Thursday, September 22, 2016

Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016 Week #17



Happy Autumn (first day is today)!

CSA Weather report…82 and sunny (don’t leave your CSA share in the car…it will be unhappy because it’s too warm in there)!

QUESTION…Did any of you go to the Slow Food meeting last week at the Cinema Arts Centre? If so, I’d love to talk to you about what happened as I wanted to go but was in NYC.

Keep in mind…any time you try a food you’ve never eaten before
1.       Do some reading about what it is, and find out if there are medical contraindications if you’re on medication or have health issues
2.       Eat a single serving size and give it 24 hours to see how your body reacts (some might be fine, a lot might not)
3.       When in doubt how to cook something, look to the countries that have been using it for decades/centuries, and see what they do and don’t do
4.       Any questions, don’t hesitate to ask

What happens if you don’t get any CSA emails and Thursday rolls around and it’s time to go to the CSA? GO ANYWAY! There have been times over the years when various things have prevented a CSA email from being sent…computers, storms, health emergencies, etc. However, the thing to do is to come to the Cinema and in all probability, your CSA share will be there (unless there’s weather that’s so treacherous travel would be extremely ill-advised and even then, the farm will show up and drive from Water Mill to Huntington before some CSA members would drive from Huntington…to Huntington). And if not (which I doubt…there was only one snowstorm where the farm showed up on Friday instead of Thursday because no one could drive anywhere), there would be a sign on the door saying something, or you could call me (though with Hurricane Sandy, even my land line was down because of the Verizon battery it’s hooked up to….grrrrrrr…I need to get that detached so I can get phone calls during those times when the power goes out).

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 (can be different every week but 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 (do NOT leave a message to be given to the CSA because there have been occasions where we didn’t get the message and someone showed up to get their food and was not happy their food wasn’t there) 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.

If you’re sharing a CSA share with someone…it’s possible they’re not on this email list yet (if not email me their full name and email address…or have them do it), so check with them and then forward this if they didn’t get it (and always check the junk/spam folder).

*Keep in mind that anything you read in this email (unless it’s directly related to the functioning and operation of the CSA) is subjective and like they say in the 12 step world…take what you like and leave the rest!

This week’s email includes…

1.       HELP!!! The CSA needs your help this week…we’re looking for ONE (1) person to help out from 3:30pm to 5:30pm
2.       CSA 101 – Bring Bags!!!
3.       NY Food Recall…
4.       We started weighing our produce…not rocket science but there are things to be mindful of!
5.       SATURDAY 11AM ONLY…Cinema Arts Centre discount for CSA members…for those with kids, or folks who are kids at heart
6.       The List- subject to change without notice because…farming is like that
7.       Event Listings…both near and far
                    8.    What you actually got last week
                    9.    And now for something completely different…



1.HELP!!! The CSA needs your help this week (told you it was going to happen sooner or later J )…we’re looking for ONE (1) person to help out from 3:30pm to 5:30pm

If you can help out today…

1.       Respond to this email before 1pm today
2.       Call 631-421-4864 and leave a message before 1pm today
3.       Call the Cinema Arts Centre after 3pm at 631-423-7610 xt 0 and ask to be transferred to the Café to talk to someone from the CSA
4.       Show up a little before 3:30pm tonight and offer to help

If you didn’t already get an email from Rene 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.

HOWEVER, 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).



2.CSA 101…Bring Bags!

CSA basic, for this CSA anyway, is that you need to bring your own supply of bags for packing up your CSA share every week from now till December 8th!

So, my suggestion…put bags that you’re setting aside for your CSA share in EVERY vehicle you own or might ride in! J 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.

And if you send someone to pick up your CSA share for you, you need to tell them to…BRING BAGS!



3.NY Food Recall

Do you eat whole wheat Eggos?

They might make you sick so check here…



4.We started weighing our produce…not rocket science but there are things to be mindful of!

It’s time to weigh our food!

A.      Please be aware that it may take a little more time for you to collect your CSA share when weighing is part of the experience so plan accordingly.

B.      Check the CSA Wall Chart that our farmer brings in every week 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!

