Happy Summer (still summer till September 22nd)!
CSA weather report as of Wednesday evening….warm and
thunderstorms/rain starting around 7pm.
OFFER…
Get a free copy of the program guide for the NAVEL Expo
happening in Melville on Sunday, November 5th (see below in Events
listing). There’s a LOT of great lectures to go to and articles so you’ll be
happy if you get one of these before the event…click here and this offer is
good till Friday, September 15th…
Veggie info sheets added as needed. This is the link: Veggie Info Sheets. Print out, put in a notebook and you end up with a cookbook at the end of the CSA season. Also there are good tips on storage, prep, and nutrition.
The list…this is a general list and you’ll be sent another
email within the next week with the detailed list after I get it (which isn’t
till the day of the CSA…the list is subject to change without notice because
farming is like that! J
However, most of the time it’s accurate and if it’s not…usually only one food
item will be changed)…
CSA words to live by…when trying any new food that
you’ve never eaten before…START SLOW! Read up about it (make sure
it doesn’t interfere with any medications you might be taking or any health
conditions you might have), see what traditional/conventional ways it’s
prepared (cultures that have been eating certain foods for many years basically
have a good idea what they’re doing and we can learn from that), try a small portion,
see how your body/digestive system reacts, and proceed from there. Then try
preparing in different ways and see what you come up with!
Paraphrased wise words by a nutritionist that I read and
don’t remember where I read it or who said it, BUT it’s pretty smart info
regarding eating seasonally in our part of the globe…
Spring is all about detoxing (what we get from the CSA at
this time is a lot of green things that are really good to help clean us out
from whatever we accumulated during the winter)
Interesting piece about spring greens (out of the 14 listed,
we get 12 of them with our CSA…watercress nutritionally and botanically similar
to Peppercress) and detoxing…
Summer is all about being hydrated (the popular summer foods
are all full of water…Tomatoes, Lettuces, Summer Squashes, etc.)
Fall/winter is all about storing energy (we get all the
dense vegetables…Sweet Potatoes, Winter Squashes, etc…. that are energy
powerhouses to fuel us through the winter) to get you through the winter to
make it to…Spring!
Week #16
September 14, 2017
- Potatoes – up to but not over 2 lbs.
- Tomatoes, Mini – 1 pt.I*
- Cabbage: Green – 1 head
- Beans, Shelling: Soy*
If you want to learn more than you ever knew you could learn
about Soybeans, this is the place…
Bottom line according to this website is if you’re going to
eat Soy products, eat plain old Soybeans like we’re getting, or fermented
Soybean products like Tempeh, Miso, Natto, and fermented Tofu (getting them all
certified organic so they’ll be non-GMO).
Total Items: 4
Flower Share
Week #11 – Mixed Bunch – THE END! L
Herb Share – Sept 1A
Oregano AND Parsley
*Here’s one from Mark Bittman…Summer Tomato Tart…
This week’s email…
- You can still purchase our organic Herb Shares (and you could do a half share with someone…I did J )!
- Events – near and far
- Bitter Melon info (better late than never!)
- Click to change the world (or at least try J )…
- What you actually got last week
- Watch this!
- Healthy snacks (including one using something we get at the CSA)…
- And now for something completely different…
CSA caveat…anything in any of our CSA emails that’s not
related directly to the workings of the CSA is an opinion and/or subjective, so
please feel free to take it or leave it! J
1.You can still purchase our organic Herb Shares (and you
could do a half share with someone…I did J
)!
Like the Herbs in the Herb Shares you’re seeing? So
far we’ve gotten Basil, Chives, Dill, Lemon Basil, Mint, Purple Sage, Rosemary
and a bunch more!
If you’d like to get in on the rest of the Herb Share for
the season, the cost is $30.
Say yes to this email, and bring cash or a check made out to
Halseys Green Thumb Farm to the next CSA.
The next one will be delivered on September 28th (two
different herbs show up on the 2nd and 4th week of every
month except for December where it will be the 1st week as that’s
the last week for the CSA).
Think it’s too much to use? Dry the hearty ones (Rosemary),
and freeze the delicate ones (Chives/Dill/Mint/Basil/Sage).
