Green Thumb Farm Huntington CSA

2012-02-01T23:11:00.001-05:00

Happy New Year (Lunar - celebrated till Feb 7th)!

Was hoping to get the new CSA contract out to y’all today but things are a bit off schedule on Farmer Bill’s end as well as mine. So, the next date expected for the new CSA contract and Work Deposit refund is February 14th. Will be in touch.

That said, this Thursday (hey…I just got the phone call today so I’m getting this out as soon as I can) News 12 is going to be filming at this month’s Holistic Moms Network’s meeting, and Mary Mucci (News 12’s go-to holistic person) will be there. CSA member Vicki Muller is one of the founders of this group and she’ll be there as well. Consider attending to support Vickie, support the interest for these sorts of issues on News 12, and support this worthwhile organization by showing up and checking it out (and if you think it’s worthwhile and you’re able, consider becoming a member). See below under Thursday, Feb 2nd , for details. You don’t have to be a mom, parent, or female to attend. Last month, CSA member Andrew Rudin was there (neither parent or female  ) and it sounded like he’d consider attending again and the group was open to having him there. It’s a friendly and interesting bunch.

Anyone interested in getting an Organic Shiitake Mushroom Share this year? Why eat Shiitakes? Besides the fact that they’re really tasty, new research has them as possibly anticancer for stomach, colorectal, pancreatic and hepatocellular carcinoma cancers! Oh yeah, and they’re also anti-tumor, lower cholesterol and virus-inhibiting.
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=122
http://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/herb/shiitake-mushroom
http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/DietandNutrition/shiitake-mushroom

If so, let me know (and what size share you’re interested in) and I’ll put you on the list. We’d need to get at least 5 lbs of mushrooms ordered weekly for us to participate. The prices would be…

1 lb - $20 - $440
½ lb - $10 - $220
¼ lb - $5 - $110

You’d sign up for a 1 or ½ or ¼ lb share and it would be a weekly delivery that would last from the first week in June to the last week in October (22 weeks). It will be grown by David Falkowski of Open Minded Organics (certified organic by NOFA-NY Certified Organic LLC). David said that if he either ran out of Shiitakes one week OR had a lot of Oyster Mushrooms, we might get Oyster Mushrooms one week or so instead (YUM!!!).

You can read about David here…he was trained by Paul Stamets who’s the go-to mushroom guy in the USA…
http://www.seriouseats.com/2010/03/meet-your-farmers-david-falkowski-of-open-minded-organics-mushroom-farming-bridgehampton-hamptons-ny.html

This Valentine’s Day (or for any occasion), consider getting flowers from Organic Bouquet (I’ve used them once and would use them again)…
http://www.organicbouquet.com/Default.aspx?j=18541637&e=dskolnick@pb.net&l=2071778_HTML&u=201365816&mid=77616&jb=0

There are important events going on today that effect the future of organic food in our country…
http://www.foodrepublic.com/2012/01/31/nyc-protestors-come-out-against-monsanto

If you do nothing else…watch the 2nd video clip to the end…
http://awaytogarden.com/facing-monsanto-qa-with-fedcos-c-r-lawn

I’m sorry not more attended this morning…I didn’t go…I wonder how many supporters were able to be in the court or the courtroom…
http://urbanfoodguy.blogspot.com/

But at least I lent my support online and you can do the same if you’d like…
http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/sign/farmersvs_monsanto/

Click here to support labeling of GMO foods…
http://justlabelit.org/

If you feel strongly about this and feel you can afford to, consider contributing to the “It’s Our Right to Know” campaign…if anywhere will pass this legislation first, there’s a good chance it will be California…
http://www.labelgmos.org/

And on a more immediate and personal note…buying seeds for your garden this year? Please patronize the seed growers/sellers on this list if you’re interested in GMO-free food and supporting organic agriculture…
http://www.councilforresponsiblegenetics.org/ViewPage.aspx?pageId=261

Upcoming events…

Thursday, February 2nd

7pm

How to Reduce Environmental Toxins in Your Home
Holistic Moms Network
Elwood Public Library
1929 Jericho Tpke*
E Northport
FREE
For more info:
Library: 631-499-3722
http://elwoodlibrary.org/
Email: wsuffolkhmn@aol.com
http://www.holisticmoms.org/

*The Library is located at the northeast corner of Jericho Turnpike and Elwood Road in a strip mall. In the strip mall, it’s located on the Elwood Road side.

Join Stacey Funt, MD, and Jennifer Zethner, RN, MS, PNP, at an informative lecture about how we can create a healthier environment at home for ourselves and our families. PLUS, be part of filming this event to be aired on News 12! You don’t have to be a mom or even a female person to go! Last month CSA member Andrew Rudin attended the meeting (go Andrew!).

Bring your own mug for tea (hot water and a nice selection of teas and Honey – last time it was Green Thumb Farm – CSA Honey – is provided) and if you’re motivated, bring a healthy/organic/local snack to share.

Wednesday, February 15th

3rd Annual No Farms, No Food Rally
Albany
For more info:
http://newyork.farmland.org/new-york-policy/2012-no-farms-no-food%c2%ae-rally-%e2%80%94february-15-albany

Join farmers, food advocates, local officials, environmentalists and other New Yorkers at the State Capitol to urge state leaders to support funding and legislation that protects farmland and the environment, increases the availability of nutritious food grown in New York and strengthens the farm and food economy. Bus transportation roundtrip from New York City to Albany will be available. Online registration is coming soon!

Friday and Saturday, February 24th and 25th

Fri – 8am to 7:30pm
Sat – 8am to 6pm

Eat. Work. Grow the Movement: Just Food’s 2012 Conference
Food and Finance High School
525 W 50th St
NYC
$15 to $50
To purchase tickets:
http://jfconference2012.eventbrite.com/
For more info:
http://justfood.org/events

Join Just Food, local food lovers and advocates, CSA members, community gardeners, urban and rural farmers, food professionals and entrepreneurs for two days of hands-on workshops, discussions, skill building sessions, and good food. Learn about cooking and food preservations techniques, CSA trends and the food justice movement in NYC and beyond, as well as ways you can mobilize to create good food projects in your own community.

On Friday, we’ll conclude with a Good Food Jobs Fair and on Saturday, we’ll celebrate the end of the conference with an Expo featuring exemplary local food artisans, sustainable businesses, and organizations.

Wednesday, February 29th

13th Annual Organic Turf Show
SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale
For more info and to register:
631-963-5454
http://www.longislandnn.org/events/trade_show.htm

The Neighborhood Network Turf Show, which is designed for turf care professionals, features vendors of 100% natural horticulture products, and workshops on organic care of lawns, athletic fields, and even non-toxic indoor pest control. Come learn about the latest in organic turf and land care. Featured speakers includes Vincent Simeone from Planting Fields Arboretum (and occasional guest on the Martha Stewart tv show).

Saturday, March 31st

10am to 1pm

1st Long Island CSA Fair
Cinema Arts Centre
432 Park Ave
Huntington
FREE

Will include a showing of the movie The Real Dirt on Farmer John (great CSA theme in it).

More info TBA.

Saturday, April 14th

8:30am to 4pm

Spring Gardening School
The Academy of St Joseph
Brentwood
$55 (includes continental breakfast, box lunch, afternoon refreshments, soil test, plant diagnosis and exhibits)/$50 if you register before March 2nd
For more info and to register:
http://ccesuffolk.org/2012-spring-gardening-school/2012-04-14

Copy of the registration brochure that lists the classes being given…
http://ccesuffolk.org/assets/galleries/Gardening/SGS2012811.pdf

This is a GREAT opportunity to learn about gardening (mostly organic) AND attend a plant sale of the highest quality AND participate in a raffle of some very lovely prizes. Take my word on this…I can’t imagine you’d be disappointed if you’re interested in growing plants of any sort. I’ve attended a bunch of years and will be going again this year on April 21st. I’d go both days but the LI Small Farm Summit is today otherwise I’d be here. Teachers I’d recommend are Peter Garnham, Caroline Kiang, Colette Mealy-Wampole, Sandra Menasha, Sharon Ott, and Dr. Tamson Yeh…not that the others probably aren’t wonderful but these are people I know and have studied with before (Kiang/Mealy-Wampole/Ott/Yeh), or that I’ve wanted to study with. PS – the food provided has been, in the past, standard college cafeteria fare…you might want to bring your own. That said…if you take a class at places like the Brooklyn Botanic Garden or the NY Botanic Garden, one class might be more pricey than the full day of classes/workshops you get here. It’d be a bargain at twice the price.

Small Farm Summit 2012
Hofstra University
900 Fulton Ave
Hempstead
For more info or to volunteer and get involved:
http://www.longislandsmallfarmcentral.com/

Keynote speakers: Will Allen, CEO of Growing Power (featured in the movie Fresh) and Chef Ann Cooper, the Renegade Lunch Lady (former executive chef of the Ross School in East Hampton).

Saturday, April 21st

8:30am to 4pm

Spring Gardening School
Riverhead Middle School
Riverhead
$55 (includes continental breakfast, box lunch, afternoon refreshments, soil test, plant diagnosis and exhibits)/$50 if you register before March 2nd
For more info and to register:
http://ccesuffolk.org/2012-spring-gardening-school/2012-04-14

Copy of the registration brochure that lists the classes being given…
http://ccesuffolk.org/assets/galleries/Gardening/SGS2012811.pdf

This is a GREAT opportunity to learn about gardening (mostly organic) AND attend a plant sale of the highest quality AND participate in a raffle of some very lovely prizes. Take my word on this…I can’t imagine you’d be disappointed if you’re interested in growing plants of any sort. I’ve attended a bunch of years and will be going again this year on April 21st. Teachers I’d recommend are Peter Garnham, Caroline Kiang, Colette Mealy-Wampole, Sandra Menasha, Sharon Ott, and Dr. Tamson Yeh…not that the others probably aren’t wonderful but these are people I know and have studied with before (Kiang/Mealy-Wampole/Ott/Yeh), or that I’ve wanted to study with. PS – the food provided has been, in the past, standard college cafeteria fare…you might want to bring your own. That said…if you take a class at places like the Brooklyn Botanic Garden or the NY Botanic Garden, one class might be more pricey than the full day of classes/workshops you get here. It’d be a bargain at twice the price.

###

2012-01-13T09:02:00.001-05:00

Greetings…

Originally, I thought the saddest thing I’d be talking about today would be the upcoming retirement of Rev. Paul Ratzlaff (UUFH minister and CSA member) and mentioning the upcoming events around that, that are going on this weekend (Saturday, Jan 14th a Celebration of Rev Paul, and Sunday, Jan 15th, his final service at the UUFH…see below for details and read why Rev Paul is being celebrated – I’m planning on attending both). Rev Paul was the first and only (so far) UUFH minister to join the CSA in the 13 years the CSA has been at the UUFH, and was an active CSA member (he put in his hours every year of his membership). He will be missed.

However, I’d just gotten an email this evening that had me add some things that I wish I didn’t have to add under upcoming events...

CSA and UUFH member, Dove Thomas, died this week…way too young and, of course, way too soon. I just received an email from UUFH and CSA member, Amy Olander, letting me know. I was aware that Dove had ventricular fibrillation issues but have no details as to what happened so this may or may not have had anything to do with her passing. My last memory of her is sitting at the sign-in table one of the last weeks of the CSA (maybe the last one?) knitting away as she was often seen doing at the CSA when putting in her work hours. She was a skilled and artful knitter and I’d always admire whatever it was that she was working on. I tried Googling her to see if there were any obituary notices yet, and only saw her name listed in the many running events she participated in as she was a longtime runner. I hear that many runners have v-fib issues. Dove was also an Adult Services Librarian at the Northport – East Northport Public Library, as well as a volunteer docent at the Northport Historical Society. She is survived by her husband, Jim, and children, Sharon and Kenny.

There will be an open house today, Friday, Jan 13th , and a memorial service on Sunday, Jan 15th. I’ll be going to the open house after the LI Ag Forum on Friday, and will be at the UUFH service on Sunday (earlier for Paul and later for Dove). See below for details.

Here’s a quickie uplifting thing to do…click to help prevent the overuse of antibiotics in food animal production…
https://secure3.convio.net/pew/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=1266&autologin=true&JServSessionIdr004=w3zfj6n9t1.app340a

This weekend you might want to check out The Food Channel (if you have cable and you have this channel) and watch The Big Waste. It’s on Saturday at 4pm and Sunday at 5pm and if you have a DVR, please record it, put it on a disc, and let me have it so I can make a copy!
First class chefs Bobby Flay, Michael Symon, Anne Burrell and Alex Guarnaschelli tackle one of the most massive problems in food today - waste! Divided into two teams, with only 48 hours on the clock, they are challenged to create a multi course gourmet banquet worthy of their great reputations for 100 people, but with a big twist; they can only use food that is on its way to the trash. The chefs' hunt takes them from grocery aisles to produce farms, and orchard lines to garbage piles, as they attempt to source enough ingredients to feed a gathering crowd. Bobby and Michael square off against Anne and Alex, as they challenge their views of food waste and how and why it is created.
Friday is the remaining day for the yearly Long Island Agriculture Forum put on by the LI Farm Bureau with workshops in sustainable farming and sustainable vitaculture (Farmer Bill and I will be attending). Thursday night’s lecture by Brian Halweil (author of Eat Here: Homegrown Pleasures in a Global Supermarket, and the editor of Edible East End, Edible Manhattan and Edible Brooklyn) was really good and I got him to agree to come to the Cinema Arts Centre to do a talk at some point soon (hopefully it will be the first and not the last as he is a smart cookie and an entertaining educator)…I’ve only been communicating with him for many years (since I met him at the Ross School in the Hamptons when Ann Cooper, the Renegade Lunch Lady, was still there) and have been turned down just as many times but I think it will finally happen.

Friday is the book reading and signing at Book Revue of CSA member, Randi Gould’s novel, Dreamland.

ALSO…if you want to learn about growing food and other things organically, and gardening in general…GO TO THE SPRING GARDENING SCHOOL ON EITHER APRIL 14TH OR 21ST!!!!! (see below)

Upcoming events…

Friday, January 13th

9am to 5pm

LI Agriculture Forum
Suffolk County Community College
Riverhead
$45
For more info and to register:
http://www.lifb.com/

If you’re VERY interested in farming, botany, bugs and the environment…this may be the event for you!

Noon to 8pm

Dove Thomas’ Open House Memorial
7 Reservoir Avenue
Northport

7pm

Dreamland: a Novel – Book One (reading and signing with CSA member and co-author Randi Gould)
Book Revue
313 New York Ave
Huntington
FREE
For more info:
http://www.bookrevue.com/PianaGould.html

Join CSA member and co-author Randi Gould for a reading, discussion and book signing for her new novel…Dreamland.

Inspired by a real life incident, this chilling event catapults readers into DREAMLAND, a contemporary story about the fragility of chasing the American dream. Much like the movie Crash, the plot of this character-driven serial drama focuses on three couples from different social classes and the ways in which their lives collide and intertwine. Written in a propulsive and muscular style, DREAMLAND delves headlong into the economic and racial tensions that underlie American life, the determination to make one’s mark, and the menace of techno vandalism that threatens to strip us of our privacy

Saturday, January 14th

6pm

Celebration of Rev Paul
UUFH
107 Browns Rd
Huntington

Taken from the 1/9/12 issue of The Beacon…not sure why they didn’t mention that Rev Paul started the Friday morning meditation group at the UUFH…

Rev. Paul Ratzlaff has dedicated the past 40 years to caring for people, working towards social justice, and pursuing equal rights for all members of our society.

He was born in Kingston, Jamaica. His family moved to New Jersey, back to Jamaica and then to Portland, Oregon where he spent his teen years. His early years were dominated by a strict evangelical father. In a bold and courageous move, he broke away from his father’s control in his mid twenties when he returned home for Easter and refused Communion. He married the love of his life, Barbara, in 1973 and they have two grown children: a son Ian and a daughter Hannah, who both live close by.

Rev. Paul became the settled minister of the UUFH in 2004 and since then has been actively involved in much of our social justice work. He has distinguished himself as a kind and deeply caring leader. He has found ways to bring so many of us together through respect and acceptance including bridging the gap between “theists” and “humanists.” While at the UUFH, he encouraged our involvement with the HIHI Project for the homeless. He directed the RE program to continue through June to encourage students and families to participate in Gay Pride Sunday. He guided our involvement in the Long Island Leadership Institute. He has led or served on many public service committees including the Public Issues Committee for the L.I. Council of Churches, L.I. Jobs for Justice, the Mobilized Interfaith Coalition Against Hunger on Long Island, and the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice.

Rev. Paul is a humble and selfless individual. He is a compassionate and loving person who cares deeply about our Fellowship. He is proud to be a Unitarian Universalist and a liberal religious thinker, and is a wonderful example of how to live a good UU life.

Sunday, January 15th

10:30am

A Wonderful Dance…final UUFH service lead by Rev Paul Ratzlaff
UUFH
107 Browns Rd
Huntington

Written by Rev Paul…
As I celebrate my retirement from UU ministry, I will continue the dance theme with which I began my ministry. It’s been a wonderful dance! Indeed over the more than seven years that I have served with you, I have been encouraged to make rich efforts to improve our world, thanks to you! The family portion will observe Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday, and the choir will sing.