C.      Bring your reading glasses or ask someone to help if you can’t see the numbers on the scale clearly.

D.      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 this week, and if every person is over by ONE OUNCE (for crying out loud! It’s only an ounce!!!) …that means we’ll be short over 4 1/2 POUNDS of produce and 5 CSA members (and one of them could be you) won’t get the food they paid for.

E.       IF you are asked to weigh more than one food item at the same time (and you probably will at some point in the CSA season)…please follow the directions given to you, and weigh in the order you are asked (you might not think there’s any good reason to be doing this but our farmer does, and that should be enough of a reason right there but if you want a further explanation – ask someone working at the CSA or contact suzanne…there is always a method to the madness)



5.SATURDAY 11AM ONLY…Cinema Arts Centre discount for CSA members…for those with kids, or folks who are kids at heart

In celebration of Art House Theater Day (like Record Store Day of you’re familiar with that), the Cinema Arts Centre is playing the theatrical premiere of a charming double feature of shorts and here’s a trailer of what to expect…
Come visit A Town Called Panic (also the name of a feature length film starring these characters), with two award-winning new specials from the Academy Award-nominated directors of Ernest & Celestine. Cowboy and Indian are always up to some hare-brained scheme, with Horse left to clean up the mess. In The Christmas Log, their out-of-control antics lead Horse to call Santa and cancel their presents. In Back to School, a class assignment yields a special prize, but only Pig knows the answer.

Everyone under 12 gets in FREE (same for everyone…CSA member or no)
BUT if you’re a CSA member…
And you’re NOT a Cinema member, you get in for Member Price ($7 instead of the General Public price of $12)
And if you’re a Cinema member, you get a discount ($5 instead of the regular Cinema Member price of $7)

To get the special discount, go to the Box Office to get your ticket and tell them you’re a member of the Green Thumb CSA!

To read more about this event…



6.The List - subject to change without notice because…farming is like that!

September 22, 2016
Week #17

1.Leeks – 1 bunch
2.Tomatoes, Mini – 1 pt.
3.Lettuce – 1 head
4.Squash, Summer* – up to 2 lbs.
5.Eggplant – 1

Total Items: 5

Herb Share – Sept 2A
Dill AND Parsley, Italian**

*See photos above for some ideas contributed (and cooked up) by CSA member (and master Homeopath) Sonam Kushner…one is the Zucchini Carpaccio recipe included in last week’s CSA email which is repeated below in what you got last week.

**
Herb preservation tip…



7.Event Listings…both near and far

Thursday, September 22nd

10am to 11am

iEat Green online radio show with Bhavani Jaroff
888-874-4888 (to call in during the live show with questions)

And if you miss it, you can listen in the archives.


Saturday, Sept 24th and Sunday, Sept 25th

10am to 5pm

Long Island Fair
Old Bethpage Village Restoration
1303 Round Swamp Rd
Old Bethpage
$12 to FREE
For more info:

11am to 6pm

34th Annual Queens County Fair
Queens County Farm
73-50 Little Neck Pkwy
Floral Park
FREE – Members/$10 (per day) – Adults/$5 (per day) – Children 12 and under
To purchase tickets and for more info:


Wednesday, Sept 28th

1pm OR 4pm OR 7pm

Extreme Couponing Workshop
Long Island Marriott
101 James Doolittle Blvd.
Uniondale, NY
FREE
To register:

Learn from TLC extreme couponer Jennifer Moffis


Friday, Sept 30th to Sunday, Oct 2nd

10am to 5pm

Long Island Fair
Old Bethpage Village Restoration
1303 Round Swamp Rd
Old Bethpage
$12 to FREE
For more info:


Saturday, Oct 1st and Sunday Oct 2nd

10am to 5pm

Hudson Valley Garlic Festival
Washington Ave. Extension
Saugerties, NY
$10
For more info:


Sunday, Oct 2nd

2pm to 5pm

Fall fruits, workshop and tasting…with fruit master Lee Reich
Farmden
387 Springtown Rd
New Paltz, NY
$42
For more info and to register:

If you want to try some unusual fruits (Paw Paws, Medlars, Hardy Kiwi) and learn how to grow fruit organically in our neck of the woods…this is the workshop to go to.