Herbs have more antioxidants than Blueberries and a lot of
other foods that are popular because of their antioxidant levels…
2.Events – near and far
Tuesday, September 12th to Thursday,
September 21st
Square One Healing Cancer Coaching Sessions (online)
FREE
To register and for more info…
Hear information from Chris Wark, who had Stage 3 Colon
Cancer, who healed himself without the traditional cancer therapies of
chemotherapy and radiation. If you’re interested in healing and preventing
cancer, check this out.
Thursday, September 14th
10am to 11am
iEat Green with Bhavani Jharoff online radio show
To tune in online…
To call in during the live show…
888-874-4888
Download the PRN mobile app to listen wherever!
Can also listen to past shows on the PRN archive page
Join host Bhavani Jharoff (chef and head of the Slow Food
North Shore chapter) talking food and food politics.
Friday, September 15th to Sunday, September
17th
Greek Fest 2017
St. Paraskevi Greek Orthodox Church
1 Shrine Place
Greenlawn, NY
For more info…
Greek food, wine/beer, desserts, raffles, rides, dancers,
flea market, music, games.
Saturday, September 16th to Sunday,
September 24th
Female Brain Summit (online)
FREE
To sign up to register…
Who doesn’t want a better functioning brain, to avoid
Alzheimer’s, sleep better, and live healthier? Here’s some free info to help
(and I imagine it will have something to do with eating more vegetables and
fruits). The one doctor I’ve heard of involved is Dr. Stephen Masley, author of
the 30 Day Heart Tune-up, and Smart Fat: eat more fat, lose more weight.
Saturday, September 16th
10am to 4pm
Pickle Festival
John Gardiner Farm
900 Park Ave
Greenlawn
For more info:
Pickles, hay rides, family activities
10am to 6pm
Garlic Festival
Garden of Eve Farm
4558 Sound Ave
Riverhead, NY
$5/FREE – Children under 6
For more info:
Long Island’s only Garlic Fest. Crafts, live music, family
fun. Rain or Shine.
10am to 6pm
Long Island County Fair
Old Bethpage Village Restoration
1303 Round Swamp Rd.
Old Bethpage, NY
$15 – Adults/$12 – Seniors (60+)/$ 8 - Children 5 to 12/FREE
– Children under 5
For more info:
Entertainment and plenty of blue ribbons!
10am to 11:30am
Organic Lawn Care
Bridge Gardens
36 Mitchell La
Bridgehampton
$5 General Public/FREE – Members
For more info and to RSVP…
Partnered with the Peconic Land Trust and the Perfect Earth
Project. Rain or shine.
10am to 11:45am
Harvesting and Enjoying Herbs
Agricultural Center at Chanews Farm
3005 Youngs Ave.
Southold, NY
$20 per person plus $10 materials fee
For more info and to RSVP…
3pm to 8pm
Food and Music Festival
Tilles Center for the Performing Arts
Tilles Center Plaza
720 Northern Blvd.
Brookville, NY
FREE
For more info:
Edible Long Island and the Tilles Center sponsor a day of
food trucks, battle of the bands at 5pm (winning band opens for Blue Oyster
Cult and Jefferson Starship…your vote counts!), the Long Island Fringe
Festival…bring blankets, chairs, friends and family!
Sunday, September 17th
10am to 4:30pm
Over 50 Fair
Huntington Hilton
598 Broadhollow Rd.
Melville, NY
$6 in advance/$8 day of the event (bring one adult child for
free)/FREE – US Veterans
For more info:
One of the workshops is about environmental toxins and GMOs
and a few others looked related to healthy living (yoga, diet)!
10am to 6pm
Garlic Festival
Garden of Eve Farm
4558 Sound Ave
Riverhead, NY
$5/FREE children under 6
For more info:
Long Island’s only Garlic Fest. Crafts, live music, family
fun. Rain or Shine.
10am to 6pm
Long Island County Fair
Old Bethpage Village Restoration
1303 Round Swamp Rd.
Old Bethpage, NY
$15 – Adults/$12 – Seniors (60+)/$ 8 - Children 5 to 12/FREE
– Children under 5
For more info:
Entertainment and plenty of blue ribbons!