Our annual tradition of passing a special collection plate on Martin Luther King Sunday in support of anti-racism, anti-oppression work within the UUA family continues at this service. Forty percent of the collection will go to UUA initiatives nationwide, while the remaining 60% will support our own Fellowship's social justice work in combating bias. Ring in 2012 by attending this farewell service while supporting Journey Toward Wholeness in its mission to oppose racism and create equity in diversity.

2pm

Dove Thomas’ Memorial Service
UUFH
107 Browns Rd
Huntington

Simple flowers to help decorate the UUFH in celebration of Dove are encouraged.

Friday to Sunday, January 20th to 22nd

30th Annual Organic Farming and Gardening Conference
NOFA-NY Winter Conference 2012
The Cooperative Economy
Saratoga Springs
New York
For more info and to register:
http://www.nofany.org/events/winter-conference

Saturday to Saturday, January 21st to 28th

Spa Cooking at Rancho la Puerta with Bhavani
Tecate, Mexico
For more info and to register:
http://www.rancholapuerta.com/activities/events/ev120121.html

Rancho La Puerta encompasses 3,000 picturesque acres, including a a six-acre organic farm! Rancho La Puerta’s Cooking School hosts cooking classes that celebrate the magic that happens whenever good cooks use just-picked local, seasonal, organically grown ingredients. This sensory experience, combined with your opportunity to cook, side-by-side with Bhavani, and then sit down to a fine meal you helped prepare, provides an unforgettable culinary experience.

Bhavani offers three hands-on cooking classes during which you will enjoy preparing your own meal along with fellow cooks. Classes take place at La Cocina Que Canta's culinary center. You also will have the opportunity to harvest produce from their organic garden, Tres Estrellas.

February 15th

3rd Annual No Farms, No Food Rally
Albany
For more info:
http://newyork.farmland.org/new-york-policy/2012-no-farms-no-food%c2%ae-rally-%e2%80%94february-15-albany

Join farmers, food advocates, local officials, environmentalists and other New Yorkers at the State Capitol to urge state leaders to support funding and legislation that protects farmland and the environment, increases the availability of nutritious food grown in New York and strengthens the farm and food economy. Bus transportation roundtrip from New York City to Albany will be available. Online registration is coming soon!

Friday and Saturday, February 24th and 25th

Fri – 8am to 7:30pm
Sat – 8am to 6pm

Eat. Work. Grow the Movement: Just Food’s 2012 Conference
Food and Finance High School
525 W 50th St
NYC
$15 to $50
To purchase tickets:
http://jfconference2012.eventbrite.com/
For more info:
http://justfood.org/events

Join Just Food, local food lovers and advocates, CSA members, community gardeners, urban and rural farmers, food professionals and entrepreneurs for two days of hands-on workshops, discussions, skill building sessions, and good food. Learn about cooking and food preservations techniques, CSA trends and the food justice movement in NYC and beyond, as well as ways you can mobilize to create good food projects in your own community.

On Friday, we’ll conclude with a Good Food Jobs Fair and on Saturday, we’ll celebrate the end of the conference with an Expo featuring exemplary local food artisans, sustainable businesses, and organizations.

Wednesday, February 29th

13th Annual Organic Turf Show
For more info and to register:
631-963-5454
http://neighborhood-network.org/index.htm

The Neighborhood Network Turf Show, which is designed for turf care professionals, features vendors of 100% natural horticulture products, and workshops on organic care of lawns, athletic fields, and even non-toxic indoor pest control. Come learn about the latest in organic turf and land care.

More info TBA.

Saturday, March 31st

1st Long Island CSA Fair
Cinema Arts Centre
432 Park Ave
Huntington
FREE

Will include a showing of the movie The Real Dirt on Farmer John (great CSA theme in it).

Saturday, April 14th

8:30am to 4pm

Spring Gardening School
The Academy of St Joseph
Brentwood
$55 (includes continental breakfast, box lunch, afternoon refreshments, soil test, plant diagnosis and exhibits)/$50 if you register before March 2nd
For more info and to register:
http://ccesuffolk.org/2012-spring-gardening-school/2012-04-14

Copy of the registration brochure that lists the classes being given…
http://ccesuffolk.org/assets/galleries/Gardening/SGS2012811.pdf

This is a GREAT opportunity to learn about gardening (mostly organic) AND attend a plant sale of the highest quality AND participate in a raffle of some very lovely prizes. Take my word on this…I can’t imagine you’d be disappointed if you’re interested in growing plants of any sort. I’ve attended a bunch of years and will be going again this year on April 21st. I’d go both days but the LI Small Farm Summit is today otherwise I’d be here. Teachers I’d recommend are Peter Garnham, Caroline Kiang, Colette Mealy-Wampole, Sandra Menasha, Sharon Ott, and Dr. Tamson Yeh…not that the others probably aren’t wonderful but these are people I know and have studied with before (Kiang/Mealy-Wampole/Ott/Yeh), or that I’ve wanted to study with. PS – the food provided has been, in the past, standard college cafeteria fare…you might want to bring your own. That said…if you take a class at places like the Brooklyn Botanic Garden or the NY Botanic Garden, one class might be more pricey than the full day of classes/workshops you get here. It’d be a bargain at twice the price.

Small Farm Summit 2012
Hofstra University
900 Fulton Ave
Hempstead
For more info or to volunteer and get involved:
http://www.longislandsmallfarmcentral.com/

Keynote speakers: Will Allen, CEO of Growing Power (featured in the movie Fresh) and Chef Ann Cooper, the Renegade Lunch Lady (former executive chef of the Ross School in East Hampton).

Saturday, April 21st

8:30am to 4pm

Spring Gardening School
Riverhead Middle School
Riverhead
$55 (includes continental breakfast, box lunch, afternoon refreshments, soil test, plant diagnosis and exhibits)/$50 if you register before March 2nd
For more info and to register:
http://ccesuffolk.org/2012-spring-gardening-school/2012-04-14

Copy of the registration brochure that lists the classes being given…
http://ccesuffolk.org/assets/galleries/Gardening/SGS2012811.pdf

This is a GREAT opportunity to learn about gardening (mostly organic) AND attend a plant sale of the highest quality AND participate in a raffle of some very lovely prizes. Take my word on this…I can’t imagine you’d be disappointed if you’re interested in growing plants of any sort. I’ve attended a bunch of years and will be going again this year on April 21st. Teachers I’d recommend are Peter Garnham, Caroline Kiang, Colette Mealy-Wampole, Sandra Menasha, Sharon Ott, and Dr. Tamson Yeh…not that the others probably aren’t wonderful but these are people I know and have studied with before (Kiang/Mealy-Wampole/Ott/Yeh), or that I’ve wanted to study with. PS – the food provided has been, in the past, standard college cafeteria fare…you might want to bring your own. That said…if you take a class at places like the Brooklyn Botanic Garden or the NY Botanic Garden, one class might be more pricey than the full day of classes/workshops you get here. It’d be a bargain at twice the price.

###

2012-01-11T10:04:00.000-05:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Tonight is an event featuring mother and daughter CSA members, Polly Hanson Greenberg and B Hanson (with proceeds going to a great cause…Puppies Behind Bars – see below).

Thursday and Friday is the yearly Long Island Agriculture Forum put on by the LI Farm Bureau with workshops in sustainable farming and sustainable vitaculture (Farmer Bill and I will be attending) and at Thursday night’s dinner for this event there’ll be a lecture by Brian Halweil (author of Eat Here: Homegrown Pleasures in a Global Supermarket, and the editor of Edible East End, Edible Manhattan and Edible Brooklyn).

Friday is the book reading and signing at Book Revue of CSA member, Randi Gould’s novel, Dreamland.

ALSO…if you want to learn about growing food and other things organically, and gardening in general…GO TO THE SPRING GARDENING SCHOOL ON EITHER APRIL 14TH OR 21ST!!!!! (see below)

Upcoming events…

Wednesday, January 11th

7pm

I Could Write a Book (includes post-film Q&A with the star of the movie, B Hanson, and the filmmaker, Ron Rudaitis, plus a reception)*
Cinema Arts Centre
423 Park Ave
Huntington
$9 – Members/ $13 – General Public For more info:
631-423-7610
http://www.cinemaartscentre.org/event/i-could-write-a-book-the-beverly-fite-story/
To purchase tickets:
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/214488

*Proceeds of this film will be going to Puppies Behind Bars
B Hanson’s daughter, Polly, is a master dog trainer and is directly involved with Puppies Behind Bars. She recently attended a graduation ceremony where a local prisoner who had trained a service dog (that she worked with) was going to present the newly working service dog to its new owner, a disabled Iraqi war veteran.
To find out more…
http://www.puppiesbehindbars.com/

If you missed this event last time, here’s another opportunity to see an uplifting movie about an amazing Huntington resident (and CSA member), B Hanson. Directed by Emmy award-winning Huntington filmmaker, Ron Rudaitis, it’s a film that stretches 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. Beverly Fite (known to Huntington residents as B Hanson) began her Broadway career as a dancer
in the original Broadway production of Oklahoma! and performed the role of Linda English in the original 1950 Columbia album Pal Joey, singing the Rodgers and Hart classic "I Could Write A Book." B's father was a country lawyer from a small town in Alabama and her mother was a member of Birmingham society. Hard times came early in her life when her father was disbarred. Join B 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.

Director Ron Rudaitis, comments "B's life is such a rich tapestry. It's a story that touches on Civil Rights and social justice, as well as women's rights and it's one that will leave audiences moved and ultimately cheering for B, who is truly a remarkable person and an exceptional artist. The beauty of her voice is eclipsed perhaps only by the beauty of her spirit."

Thursday, January 12th

9am to 5pm

LI Agriculture Forum
Suffolk County Community College
Riverhead
$45 (for both days…there is no one day registration option) and $25 for dinner Thursday night (5:30pm – cash bar/6:30pm dinner and lecture by Brian Halweil – Our Shared Burden: Why Eaters Will be Farmer’s Best Friends)
For more info and to register:
http://www.lifb.com/

If you’re VERY interested in farming, botany, bugs and the environment…this may be the event for you!

Friday, January 13th

9am to 5pm

LI Agriculture Forum
Suffolk County Community College
Riverhead
$45 (for both days…there is no one day registration option)
For more info and to register:
http://www.lifb.com/

If you’re VERY interested in farming, botany, bugs and the environment…this may be the event for you!

7pm

Dreamland: a Novel – Book One (reading and signing with CSA member and co-author Randi Gould)
Book Revue
313 New York Ave
Huntington
FREE
For more info:
http://www.bookrevue.com/PianaGould.html

Join CSA member and co-author Randi Gould for a reading, discussion and book signing for her new novel…Dreamland.

Inspired by a real life incident, this chilling event catapults readers into DREAMLAND, a contemporary story about the fragility of chasing the American dream. Much like the movie Crash, the plot of this character-driven serial drama focuses on three couples from different social classes and the ways in which their lives collide and intertwine. Written in a propulsive and muscular style, DREAMLAND delves headlong into the economic and racial tensions that underlie American life, the determination to make one’s mark, and the menace of techno vandalism that threatens to strip us of our privacy

Friday to Sunday, January 20th to 22nd

30th Annual Organic Farming and Gardening Conference
NOFA-NY Winter Conference 2012
The Cooperative Economy
Saratoga Springs
New York
For more info and to register:
http://www.nofany.org/events/winter-conference

Saturday to Saturday, January 21st to 28th

Spa Cooking at Rancho la Puerta with Bhavani
Tecate, Mexico
For more info and to register:
http://www.rancholapuerta.com/activities/events/ev120121.html

Rancho La Puerta encompasses 3,000 picturesque acres, including a a six-acre organic farm! Rancho La Puerta’s Cooking School hosts cooking classes that celebrate the magic that happens whenever good cooks use just-picked local, seasonal, organically grown ingredients. This sensory experience, combined with your opportunity to cook, side-by-side with Bhavani, and then sit down to a fine meal you helped prepare, provides an unforgettable culinary experience.

Bhavani offers three hands-on cooking classes during which you will enjoy preparing your own meal along with fellow cooks. Classes take place at La Cocina Que Canta's culinary center. You also will have the opportunity to harvest produce from their organic garden, Tres Estrellas.

February 15th

3rd Annual No Farms, No Food Rally
Albany
For more info:
http://newyork.farmland.org/new-york-policy/2012-no-farms-no-food%c2%ae-rally-%e2%80%94february-15-albany

Join farmers, food advocates, local officials, environmentalists and other New Yorkers at the State Capitol to urge state leaders to support funding and legislation that protects farmland and the environment, increases the availability of nutritious food grown in New York and strengthens the farm and food economy. Bus transportation roundtrip from New York City to Albany will be available. Online registration is coming soon!

Friday and Saturday, February 24th and 25th

Fri – 8am to 7:30pm
Sat – 8am to 6pm

Eat. Work. Grow the Movement: Just Food’s 2012 Conference
Food and Finance High School
525 W 50th St
NYC
$15 to $50
To purchase tickets:
http://jfconference2012.eventbrite.com/
For more info:
http://justfood.org/events

Join Just Food, local food lovers and advocates, CSA members, community gardeners, urban and rural farmers, food professionals and entrepreneurs for two days of hands-on workshops, discussions, skill building sessions, and good food. Learn about cooking and food preservations techniques, CSA trends and the food justice movement in NYC and beyond, as well as ways you can mobilize to create good food projects in your own community.

On Friday, we’ll conclude with a Good Food Jobs Fair and on Saturday, we’ll celebrate the end of the conference with an Expo featuring exemplary local food artisans, sustainable businesses, and organizations.

Wednesday, February 29th

13th Annual Organic Turf Show
For more info and to register:
631-963-5454
http://neighborhood-network.org/index.htm

The Neighborhood Network Turf Show, which is designed for turf care professionals, features vendors of 100% natural horticulture products, and workshops on organic care of lawns, athletic fields, and even non-toxic indoor pest control. Come learn about the latest in organic turf and land care.

More info TBA.

Saturday, March 31st

1st Long Island CSA Fair
Cinema Arts Centre
432 Park Ave
Huntington
FREE

Will include a showing of the movie The Real Dirt on Farmer John (great CSA theme in it).

Saturday, April 14th

8:30am to 4pm

Spring Gardening School
The Academy of St Joseph
Brentwood
$55 (includes continental breakfast, box lunch, afternoon refreshments, soil test, plant diagnosis and exhibits)/$50 if you register before March 2nd
For more info and to register:
http://ccesuffolk.org/2012-spring-gardening-school/2012-04-14

Copy of the registration brochure that lists the classes being given…
http://ccesuffolk.org/assets/galleries/Gardening/SGS2012811.pdf

This is a GREAT opportunity to learn about gardening (mostly organic) AND attend a plant sale of the highest quality AND participate in a raffle of some very lovely prizes. Take my word on this…I can’t imagine you’d be disappointed if you’re interested in growing plants of any sort. I’ve attended a bunch of years and will be going again this year on April 21st. I’d go both days but the LI Small Farm Summit is today otherwise I’d be here. Teachers I’d recommend are Peter Garnham, Caroline Kiang, Colette Mealy-Wampole, Sandra Menasha, Sharon Ott, and Dr. Tamson Yeh…not that the others probably aren’t wonderful but these are people I know and have studied with before (Kiang/Mealy-Wampole/Ott/Yeh), or that I’ve wanted to study with. PS – the food provided has been, in the past, standard college cafeteria fare…you might want to bring your own. That said…if you take a class at places like the Brooklyn Botanic Garden or the NY Botanic Garden, one class might be more pricey than the full day of classes/workshops you get here. It’d be a bargain at twice the price.

Small Farm Summit 2012
Hofstra University
900 Fulton Ave
Hempstead
For more info or to volunteer and get involved:
http://www.longislandsmallfarmcentral.com/

Keynote speakers: Will Allen, CEO of Growing Power (featured in the movie Fresh) and Chef Ann Cooper, the Renegade Lunch Lady (former executive chef of the Ross School in East Hampton).

Saturday, April 21st

8:30am to 4pm

Spring Gardening School
Riverhead Middle School
Riverhead
$55 (includes continental breakfast, box lunch, afternoon refreshments, soil test, plant diagnosis and exhibits)/$50 if you register before March 2nd
For more info and to register:
http://ccesuffolk.org/2012-spring-gardening-school/2012-04-14

Copy of the registration brochure that lists the classes being given…
http://ccesuffolk.org/assets/galleries/Gardening/SGS2012811.pdf

This is a GREAT opportunity to learn about gardening (mostly organic) AND attend a plant sale of the highest quality AND participate in a raffle of some very lovely prizes. Take my word on this…I can’t imagine you’d be disappointed if you’re interested in growing plants of any sort. I’ve attended a bunch of years and will be going again this year on April 21st. Teachers I’d recommend are Peter Garnham, Caroline Kiang, Colette Mealy-Wampole, Sandra Menasha, Sharon Ott, and Dr. Tamson Yeh…not that the others probably aren’t wonderful but these are people I know and have studied with before (Kiang/Mealy-Wampole/Ott/Yeh), or that I’ve wanted to study with. PS – the food provided has been, in the past, standard college cafeteria fare…you might want to bring your own. That said…if you take a class at places like the Brooklyn Botanic Garden or the NY Botanic Garden, one class might be more pricey than the full day of classes/workshops you get here. It’d be a bargain at twice the price.

