Wednesday, November 4, 2015

Week #22 Oct. 29, 2015

Happy Autumn, Breast Cancer Awareness & Farm to School Month!

Since people are asking…
December 10th is the last day of the CSA.
November 25th is our Wednesday CSA pickup day for the week of Thanksgiving.

CSA Weather Report…warm, breezy, partly sunny.

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 cafĂ© 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 in the Cinema Arts Centre being attracted to our wonderful CSA food.

This email contains (and keep in mind as far as any info/opinions that are not directly CSA related, you can always take what you like and leave the rest  )…

1.We bag our own!
2.We don’t need your help this week but…
3.This week’s list…occasionally subject to change without prior notice because farming is like that!
4.Click here and help change the world…every click counts!
5. News from the Farm
6. Happy Halloween (funny they decided to release the study this week…the ultimate sugar holiday for kids)!
7.Events (things to do both near and far) – had to be eliminated from this email because big brother thinks it’s spam…I’m SO not kidding…hope to be able to put it in again soon…
8.Dr. Weil and Dr. Mercola’s suggestions (nutritional and non) for minimizing Breast Cancer risks…
9. What you actually got last week
10.Turnips…still got them in your fridge (wondering what to do with them beyond mashing)? Check this out…
11.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.We don’t need your help this week but…

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.

October 29, 2015
Week #22

1.Carrots
2.Collard Greens
3.Sweet Potatoes*
4.Eggplant
5.Beans, Snap (same as String Beans)
6.Peppers, Sweet

Total Items: 6

*
Sweet Potato info and quick bread recipe…
http://www.tastingtable.com/cook/national/fall-season-produce-baked-sweet-potato-recipes-how-to-make-quick-bread-recipe?utm_medium=email&utm_source=TT&utm_campaign=Weekend&utm_content=Editorial



4. Click here and help change the world…every click counts!

Keep tar sands out of NY…

Why? Tar sand is the dirtiest crude oil the exists and there are plans to ship it down the Hudson River to ship it worldwide. If there was a spill in the Hudson River, it would be nearly impossible to clean up. The Hudson River is actually getting cleaner so why put years of hard work at risk? Plus, we need to concentrate our resources on non-polluting renewable resources for our energy needs, and not keep them dependent on non-renewable and oil based sources for our power needs…
http://p2a.co/tqLqVbd



5. News from the Farm

October 16, 2015

I hope everyone who wanted to come to visit our farm last Saturday was able to. It was a chance to see what we’re doing, see some of our crops, and talk with me, your farmer. Next chance to visit will be June 2016 for our CSA Strawberry picking farm tour.

Our fall crops are beginning to come in well. Kale varieties (Green and Red Curly, White and Red Russian, and Lacinato) are all being picked now, as well as Collard Greens, 3 types of Pak Choi, Tat Soi, Red and Green Mizuna, Arugula, and, Red and Green Mustard. Turnips are ready (Gold, Red, and Purple Topped White), as well as Rutabagas.

Winter Radishes (Daikon, Misato/Watermelon, Black Spanish and others) are coming in. Sweet Potatoes are also being brought in to the CSA, as well as many types of Winter Squashes.

It doesn’t seem possible, but there’s only 8 weeks of deliveries left in our CSA season. Seems the years go by quicker too. So, enjoy what we have as summer’s over, and fall’s right behind on its way to winter.

Organically yours,
Farmer Bill (Halsey)



6.Happy Halloween (funny they decided to release the study this week…the ultimate sugar holiday for kids)!

Take added sugar out of the diet of children with Metabolic Syndrome and they get better…
http://www.wsj.com/articles/study-links-sugar-to-conditions-that-lead-to-diabetes-heart-disease-in-children-1445938753

Note…they didn’t eliminate ALL added sugar so I think a moderate amount of Halloween treats can still be a part of the program.



7.Events (things to do both near and far) - had to be eliminated from this email because big brother thinks it’s spam…I’m SO not kidding…hope to be able to put it in again soon



8. Dr. Weil and Dr. Mercola’s suggestions (nutritional and non) for minimizing Breast Cancer risks…

One of these is eating cruciferous vegetables…
http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/TIP05737/3-Nutrition-Tips-to-Minimize-Breast-Cancer.html
Of the 39 cruciferous vegetables listed here, our CSA supplies us with approx. 20 of them…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cruciferous_vegetables

And some foods to avoid…
http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/TIP05730/Breast-Cancer-and-Foods-to-Avoid.html

Eat organic…and though the article doesn’t mention it…consider not eating Tilapia. I have a longstanding problem with the eating of, and the raising of, Tilapia and this article shows one of the reasons why…it’s the ONLY fish that I’m aware of that has the ratios of Omega 3 fatty acids and Omega 6 fatty acids backwards, where if you eat Tilapia, you’re NOT getting the Omega 3 fatty acids you want for health (and why people are encouraged to eat fish). You’re getting more of the Omega 6 fatty acids that are being implicated in possibly increasing your risks for breast cancer. If at all possible, do your body a favor and eat/purchase ANY other fish besides Tilapia.

