (the new editor-in-chief is James Oseland, former editor-in-chief of Saveur magazine and Top Chef Master judge, published by Rodale Press…it’s the new version of Rodale’s Organic Gardening magazine) have chosen our Green Thumb farm stand as the “Best Farm Stand” in New York State! It’s in this month’s magazine on the 50 best farm stands in the USA.

So, summer is here - Happy 4th Independence Day, and enjoy our organic CSA produce because the season’s over way too soon – there’s already only 8 weeks until Labor Day!

Organically Yours,
Farmer Bill (Halsey)

PS…You can get a free trial issue of Organic Life magazine and subscribe here (that’s what I just did)…
https://secure.rodale.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/OaeEntryPage?storeId=10057&mktOfferId=OGD68107&keycode=I59A1A02&cm_mmc=rodalesorganiclife.com-_-Paid%20Search-_-May%2015%20SEM%20Free%20Trial%20Issue-_-OfferId_OGD68107_keycode_I59A1A02



5. This week…WE WEIGH!!!

When we get Summer Squash or Tomatoes at the CSA, that’s the time that the scales come out and we start weighing our produce.

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 feel free to 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 CSA 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 more than THREE POUNDS of produce and so 4 of your fellow CSA members (and one of them could be you) won’t get the food they paid for.

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 someone working at the CSA or contact suzanne…there is always a method to the madness )



6.Events

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

11am to 1pm

Book signing: Good and Cheap by Leanne Brown
Union Square Greenmarket
Between 17th and 15th St and Union Square West and East
NYC
FREE

A book about eating well on $4 a day…
http://www.leannebrown.com/
And here’s her free PDF version of her cookbook (however, the new edition is longer)…
https://8b862ca0073972f0472b704e2c0c21d0480f50d3.googledrive.com/host/0Bxd6wdCBD_2tdUdtM0d4WTJmclU/good-and-cheap.pdf

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.


Saturday, July 18th

11am to 1pm

Book signing: The Connecticut Farm Table Cookbook by Tracey Medeiros
Union Square Greenmarket
Between 17th and 15th St and Union Square West and East
NYC
FREE
For more info about this book and to buy it online…
http://books.wwnorton.com/books/detail.aspx?ID=4294987602


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, July 25th

11am to 1pm

Book signing: Paleo Mania (my term, not the Greenmarket’s  )
Union Square Greenmarket
Between 17th and 15th St and Union Square West and East
NYC
FREE
For more info about these books and to buy online…
http://sustainabledish.com/the-homegrown-paleo-cookbook/
http://www.amazon.com/The-Frugal-Paleo-Cookbook-Affordable-ebook/dp/B00K48BO6C
http://stupideasypaleo.com/performance-paleo-cookbook/

Authors Diana Rogers, Homegrown Paleo Cookbook, Ciarra Hannah, The Frugal Paleo Cookbook and Stephanie Gaudreau, Performance Paleo Cookbook will be here to sign their books.


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).


Friday, August 14th

8am to 4:30pm

FTCLDF 2nd Annual Food Freedom Conference
Stonewall Jackson Hotel
Staunton, VA
$139
For more info and to register:
http://www.farmtoconsumer.org/fff/

The Farm to Consumer Legal Defense Fund (FTCLDF) is having a gathering of food activists and community members including Joel Salatin of Polyface Farm.


Saturday, August 15th

8:30am to 2:30pm

Deluxe Tour of Polyface Farm
Polyface Farm
Swoope, VA
$109
For more info and to register:
http://www.farmtoconsumer.org/fff/

This is the farm that Joel Salatin built and a rare opportunity to visit it.

6:30pm to 10pm

Premium Night at Polyface
Polyface Farm
Swoope, VA
$1500
For more info and to register:
http://www.farmtoconsumer.org/fff/a-premium-night-at-polyface/

There are only 22 seats out of 30 left (as of 7/1) for this intimate event with Joel Salatin and his wife and the president of FTCLDF (Farm to Consumer Legal Defense Fund), and others.


Thursday, August 20th

3pm

Outstanding in the Field at Beekman 1802
6725 State Road
Sharon Springs, NY
$210
For more info and to get tickets:
http://outstandinginthefield.ticketmob.com/event.cfm?cart&showTimingID=66245

There were other Outstanding in the Field events on Long Island and NYC but they’re sold out, and this is the only one left in the area. The chef at this event used to work at WD-50 in NYC, and Beekman 1802 is the farm featured on the TV show called The Beekman Boys starring owners Brent and Josh.


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.Eat fish? Got cats? Check this out…

Another reason to know where your food (and even your pet food) comes from, AND to require transparency and responsibility from the companies you’re giving your money to.

Walmart and Sysco, and pet food companies Iams, Fancy Feast and Meow Mix, all have used fish from these companies that use slave labor (what year is this???)…
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/d8afe2a8447d4610b3293c119415bd4a/myanmar-fisherman-goes-home-after-22-years-slave



8.What you actually got last week

July 2, 2015
Week #5

1.Peas, Sugar Snap – 1 lb - $6.50
2.Lettuce: Leaf, Red – 1 head - $3.00
3.Kale: Siberian, White – 1 bunch - $3.50
4.Onions, Spring – 1 bunch - $3.50
5.Cilantro OR Dill – 1 bunch - $2.75

Total Items: 5
Total Amount: $19.25
We pay $18.50 per week for the food the farmer is giving us, and this week he’s given us $.75 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 $2.75 total extra).

Flower Share – Week #3
Salvia



9.And now for something completely different…

Gives new meaning to the phrase…Eat my shorts!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVcc3zktzBU

Have eaten at No. 7 Sub (very funky and good sandwiches), Robicelli’s (pleasant cupcakes), but not the last guy.

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