###

2012-01-05T09:05:00.001-05:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

After a month of house and chicken sitting (learned how to gently pick up a chicken with no wing flapping!*), it’s time to clear up CSA issues from last year, and move on to the 2012 season. The first CSA pickup, April 26th, isn’t so far away (thank goodness!). The plan is to straighten things up from last season this month, so that our 2012 season contract will go out to current CSA members February 1st, and the 2012 CSA info will be sent out to everyone else on March 1st, and then the end of March we’ll be tabling at the 1st LI CSA Fair to sign-up members then as well (see below under March).

If you emailed me last month (and certainly from Dec 15th to now), I may not have seen your email yet and will be going thru the hundreds of emails waiting for me in the coming days. I literally get around 200 or so a day and most are not junk so in two weeks, that’s around 2800 emails….more or less (usually more ).

If you still have seeds that you’re saving from either the Farsi or Butternut Winter Squashes your options at this point are to…

1. Wait till the CSA starts April 29th and bring them back then
2. Drop them off at the Cinema Arts Centre Box Office and tell them they are for Dylan Skolnick (co-Director of the Cinema Arts Centre and my significant other)

Please make sure you dry them thoroughly and label them correctly. If you’re not sure what they are…don’t hand them in. Any further questions…please feel free to ask!

There are two events coming up with CSA member involvement…tonight’s Homeopathy talk with Sonam Kushner, and the January 13th reading of a new novel by Randi Gould! (see details below).

Upcoming events…

Thursday, January 7th

7pm to 9pm

Preparing a Homeopathic Kit for the Home
Holistic Moms Network – Western Suffolk, NY Chapter
Elwood Public Library
1929 Jericho Tpke*
E Northport
631-499-3722
FREE
For more info:
Email: wsuffolkhmn@aol.com
www.holisticmoms.org

You don’t have to be a mom to attend! I’m not and I’ll be there.

Join the monthly Holistic Moms Network lecture series…this month features CSA member and Homeopath, Sonam Kushner. Sonam has been practicing Homeopathy for the past 14 years, with offices in NYC and Huntington, and is certified in classical Homeopathy and is a Homeopathic Master Clinician. She’ll be discussing what homeopathy is, and which remedies to keep on hand so you and your family can maintain good health in the coming year.

Tea and snacks will be provided but please…bring your own mug!

For more info about Sonam Kushner, CCH, HMC:
http://www.sonam.addr.com/

Just so happens the Veria channel on Verizon Fios cable (Channel 162) has a show called The Genesis of Healing that has an episode about Homeopathy. I saw it tonight but it will be playing again on:
Thursday, Jan 5th – 10pm
Friday, Jan 6th – 10pm
Saturday, Jan 7th – 1am
Sunday, Jan 8th – 11am and 7pm

*Directions…this is on the northeast corner of Jericho Tpke and Elwood Rd. The library is in the strip mall that contained a Blockbuster video store that was very visible from the road. You probably WON’T see the library from the road but take my word and just go to this strip mall and you’ll find it. Elwood Road is in between Broadway (the road that goes into the town of Greenlawn) and Larkfield Rd (just talking about main roads and not counting any little roads in between).

Friday, January 13th

7pm

Dreamland: a Novel – Book One (reading and signing with CSA member and co-author Randi Gould)
Book Revue
313 New York Ave
Huntington
FREE
For more info:
http://www.bookrevue.com/PianaGould.html

Join CSA member and co-author Randi Gould for a reading, discussion and book signing for her new novel…Dreamland.

Inspired by a real life incident, this chilling event catapults readers into DREAMLAND, a contemporary story about the fragility of chasing the American dream. Much like the movie Crash, the plot of this character-driven serial drama focuses on three couples from different social classes and the ways in which their lives collide and intertwine. Written in a propulsive and muscular style, DREAMLAND delves headlong into the economic and racial tensions that underlie American life, the determination to make one’s mark, and the menace of techno vandalism that threatens to strip us of our privacy

Friday to Sunday, January 20th to 22nd

30th Annual Organic Farming and Gardening Conference
NOFA-NY Winter Conference 2012
The Cooperative Economy
Saratoga Springs
New York
For more info and to register:
http://www.nofany.org/events/winter-conference

Saturday to Saturday, January 21st to 28th

Spa Cooking at Rancho la Puerta with Bhavani
Tecate, Mexico
For more info and to register:
http://www.rancholapuerta.com/activities/events/ev120121.html

Rancho La Puerta encompasses 3,000 picturesque acres, including a a six-acre organic farm! Rancho La Puerta’s Cooking School hosts cooking classes that celebrate the magic that happens whenever good cooks use just-picked local, seasonal, organically grown ingredients. This sensory experience, combined with your opportunity to cook, side-by-side with Bhavani, and then sit down to a fine meal you helped prepare, provides an unforgettable culinary experience.

Bhavani offers three hands-on cooking classes during which you will enjoy preparing your own meal along with fellow cooks. Classes take place at La Cocina Que Canta's culinary center. You also will have the opportunity to harvest produce from their organic garden, Tres Estrellas.

February 15th

3rd Annual No Farms, No Food Rally
Albany
For more info:
http://newyork.farmland.org/new-york-policy/2012-no-farms-no-food%c2%ae-rally-%e2%80%94february-15-albany

Join farmers, food advocates, local officials, environmentalists and other New Yorkers at the State Capitol to urge state leaders to support funding and legislation that protects farmland and the environment, increases the availability of nutritious food grown in New York and strengthens the farm and food economy. Bus transportation roundtrip from New York City to Albany will be available. Online registration is coming soon!

Friday and Saturday, February 24th and 25th

Fri – 8am to 7:30pm
Sat – 8am to 6pm

Eat. Work. Grow the Movement: Just Food’s 2012 Conference
Food and Finance High School
525 W 50th St
NYC
$15 to $50
To purchase tickets:
http://jfconference2012.eventbrite.com/
For more info:
http://justfood.org/events

Join Just Food, local food lovers and advocates, CSA members, community gardeners, urban and rural farmers, food professionals and entrepreneurs for two days of hands-on workshops, discussions, skill building sessions, and good food. Learn about cooking and food preservations techniques, CSA trends and the food justice movement in NYC and beyond, as well as ways you can mobilize to create good food projects in your own community.

On Friday, we’ll conclude with a Good Food Jobs Fair and on Saturday, we’ll celebrate the end of the conference with an Expo featuring exemplary local food artisans, sustainable businesses, and organizations.

Wednesday, February 29th

13th Annual Organic Turf Show
For more info and to register:
631-963-5454
http://neighborhood-network.org/index.htm

The Neighborhood Network Turf Show, which is designed for turf care professionals, features vendors of 100% natural horticulture products, and workshops on organic care of lawns, athletic fields, and even non-toxic indoor pest control. Come learn about the latest in organic turf and land care.

More info TBA.

March (date to be decided)

1st Long Island CSA Fair
Cinema Arts Centre
432 Park Ave
Huntington
FREE

Will include a showing of the movie The Real Dirt on Farmer John (great CSA theme in it).

Saturday, April 14th

Small Farm Summit 2012
Hofstra University
900 Fulton Ave
Hempstead
For more info or to volunteer and get involved:
http://www.longislandsmallfarmcentral.com/

Keynote speakers: Will Allen, CEO of Growing Power (featured in the movie Fresh) and Chef Ann Cooper, the Renegade Lunch Lady (former executive chef of the Ross School in East Hampton).

*There are two styles of picking up chickens that I found online and this is the one I prefer (great teaching video)…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJdkmgiUqs8

###

2011-12-15T10:09:00.001-05:00

Happy Autumn!

Today is the last CSA pickup of the 2011 season.

That said, this will not be the last email as there are still loose ends to be tied up (paperwork and financial) and next year to think about (April…when the CSA starts up again…is not so far away). Contracts for next year will be emailed to current CSA members by early February and then in early March, contracts will be emailed to new interested folks.

Where are all the seeds from the Farsi Winter Squashes??? PLEASE save and return them (see below). Farmer Bill got the seeds when he was in Nepal so if you don’t return them, he can’t buy more and he’s not going back to Nepal any time soon…if ever.

PLEASE!!! I BEG OF YOU…DO NOT bring in Farsi Winter Squash seeds that are…wet (not even damp), in a plastic bag, unlabelled, and not Farsi Winter Squash seeds!!! They need to be the correct seeds, bone dry (may take one to two weeks) and then, and only then when they’re completely dry, put the seeds in something that breathes (NO – plastic/wax paper/parchment paper/tin foil, YES – paper bags, newspaper, paper towel, tissues, heck – even toilet paper), labeled Farsi Winter Squash (we weren’t asked to save any other one we received…Acorn and Butternut’s what I recall). And please don’t eat them. The farm needs them much more than anyone’s tummy does. These seeds are not available in this country and none of the Halseys are going to Nepal anytime soon to acquire more. If you want to grow them yourself, keep 10 (way more than enough) and give the rest back. Any questions, I’d be happy to answer (no question is too anything to not be asked…I think that’s what I’m trying to say ).

This week’s email includes…

1. HELP! Your CSA needs you this week!!! We’re looking for TWO (2) people from 3:30 to 5:30pm and ONE (1) person to help from 5:30 to 7:30pm…
2. Nice article on Biodynamic farming that mentions Green Thumb Farm…
3. This week’s list…subject to change without notice (farming is like that)…
4. Celery Root (Celeriac) Tutorial…
5. Saving seeds (FYI - the seeds will keep till next April if you don’t hand them this week)
6. Upcoming events

1. HELP! Your CSA needs you this week!!! We’re looking for TWO (2) people from 3:30 to 5:30pm and ONE (1) person to help from 5:30 to 7:30pm…

Whether you owe CSA hours or not…whether you even planned on working this season or not…you could offer to help out…regardless. Besides, at the start of the CSA you get “first dibs” and at end of the CSA you have the opportunity to take extra produce from what’s left. This must be appealing to somebody…yes?

If you can be at the CSA from 3:30 to 5:30pm or 5:30 to 7:30pm this week please…
1. Respond to this email before 1pm Thursday
2. Call 631-421-4864 and leave a message before 1pm Thursday
2. Call the CSA at 631-385-1079 after 3pm THURSDAY ONLY and ask to speak to someone from the CSA and leave a message
3. Show up a little before 3:30pm or 5:30pm and see if there’s still any help needed

You can ALWAYS stop by the CSA a little before 3:30 or 5:30 to offer to help in case someone doesn’t show up (or is late) without letting anyone know.

2. Nice article on Biodynamic farming that mentions Green Thumb Farm…

as well as Farmer Bill’s brother Larry Halsey and their brother-in-law, Steve Storch (married to sister JoHanna Halsey). Steve and Larry have both been to the Cinema Arts Centre in Huntington as featured speakers with films about food and farming and may do so again in the near future.

Also, I used to know Hugh Williams (one of the early known Biodynamic practitioners) back in the day not so much as a farmer, but as a fellow activist protesting the Shoreham nuclear power plant! And then was sad that soon afterwards, he moved upstate New York to become a very well respected organic/biodynamic/anarchist farmer in that part of the world (I selfishly wished he would remain farming on Long Island but with the price of land and taxes…need I say more?)…

http://www.edibleeastend.com/online_magazine/farming-to-a-different-beat/

3. This week’s list…subject to change without notice (farming is like that!)

Week #34
December 15, 2011

1. Celery Root (Celeriac) – 1
2. Daikon/Rutabaga/Turnip combo to be weighed
3. Carrots: Purple – 1 bunch
4. Squash, Winter: Farsi - 1
5. Jerusalem Artichokes – 1 bag
6. Peppers, Hot – 1 bag/box (?)

Total Items: 6 (?)

4. Celery Root (Celeriac) Tutorial…

Celeriac: The Vegetable World’s Ugly Duckling – nice NPR piece…
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6551175

How to peel and chop Celery Root (Celeriac)…
http://www.foodandwine.com/articles/giving-salad-a-spin-winter-salads/sidebars/1

Chef Jean Georges Vongerichten talks about Celery Root (Celeriac) and other things…
http://www.foodandwine.com/articles/giving-salad-a-spin-winter-salads

Celery Root (Celeriac) and Mushroom Lasagna…
http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/celery-root-and-mushroom-lasagna

5. Saving Seeds (FYI - the seeds will keep till next April if you don’t hand them this week)

It’s that time of year again when Farmer Bill asks us to save the seeds for one or two varieties of our Winter Squashes.

How to save Winter Squash seeds…

Mission…

1. Remove gunk
2. Dry out
3. prevent mold
4. Label correctly

If any of these actions are not accomplished the seeds need to be thrown out and your efforts will have been wasted

It’s VERY important to make sure you have the correct seeds saved and to label them correctly. If you don’t do this, the incorrect plant may hybridize with another similar plant which defeats the efforts of saving the seeds…it’s being done to save a particular variety of plant – not to create a new one.

1. Remove seeds from Winter Squash and get off all the gunk (not a botanical or culinary term but the best I can come up with at the moment) by putting the seeds in a bowl of water and rubbing the gunk off COMPLETELY
2. Once all the gunk is off, drain off the water in a colander
3. Spread out the seeds in a single layer on a baking tray or a large piece of cardboard or any non-porous surface (don’t use newspapers or paper towels as it may stick to the seeds and…there are reasons but the short version is the farmer doesn’t want ANYTHING stuck to the seeds)
4. Every day move the seeds around to help facilitate drying and prevent mold
5. Let them dry for a week or two…longer than you think would possibly be necessary (do not try and speed process along by drying in a microwave or oven…it will kill the seed…yes, it’s been done by CSA members in the past)
6. When completely dry, pack in a paper bag or wrap in newspaper (NEVER in anything plastic) and label exactly what they are…This week I believe it will be Winter Squash - Farsi
7. Save a few for yourself if you wish to grow them next season in your own garden but please return the rest to the CSA (leave at the sign-in table) as the farm needs them more than you do

Any questions about seed saving…please ask.

6. Upcoming events

Thursday, December 15th

3:30pm to 4:15pm

LI Rally Against Fracking
Mary Jane Davies Green
Plandome Rd (near the Manhasset train station)
Manhasset
For more info, a map, and to register (to let them know you’ll be coming):
http://action.foodandwaterwatch.org/p/salsa/event/common/public/?key=72273
Even though we may not have any natural gas, Long Islanders will be directly affected by hydraulic fracturing. Fracking upstate will increase our air pollution, and could send millions of gallons of toxic and radioactive wastewater to treatment facilities on Long Island. That is why this coming Thursday, Food and Water Watch, Grassroots Environmental Education and Reach Out America will be holding a rally to show that Long Islanders care about hydraulic fracturing. The rally will take place at the Mary Jane Davies Green in Manhasset- the small park right on Plandome Road, near the train Manhasset train station. Come, and bring as many friends and family members as possible!

Wednesday, December 21st

5 to 6pm

Bhavani nterviews Jonathan Bloom, author of American Wasteland
I Eat Green
Progressive Radio
To listen live or to listen to archived shows:
http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/eating-green/

American Wasteland chronicles how we waste food from farm to fork and examines the impact of our squandering. In his blog, Wasted Food, Jonathan writes about why we waste food, why it matters and what we can do about it. American Wasteland was chosen by The Slow Food Huntington Book Club, as their first read, and as a passionate food advocate, Bhavani is so excited to have Jonathan Bloom as her guest!

The shows are also available on iTune to be downloaded on iPhones.

Friday to Sunday, January 20th to 22nd

30th Annual Organic Farming and Gardening Conference
NOFA-NY Winter Conference 2012
The Cooperative Economy
Saratoga Springs
New York
For more info and to register:
http://www.nofany.org/events/winter-conference

Saturday to Saturday, January 21st to 28th

Spa Cooking at Rancho la Puerta with Bhavani
Tecate, Mexico
For more info and to register:
http://www.rancholapuerta.com/activities/events/ev120121.html

Rancho La Puerta encompasses 3,000 picturesque acres, including a a six-acre organic farm! Rancho La Puerta’s Cooking School hosts cooking classes that celebrate the magic that happens whenever good cooks use just-picked local, seasonal, organically grown ingredients. This sensory experience, combined with your opportunity to cook, side-by-side with Bhavani, and then sit down to a fine meal you helped prepare, provides an unforgettable culinary experience.

Bhavani offers three hands-on cooking classes during which you will enjoy preparing your own meal along with fellow cooks. Classes take place at La Cocina Que Canta's culinary center. You also will have the opportunity to harvest produce from their organic garden, Tres Estrellas.

February 15th

3rd Annual No Farms, No Food Rally
Albany
For more info:
http://newyork.farmland.org/new-york-policy/2012-no-farms-no-food%c2%ae-rally-%e2%80%94february-15-albany

Join farmers, food advocates, local officials, environmentalists and other New Yorkers at the State Capitol to urge state leaders to support funding and legislation that protects farmland and the environment, increases the availability of nutritious food grown in New York and strengthens the farm and food economy. Bus transportation roundtrip from New York City to Albany will be available. Online registration is coming soon!