Dr. Weil’s non-dietary breast cancer prevention suggestions…
http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/TIP05723/6-Ways-to-Minimize-Your-Risk-of-Breast-Cancer.html

And for another view of mammograms and other breast cancer prevention strategies (dietary and otherwise), etc…
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2015/10/14/mammography-promotion.aspx?e_cid=20151014Z1_DNL_5OFF_art_1&utm_source=dnl&utm_medium=email&utm_content=art1&utm_campaign=20151014Z1_DNL_5OFF&et_cid=DM87888&et_rid=1169061849



9.What you actually got last week

October 22, 2015
Week #21

1.Squash, Winter*: Butternut – 1 - $2.00
2.Kale: Lacinato – 1 bunch - $3.75
3.Sweet Potatoes – 2 lbs - $4.75
4.Cilantro – 1 bunch - $2.75
5.Peppers, Sweet (1 lb) OR Snap Beans: Green (.75 lbs) – 1 bag - $3.00
6.Mizuna – 1 bunch - $3.25

Total Items: 7
Total Amount: $19.50
We pay $18.50 per week for the food the farmer is giving us, and this week he’s given us $1.00 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 the 28 weeks! So far it’s $20.45 total extra (that’s one extra CSA share’s worth of food that we didn’t pay for…yeah!  ).

Herb Share – Oct 2B
Mint AND Summer Savory

*
Butternut, Acorn and Spaghetti…
http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/values-matter/kitchen-hack-how-cut-winter-squash?os_ehash=1b42631884e3df4b3816ca2272128ff6&utm_source=NE&utm_medium=email&utm_term=JER&utm_content=&utm_campaign=2015_10_07_Weekly_Newsletter

Being the Lazy Gourmet (I should write a book, shouldn’t I?), with the Butternut, I cut off the ends, cut the bottom part from the top part, cut the top section in ½ circles and put the circles on a baking sheet with Olive Oil/salt/pepper and roast till done (and eat the skin if it’s tender enough), cut the bottom half in half to scoop out the seeds and either cut in half in half moons and cook like the top bits or roast either cut side up or down with Olive Oil/Salt/Pepper till tender (unless I’m going to fill the halves with something and cook them cut side up…and if I do that I may cut a piece off the bottom so it will sit flat on the baking sheet).

Most of the skins of Winter Squash are edible IF YOU COOK THEM TILL THEY ARE TENDER. If it’s like eating the cover of a paperback book, don’t bother eating and put in your compost pile (or consider starting one). This article doesn’t recommend eating Kabocha Squash skin…
http://www.bonappetit.com/test-kitchen/ingredients/article/acorn-squash

Nice article on Winter Squash…
http://whatscookingamerica.net/squash.htm
http://www.epicurious.com/archive/seasonalcooking/farmtotable/visual-guide-winter-squash

To eat the skin or not…
http://www.chowhound.com/post/winter-squashes-wrong-eat-skins-570018?page=1



10.Turnips…still got them in your fridge (wondering what to do with them beyond mashing)? Check this out…

Talking to someone working at the CSA the other week who wasn’t a fan of Turnips, and this week I saw Turnip Fries on the Dr. Oz show. Found these Turnip alternatives online while looking to see what the Turnip Fry recipe was like. This figures into my personal, and CSA member, philosophy of trying a vegetable at least six COMPLETELY different ways before deciding whether I like it or not (or for someone else to decide before declaring a vegetable…not my vegetal piece of cake). So here’s three ways to try Turnips (and who doesn’t like something that’s fried? Shoes probably taste good fried)…

Roasted Turnips…
http://nomnompaleo.com/post/3975261273/roasted-turnips

Turnip Fries…
http://www.paleomazing.com/paleo-recipes/oven-baked-turnip-fries/

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/163062/crispy-turnip-fries/

http://www.edibleharmony.com/baked-turnip-fries-with-a-cumin-aioli-dipping-sauce/

Turnip Chips…
http://predominantlypaleo.com/zesty-turnip-chips/



11.And now for something completely different…

Video game from Chipotle…Taste Invaders – a galactic battle against artificial ingredients!
http://chipotletasteinvaders.com/

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