Thursday, Oct 20th to Sun, Oct 23rd

10th Annual Food Film Festival
AMC Empire 25
234 W 42nd St.
NYC
$60 to $316
For more info and to buy tickets:


Saturday, October 22nd

CSA Pumpkin Picking Hay Ride Tour!
Green Thumb Farm
Water Mill
FREE
Details TBA


Friday, Nov 4th and Saturday, Nov 5th

2016 WFAN (Women Food & Agriculture Network) Annual Conference
Lied Lodge and Conference Center
Nebraska City,NE
$80 – Student/beginning Farmer/$100 General Public (plus food/lodging and optional events)
For more info and to register…

Keynote speaker is Karryn Olson-Ramanujum, permaculture educator and teacher at Ithaca College, NY (co-founder of the Finger Lakes Permaculture Institute in NY).


Saturday, November 12th

12pm to 5pm (optional health screening starts at 8am)

Dr. Joel Fuhrman’s Breast Cancer Seminar
Hunterdon Central High School
84 Rt 31
Flemington, NJ
$59.95 (plus $29.95 if interested in optional non-invasive health screening)
To register and for more info…

Dr. Joel Fuhrman’s slant is vegan and calls his diet…nutritarian. Author of the book, Eat to Live, and many others.



8.What you actually got last week (not always what was in the email the week before because farming is like that regarding occasional last minute changes)

September 15, 2016
Week #16

1.Carrots – 1 bunch - $3.50
2.Tomatoes – up to 2 lbs. - $6.25
3.Cilantro – 1 bunch - $3.00
4.Squash, Summer*: Costata Romanesco, Kousa, Patty Pan, Yellow, Zucchini – up to 2 lbs. - $4.50
5.Radishes: French Breakfast OR Purple – 1 bunch - $3.00

Total Items: 5
Total Amount: $19.25
(Since we pay $18.50 per week for our CSA share, this week we got $.75 more than we paid…SO, that means at the moment our farmer has given us $15.50 more than we paid for up to this point. Over the course of the CSA year…and over the years…we have gotten at least one, and sometimes up to two, share’s worth of food that we didn’t pay for…so keep reading this and see how it plays out from week to week)

*
How easy is this??? Zucchini Carpaccio (can substitute with Golden/Yellow/Kousa/Costata Romanesco)…



9.And now for something completely different…

Making the world’s smallest Lasagna…very impressive (and adorable and kind of insane…but in a good way J )!

###

Thursday, Sept. 15, 2016 Week #16



Happy Summer (it’s still summer till September 21st)!

CSA Weather report…73 and sunny (don’t leave your CSA share in the car…it will be unhappy because it’s still too warm in there)!

You might have problems finding parking after 6pm!!! The actor Alan Cummings is performing at the Cinema starting at 7:30pm and I imagine people will be coming early to eat and get their seats in the theater. You can pull in front of the entrance to the Cinema where you’re normally NOT supposed to park and keep your blinkers on, dash in and dash out to get your CSA food, and it should be ok (don’t think you’d get a parking  ticket). If it’s really nutty you could park in the YMCA back lot (if you know how to get over there) and walk to the Cinema, or even park across the street at the Park Avenue Deli and cross the street. Not sure how chaotic this is going to be but at least you’ve been warned and that’s the best we can do.

QUESTION…Did any of you go to the Slow Food meeting this week at the Cinema Arts Centre? If so, I’d love to talk to you about what happened as I wanted to go but was in NYC.

Keep in mind…any time you try a food you’ve never eaten before
1.       Do some reading about what it is, and find out if there are medical contraindications if you’re on medication or have health issues
2.       Eat a single serving size and give it 24 hours to see how your body reacts (some might be fine, a lot might not)
3.       When in doubt how to cook something, look to the countries that have been using it for decades/centuries, and see what they do and don’t do
4.       Any questions, don’t hesitate to ask

What happens if you don’t get any CSA emails and Thursday rolls around and it’s time to go to the CSA? GO ANYWAY! There have been times over the years when various things have prevented a CSA email from being sent…computers, storms, health emergencies, etc. However, the thing to do is to come to the Cinema and in all probability, your CSA share will be there (unless there’s weather that’s so treacherous travel would be extremely ill-advised and even then, the farm will show up and drive from Water Mill to Huntington before some CSA members would drive from Huntington…to Huntington). And if not (which I doubt…there was only one snowstorm where the farm showed up on Friday instead of Thursday because no one could drive anywhere), there would be a sign on the door saying something, or you could call me (though with Hurricane Sandy, even my land line was down because of the Verizon battery it’s hooked up to….grrrrrrr…I need to get that detached so I can get phone calls during those times when the power goes out).