Friday and Saturday, February 24th and 25th

Fri – 8am to 7:30pm
Sat – 8am to 6pm

Eat. Work. Grow the Movement: Just Food’s 2012 Conference
Food and Finance High School
525 W 50th St
NYC
$15 to $50
To purchase tickets:
http://jfconference2012.eventbrite.com/
For more info:
http://justfood.org/events

Join Just Food, local food lovers and advocates, CSA members, community gardeners, urban and rural farmers, food professionals and entrepreneurs for two days of hands-on workshops, discussions, skill building sessions, and good food. Learn about cooking and food preservations techniques, CSA trends and the food justice movement in NYC and beyond, as well as ways you can mobilize to create good food projects in your own community.

On Friday, we’ll conclude with a Good Food Jobs Fair and on Saturday, we’ll celebrate the end of the conference with an Expo featuring exemplary local food artisans, sustainable businesses, and organizations.

Wednesday, February 29th

13th Annual Organic Turf Show
For more info and to register:
631-963-5454
http://neighborhood-network.org/index.htm

The Neighborhood Network Turf Show, which is designed for turf care professionals, features vendors of 100% natural horticulture products, and workshops on organic care of lawns, athletic fields, and even non-toxic indoor pest control. Come learn about the latest in organic turf and land care.

More info TBA.

February/March/April (date yet to be decided)
1st Long Island CSA Fair
More info TBA

Saturday, April 14th

8am to 6pm

Small Farm Summit 2012
Hofstra University
Uniondale
For more info or to volunteer and get involved:
http://www.longislandsmallfarmcentral.com/

Keynote speakers: Will Allen, CEO of Growing Power (featured in the movie Fresh) and Chef Ann Cooper, the Renegade Lunch Lady (former executive chef of the Ross School in East Hampton).

###

2011-12-08T09:20:00.000-05:00

Happy Autumn!

There’s NO ONE scheduled to work at the CSA this week between 5:30 and 7:30pm!!! Whether you owe CSA hours or not…whether you even planned on working this season or not…you could offer to help out…regardless. Besides, at the end of the CSA you have the opportunity to take extra produce from what’s left. This must be appealing to somebody…yes?

When is the last CSA pickup? December 15th.

Where are all the seeds from the Farsi Winter Squashes??? PLEASE save and return them (see below). Farmer Bill got the seeds when he was in Nepal so if you don’t return them, he can’t buy more and he’s not going back to Nepal any time soon…if ever.

PLEASE!!! I BEG OF YOU…DO NOT bring in Farsi Winter Squash seeds that are…wet (not even damp), in a plastic bag, unlabelled, and not Farsi Winter Squash seeds!!! They need to be the correct seeds, bone dry (may take one to two weeks) and then, and only then, put in something that breathes (NO – plastic/wax paper/parchment paper/tin foil, YES – paperbag, newspaper, paper towel, tissues, heck – even toilet paper), labeled Farsi Winter Squash (we weren’t asked to save any other one we received…Acorn and Butternut’s what I recall). And please don’t eat them. The farm needs them much more than anyone’s tummy does. These seeds are not available in this country and none of the Halseys are going to Nepal anytime soon to acquire more. If you want to grow them yourself, keep 10 (way more than enough) and give the rest back. Any questions, I’d be happy to answer (no question is too anything to not be asked…I think that’s what I’m trying to say ).

This week’s email includes…

1. HELP! Your CSA needs you this week!!! We’re looking for ONE (1) person from 3:30 to 5:30pm and THREE (3) folks to help from 5:30 to 7:30pm…
2. Cabbage recipe from first year CSA member and homeopath extraordinaire, Sonam Kushner (plus a couple more Cabbage recipes including the sexy one!)…
3. This week’s list…subject to change without notice (farming is like that)…
4. Dines Farm sighted in Huntington!
5. Saving seeds (FYI - the seeds will keep till next April if you don’t hand them in by next week)
6. Upcoming events
7. Notes from the Farm

1. HELP! Your CSA needs you this week!!! We’re looking for ONE (1) person from 3:30 to 5:30pm and THREE (3) folks to help from 5:30 to 7:30pm…

If you can be at the CSA from 3:30 to 5:30pm or 5:30 to 7:30pm this week please…
1. Respond to this email before 1pm Thursday
2. Call 631-421-4864 and leave a message before 1pm Thursday
2. Call the CSA at 631-385-1079 after 3pm THURSDAY ONLY and ask to speak to someone from the CSA and leave a message
3. Show up a little before 3:30pm or 5:30pm and see if there’s still any help needed

You can ALWAYS stop by the CSA a little before 3:30 or 5:30 to offer to help in case someone doesn’t show up (or is late) without letting anyone know.

2. Cabbage recipe from first year CSA member and homeopath extraordinaire, Sonam Kushner (plus a couple more Cabbage recipes including the sexy one!)…

Made this with last week's delicious Napa- tongue tingling, but delicious! From Gourmet Today. Serves 4.

1/4 cup rice vinegar
2 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon grated peeled fresh ginger
1 serrano chile, finely chopped, including seeds
2 tablespoons vegetable oil.
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 pound Napa cabbage, core and cut crosswise into 1/2 " wide slices (8 cups)
1 bunch scallions
1/2 cup coarsely chopped fresh cilantro

Whisk together vinegar, sugar, ginger, chile, oil and salt in a large bowl until salt is dissolved. Add remaining ingredients and toss well. Let stand, tossing occasionally, until vegetables are slightly wilted, for about 10 minutes before serving.

Good with steamed white rice, roasted sweet potatoes and fried sesame tofu (Simple Suppers from Moosewood).

Especially good at the end of a very rainy day!

Sexy Cabbage recipe!
http://www.amateurgourmet.com/2011/11/sexy-cabbage-sexytime.html#more-7057

And one that could possibly set your kitchen on fire and burn out your eyes and throat! 
http://orangette.blogspot.com/2009/01/best-we-can-hope-for.html

3. This week’s list…subject to change without notice (farming is like that!)

December 8, 2011

1. Cauliflower: Cheddar OR White, OR Broccoli: Purple – 1 head total
2. Carrots – to be weighed
3. Kale: Lacinato* – 1 bunch
4. Pak Choi: Red – 1 bunch (see Bok Choi Info Sheet)
5. Scallions – 1 bunch
6. Mustard Greens: Green OR Red – 1 bunch

Total Items: 7 (?)

Herb Share – Dec 1A (the end!)
Rosemary AND Sage

*Also know as…Black Kale, Black Tuscan Palm, Cavolo Nero, Dinosaur Kale, Flat Back Cabbage, Nero di Toscana, Palm Tree Kale, Tuscan Cabbage, Tuscan Kale…the Latin is Brassica oleracea

4. Dines Farm sighted in Huntington!

I had to see for myself so I showed up at the LI Winter Market last Saturday at Sweet Hollow Hall in Melville and lo and behold…there was Jay Dines grilling away.

Here’s the info for the LI Winter Market…
http://winterfarmersmarketlongisland.com/

And check out their Facebook page as well to keep updated as to the ever changing days and hours of this market.

5. Saving Seeds

It’s that time of year again when Farmer Bill asks us to save the seeds for one or two varieties of our Winter Squashes.

How to save Winter Squash seeds…

Mission…

1. Remove gunk
2. Dry out
3. prevent mold
4. Label correctly

If any of these actions are not accomplished the seeds need to be thrown out and your efforts will have been wasted

It’s VERY important to make sure you have the correct seeds saved and to label them correctly. If you don’t do this, the incorrect plant may hybridize with another similar plant which defeats the efforts of saving the seeds…it’s being done to save a particular variety of plant – not to create a new one.

1. Remove seeds from Winter Squash and get off all the gunk (not a botanical or culinary term but the best I can come up with at the moment) by putting the seeds in a bowl of water and rubbing the gunk off COMPLETELY
2. Once all the gunk is off, drain off the water in a colander
3. Spread out the seeds in a single layer on a baking tray or a large piece of cardboard or any non-porous surface (don’t use newspapers or paper towels as it may stick to the seeds and…there are reasons but the short version is the farmer doesn’t want ANYTHING stuck to the seeds)
4. Every day move the seeds around to help facilitate drying and prevent mold
5. Let them dry for a week or two…longer than you think would possibly be necessary (do not try and speed process along by drying in a microwave or oven…it will kill the seed…yes, it’s been done by CSA members in the past)
6. When completely dry, pack in a paper bag or wrap in newspaper (NEVER in anything plastic) and label exactly what they are…This week I believe it will be Winter Squash - Farsi
7. Save a few for yourself if you wish to grow them next season in your own garden but please return the rest to the CSA (leave at the sign-in table) as the farm needs them more than you do

Any questions about seed saving…please ask.

6. Upcoming events

Saturday, December 11th

4 to 8pm

NOFA-NY Long Island Chapter Holiday Party
Brickhouse Brewery
67 W Main St
Patchogue, NY
$30 per person for NOFA-NY members; $35 for non-members
For more info call:
631-447-2337
http://www.brickhousebrewery.com/

Includes buffet dinner, tax & tip.
Cash bar for Brickhouse Brewery's own microbrews

Monday, December 12th

8pm

Slow Food Huntington Steering Committee Meeting
Sky Room Cafe
Cinema Arts Centre
423 Park Ave
Huntington
Please RSVP if you plan on attending. If you cannot attend this meeting and would still like to participate, please contact us.
http://slowfoodhuntington.org

At our last meeting it was decided to finally create a steering committee to write bylaws for our chapter. All current members of Slow Food USA affiliated with our chapter are welcome to participate. Please contact us if you’re interested in being part of this committee.

Wednesday, December 14th

7:30pm

Dive! Featuring guest speaker, Jon Stepanian (founder of LI Food Not Bombs)
Cinema Arts Centre
423 Park Ave
Huntington
$9 – Members/$13 – General Public (includes a post-film Reception)
To purchase advance tickets (it probably will sell out)…
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/213464
For more info:
631 423-7610
http://www.cinemaartscentre.org/011/Films_On_Food.html#Dive
http://www.divethefilm.com/

Inspired by a curiosity about our country's careless habit of sending food straight to landfills, this multi award-winning documentary follows filmmaker Jeremy Seifert and friends as they dumpster dive in the back alleys and gated garbage receptacles of Los Angeles' supermarkets. In the process, they salvage thousands of dollars worth of good, edible food - resulting in an inspiring documentary that is equal parts entertainment, guerilla journalism and call to action.

Our guest speaker, Jon Stepanian, and his team of volunteers, collect thousands of pounds of perfectly healthy, nutritious and safe food from our local supermarkets and distribute it to our local community each week through “food shares.” This is food that would otherwise end up in dumpsters due to close expiration date or minor imperfections. LI Food Not Bombs hands out a week’s worth of groceries to about 3,000 people each week – an average of 20lbs per person. Jon will present a short video clip of their work and lead a discussion of this fascinating, and shocking side of our food system.

Friday to Sunday, January 20th to 22nd

30th Annual Organic Farming and Gardening Conference
NOFA-NY Winter Conference 2012
The Cooperative Economy
Saratoga Springs
New York
For more info and to register:
http://www.nofany.org/events/winter-conference

February 24th and 25th

Eat. Work. Grow the Movement: Just Food’s 2012 Conference
NYC
More info TBA

The conference will include participatory workshops, a sustainable food jobs fair and local food expo, and panel discussions with urban and rural farmers and food entrepreneurs. Learn about the food justice movement in New York City and beyond, as well as ways you can mobilize to create good food projects in your own community.

February/March/April (date yet to be decided)
1st Long Island CSA Fair
More info TBA

Saturday, April 14th

8am to 6pm

Small Farm Summit 2012
Hofstra University
Uniondale

Keynote speakers: Will Allen, CEO of Growing Power (featured in the movie Fresh) and Chef Ann Cooper, the Renegade Lunch Lady (former executive chef of the Ross School in East Hampton).

More info TBA

7. Notes from the Farm

November 18, 2011

Our CSA season is coming to an end….our last delivery being the 2nd week in December.

As is true every year, some crops have done well…and others not. Tomatoes, Carrots, fall greens, and Beans all did well. White Beets, Sweet Potatoes and Arugula…not so well. Other crops did about right – Peppers, Eggplants, Summer Squashes, Strawberries, and Peas.

Over the season we tried to bring in a large assortment of varieties of all these vegetables. Some things you are familiar with and others…maybe not. Part of our farm’s goal is to preserve the biodiversity of our planet’s food crops. By having a market for some of these minor crops through our CSAs, seed companies will continue to offer them and expand their offerings. Many of these crops are very well known in their region of origin – Chiogga Beets, Chiogga Radicchio, Travisio Radicchio, Siberian Kale, Japanese Daikons, Chinese Flat Pea, Dutch Dragon Tongue Beans and Middle Eastern Summer Squash are just some of the varieties brought in to you all this year.

So, enjoy the last several weeks of the CSA and THANK YOU…each and every one of you…for helping our organic farm survive into the 21st century!

Organically yours,
Farm Bill (Halsey)

December 2011

Our season is about over…last deliveries being the week of December 13th.

THANK YOU…to all our CSA members for supporting our Green Thumb certified organic family farm. It’s through our CSA member’s support we are able to keep our farm intact and growing.

There are ups and downs in every season and this one was no exception, but by having a diverse crop selection we are able to continually bring in a wide selection and variety of locally grown certified organic produce.

We’re still learning about what we grow and how to do it better. It’s always a challenge. That’s just part of what keeps it all so interesting. That, and being able to grow such a wide selection of food. Over 350 different varieties of seeds were planted this year, as well as 8 types of Strawberries, Rhubarb, and 40 kinds of Flowers. We enjoy what we’re doing and hope you all enjoyed the fruits and veggies of our labors!

THANK YOU ALL AGAIN!

May you all have a happy and safe holiday season, and we hope to see you all in a few months (April is not so far away).

Organically yours,
Farmer Bill (Halsey)

###

2011-12-01T09:22:00.001-05:00

Happy Autumn!

When is the last CSA pickup? December 15th.

Green Thumb Farm’s farmstand out in Water Mill closes for the season on Sunday December 4th if you want to catch their end of season sale on non-perishables.

Where are all the seeds from the Farsi Winter Squashes??? PLEASE save and return them (see below). Farmer Bill got the seeds when he was in Nepal so if you don’t return them, he can’t buy more and he’s not going back to Nepal any time soon…if ever.

PLEASE!!! I BEG OF YOU…DO NOT bring in Farsi Winter Squash seeds that are…wet (not even damp), in a plastic bag, unlabelled, and not Farsi Winter Squash seeds!!! They need to be the correct seeds, bone dry (may take one to two weeks) and then, and only then, put in something that breathes (NO – plastic/wax paper/parchment paper/tin foil, YES – paperbag, newspaper, paper towel, tissues, heck – even toilet paper), labeled Farsi Winter Squash (we weren’t asked to save any other one we received…Acorn and Butternut’s what I recall). And please don’t eat them. The farm needs them much more than anyone’s tummy does. These seeds are not available in this country and none of the Halseys are going to Nepal anytime soon to acquire more. If you want to grow them yourself, keep 10 (way more than enough) and give the rest back. Any questions, I’d be happy to answer (no question is too anything to not be asked…I think that’s what I’m trying to say ).

This week’s email includes…

1. HELP! Your CSA needs you this week!!! We’re looking for ONE (1) person from 3:30 to 5:30pm…
2. Interesting article about root vegetables…
3. This week’s list…subject to change without notice (farming is like that)…
4. It’s holiday time so here’s a gift idea…
5. Saving seeds

1. HELP! Your CSA needs you this week!!! We’re looking for ONE (1) person from 3:30 to 5:30pm…

If you can be at the CSA from 3:30 to 5:30pm this week please…
1. Respond to this email before 1pm Thursday
2. Call 631-421-4864 and leave a message before 1pm Thursday
2. Call the CSA at 631-385-1079 after 3pm THURSDAY ONLY and ask to speak to someone from the CSA and leave a message
3. Show up a little before 3:30pm and see if there’s still any help needed

You can ALWAYS stop by the CSA a little before 3:30 or 5:30 to offer to help in case someone doesn’t show up (or is late) without letting anyone know.

If you didn’t keep track of how many hours you’ve worked and are waiting to get the info from me, I should be finished (I started but it’s a bigger job than I thought wrangling all the little bits of paper) by Monday.

2. Interesting article about root vegetables…

Great article about eating root vegetables submitted by CSA member Jeff Tanenbaum. This article mentions John Jeavons (all too briefly)…the founder of Gro-Biointensive agriculture with whom I had the privilege of studying with…
http://scienceblogs.com/casaubonsbook/2011/11/vegeculture_and_the_season_of.php?utm_source=nytwidget

3. This week’s list…subject to change without notice (farming is like that!)

December 1, 2011

1. Cabbage: Green OR Napa – 1 head
2. Lettuce – 1 bag
3. Kohlrabi – 1 bunch
4. Cilantro OR Curly Cress* OR Dill – 1 bunch
5. Mei Quing Choi – 1 bunch
6. Radishes – 1 bunch
7. Cauliflower, Green – 1 head

Total Items: 7 (?)

* Curly Cress (also know as Pepper Cress/grass and Cressida…Lepidium sativum…in the mustard family)…salads, sandwiches
http://noteatingoutinny.com/2009/04/20/peppercress-and-poached-egg-salad/
http://en.allexperts.com/q/Herbs-720/Garden-Cress.htm
http://www.foodsubs.com/Greensld.html

4. It’s holiday time so here’s a gift idea…

Truffles (raw, vegan and gluten-free) made by a mom and her two daughters help fund their permaculture/organic farm/garden projects…

http://www.blackbirdnaturals.com/eat-cacao-truffles/

They also sell dried Herbs (medicinal and their own Stevia), and unusual seeds for your garden such as Goji Berry and Holy Basil.