11:30am to 3:30pm
Wildman Steve Brill foraging tour
Belmont Lake State Park
625 Belmont Ave.
W. Babylon, NY
$20 ($10 for under 12 years old)
To register (at least 24 hours in advance)…
Read all the info about what to bring, etc. before you sign
up and for meet-up directions. He’s awesome…’nuff said. J
3pm
The Water We Drink
Temple Beth-El
660 Park Ave.
Huntington
FREE (there will be snackage J
)
This event was submitted by CSA member Gail Payne. LINC
(Long Island Network for Change) in partnership with the Chai Club of Temple
Beth El is sponsoring an important community program: "Everything Long
Islanders Need to Know About the Water We Drink. " Speakers include Sarah
Meyland of Water for Long Island & Charlie Bevington of the Sierra Club
Long Island. County Legislator Dr. William Spencer will be attending and will
answer questions about the water issue on Long Island. Our Q&A panel will
include the people mentioned and a representative from Mothers Out Front!
Saturday, September 23rd
9am to 2pm
2107 LINPI (Long Island Native Plant Initiative) Fall Native
Plant Sale Benefit
SCC College Eastern Campus Greenhouse
121 Speonk Riverhead Rd.
Riverhead, NY
For more info and a complete list of plants for sale…
Some of the plants for sale are edible, and they’re all Long
Island natives!
10am to 6pm
Long Island County Fair
Old Bethpage Village Restoration
1303 Round Swamp Rd.
Old Bethpage, NY
$15 – Adults/$12 – Seniors (60+)/$ 8 - Children 5 to 12/FREE
– Children under 5
For more info:
Entertainment and plenty of blue ribbons!
11am to 6pm
Queens County Fair
Queens County Farm
73-50 Little Neck Pkwy
Floral Park, NY
Free – Members/$10 Adults/$5 Children 3 to 12/Free Children
up to 2 (extra fees for corn maize and other things mentioned on website)
For more info and to buy tickets:
Fun for the whole family! Beer garden, children’s
entertainment, produce/culinary/livestock blue ribbon judging (you can submit
an entry up to 9/22), environmental workshops, corn maize, arts and crafts and
much more.
Sunday, September 24th
10am to 6pm
Long Island County Fair
Old Bethpage Village Restoration
1303 Round Swamp Rd.
Old Bethpage, NY
$15 – Adults/$12 – Seniors (60+)/$ 8 - Children 5 to 12/FREE
– Children under 5
For more info:
Entertainment and plenty of blue ribbons!
11am to 6pm
Queens County Fair
Queens County Farm
73-50 Little Neck Pkwy
Floral Park, NY
Free – Members/$10 Adults/$5 Children 3 to 12/Free Children
up to 2 (extra fees for corn maize and other things mentioned on website)
For more info and to buy tickets:
Fun for the whole family! Beer garden, children’s
entertainment, produce/culinary/livestock blue ribbon judging (you can submit
an entry up to 9/22), environmental workshops, corn maize, arts and crafts and
much more.
Saturday, September 30th & Sunday,
October 1st
10am to 5pm
Hudson Valley Garlic Fest
Cantine Field
Washington Ave Ext.
Saugerties, NY
$10
For more info and tickets:
This is the big mamajama Garlic festival in our area.
Planning to go, buy about 4 pounds of certified organic Garlic and will last me
till March/April when I can start buying it at the Union Square Greenmarket it
in NYC.
Saturday, October 14th
1pm to 5pm
Wildman Steve Brill foraging tour
Sunken Meadow State Park
1 Sunken Meadow Parkway
Kings Park, NY
$20 ($10 for under 12 years old)
To register (at least 24 hours in advance)…
Read all the info about what to bring, etc. before you sign
up and for meet-up directions. He’s awesome…’nuff said. J
Thursday, October 19th to Sunday, October
22nd
Food Film Fest NYC
AMC Empire 25
234 W 42nd St.
New York, NY
$45 to $125
For more info and to buy tickets…
The 11th year of this film festival that always
includes eating something that you’ve seen on the screen.
Saturday, October 21st
10:30am/11:30am/12:30pm (tentative times…haven’t been
given the real schedule yet)
CSA Annual Pumpkin Picking Hay Ride Tour!
Green Thumb Farm
Water Mill, NY
FREE
For more info and to make reservations…stay tuned!