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 (can be different every week but 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 (do NOT leave a message to be given to the CSA because there have been occasions where we didn’t get the message and someone showed up to get their food and was not happy their food wasn’t there) 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.

If you’re sharing a CSA share with someone…it’s possible they’re not on this email list yet (if not email me their full name and email address…or have them do it), so check with them and then forward this if they didn’t get it (and always check the junk/spam folder).

*Keep in mind that anything you read in this email (unless it’s directly related to the functioning and operation of the CSA) is subjective and like they say in the 12 step world…take what you like and leave the rest!

This week’s email includes…

1.       The CSA doesn’t need you this week (but we will soon enough)
2.       CSA 101 – Bring Bags!!!
3.       We started weighing our produce…not rocket science but there are things to be mindful of!
4.       The List- subject to change without notice because…farming is like that
5.       Event Listings…both near and far
                    6.    What you actually got last week
                    7.    And now for something completely different…



1. The CSA doesn’t need you this week (but we will soon enough)

We’re talking about working at the CSA.

We have the help we need for this week. Whoo-hoo!

If you didn’t already get an email from Rene 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.

HOWEVER, 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).



2.CSA 101…Bring Bags!

CSA basic, for this CSA anyway, is that you need to bring your own supply of bags for packing up your CSA share every week from now till December 8th!

So, my suggestion…put bags that you’re setting aside for your CSA share in EVERY vehicle you own or might ride in! J 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.

And if you send someone to pick up your CSA share for you, you need to tell them to…BRING BAGS!



3.We started weighing our produce…not rocket science but there are things to be mindful of!

It’s time to weigh our food!

A.      Please be aware that it may take a little more time for you to collect your CSA share when weighing is part of the experience so plan accordingly.

B.      Check the CSA Wall Chart that our farmer brings in every week 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!

C.      Bring your reading glasses or ask someone to help if you can’t see the numbers on the scale clearly.

D.      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 this week, and if every person is over by ONE OUNCE (for crying out loud! It’s only an ounce!!!) …that means we’ll be short over 4 1/2 POUNDS of produce and 5 CSA members (and one of them could be you) won’t get the food they paid for.

E.       IF you are asked to weigh more than one food item at the same time (and you probably will at some point in the CSA season)…please follow the directions given to you, and weigh in the order you are asked (you might not think there’s any good reason to be doing this but our farmer does, and that should be enough of a reason right there but if you want a further explanation – ask someone working at the CSA or contact suzanne…there is always a method to the madness)



4.The List - subject to change without notice because…farming is like that!

September 15, 2016
Week #16

1.Carrots – 1 bunch
2.Tomatoes – up to 2 lbs.
3.Cilantro – 1 bunch
4.Squash, Summer* – up to 2 lbs.
5.Radishes – 1 bunch

Total Items: 5

*
How easy is this??? Zucchini Carpaccio (can substitute with Golden/Yellow/Kousa/Costata Romanesco)…



5.Event Listings…both near and far

Thursday, September 15th

10am to 11am

iEat Green online radio show with Bhavani Jaroff
888-874-4888 (to call in during the live show with questions)

And if you miss it, you can listen in the archives.