These Truffles were featured on the Cooking Channel show Foodcrafters.

5. Saving Seeds

It’s that time of year again when Farmer Bill asks us to save the seeds for one or two varieties of our Winter Squashes.

How to save Winter Squash seeds…

Mission…

1. Remove gunk
2. Dry out
3. prevent mold
4. Label correctly

If any of these actions are not accomplished the seeds need to be thrown out and your efforts will have been wasted

It’s VERY important to make sure you have the correct seeds saved and to label them correctly. If you don’t do this, the incorrect plant may hybridize with another similar plant which defeats the efforts of saving the seeds…it’s being done to save a particular variety of plant – not to create a new one.

1. Remove seeds from Winter Squash and get off all the gunk (not a botanical or culinary term but the best I can come up with at the moment) by putting the seeds in a bowl of water and rubbing the gunk off COMPLETELY
2. Once all the gunk is off, drain off the water in a colander
3. Spread out the seeds in a single layer on a baking tray or a large piece of cardboard or any non-porous surface (don’t use newspapers or paper towels as it may stick to the seeds and…there are reasons but the short version is the farmer doesn’t want ANYTHING stuck to the seeds)
4. Every day move the seeds around to help facilitate drying and prevent mold
5. Let them dry for a week or two…longer than you think would possibly be necessary (do not try and speed process along by drying in a microwave or oven…it will kill the seed…yes, it’s been done by CSA members in the past)
6. When completely dry, pack in a paper bag or wrap in newspaper (NEVER in anything plastic) and label exactly what they are…This week I believe it will be Winter Squash - Farsi
7. Save a few for yourself if you wish to grow them next season in your own garden but please return the rest to the CSA (leave at the sign-in table) as the farm needs them more than you do

Any questions about seed saving…please ask.

###

2011-11-22T09:12:00.001-05:00

Happy Autumn!

This week the CSA pickup is WEDNESDAY, November 23rd starting at 2:30pm. And because people are asking already…the last day of the CSA is December 15th.

If you know you won’t be picking up your CSA food this week (and no one will be picking up for you) PLEASE let us know by responding to this email and saying so.
Why? It’s so we could leave before 7:30pm if everyone has shown up who’s going to, and whoever isn’t checked off yet isn’t coming (so we don’t have to wait around in case they do show up). If someone can’t make it till 7:30pm, that’s fine, but if we can all leave earlier…I’m sure we all could use the time. And if you need to pick up later than 7:30pm, call the CSA between 2pm and 6pm at 631-385-1079 and let whoever answers the phone from the CSA know when you’ll be picking up, and we could leave a bag at the usual local late night spot (or the Cinema Arts Centre Box Office…state your preference).

Where are all the seeds from the Farsi Winter Squashes??? PLEASE save and return them (see below). Farmer Bill got the seeds when he was in Nepal so if you don’t return them, he can’t buy more and he’s not going back to Nepal any time soon…if ever.

PLEASE!!! I BEG OF YOU…DO NOT bring in Farsi Winter Squash seeds that are…wet (not even damp), in a plastic bag, unlabelled, and not Farsi Winter Squash seeds!!! They need to be the correct seeds, bone dry (may take one to two weeks) and then, and only then, put in something that breathes (NO – plastic/wax paper/parchment paper/tin foil, YES – paperbag, newspaper, paper towel, tissues, heck – even toilet paper), labeled Farsi Winter Squash (we weren’t asked to save any other one we received…Acorn and Butternut’s what I recall). And please don’t eat them. The farm needs them much more than anyone’s tummy does. These seeds are not available in this country and none of the Halseys are going to Nepal anytime soon to acquire more. If you want to grow them yourself, keep 10 (way more than enough) and give the rest back. Any questions, I’d be happy to answer (no question is too anything to not be asked…I think that’s what I’m trying to say ).

One of our CSA members told me that her doctor said she can’t wear flip flops. I don’t remember who it was to send her this info directly (sorry whoever you are  !). I told her Dr. Andrew Weil had info about flip flops that don’t do the damage the regular ones do and here’s the info (it’s never too early to be thinking about next summer  )…
http://www.orthaheelusa.com/women/sandals.html?utm_source=drweil&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=051011

This week’s email includes…

1. HELP! Your CSA needs you this week!!! We’re looking for ONE (1) person from 2:30 to 4:30pm, and ONE (1) person from 4:30 to 6:30pm, and THREEE (3) folks from 6:30 to 7:30pm (and any combination therein…from 2:30 to 7:30, 4:30 to 7:30, 2:30 to 6:30…whatever)…
2. Think global, drink local!
3. This week’s list…subject to change without notice (farming is like that)…
4. Dr Andrew Weil’s take on root vegetables (with recipe)…
5. Saving seeds
6. And now for something completely different…

1. HELP! Your CSA needs you this week!!! We’re looking for ONE (1) person from 3:30 to 5:30pm and ONE (1) person from 5:30 to 7:30pm…

If you can be at the CSA from either 2:30 to 4:30pm, or 4:30 to 6:30pm, OR 6:30pm to 7:30pm this week please…
1. Respond to this email before 1pm Wednesday
2. Call 631-421-4864 and leave a message before 1pm Wednesday
2. Call the CSA at 631-385-1079 after 2pm WEDNESDAY ONLY and ask to speak to someone from the CSA and leave a message
3. Show up a little before 2:30pm or 4:30pm or 6:30pm, and see if there’s still any help needed

You can ALWAYS stop by the CSA a little before 2:30 or 4:30 or 6:30 (this week anyway) to offer to help in case someone doesn’t show up (or is late) without letting anyone know.

If you’re waiting to see how many hours you’ve worked, that info will be emailed out by Wednesday AM.

2. Think global, drink local!

This holiday season, drink local…and responsibly, of course!

Here’s a wine merchant with a tasting cellar specializing in NY State wines, located in Riverhead at the Tanger Mall (and sign up for their email newsletter and “like” their Facebook page)…
http://www.empirestatecellars.com/

And along the same line, here’s a recipe (accredited to Daily Candy’s Nana) that can be made with NY’s own Hudson Baby Bourbon Whiskey…
http://www.tuthilltown.com/category/products/aged-spirits
Bourbon Sweet Potato Souffle
Serves six to eight
Ingredients
1 c. white sugar
1 stick salted butter, softened
6-8 lg. sweet potatoes (not yams)
3 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
½ c. bourbon
1 c. walnuts, chopped
1 tsp. butter
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350°.
1. In a medium bowl, beat together sugar and butter until smooth.
2. Peel sweet potatoes, then boil until soft, about 20 minutes (test with fork). Cube and set aside in a large round casserole dish to cool.
3. When the potatoes are cool, separate the eggs and add the yolks to potatoes (save the egg whites). Blend with a hand mixer until smooth, then add sugar and butter mixture until thoroughly blended.
4. Stir in vanilla and bourbon with spoon.
5. In a separate bowl, beat egg whites with hand mixer until stiff.
6. Gently fold whites into potato mixture; do not mix.
7. Bake for 30 minutes. To prevent souffle from falling, do not open oven door while cooking. While souffle bakes, lightly toast walnuts in remaining butter.
8. Once it is cool, top with buttered walnuts.
9. Devour.

3. This week’s list…subject to change without notice (farming is like that!)

November 23, 2011

1. Kale: Siberian, White – 1 bunch
2. Lettuce
3. Rutabagas
4. Sage OR Savory, Winter* – 1 bunch
5. Fennel
6. Scallions – 1 bunch

Total Items: 6

Herb Share – Nov 2B
Thyme AND Rosemary

*Winter Savory (supposed anti-flatulence herb if cooked with Beans)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter_savory
http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/learn/savory_winter.php
http://www.hipherb.com/garden/herb/winter_savory

4. Dr Andrew Weil’s take on root vegetables (with recipe)…

Dr Weil’s thoughts on why it’s a good thing to be eating Root Vegetables…
http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/TIP04258/Cheap-Filling-and-Nutritious-Root-Veggies.html

Dr Andrew Weil’s Roasted Root Vegetable Recipe…
http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/RCP00221/roasted-root-vegetables.html

If you want to know exactly what a Root Vegetable is…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_root_vegetables

5. Saving Seeds

It’s that time of year again when Farmer Bill asks us to save the seeds for one or two varieties of our Winter Squashes.

How to save Winter Squash seeds…

Mission…

1. Remove gunk
2. Dry out
3. prevent mold
4. Label correctly

If any of these actions are not accomplished the seeds need to be thrown out and your efforts will have been wasted

It’s VERY important to make sure you have the correct seeds saved and to label them correctly. If you don’t do this, the incorrect plant may hybridize with another similar plant which defeats the efforts of saving the seeds…it’s being done to save a particular variety of plant – not to create a new one.

1. Remove seeds from Winter Squash and get off all the gunk (not a botanical or culinary term but the best I can come up with at the moment) by putting the seeds in a bowl of water and rubbing the gunk off COMPLETELY
2. Once all the gunk is off, drain off the water in a colander
3. Spread out the seeds in a single layer on a baking tray or a large piece of cardboard or any non-porous surface (don’t use newspapers or paper towels as it may stick to the seeds and…there are reasons but the short version is the farmer doesn’t want ANYTHING stuck to the seeds)
4. Every day move the seeds around to help facilitate drying and prevent mold
5. Let them dry for a week or two…longer than you think would possibly be necessary (do not try and speed process along by drying in a microwave or oven…it will kill the seed…yes, it’s been done by CSA members in the past)
6. When completely dry, pack in a paper bag or wrap in newspaper (NEVER in anything plastic) and label exactly what they are…This week I believe it will be Winter Squash - Farsi
7. Save a few for yourself if you wish to grow them next season in your own garden but please return the rest to the CSA (leave at the sign-in table) as the farm needs them more than you do

Any questions about seed saving…please ask.

6. And now for something completely different…

A unique Thanksgiving leftover recipe from the cookbook The Food52 Cookbook by Amanda Hesser (used to write for the NY Times Dining section) and Merrill Stubbs…

(They also have an iPad app that’s a holiday recipe/survival guide…
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/food52-holiday-recipe-survival/id479448314?mt=8 )

Turkey pho by Winnie Ab

Makes: 2 big bowls of soup
• 1 quart homemade turkey stock (or homemade or store-bought chicken stock)
• 1 bunch scallions (green top parts only), chopped
• One 3-inch chunk of ginger, sliced and smashed with side of a knife
• 1 teaspoon light brown sugar, or more to taste
• 1 tablespoon fish sauce, or more to taste
• 1 to 2 cups kale, chopped into bite-size pieces
• 1/2 pound leftover turkey breast, shredded
• 1 bunch (about 2 ounces) cellophane or bean thread noodles (or enough flat dried rice noodles to serve 2)
• 1 ½ tablespoons chopped cilantro, for garnish (optional)
• 1 ½ tablespoons chopped scallions (white parts only), for garnish (optional)
• Sriracha hot sauce
• 1/2 lime, cut into wedges
Heat a cast-iron skillet or frying pan over medium heat. Add the spices and toast until fragrant, 3 to 4 minutes. Immediately spoon the spices into a bowl to avoid burning them.
Add the toasted spices, stock, scallions, ginger, brown sugar, and fish sauce to a large pot and bring to a boil over high heat.
Reduce the heat to medium-low and let simmer for 20 minutes, skimming the surface frequently.
Taste the broth and add more sugar or fish sauce if needed. Strain the broth and discard the solids. Add the kale and cook for 1 to 2 more minutes. Remove from heat.
Add the turkey and noodles. Allow to sit for a few minutes while the noodles soften.
Ladle the broth into 2 bowls. Divide the kale, turkey and noodles evenly between the bowls.
Sprinkle on the garnishes and add Sriracha to taste. Squeeze lime juice to taste before eating.
###

2011-11-16T11:08:00.001-05:00

Happy Autumn!

Next week is the week of Thanksgiving and the pickup is WEDNESDAY, November 23rd. Watch your emails as the pickup time may be a bit earlier as I’m sure many of us need to head out of town, or get as much food shopping done as early as possible (and our farmer would like to get on the road ASAP to deal with holiday traffic headed east).

Because people are asking already…the last day of the CSA is December 15th.

Where are all the seeds from the Farsi Winter Squashes??? PLEASE save and return them (see below). Farmer Bill got the seeds when he was in Nepal so if you don’t return them, he can’t buy more and he’s not going back to Nepal any time soon…if ever.

This week’s email includes…

1. HELP! Your CSA needs you this week!!! We’re looking for ONE (1) person from 3:30 to 5:30pm and ONE (1) person from 5:30 to 7:30pm…
2. GREAT article on why buying local Honey is the way to go (know your beekeeper!)…
3. This week’s list…subject to change without notice (farming is like that)…
4. Buying local is now big business…about $4.8 BILLION dollars worth in 2008 and possibly up to $7 BILLION this year!
5. Saving seeds

1. HELP! Your CSA needs you this week!!! We’re looking for ONE (1) person from 3:30 to 5:30pm and ONE (1) person from 5:30 to 7:30pm…

If you can be at the CSA from either 3:30 to 5:30pm or 5:30 to 7:30pm this week please…
1. Respond to this email before 1pm Thursday
2. Call 631-421-4864 and leave a message before 1pm Thursday
2. Call the CSA at 631-385-1079 after 3pm THURSDAY ONLY and ask to speak to someone from the CSA and leave a message
3. Show up a little before 3:30pm or 5:30pm and see if there’s still any openings

You can ALWAYS stop by the CSA a little before 3:30 or 5:30 to offer to help in case someone doesn’t show up (or is late) without letting anyone know.

2. GREAT article on why buying local Honey is the way to go (know your beekeeper!)…

And read your ingredient labels! If there’s Honey in it you might want to put it back on the shelf (unless you know and trust the company as to where that Honey is coming from…but THEY might not know they’ve been deceived)…
http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2011/11/tests-show-most-store-honey-isnt-honey/

3. This week’s list…subject to change without notice (farming is like that!)

November 10, 2011

1. Cauliflower: Cheddar OR Purple – 1 head total
2. Lettuce – 1 bag
3. Collard Greens – 1 bunch
4. Jerusalem Artichokes – 1 bag
5. Mizuna: Green OR Red – 1 bunch total
6. Carrots: Rainbow – 1 bunch

Total Items: 6

4. Buying local is now big business…about $4.8 BILLION dollars worth in 2008 and possibly up to $7 BILLION this year!

More individuals and businesses are buying local and the numbers show it! Yeah!!!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/usda-locally-grown-food-a-48-billion-business-much-bigger-than-previously-thought/2011/11/14/gIQAVj85JN_story.html

5. Saving Seeds

It’s that time of year again when Farmer Bill asks us to save the seeds for one or two varieties of our Winter Squashes.

How to save Winter Squash seeds…

Mission…remove gunk – dry out – prevent mold (if any of these actions are not accomplished the seeds need to be thrown out and your efforts will have been wasted) – label correctly (if you don’t do this, the incorrect plant may hybridize with another similar plant which defeats the efforts of saving the seeds…it’s being done to save a particular variety of plant – not to create a new one)

1. Remove seeds from Winter Squash and get off all the gunk (not a botanical or culinary term but the best I can come up with at the moment) by putting the seeds in a bowl of water and rubbing the gunk off COMPLETELY
2. Once all the gunk is off, drain off the water in a colander
3. Spread out the seeds in a single layer on a baking tray or a large piece of cardboard or any non-porous surface (don’t use newspapers or paper towels as it may stick to the seeds and…there are reasons but the short version is the farmer doesn’t want ANYTHING stuck to the seeds)
4. Every day move the seeds around to help facilitate drying and prevent mold
5. Let them dry for a week or two…longer than you think would possibly be necessary (do not try and speed process along by drying in a microwave or oven…it will kill the seed…yes, it’s been done by CSA members in the past)
6. When completely dry, pack in a paper bag or wrap in newspaper (NEVER in anything plastic) and label exactly what they are…This week I believe it will be Winter Squash - Farsi
7. Save a few for yourself if you wish to grow them next season in your own garden but please return the rest to the CSA (leave at the sign-in table) as the farm needs them more than you do

Any question…please ask.

###

2011-11-10T10:02:00.000-05:00

Happy Autumn!

Because people are asking already…the last day of the CSA is December 15th…and the CSA pickup day for the week of Thanksgiving is WEDNESDAY, November 23rd.

Where are all the seeds from the Farsi Winter Squashes??? We’re getting another batch this week so PLEASE save and return them (see below).

This week’s email includes…

1. HELP! Your CSA needs you this week!!! We’re looking for TWO (2) folks to be at the CSA from 5:30 to 7:30pm…
2. Notes from the Farm
3. This week’s list…subject to change without notice (farming is like that)…
4. Daikon salad recipe
5. Saving seeds

1. HELP! Your CSA needs you this week!!! We’re looking for TWO (2) folks for 5:30 to 7:30pm…

If you can be at the CSA from 5:30 to 7:30pm today please…
1. Respond to this email before 1pm
2. Call 631-421-4864 and leave a message before 1pm
2. Call the CSA at 631-385-1079 after 3pm and ask to speak to someone from the CSA and leave a message
3. Show up a little before 5:30pm and see if there’s still any openings

You can ALWAYS stop by the CSA a little before 3:30 or 5:30 to offer to help in case someone doesn’t show up (or is late) without letting anyone know.