It’s rain or shine…unless there’s a torrential
downpour. You get to check out where your food is coming from, meet our 12th
generation farmers (Jesse and Ray for sure…maybe others) and if you have any
questions about your own vegetable and herb gardens…this is the time to ask
some folks that have a good deal of experience. It’s a lovely time for all on a
beautiful organic farm and my recommendation is to head to Bay Burger for
something to eat afterwards. Everyone I’ve sent there has been pleased so far
and made return visits. I’m a fan of the Fish Burger/Veggie Burger/Falafel
Pita/Veggie Sides (they’re on a SMALL card on the counter where you order…we
usually get both of whatever they offer)/local craft Beers/local Ice Cream.
Everything there is good and they sometimes have a grass-fed Beef burger
option. Plus, a separate room for folks with young kids with a big screen tv
that has Nickelodeon on it most of the time…
This is for CSA members of Green Thumb CSA – Huntington (and
the farm’s other CSAs at Brookhaven Lab, our farm’s farm stand CSA, Long Island
City – Queens, and Cobble Hill – Brooklyn) and immediate family members only!
If you’re sharing a CSA share, only one person/family is
allowed to attend (the farm doesn’t recognize anyone but the official CSA
members) so if you went to the Strawberry picking, you might want to let your
share partner come to this one. You must sign up under the name of the CSA
member if that’s not you!
If you attend the tour, you get a 10% discount on your
purchases at the farm stand (check first to see if there are any restrictions
on the discount but I think it’s everything)!
Saturday, October 28th
11:30am to 4pm
A Harvest Homecoming 20th Anniversary Celebration
Dominican Village
Helen Butler Hall
565 Albany Ave
Amityville, NY
$60
For more info and to buy tickets…
A fundraiser for Homecoming Farm, a CSA on property owned by
Dominican sisters. Music by Homecoming CSA member Angela Solomon’s band, Steel
Impressions. There will be raffle prizes, wine, and children are encouraged to
come in costume since it’s close to being Halloween. Catered by Iavarone
Brothers (Do they use anything from the farm? Or is anything organic? Don’t
know).
Sunday, October 29th
10am to 5pm
Oktoberfest
Garden of Eve Farm
4558 Sound Ave
Riverhead
FREE
For more info:
Featuring the new Garden of Eve Brewery. Farm tour, live
music, family fun.
11:30am to 3:30pm
Wildman Steve Brill foraging tour
Belmont Lake State Park
625 Belmont Ave.
W. Babylon, NY
$20 ($10 for under 12 years old)
To register (at least 24 hours in advance)…
Read all the info about what to bring, etc. before you sign
up and for meet-up directions. He’s awesome…’nuff said. J
Sunday, November 5th
10am to 6pm
NAVEL Expo
Huntington Hilton
598 Broadhollow Rd.
Melville
For more info:
If you’re interested in alternative/holistic health and
healthy living…this is the event for you! Lectures by many well known holistic
health doctors and practitioners.
Saturday, November 25th
1pm to 5pm
Wildman Steve Brill foraging tour
Sunken Meadow State Park
1 Sunken Meadow Parkway
Kings Park, NY
$20 ($10 for under 12 years old)
To register (at least 24 hours in advance)…
Read all the info about what to bring, etc. before you sign
up and for meet-up directions. He’s awesome…’nuff said. J
February 2nd to February 11th
The Real Truth About Health
Huntington Hilton
598 Broadhollow Rd.
Melville
FREE
To register and for more info:
This is a holistic nutrition event filled with top names in
the field…T. Colin Campbell, Joel Fuhrman MD, Caldwell Esselstyn MD, Brian
Clement, Gabriel Cousens MD, Devra Davis, Brenda Davis and much more. FYI…the
focus is on a vegan diet.
3.Bitter Melon info (better late than never!)…
Sorry for the delay in the info but here it is…(only one
person contacted me so I figure A) you knew what to do, B) you googled it and
did ok, C) it’s still on your counter turning yellow/orange [throw it out], or
D) it’s still in your fridge and if green you can still use it and if not – see
“C”)…
Here’s 2 simple recipes…
Baked Bitter Melon Chips…
Bitter Melon and Scrambled Eggs (how easy is this…I don’t
bother soaking/salting and I’d add Soy Sauce/Tamari/Braggs Amino at the end)…
Keep in mind…any time you try a food you’ve never
eaten before…
- Do some reading about what it is, and find out if there are medical contraindications if you’re on medication or have health issues
- Eat a single serving size and give it 24 hours to see how your body reacts (some might be fine, a lot might not)
- 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
- Any questions, don’t hesitate to ask
Over the years we’ve had the South Asian/Indian variety and
the Chinese variety. This year it’s a Thai variety.