Saturday, Sept 17th and Sunday, Sept 18th

10am to 6pm

13th Annual Long Island Garlic Festival
Garden of Eve
4558 Sound Ave.
Riverhead
$5/FREE under 6 years old
For more info:


Saturday, Sept 17th

37th Annual Pickle Festival
John Gardiner Farm
900 Park Ave
Huntington
FREE
For more info:



Saturday, Sept 24th and Sunday, Sept 25th

10am to 5pm

Long Island Fair
Old Bethpage Village Restoration
1303 Round Swamp Rd
Old Bethpage
$12 to FREE
For more info:

11am to 6pm

34th Annual Queens County Fair
Queens County Farm
73-50 Little Neck Pkwy
Floral Park
FREE – Members/$10 (per day) – Adults/$5 (per day) – Children 12 and under
To purchase tickets and for more info:


Wednesday, Sept 28th

1pm OR 4pm OR 7pm

Extreme Couponing Workshop
Long Island Marriott
101 James Doolittle Blvd.
Uniondale, NY
FREE
To register:

Learn from TLC extreme couponer Jennifer Moffis


Friday, Sept 30th to Sunday, Oct 2nd

10am to 5pm

Long Island Fair
Old Bethpage Village Restoration
1303 Round Swamp Rd
Old Bethpage
$12 to FREE
For more info:


Saturday, Oct 1st and Sunday Oct 2nd

10am to 5pm

Hudson Valley Garlic Festival
Washington Ave. Extension
Saugerties, NY
$10
For more info:


Sunday, Oct 2nd

2pm to 5pm

Fall fruits, workshop and tasting…with fruit master Lee Reich
Farmden
387 Springtown Rd
New Paltz, NY
$42
For more info and to register:

If you want to try some unusual fruits (Paw Paws, Medlars, Hardy Kiwi) and learn how to grow fruit organically in our neck of the woods…this is the workshop to go to.


Thursday, Oct 20th to Sun, Oct 23rd

10th Annual Food Film Festival
AMC Empire 25
234 W 42nd St.
NYC
$60 to $316
For more info and to buy tickets:


Friday, Nov 4th and Saturday, Nov 5th

2016 WFAN (Women Food & Agriculture Network) Annual Conference
Lied Lodge and Conference Center
Nebraska City,NE
$80 – Student/beginning Farmer/$100 General Public (plus food/lodging and optional events)
For more info and to register…

Keynote speaker is Karryn Olson-Ramanujum, permaculture educator and teacher at Ithaca College, NY (co-founder of the Finger Lakes Permaculture Institute in NY).


Saturday, November 12th

12pm to 5pm (optional health screening starts at 8am)

Dr. Joel Fuhrman’s Breast Cancer Seminar
Hunterdon Central High School
84 Rt 31
Flemington, NJ
$59.95 (plus $29.95 if interested in optional non-invasive health screening)
To register and for more info…

Dr. Joel Fuhrman’s slant is vegan and calls his diet…nutritarian. Author of the book, Eat to Live, and many others.



6.What you actually got last week (not always what was in the email the week before because farming is like that regarding occasional last minute changes)

September 8, 2016
Week #15

1.Lettuce: Leaf, Red – 1 head - $3.00
2.Tomatoes, Mini: Grape, Yellow – 1 pt. - $5.50
3.Eggplant* - 1 - $2.50
4.Beets: Chiogga OR Mixed OR Red – 1 bunch - $3.50
5.Peppers, Sweet: Mixed – 1.5 lb. bag - $4.50

Total Items: 5
Total Amount: $19.00
(Since we pay $18.50 per week for our CSA share, this week we got $1.50 more than we paid…SO, that means at the moment our farmer has given us $14.75 more than we paid for up to this point. Over the course of the CSA year…and over the years…we have gotten at least one, and sometimes up to two, share’s worth of food that we didn’t pay for…so keep reading this and see how it plays out from week to week)

Flower Share – Week #11
Mixed bunch
THE END

Herb Share – Sept 1A
Pineapple Sage and Purslane**

**
See attached Veggie Info Sheet for Purslane (which we didn’t know we were getting till the truck showed up last week)

*
Roasted Eggplant and Tomato Pasta
Saw this in the NY Times yesterday and it looks good (you could use any Tomato recipe and work it in here…there are simple Mini Tomato Sauce recipes that could work too…or use jarred in a pinch)



7.And now for something completely different…

They’re going to ask the owners of the company responsible for doing this to the water to drink it if it’s so safe… J

###