2. Notes from the Farm

November 4, 2011

Our last CSA weeks are here, and our summer crops are done. We picked Beans and Tomatoes up till last week, and then the killing frost arrived and that was the end of that! We had a good season with our Beans and Tomatoes.

The next few weeks, we’ll be featuring greens and roots. We still have Scallions, Carrots, Radishes, Turnips, Kales, and some Kohlrabi. Our Cauliflowers and Broccolis have not done so well due to so much rain over the last two months. So much rain tended to wash away the fertilizer and compacted the soil… two things cole* crops don’t like.
*http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/archives/parsons/vegetables/colecrop.html

As it is every year, some crops do well while other do not. Organic farming, and relying on the weather for your livelihood, can be challenging at times. By growing a wide variety of crops we always have something doing well. Next year will be no different with some crops doing well and others not…and you never know which ones will be which.

We are so thankful for the support and understanding of all our CSA members, as we strive to produce a wide range of certified organic vegetables, herbs and fruits.

Organically yours,
Farmer Bill

3. This week’s list…subject to change without notice (farming is like that!)

November 10, 2011

1. Tat Soi
2. Lettuce – 1 bag
3. Radishes: China Rose, China White, Daikon, Misato (Watermelon) – need to be weighed
4. Garlic
5. Scallions
6. Winter Squash: Farsi (SAVE THE SEEDS)

Total Items: 6(?)

4. Daikon salad recipe…

http://sarahscucinabella.com/2010/02/03/easy-daikon-salad-recipe/

5. Saving Seeds

It’s that time of year again when Farmer Bill asks us to save the seeds for one or two varieties of our Winter Squashes.

How to save Winter Squash seeds…

Mission…remove gunk – dry out – prevent mold (if any of these actions are not accomplished the seeds need to be thrown out and your efforts will have been wasted) – label correctly (if you don’t do this, the incorrect plant may hybridize with another similar plant which defeats the efforts of saving the seeds…it’s being done to save a particular variety of plant – not to create a new one)

1. Remove seeds from Winter Squash and get off all the gunk (not a botanical or culinary term but the best I can come up with at the moment) by putting the seeds in a bowl of water and rubbing the gunk off COMPLETELY
2. Once all the gunk is off, drain off the water in a colander
3. Spread out the seeds in a single layer on a baking tray or a large piece of cardboard or any non-porous surface (don’t use newspapers or paper towels as it may stick to the seeds and…there are reasons but the short version is the farmer doesn’t want ANYTHING stuck to the seeds)
4. Every day move the seeds around to help facilitate drying and prevent mold
5. Let them dry for a week or two…longer than you think would possibly be necessary (do not try and speed process along by drying in a microwave or oven…it will kill the seed…yes, it’s been done by CSA members in the past)
6. When completely dry, pack in a paper bag or wrap in newspaper (NEVER in anything plastic) and label exactly what they are…This week I believe it will be Winter Squash - Farsi
7. Save a few for yourself if you wish to grow them next season in your own garden but please return the rest to the CSA (leave at the sign-in table) as the farm needs them more than you do

Any question…please ask.

###

2011-09-22T10:03:00.001-04:00

Happy Summer (till tomorrow at 5:05am)!

September is Organic Harvest Month!!! (how did I forget???)

CSA member needs assistance! Judy Sherman of Plainview is looking for someone to pick up her share next week due to Rosh Hashanah. She can pick the food up on Friday. If you can help out, please respond to this email and I’ll get you in touch with her and vice versa.

CSA Lost & Found – Who left their canvas grocery bag at the CSA last week? It’s 100% organic cotton…natural color with the world Ecological written across the bottom on the graphic image side that has dots on it with the occasional heart/leaf/cotton boll/recycle sign…the other side is blank except it says it’s made by Fossil.

LAST CALL for Pine Nuts (NOT from China…if you don’t know why this is an issue…Google it) and Sundried Tomatoes? CSA member Fritz Lang has been away but is returning by September 20th and wants to do a bulk order but needs so MORE PEOPLE to split the booty. He can give you the details so let me know if you’re interested and I’ll make the connection. The Pine Nuts could be organic and grown in the USA IF there are enough takers and the order gets in quickly enough.

TIME TO START WEIGHING!!! Digital scales are here. The main thing is to err on the side of under weighing rather than being over the amount stated on the Wall Chart. The second thing is to please follow the weighing directions given by whoever is working by the scales (usually that means weighing more than one thing at a time in a certain order…this is what our farmer wants so this is what we do).

Herb Shares still available (see #7).

BRING BAGS TO PACK YOUR CSA SHARE…now and forever! Put bags (paper/plastic/canvas) in every car you own so you’ll never be without. In your trunk, glove compartment, back seat…whatever works for you. You’ll be needing them every week and the CSA is not set up to provide them. If you are sending someone else to pick up your CSA share (spouse, relative, friend, offspring), this is the most important thing to tell them.

Only ONE (or maybe two depending on Farmer Bill) more weeks left for new members to sign up…after that, whether we fill the CSA or not, Farmer Bill will stop accepting new members. We still have 81 intrepid CSAers for this week of the CSA season and we still have room for about 70 CSA members for the rest of the season. If each CSA member were to find ONE more member…ONLY ONE EACH…we could fill the CSA. Green Thumb Farms’ Brooklyn CSA is closed for membership with 200 members, their Queens CSA is closed for the season with 110 members and we’re last on the totem pole still trying to get to 100, and at that point seeing if our farmer will allow us to get to 150 members. Back a few years ago, he would have LOVED for us to have 200 members but since we’ve never come close, I think he’s given up hope…but would be amused and pleased if it ever happened. Plus it’s wacky…with everyone sharing, people having multiple email addresses, and the fact that there are people who want to get our emails who aren’t CSA members (events, veg sheets, etc), I’m sending this email to 110 email addresses! I’d be so happy if that translated to 110 CSA members but not yet!

Attached in the next email will be the CSA “kit” consisting of the contract for new members, brochure and fee sheet. Let’s do this thing! The sooner I don’t have to beat the bushes for members, the more time I have for things like managing the CSA better, finding cool new things to add to the CSA mix (Mushrooms, Tempeh, a Winter CSA Share?) and doing the extra work it would entail.

I’d be happy to place brochures, do a lecture, call, email…do whatever’s needed to spread the good word about CSA. If you have suggestions, please make them known.

This email includes…

***SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT***

BULK TOMATOES AVAILABLE AS OF…NOW!

What? Boxes of Paste Tomatoes (also known as Plum or Italian) from our own Green Thumb Farm (therefore certified-organic)…20 lbs of Tomatoes per box for $44.00…Red, and a small amount of Yellow ones are the colors available

How? To order…call the farm (631-726-1900) between 9am and 5pm any day of the week to place your order. It must be placed no later than noon on Wednesday for the week you want it (don’t order way in advance so the farm doesn’t have to keep track of it…call Friday to Wednesday of the week you want it to arrive on Thursday). If you wanted them this week and can call by noon today…you’ve got it!

Payment? Credit card only when you place the order by phone.

For how long? Till the end of September HOWEVER Farmer Bill said to order them…the sooner the better. What does that tell me? Two things…1) when they’re gone, they’re gone if a lot of people order them, and 2) I have no idea of what Tomato Blight is or isn’t doing at the farm (can change from day to day) and other things can also effect Tomato health and happiness (heavy rain, another hurricane – heaven forbid, etc). So, there’s no guarantee that they’ll be there at the end of the month.

1. Your CSA does not need you this week! However…
2. Have you been washing your Tomatoes? PLEASE READ THIS!
3. The list…subject to change without notice…farming is like that!
4. One of America’s oldest seed companies is in danger of going out of business…BUY SOMETHING NOW (and spread the word as far as you can)!!! Catalog is only $5!
5. Dines Farm Report
6. What’s the scoop on “baby” Carrots?
7. We still have plenty of Herb Shares available. Why would you want one?
8. What you actually got last week
9. Fun, Cool & Interesting Stuff to Do (new events added weekly)
10. Allergy Alert!
11. Certified Organic Seedlings Available from Green Thumb Farm!
12. Get involved in the Lost Ladybug Project!
13. Eaters/consumers in the NY Metro area interested in eating locally are going to be effected by Hurricane Irene for a LONG time (CSAs not able to fulfill their deliveries for the rest of this year…and possibly next year, farmers not being able to come to greenmarkets because of roads not being passable or they have nothing to sell anymore, NY area restaurants/eateries/stores not having any local foods to prepare/sell because their farmers were wiped out). Please read, look, and learn what’s going on, and consider helping in whatever way you can.

1. Your CSA does not need you this week! However…

You can ALWAYS show up a little before 3:30 or 5:30pm at the CSA and offer to work IF help is still needed…you never know! Everyone that’s scheduled doesn’t always show up on time…or at all.

If you didn’t get a confirmation email from Judi, you’re not on the schedule to work this week. If you did, you are.

2. Have you been washing your Tomatoes? PLEASE READ THIS!

Guess what? The Tomatoes have had Copper sprayed on them so they really need to be washed before you eat or use them. Why Copper? It’s an approved fungicide that can be used on certified organic produce to protect against the dreaded Tomato Blight. We’re lucky…Quail Hill Farm in Amagansett had to cancel its Tomato Taste-off because if it, Golden Earthworm in Jamesport is having their Tomato plants die because of it, and Green Thumb Farm is doing ok so far. Organic or not, all produce should be washed. Attached to this email is a good piece on what to use…Water, Bleach or Veggie Washes/Soap?

Tips for safely and properly washing produce…
http://ccetompkins.org/nutrition/food-safety-storage/7-tips-cleaning-fruits-and-vegetables
http://extension.oregonstate.edu/gardening/wash-fresh-fruits-and-vegetables-cutting-peeling-and-eating

3. The list…subject to change without notice…farming is like that!

Vegetable Info Sheets attached to email (keep in a notebook – by the end of the year you’ll have a cookbook!)

Week #22
September 22, 2011

1. Squash, Winter – Butternut
2. Radishes
3. Tomatoes
4. Snap Beans
5. Carrots
6. Tat Soi

Total Items: 6 (?)

Flower Share – LAST ONE OF THE YEAR (sad but true)!!!

Herb Share – Sept 2B
Oregano AND Thyme

4. One of America’s oldest seed companies is in danger of going out of business…BUY SOMETHING NOW (and spread the word as far as you can)!!! Catalog is only $5

The goal is to sell 1,000,000 catalogs!

The beautiful seed catalog is only $5.00. If you’re an artist or a crafter, catalogs like this are great to make greeting cards or for collage projects…
http://www.facebook.com/LandrethSeedCo

Read the company’s plea to help here…
http://www.facebook.com/LandrethSeedCo#!/event.php?eid=132783473485114

More info about the people that own the company in the comments section here…
http://www.chicagonow.com/chicago-garden/2011/09/help-save-americas-oldest-seed-company/

5. Dines Farm Report…

The very short story is…
1. Dines Farm won’t be here till further notice…I’ll let you know what I know when I know it.

6. What’s the scoop on “baby” Carrots?

http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/QAA400972/Baby-Carrots-Bad-for-You.html

7. We still have plenty of Herb Shares available. Why would you want one?

Why an Herb Share?

Tired of eating the same vegetable more than one week in a row…USE HERBS! They can totally change the flavor profile of what you’re cooking.

Just like we get Vegetable Information Sheets, we have Herb Information Sheets (and we may put an order in for an Herb Wheel…later for that).

You can freeze or dry them for use during the winter (or when you don’t have them fresh on hand).

Herbs are amazing for our health. We don’t eat enough of them. They have more antioxidants than Blueberries! Use them in Juices (in small quantities), on Salad, in Salad Dressings, on most anything you cook…Vegetables, Meat, Fish, Eggs, Soups…anything!

Herbs are green…anything that’s green is ultra healthy. Here’s some info from Dr. Andrew Weil…
To turn down pain: Like some over-the-counter painkillers, some plants also act as natural COX 2 inhibitors, thus reducing pain and inflammation. Adding Basil to the diet may be useful for those with minor aches and pains.
To fight infections: In India, Basil is commonly used a home remedy for coughs and colds and topically for minor cuts and scrapes. Research has now shown that the herb indeed has potent antimicrobial activity and may reduce bronchial spasm, said Dr. Low Dog. Thyme is another herb to consider when fighting off a cold. It is approved in Europe for use in upper respiratory infections; it’s also effective against oral thrush. Likewise, Sage tea is effective for sore throats.
To calm and soothe: Rosemary is a traditional remedy for headaches—perhaps due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Sage is approved in Germany for those troubled by excessive perspiration, and herbalists commonly recommend it for menopausal women troubled with night sweats.
To improve your outlook: Another promising herb for brain health may be Sage. Dr. Low Dog presented some of the research that suggests the herb may improve some symptoms of early Alzheimer’s disease. She also noted that the word “sage” is used to signify a wise elder. Maybe the ancients were on to somethin
We DO get Herbs as part of our basic CSA share (this week we’re getting Parsley) but you get more of them with the CSA share…

We will most likely be getting Celery at some point this season…
Please Pass the Parsley … and the Celery
Parsley and celery contain a compound that may help protect against breast cancer, possibly by blocking the growth of tumor cells. This interesting finding, from a University of Missouri animal study, suggests that apigenin, a flavonoid found in parsley, celery, apples, oranges, nuts and other plant products, seemed to block or delay tumor formation in rats that had been programmed to develop breast cancer when exposed to MPA (medroxyprogesterone acetate). MPA is a synthetic hormone that has been found to accelerate human breast tumor development in women on hormone replacement therapy. In the rat study, apigenin blocked the formation of new blood vessels needed by breast tumors, and also reduced the overall number of tumors the rats developed. However, apigenin didn't stop cancer cells from forming in the breast in the first place. The investigators said that they're not yet sure what dose of apigenin would be appropriate for humans, but suggested that eating some parsley and fruit daily could help ensure that you're getting the minimal amount. The study was published online April 19, 2011 by Cancer Prevention Research.
How to I get an Herb, Basil or Flower Share after the CSA season start?

It’s easy…ASK or EMAIL! You need to join AT the CSA because…it’s a timing thing.

8. What you actually got last week

September 15, 2011
Week #21

1. Eggplant: Japanese and/or Italian – 1 lb
2. Peppers, Sweet: assorted Bell, Hungarian Wax and other Peppers of many colors – 1 lb
1 and 2 weighed together for a total weight of 2 lbs and a total price of - $5.00
3. Beans, Snap: Romano – 1 lb - $3.00
4. Tomatoes, Mini: Cherry, Red OR Plum, Red OR Plum, Yellow OR Sungold - Red – 1 pt - $4.00
5. Leeks – 1 bunch - $3.50
6. Squash, Winter: Sweet Dumpling – 1 - $2.25
7. Bitter Melon – 2 - $00.00

Total Items: 7
Total Amount: $17.75 ($.25 more than we paid for our weekly share…it adds up over the course of the season)

Flower Share
Week #9
Sunflowers

9. Fun, Cool & Interesting Stuff to Do (new events added weekly)

September 1st to September 30th

The NY Locavore Challenge

Eat fresh, local, in season, organic…for a day, a week, a month! Put on by the Northeast Organic Farmer’s Association, this is the 2nd year for this event.

For more info, to register, and to get involved…keep coming back as clearly it’s early in the planning stages…unless YOU want to help plan and be actively involved…
https://www.nofany.org/?q=node/237
https://www.nofany.org/events/ny-locavore-challenge

Thursday, September 23rd to Sunday, September 25th

10am to 4pm

169th Annual Long Island Fair: Celebrating Agriculture on Long Island
Old Bethpage Village Restoration
1303 Round Swamp Rd
Old Bethpage
$12 Adults/$8 Children and Seniors
For more info:
http://www.lifair.org/

Friday, September 23

6 to 7pm

The Healthy Planet Radio Show
WUSB-FM 90.1

HealthyPlanet's Executive Director, Bob DiBenedetto's, “The Healthy Planet” radio program is airing on WUSB (90.1 FM), broadcasting out of SUNY Stony Brook. This is part of “Natural Alternatives” which airs every Friday from 6 to 7 PM. “The Healthy Planet” will be on at least one Friday each month.