This is the green/early yellowing stage and DON’T eat the
internal seeds or pith (scrape it out with a spoon and compost or chuck it),
and DON’T eat it at all if it turns yellow/orange. As odd as it might seem,
it’s only eaten when NOT ripe (green/greenish yellow), and when it’s fully ripe
(yellow/orange and if it’s REALLY ripe it goes Alien and explodes with bright
red seeds popping out), it’s NEVER eaten for culinary purposes.
Cooking with Bitter Melon…
Selecting and storing…
Most cultures eat Bitter Melon with Eggs, Pork or Beef…the
fat content in all of these lessens the taste of the bitterness. Tofu doesn’t
have enough fat to make this happen but it can be substituted if that’s what
you eat. And if you don’t eat any of the above, you can just saute and eat. If
you want to eat it raw, try it in a smoothie BUT start with only an inch chunk,
or don’t drink a lot and see how you react…it can lower your blood sugar levels
and depending on you (and if you’re not used to eating it), you could get dizzy
or pass out (if it gets too low and you’re dizzy…heaven forbid…eat one of the
following - 3 tsp. honey/1 cup milk/1/2 cup fruit juice/2 tbs. raisins - wait
15 minutes and you should feel better)!
Easy recipe…
Bitter Melon with Eggs…
Vegan Bitter Melon dish (I’d get the seeds and pith
out…don’t care what this person says…and I don’t bother with soaking and
salting…less bitter = less medicinal…and I like fewer steps in cooking if
possible, not more…but you can try and see what you like better)…
Vegan stuffed Bitter Melon recipe…this looks really good…
Beef with Bitter Melon…
Here’s some basic info…
Didn’t know it’s used in some Beers instead of Hops! I learn
something new about this vegetable every year.
Read the Side Effects and Interactions…
Where to eat Bitter Melon (I don’t know about you, but I
like to learn to cook by eating)…
Thai USA
Huntington
NOT on the menu – ask for Bitter Melon (they don’t have it
all the time…called Mala in Thai)
Served as a side dish stir-fried with oil, salt & pepper
with Eggs (I get this with Brown Rice as part of a meal that I’m sharing…have
gotten my partner to eat this…doesn’t love it like I do but will eat it)
The Orient
Bethpage
NOT on the menu – ask for Bitter Melon (called Foo Gua in
Cantonese and Koo Gua in Mandarin)
Served as a dish for 4 people (main dish size) and can be
requested with Black Beans Sauce OR Pork OR Beef (have had Black Bean Sauce,
and Pork)
House of Dosa
Hicksville
On the menu – order the “Healthy Salad” and it’s Bitter
Melon (called Kerala in most of India) stir fried till it’s like Bitter Melon
jerky with Tomatoes, Onions, Cilantro (this is Bitter Melon 101 – very easy to
eat)
Main St Taiwan
Flushing
Numerous Bitter Melon dishes on the menu…I’ve had them all
(feel free to ask for details if interested) but then…I love Bitter Melon
Tito Rad’s
Woodside
Filipino restaurant and Bitter Melon is called Ampalaya.
They have numerous dishes with Bitter Melon. Have had the Shrimp with Eggs and
Bitter Melon, and the Pinakbet I think has Bitter Melon in it though it doesn’t
say so (if not here, I’ve had Pinakbet at other Filipino places that did…this
is my fave place so far). Will go back and eat everything they have with Bitter
Melon in it.
If you know of any other places that serve it…let me know!
It is the most medicinal vegetable on the planet and here’s
why…
Okinawa one of the areas in the world that has the most
healthy people living over 100 years and if asked why, one of the answers they
will give you (along with gardening and having a community of relatives and
friends) is eating Bitter Melon (called Goya in Okinawa)! Nice article on
Okinawan food with Bitter Melon recipe…
Kills breast cancer cells in the lab and leaves healthy
breast cells alone. They’re working on turning it into a pre-chemotherapy drug.