Saturday, September 24th

Moving Planet
Check out the Facebook page for the event?
http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=287528064595750
For more info:
631-421-5591
www.healthy-planet.org

Join Healthy Planet, 350.org and other groups in a bike ride rally to demand solutions to the climate crisis

2pm to 10pm

Gaia’s Essence Women’s Wellness Conference
Islandia Marriot
3635 Expressway Drive North
Islandia
$30 (includes a LOT…check out the website…DVD Food Matters and goody bag)
To register online:
http://www.gewwc.com/tickets.htm
For more info:
http://www.gewwc.com/index.htm
The featured speaker is Andrea Beaman. Andrea is a natural foods chef, author, and television host dedicated to alternative healing and green, sustainable living. Her inspirational story follows an eye-opening journey from sickness to wellness. Successfully healing her incurable thyroid disease with health-promoting foods, exercise and other natural therapies was the catalyst that transformed Andrea Beaman’s life. Andrea was a featured contestant on Bravo’s Top Chef and was a guest on Barbara Walters’ The View and CBS news. She is a food expert with the wisdom to help you clean out your body and get healthy

Sunday, September 25th

Dine Out Irene
Participating restaurants will give up to 10% of their sales to Just Food and Grow NYC, to help NY area farms devastated by Hurricane Irene

For more info and to see participating restaurants…
http://dineoutirene.com/

Tuesday, September 27th

7pm

The Art of Farming
Sotheby’s
1334 York Ave (at 72nd St)
NYC
$500
For more info and to purchase tickets:
http://artoffarming.org/

Celebrate edible heirlooms and the art involved in their creation. Just in time for the harvest season, this special evening provides a unique platform for local farmers, purveyors, celebrity chefs, food industry experts and philanthropists to join together for a shared interest in supporting local agriculture and sustainable food options for all New Yorkers. The evening includes a cocktail reception with delicious hors d'oeuvres by Rouge Tomate, followed by a seated family-style dinner reflecting the bounty of the season. Featured dishes will be created by a line-up of prominent NYC and tri-state area chefs, known for their pride in farm-to-table cuisine, including Dan Kluger of ABC Kitchen, Alexandra Guarnaschelli of Butter, Ralf Kuettel of Trestle on Tenth, Jeremy Bearman of Rouge Tomate, Jimmy Carbone of Jimmys 43, and more. The chefs will use heirloom vegetables grown by local farmers especially for the occasion.

The evening's highlight will be a live auction of incredible food and drink experiences led by a Sotheby's auctioneer. All proceeds from the event will benefit GrowNYC, an organization working to create the next generation of farmers and healthy food ambassadors through Greenmarkets, school and community gardens, and hands-on education programs, and The Sylvia Center, a program that inspires and teaches children to eat well through hands-on experiences at Katchkie Farm and in school and community centers all over New York City.

Saturday, October 1st to Sunday, October 16th

Right2Know March
A Mobilization for GMO Labelling
For more info and to register:

Thursday, October 6th

11am to 6pm

Join Sacred Rose® Tea for a Complimentary Tasting
The 11th Annual Women's Expo
Middle Country Library
101 Eastwood Blvd.
Centereach, NY
For more info:
http://www.womensexpoli.org/about.htm
www.sacredrosetea.com

7pm

Supporting Children’s Immune Systems Naturally
with Ellen Kamhi, RN – The Natural Nurse
Holistic Moms Network
Elwood Public Library
1929 Jericho Tpke
E Northport
FREE
For more info:
www.holsticmoms.org
Email: wsuffolkhmn@aol.com

Ellen will speak about food, herbs, homeopathy and more! At this monthly meeting (first Thursday of the month) you can connect with other parents interested in holistic health and green living.

Sunday, October 9th

Healthy Planet Restaurant Outing and Lecture featuring Michael Greger, MD

For more info and reservations:
631-421-5591
www.healthy-planet.org

HealthyPlanet Restaurant Outings are social outings with a purpose. Bring together delicious food and knowledgeable speakers on informative topics of all kinds, and you get the perfect mix of fun and growth-promoting education. They are also designed to establish a relationship with restaurants which encourages them to offer more health-enriching, plant-based options. These events are also an opportunity to meet and enjoy the company of other concerned community members. Good friends make the best partners when it comes to making a difference in our world!

Saturday, October 15th

Annual Green Thumb Farm CSA Hay Ride and Pumpkin Picking
Montauk Hwy (Rt 27)
Water Mill
For reservations:
631-726-1900

Further info and times of tours TBA.
Full disclosure…the Pumpkins are not from Green Thumb Farm and they are not organic….however they are more for a Halloween decoration rather than eating (though they are edible).

Sunday, October 16th

World Food Day
Millions Against Monsanto actions/events
For more info:
http://www.facebook.com/millionsagainst
http://organicconsumers.org/monsanto/index.cfm

Sunday, October 23rd

12:30pm

Wild Food & Ecology Tour with Wildman Steve Brill
Sunken Meadow Park
Kings Park
Parking lot by bath house
$20/$10 for children

For more info and to reserve a spot:
http://www.wildmanstevebrill.com/

Monday, October 24th

Food Day
For more info:

10. Allergy Alert!

Eating fish and nuts during pregnancy may help eliminate childhood allergies! Or at least make the kids smarter…
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/8750495/Oily-fish-and-nuts-cut-chance-of-food-allergies.html

Another allergy helpful hint…
http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/TIP04158/Allergies-Bugging-You.html

11. Certified Organic Seedlings Available from Green Thumb Farm!

Order certified organic seedlings grown at Green Thumb Farm and have them delivered to the CSA for your garden!

How:
Have your credit card ready (to be paid only by credit card) and call the farm at 631-726-1900 between 9:30 to 4pm any day of the week and they will tell you, depending on when you place your order, what week they will arrive at the CSA…and make sure you don’t forget to pick them up!

How much:
$5.50 per pot (4” pot) with a 4 pot minimum order

What:
(if you don’t see what you’re looking for on this list, or want more details…call the farm and ask)

Flowers
Marigolds, Bonanza
Marigolds, Genie (edible)
Nasturtiums
Petunias

Herbs
Basil
Chives
Oregano
Parsley
Sage
Tarragon, French
Thyme

Tomatoes
Heirlooms
Minis
Red

Vegetables
Broccoli
Cabbage
Kale
Swiss Chard

12. Get involved in the Lost Ladybug Project!

Ladybugs are great friends of the farmer and home gardener. This could be a great project for the whole family!

http://www.lostladybug.org/

Anyone who has been a CSA member for any length of time has quite possibly had a Ladybug larva pointed out to them as they do show up occasionally in our CSA produce and end up crawling around the tables (if I find them, I put them outside the side door among the plants). Please take a look and if you see them in your garden…don’t harm them!!! And spread the word so your friends and neighbors won’t harm them either. I was astounded to find out what these weird creatures were and would have squished them, not knowing they were a beneficial insect…let alone a Ladybug!
Some photos including Ladybug Larva pictures (the ones I’ve seen at the CSA look like Hippodamia convergent or Coleomagilla maculate)…
http://www.ladybuglady.com/ladybugweb9.htm

13. Eaters/consumers in the NY Metro area interested in eating locally are going to be effected by Hurricane Irene for a LONG time (CSAs not able to fulfill their deliveries for the rest of this year…and possibly next year, farmers not being able to come to greenmarkets because of roads not being passable or they have nothing to sell anymore, NY area restaurants/eateries/stores not having any local foods to prepare/sell because their farmers were wiped out). Please read, look, and learn what’s going on, and consider helping in whatever way you can.

CSAs and Irene…
http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Hurricane-Irene-Strikes-our-CSA-Farms.html?soid=1101511788374&aid=W_4k2l-CYEA

NYC greenmarkets will feel the losses of Hurricane Irene in the coming weeks…
http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2011/09/01/2011-09-01_oh_crops_farms_flood_local_markets_to_be_without_fresh_veggies.html

http://newyork.seriouseats.com/2011/09/hurrican-irene-and-the-farmers-of-the-union-s.html

Letter from Kira (woman farmer) of Evolutionary Organics farm…heartbreaking and hopeful…
http://www.2minutestodinner.com/2011/09/06/floods-and-farming/

Good site for updated farm info and donation info…
http://www.justfood.org/

Check out these photos…this one’s a doozy…
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.185925204812296.47295.134669806604503&type=1#!/photo.php?fbid=185950308143119&set=a.185925204812296.47295.134669806604503&type=1&theater

http://blogs.villagevoice.com/forkintheroad/2011/08/will_the_nyc_gr.php#more
http://nonabrooklyn.com/regional-farms-devastated-by-flooding-nyc-greenmarkets-seeks-donations/

http://www.grownyc.org/blog/?p=137

How cute is this? But what a pain in the butt it must have been to haul all these goats up to the hay loft!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5X4EEybkRI

And then look at this farmer’s field (I mean lake)…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8o7M8rWeZ6A&feature=related

Donate here…

Help NYC urban farms and gardens here…
https://www.nyrp.org/Donate_and_Membership/Make_a_Donation

Group that organizes the NYC Greenmarkets is setting up a donation page (they will be very effected by the crop losses)…
http://www.ediblemanhattan.com/topics/farms-foodshed/as-reports-of-farm-damage-roll-in-grownyc-has-set-up-a-donation-page-earmarked-for-hurricane-relief-nycgreenmarkets-grownyc/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=as-reports-of-farm-damage-roll-in-grownyc-has-set-up-a-donation-page-earmarked-for-hurricane-relief-nycgreenmarkets-grownyc

Things needed at an upstate shelter in farm country…
http://www.crcs.k12.ny.us/news/1112/0830redcrossshelter.html?utm_source=CHRF+Information&utm_campaign=9e6038db4e-WinterShareTeaser_081511&utm_medium=email#items

Like the Fabulous Beekman Boys? They want to help too…
http://www.facebook.com/FabulousBeekmanBoys/posts/10150358108404283

Fundraiser by Punk Domestics for the younger (by age or by heart) locavores amongst us…
http://www.punkdomestics.com/content/homesteaders-help-victims-irene

Radio station raising money for Delaware and Otsego County…
http://www.facebook.com/FabulousBeekmanBoys/posts/10150358108404283#!/profile.php?id=100000645762583&sk=wall

more ways to help…
http://www.watershedpost.com/2011/post-irene-how-help-catskill-region-farmers

http://catskillmountainrelief.blogspot.com/

http://www.hvfoodnetwork.com/forum/topics/irene-requests-offers

And let’s not forget the Vermont farmers that also got decimated…
http://7d.blogs.com/blurt/2011/08/after-irene-how-you-can-help-vermont.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/05/us/05cows.html?_r=2

http://www.menafn.com/qn_news_story.asp?storyid=%7B37fd09a0-bd1b-489e-a410-9cd5a30a9a12%7D

Donate directly to Poor Farm (yes, Virginia…that’s really the name of it) in Vermont…
http://applewoodny.com/poorfarm.html

And now in Pennsylvania…
The Pennsylvania Farm Bureau has fielded reports of damage from throughout the state, including a Wyoming County dairy that had to dump a tank of milk because delivery trucks were blocked by bad roads, a Bradford County winery that lost 10 tons of grapes worth $15,000 and an aquaculture operation that lost $1.75 million worth of fish and equipment from flooding at facilities in York and Lebanon counties.

Can you give the gift of labor and time? Join “Crop Mob” and you’ll get periodic emails asking you to go to some farm that may need your help doing…whatever…there are now TWENTY farms upstate NY that are asking for help due to Hurricane Irene damage (I’m sure there will be more to come)…
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=265873753432271#!/groups/329782632114/

###

2011-09-15T11:14:00.001-04:00

Happy Summer!

September is Cancer Awareness month so eat your vegetables…sort of  .

The NY Times says eating vegetables doesn’t make a big difference…
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/08/eating-vegetables-doesnt-stop-cancer/
And Dr. Andrew Weil clarifies…
http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/QAA400731/No-Cancer-Prevention-from-Vegetables.html

While others say yes (American Cancer Society) or dance around it by saying…kind of!
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081022164724.htm
http://www.cancer.org/Healthy/EatHealthyGetActive/EatHealthy/fruits-and-vegetables-do-you-get-enough
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=vegetable-compounds-comba
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/07/vegetables-diet-breast-cancer_n_952551.html

CSA Lost & Found – Who left their canvas grocery bag at the CSA last week? It’s 100% organic cotton…natural color with the world Ecological written across the bottom on the graphic image side that has dots on it with the occasional heart/leaf/cotton boll/recycle sign…the other side is blank except it says it’s made by Fossil.

LAST CALL for Pine Nuts (NOT from China…if you don’t know why this is an issue…Google it) and Sundried Tomatoes? CSA member Fritz Lang has been away but is returning by September 20th and wants to do a bulk order but needs so MORE PEOPLE to split the booty. He can give you the details so let me know if you’re interested and I’ll make the connection. The Pine Nuts could be organic and grown in the USA IF there are enough takers and the order gets in quickly enough.

TIME TO START WEIGHING!!! Digital scales are here. The main thing is to err on the side of under weighing rather than being over the amount stated on the Wall Chart. The second thing is to please follow the weighing directions given by whoever is working by the scales (usually that means weighing more than one thing at a time in a certain order…this is what our farmer wants so this is what we do).

Flower Shares and Herb Shares still available (see #5).

BRING BAGS TO PACK YOUR CSA SHARE…now and forever! Put bags (paper/plastic/canvas) in every car you own so you’ll never be without. In your trunk, glove compartment, back seat…whatever works for you. You’ll be needing them every week and the CSA is not set up to provide them. If you are sending someone else to pick up your CSA share (spouse, relative, friend, offspring), this is the most important thing to tell them.

Only ONE (or maybe two depending on Farmer Bill) more weeks left for new members to sign up…after that, whether we fill the CSA or not, Farmer Bill will stop accepting new members. We still have 81 intrepid CSAers for this week of the CSA season and we still have room for about 70 CSA members for the rest of the season. If each CSA member were to find ONE more member…ONLY ONE EACH…we could fill the CSA. Green Thumb Farms’ Brooklyn CSA is closed for membership with 200 members, their Queens CSA is closed for the season with 110 members and we’re last on the totem pole still trying to get to 100, and at that point seeing if our farmer will allow us to get to 150 members. Back a few years ago, he would have LOVED for us to have 200 members but since we’ve never come close, I think he’s given up hope…but would be amused and pleased if it ever happened. Plus it’s wacky…with everyone sharing, people having multiple email addresses, and the fact that there are people who want to get our emails who aren’t CSA members (events, veg sheets, etc), I’m sending this email to 110 email addresses! I’d be so happy if that translated to 110 CSA members but not yet!

Attached in the next email will be the CSA “kit” consisting of the contract for new members, brochure and fee sheet. Let’s do this thing! The sooner I don’t have to beat the bushes for members, the more time I have for things like managing the CSA better, finding cool new things to add to the CSA mix (Mushrooms, Tempeh, a Winter CSA Share?) and doing the extra work it would entail.

I’d be happy to place brochures, do a lecture, call, email…do whatever’s needed to spread the good word about CSA. If you have suggestions, please make them known.

This email includes…

***SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT***

BULK TOMATOES AVAILABLE AS OF…NOW!

What? Boxes of Paste Tomatoes (also known as Plum or Italian) from our own Green Thumb Farm (therefore certified-organic)…20 lbs of Tomatoes per box…Red, and a small amount of Yellow ones are the colors available

How? To order…call the farm (631-726-1900) between 9am and 5pm any day of the week to place your order. It must be placed no later than noon on Wednesday for the week you want it (don’t order way in advance so the farm doesn’t have to keep track of it…call Friday to Wednesday of the week you want it to arrive on Thursday). If you wanted them this week and can call by noon today…you’ve got it!

Payment? Credit card only when you place the order by phone.

For how long? Till the end of September (September 8, 15, 27, 29) HOWEVER Farmer Bill said to order them…the sooner the better. What does that tell me? Two things…1) when they’re gone, they’re gone if a lot of people order them, and 2) I have no idea of what Tomato Blight is or isn’t doing at the farm (can change from day to day) and other things can also effect Tomato health and happiness (heavy rain, another hurricane – heaven forbid, etc). So, there’s no guarantee that they’ll be there at the end of the month.

1. Your CSA DOES need you this week! We’re looking for ONE (1) person from 3:30 to 5:30pm and ONE (1) person from 5:30 to 7:30pm
2. Have you been washing your Tomatoes? PLEASE READ THIS!
3. The list…subject to change without notice…farming is like that!
4. One of America’s oldest seed companies is in danger of going out of business…BUY SOMETHING NOW (and spread the word as far as you can)!!! Catalog is only $5!
5. Dines Farm Report
6. Eggplant Info…male or female?
7. We still have plenty of Herb Shares and Flower Shares available. Why would you want one?
8. What you actually got last week
9. Fun, Cool & Interesting Stuff to Do (new events added weekly)
10. No, China, NO!!!
11. Certified Organic Seedlings Available from Green Thumb Farm!
12. And now for something completely different…
13. Eaters/consumers in the NY Metro area interested in eating locally are going to be effected by Hurricane Irene for a LONG time (CSAs not able to fulfill their deliveries for the rest of this year…and possibly next year, farmers not being able to come to greenmarkets because of roads not being passable or they have nothing to sell anymore, NY area restaurants/eateries/stores not having any local foods to prepare/sell because their farmers were wiped out). Please read, look, and learn what’s going on, and consider helping in whatever way you can.

1. Your CSA DOES need you this week! We’re looking for ONE (1) person from 3:30 to 5:30pm and ONE (1) person from 5:30 to 7:30pm

If interested and available…
1. reply to this email from now to before 1pm Thursday
2. call 631-421-4864 from now to before 1pm Thursday
3. call the CSA at 631-385-1079 after 3pm only on Thursday

You can ALWAYS show up a little before 3:30 or 5:30pm at the CSA and offer to work IF help is still needed…you never know! Everyone that’s scheduled doesn’t always show up on time…or at all.

If you didn’t get a confirmation email from Judi, you’re not on the schedule to work this week. If you did, you are.