I’ll just eat it.
HIV and Bitter Melon…
I have personal experience with this. Someone I knew had
full blown AIDS, took NO conventional treatments but juiced Bitter Melon and it
was the only thing that brought his T Cell count into normal range (he showed
me the before and after lab work reports…very impressive).
Diabetes and Bitter Melon…
It will regulate blood sugar levels and if people are on
diabetes medication they may need to lower or stop it when eating Bitter Melon
(consult and work with doctor).
Other health properties…and they say here that eating a LOT
of Bitter Melon can cause problems. If you keep it to a reasonable portion size
(a cup or less) it shouldn’t be a problem. The American way of thinking that if
some is good, a lot MUST be better is wrong most of the time…moderation is the
way to go the majority of the time (and certainly in this case)…
Here’s a question…do any of you folks who eat Bitter Melon
in your culture/family have any thoughts about eating it during pregnancy or
breast feeding? The American info says no during pregnancy because of the
possibility of miscarriage, and no during breast feeding. The HIV & Bitter
Melon article talks about midwives in the Philippines giving Bitter Melon to
newborns to stimulate their immune systems. If that’s the case, it doesn’t seem
like breast feeding should be an issue if you’re eating it in moderate amounts.
However, I’d like to learn more. Since it’s so commonly eaten by folks in
China, Japan, Thailand, Philippines, India and other countries, I’d like to
know what they do there since they’ve been eating this stuff for centuries
(originating in India and then in China since the 1300s). We have had CSA
members in the past of Chinese, Indian and Vietnamese origins who’ve asked their
mothers and grandmothers who all talked about eating Bitter Melon while
pregnant without incident.
Indonesian website says yes for breastfeeding and Bitter
Melon…
Another site says no but comments of women who are eating it
and feel fine…
And here it is in an academic paper on a list of foods
RECOMMENDED to eat while breastfeeding…
Feel free to get in touch with any questions, recipes, etc.,
and lastly, as I always mention in the CSA emails…any info I send you that’s
not directly about the functioning of the CSA - take what you like and leave
the rest!
4.Click to change the world (or at least try J )…
A.Tell the USDA that the chief scientist should be…a
scientist (what a concept! J )…
5.What you actually got last week
Week #15
September 7, 2017
- Eggplant: Japanese – 1 –
- Peppers, Sweet: Concho (Corno) di Toro: Red OR Yellow – 1 - $2.00 (for Eggplant and Pepper combined)
- Tomatoes: Red – up to but not over 2 lbs. - $5.25
- Swiss Chard: Green OR Rainbow OR Ruby – 1 bunch - $3.50
- Beans, Snap: Green OR Purple - 1 lb. - $4.00
- Squash, Summer: Costata Romanesco, Cousa, Eight Ball, Gold, Patty Pan: Green/Yellow, Yellow, Zucchini – up to but not over 2 lbs. - $4.50
- Bitter Melon: Thai green mini – 3 - $1.50 (even if you didn’t take the Bitter Melon, you still got more food than you paid for this week…see Total Amount)
Total Items: 5
Total Amount: $20.75
(we pay $18.50 per week for our CSA share…some weeks we get
a bit more – this week it was $2.25 - and it adds up over the course of the
season and so far that total is $24…so we’ve already gotten over one entire
share’s worth of extra produce that our farmer gave us and we didn’t pay
for…and the season isn’t even half over yet…lucky us! J )
Flower Share
Week #10
Statice
6.Watch this!
Heard the promo…set the tv…actually watched it…wow…Chemical
pollution on Long Island with two of the grand dames of environmentalism on
Long Island…
If you have a DVR (I don’t) you can set it, or just watch
it…
Channel 21
Friday – 1pm and 5:30pm
Saturday – 7am
You can click above for the program schedule to watch/set on
a DVR, and I guess it will be online at some point. Want to watch a number of
the shows they have archived.
7.Healthy snacks (including one using something we get at
the CSA)…
Healthy snack suggestions for children of all ages J …
8.And now for something completely different…
This Ice Cream commercial does not make me want to try this
(and I LOVE Ice Cream)…
Love sci-fi, love the movie 2001 (which this is paying a bit
of an homage to), but this is just kinda creepy and awful…though strangely
compelling and has nice production values J
!
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