2. Have you been washing your Tomatoes? PLEASE READ THIS!

Guess what? The Tomatoes have had Copper sprayed on them so they really need to be washed before you eat or use them. Why Copper? It’s an approved fungicide that can be used on certified organic produce to protect against the dreaded Tomato Blight. We’re lucky…Quail Hill Farm in Amagansett had to cancel its Tomato Taste-off because if it, Golden Earthworm in Jamesport is having their Tomato plants die because of it, and Green Thumb Farm is doing ok so far. Organic or not, all produce should be washed. Attached to this email is a good piece on what to use…Water, Bleach or Veggie Washes/Soap?

Tips for safely and properly washing produce…
http://ccetompkins.org/nutrition/food-safety-storage/7-tips-cleaning-fruits-and-vegetables
http://extension.oregonstate.edu/gardening/wash-fresh-fruits-and-vegetables-cutting-peeling-and-eating

3. The list…subject to change without notice…farming is like that!

Vegetable Info Sheets attached to email (keep in a notebook – by the end of the year you’ll have a cookbook!)

Week #21
September 15, 2011

1. Squash, Winter – Sweet Dumpling
2. Eggplant
3. Tomatoes, Mini
4. Snap Beans: Romano
5. Peppers, Sweet
6. Leeks

Total Items: 6 (?)

Flower Share

4. One of America’s oldest seed companies is in danger of going out of business…BUY SOMETHING NOW (and spread the word as far as you can)!!! Catalog is only $5

The goal is to sell 1,000,000 catalogs!

The beautiful seed catalog is only $5.00. If you’re an artist or a crafter, catalogs like this are great to make greeting cards or for collage projects…
http://www.facebook.com/LandrethSeedCo

Read the company’s plea to help here…
http://www.facebook.com/LandrethSeedCo#!/event.php?eid=132783473485114

More info about the people that own the company in the comments section here…
http://www.chicagonow.com/chicago-garden/2011/09/help-save-americas-oldest-seed-company/

5. Dines Farm Report…

The very short story is…
1. Dines Farm won’t be here till further notice…I’ll let you know what I know when I know it.

6. Eggplant Info…male or female?

Eggplants…male or female?
http://whatscookingamerica.net/Vegetables/eggplant.htm

3 reasons to eat Eggplant from Dr. Andrew Weil…
http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/TIP04181/3-Reasons-to-Eat-Eggplant.html

7. We still have plenty of Herb Shares, Basil Shares, and Flower Shares available. Why would you want one?

Why a Flower Share?

You’re paying $7 for a bunch of flowers that might easily cost $10 elsewhere (I just paid $10 for two VERY SMALL stems of Lilac the other week at the Sweet Hollow Hall market and they were on their way out after two days…the gal didn’t cut them properly as I learned in my research AND she should have had little packs of flower food to include for that price) AND the Flower Share flowers are organic. I get two Flower Shares every year and they are a joy to behold!

You don’t have to cut the ones in your garden and you can leave them to beautify your landscape.

They’re organically grown so you can sniff with impunity!

The first ones we usually get are Peonies (that’s enough of a reason for me) and then it may be followed by (and not in this order) Sunflowers, Zinneas, Sweet Williams, Snapdragons, Straw Flowers, Gomphrena, Flamingo Feathers…some are everlasts (can be dried) and some are not…all depending on what’s ready and when. The flowers do NOT come every week.

Why an Herb Share or a Basil Share?

Tired of eating the same vegetable more than one week in a row…USE HERBS! They can totally change the flavor profile of what you’re cooking.

Just like we get Vegetable Information Sheets, we have Herb Information Sheets (and we may put an order in for an Herb Wheel…later for that).

You can freeze or dry them for use during the winter (or when you don’t have them fresh on hand).

Herbs are amazing for our health. We don’t eat enough of them. They have more antioxidants than Blueberries! Use them in Juices (in small quantities), on Salad, in Salad Dressings, on most anything you cook…Vegetables, Meat, Fish, Eggs, Soups…anything!

Herbs are green…anything that’s green is ultra healthy. Here’s some info from Dr. Andrew Weil…
To turn down pain: Like some over-the-counter painkillers, some plants also act as natural COX 2 inhibitors, thus reducing pain and inflammation. Adding Basil to the diet may be useful for those with minor aches and pains.
To fight infections: In India, Basil is commonly used a home remedy for coughs and colds and topically for minor cuts and scrapes. Research has now shown that the herb indeed has potent antimicrobial activity and may reduce bronchial spasm, said Dr. Low Dog. Thyme is another herb to consider when fighting off a cold. It is approved in Europe for use in upper respiratory infections; it’s also effective against oral thrush. Likewise, Sage tea is effective for sore throats.
To calm and soothe: Rosemary is a traditional remedy for headaches—perhaps due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Sage is approved in Germany for those troubled by excessive perspiration, and herbalists commonly recommend it for menopausal women troubled with night sweats.
To improve your outlook: Another promising herb for brain health may be Sage. Dr. Low Dog presented some of the research that suggests the herb may improve some symptoms of early Alzheimer’s disease. She also noted that the word “sage” is used to signify a wise elder. Maybe the ancients were on to somethin
We DO get Herbs as part of our basic CSA share (this week we’re getting Parsley) but you get more of them with the CSA share…

We will most likely be getting Celery at some point this season…
Please Pass the Parsley … and the Celery
Parsley and celery contain a compound that may help protect against breast cancer, possibly by blocking the growth of tumor cells. This interesting finding, from a University of Missouri animal study, suggests that apigenin, a flavonoid found in parsley, celery, apples, oranges, nuts and other plant products, seemed to block or delay tumor formation in rats that had been programmed to develop breast cancer when exposed to MPA (medroxyprogesterone acetate). MPA is a synthetic hormone that has been found to accelerate human breast tumor development in women on hormone replacement therapy. In the rat study, apigenin blocked the formation of new blood vessels needed by breast tumors, and also reduced the overall number of tumors the rats developed. However, apigenin didn't stop cancer cells from forming in the breast in the first place. The investigators said that they're not yet sure what dose of apigenin would be appropriate for humans, but suggested that eating some parsley and fruit daily could help ensure that you're getting the minimal amount. The study was published online April 19, 2011 by Cancer Prevention Research.
How to I get an Herb, Basil or Flower Share after the CSA season start?

It’s easy…ASK or EMAIL! You need to join AT the CSA because…it’s a timing thing.

8. What you actually got last week

September 1, 2011
Week #19

1. Cucumbers – 1 lb
2. Peppers, Sweet: assorted Bell, Hungarian Wax and other Peppers of many colors – 1 lb
3. Squash, Summer: Zucchini, 8 Ball, Yellow, Golden, Cousa Magda, Patty Pan- Green, Costata Romanesco AND/OR Bitter Melon – 1 lb
1, 2 and 3 weighed together for a total weight of 3 lbs and a total price of - $6.00
4. Beans, Snap: Green OR Yellow/Wax – 1 lb - $3.00
5. Tomatoes, Mini: Cherry, Red OR Sungold - Red – 1 pt - $4.00
6. Lettuce: Leaf, Green – 1 head - $2.50
7. Cilantro – 1 bunch - $2.25
8. Eggplant, Japanese – 1 - $1.75

Total Items: 8
Total Amount: $19.50 ($2.00 more than we paid for our weekly share…it adds up over the course of the season)

9. Fun, Cool & Interesting Stuff to Do (new events added weekly)

September 1st to September 30th

The NY Locavore Challenge

Eat fresh, local, in season, organic…for a day, a week, a month! Put on by the Northeast Organic Farmer’s Association, this is the 2nd year for this event.

For more info, to register, and to get involved…keep coming back as clearly it’s early in the planning stages…unless YOU want to help plan and be actively involved…
https://www.nofany.org/?q=node/237
https://www.nofany.org/events/ny-locavore-challenge

Sunday, September 18th

Slow Food National $5 Challenge Day
Old Westbury
$5
RSVP:
Bhavani@ieatgreen.com
For more info about the event:
https://secure3.convio.net/sfusa/site/SPageServer?pagename=5Challenge_Home

You're invited to help take back the 'value meal' by getting together with other Slow Food members for a slow food meal that costs no more than $5 per person.
Slow food shouldn't have to cost more than fast food. Join us for a 'value meal' prepared by Slow Food Huntington members. You can cook and bring a meal or show up and eat with the gang.

Wednesday, September 21st

7pm (6pm with VIP tickets)

Just Food: Let us Eat Local
The Altman Building
135 W 18th St
NYC
$175 to $275 (benefit for Just Food)
To purchase tickets:
http://www.nycharities.org/Events/EventLevels.aspx?ETID=3865
For more info:
http://www.justfood.org/events

Just Food is hosting an event bringing together some of the best sustainable food in New York City for a delicious tasting — an extension of the work they’ve been doing for fifteen years to raise awareness in the city about sustainable agriculture and connect city residents with farmers. This event will be a chance to raise funds for the great work Just Food is doing, including facilitating Community Supported Agriculture (CSAs) in New York City, providing support to urban farmers, conducting workshops and hands on training, cooking demonstrations and food justice advocacy work.

Thursday, September 23rd to Sunday, September 25th

10am to 4pm

169th Annual Long Island Fair: Celebrating Agriculture on Long Island
Old Bethpage Village Restoration
1303 Round Swamp Rd
Old Bethpage
$12 Adults/$8 Children and Seniors
For more info:
http://www.lifair.org/

Friday, September 23

6 to 7pm

The Healthy Planet Radio Show
WUSB-FM 90.1

HealthyPlanet's Executive Director, Bob DiBenedetto's, “The Healthy Planet” radio program is airing on WUSB (90.1 FM), broadcasting out of SUNY Stony Brook. This is part of “Natural Alternatives” which airs every Friday from 6 to 7 PM. “The Healthy Planet” will be on at least one Friday each month.

Saturday, September 24th

Moving Planet
For more info:
631-421-5591
www.healthy-planet.org

Join Healthy Planet, 350.org and other groups in a bike ride rally to demand solutions to the climate crisis

2pm to 10pm

Gaia’s Essence Women’s Wellness Conference
Islandia Marriot
3635 Expressway Drive North
Islandia
$30 (includes a LOT…check out the website…DVD Food Matters and goody bag)
To register online:
http://www.gewwc.com/tickets.htm
For more info:
http://www.gewwc.com/index.htm
The featured speaker is Andrea Beaman. Andrea is a natural foods chef, author, and television host dedicated to alternative healing and green, sustainable living. Her inspirational story follows an eye-opening journey from sickness to wellness. Successfully healing her incurable thyroid disease with health-promoting foods, exercise and other natural therapies was the catalyst that transformed Andrea Beaman’s life. Andrea was a featured contestant on Bravo’s Top Chef and was a guest on Barbara Walters’ The View and CBS news. She is a food expert with the wisdom to help you clean out your body and get healthy

Sunday, September 25th

Dine Out Irene
Participating restaurants will give up to 10% of their sales to Just Food and Grow NYC, to help NY area farms devastated by Hurricane Irene

For more info and to see participating restaurants…
http://dineoutirene.com/

Tuesday, September 27th

7pm

The Art of Farming
Sotheby’s
1334 York Ave (at 72nd St)
NYC
$500
For more info and to purchase tickets:
http://artoffarming.org/

Celebrate edible heirlooms and the art involved in their creation. Just in time for the harvest season, this special evening provides a unique platform for local farmers, purveyors, celebrity chefs, food industry experts and philanthropists to join together for a shared interest in supporting local agriculture and sustainable food options for all New Yorkers. The evening includes a cocktail reception with delicious hors d'oeuvres by Rouge Tomate, followed by a seated family-style dinner reflecting the bounty of the season. Featured dishes will be created by a line-up of prominent NYC and tri-state area chefs, known for their pride in farm-to-table cuisine, including Dan Kluger of ABC Kitchen, Alexandra Guarnaschelli of Butter, Ralf Kuettel of Trestle on Tenth, Jeremy Bearman of Rouge Tomate, Jimmy Carbone of Jimmys 43, and more. The chefs will use heirloom vegetables grown by local farmers especially for the occasion.

The evening's highlight will be a live auction of incredible food and drink experiences led by a Sotheby's auctioneer. All proceeds from the event will benefit GrowNYC, an organization working to create the next generation of farmers and healthy food ambassadors through Greenmarkets, school and community gardens, and hands-on education programs, and The Sylvia Center, a program that inspires and teaches children to eat well through hands-on experiences at Katchkie Farm and in school and community centers all over New York City.

Saturday, October 1st to Sunday, October 16th

Right2Know March
A Mobilization for GMO Labelling
For more info and to register:

Thursday, October 6th

7pm

Supporting Children’s Immune Systems Naturally
with Ellen Kamhi, RN – The Natural Nurse
Holistic Moms Network
Elwood Public Library
1929 Jericho Tpke
E Northport
FREE
For more info:
www.holsticmoms.org
Email: wsuffolkhmn@aol.com

Ellen will speak about food, herbs, homeopathy and more! At this monthly meeting (first Thursday of the month) you can connect with other parents interested in holistic health and green living.

Sunday, October 9th

Healthy Planet Restaurant Outing and Lecture featuring Michael Greger, MD

For more info and reservations:
631-421-5591
www.healthy-planet.org

HealthyPlanet Restaurant Outings are social outings with a purpose. Bring together delicious food and knowledgeable speakers on informative topics of all kinds, and you get the perfect mix of fun and growth-promoting education. They are also designed to establish a relationship with restaurants which encourages them to offer more health-enriching, plant-based options. These events are also an opportunity to meet and enjoy the company of other concerned community members. Good friends make the best partners when it comes to making a difference in our world!

Saturday, October 15th

Annual Green Thumb Farm CSA Hay Ride and Pumpkin Picking
Montauk Hwy (Rt 27)
Water Mill
For reservations:
631-726-1900

Further info and times of tours TBA.
Full disclosure…the Pumpkins are not from Green Thumb Farm and they are not organic….however they are more for a Halloween decoration rather than eating (though they are edible).

Sunday, October 16th

World Food Day
Millions Against Monsanto actions/events
For more info:
http://www.facebook.com/millionsagainst
http://organicconsumers.org/monsanto/index.cfm

Sunday, October 23rd

12:30pm

Wild Food & Ecology Tour with Wildman Steve Brill
Sunken Meadow Park
Kings Park
Parking lot by bath house
$20/$10 for children

For more info and to reserve a spot:
http://www.wildmanstevebrill.com/

Monday, October 24th

Food Day
For more info:

10. No, China, NO!!!

China is at it again with fake organic labeling…
http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2011/09/usda-warns-of-chinese-organic-fraud/

China again…one out of ten meals served from restaurants in China is cooked with “gutter oil”…read and be disgusted…
http://globalspin.blogs.time.com/2011/09/13/china-cracks-down-on-gutter-oil-a-substance-even-worse-than-its-name/

11. Certified Organic Seedlings Available from Green Thumb Farm!

Order certified organic seedlings grown at Green Thumb Farm and have them delivered to the CSA for your garden!

How:
Have your credit card ready (to be paid only by credit card) and call the farm at 631-726-1900 between 9:30 to 4pm any day of the week and they will tell you, depending on when you place your order, what week they will arrive at the CSA…and make sure you don’t forget to pick them up!

How much:
$5.50 per pot (4” pot) with a 4 pot minimum order

What:
(if you don’t see what you’re looking for on this list, or want more details…call the farm and ask)

Flowers
Marigolds, Bonanza
Marigolds, Genie (edible)
Nasturtiums
Petunias

Herbs
Basil
Chives
Oregano
Parsley
Sage
Tarragon, French
Thyme

Tomatoes
Heirlooms
Minis
Red

Vegetables
Broccoli
Cabbage
Kale
Swiss Chard

12. And now for something completely different…

Here’s a silly seasonal vegetable joke by celebrity pastry chef Joanne Chang of Myers + Chang in Boston…

How do you repair a broken gourd?

With a Pumpkin Patch! 

13. Eaters/consumers in the NY Metro area interested in eating locally are going to be effected by Hurricane Irene for a LONG time (CSAs not able to fulfill their deliveries for the rest of this year…and possibly next year, farmers not being able to come to greenmarkets because of roads not being passable or they have nothing to sell anymore, NY area restaurants/eateries/stores not having any local foods to prepare/sell because their farmers were wiped out). Please read, look, and learn what’s going on, and consider helping in whatever way you can.

CSAs and Irene…
http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Hurricane-Irene-Strikes-our-CSA-Farms.html?soid=1101511788374&aid=W_4k2l-CYEA

NYC greenmarkets will feel the losses of Hurricane Irene in the coming weeks…
http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2011/09/01/2011-09-01_oh_crops_farms_flood_local_markets_to_be_without_fresh_veggies.html

http://newyork.seriouseats.com/2011/09/hurrican-irene-and-the-farmers-of-the-union-s.html

Letter from Kira (woman farmer) of Evolutionary Organics farm…heartbreaking and hopeful…
http://www.2minutestodinner.com/2011/09/06/floods-and-farming/

Good site for updated farm info and donation info…
http://www.justfood.org/

Check out these photos…this one’s a doozy…
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.185925204812296.47295.134669806604503&type=1#!/photo.php?fbid=185950308143119&set=a.185925204812296.47295.134669806604503&type=1&theater

http://blogs.villagevoice.com/forkintheroad/2011/08/will_the_nyc_gr.php#more
http://nonabrooklyn.com/regional-farms-devastated-by-flooding-nyc-greenmarkets-seeks-donations/

http://www.grownyc.org/blog/?p=137

How cute is this? But what a pain in the butt it must have been to haul all these goats up to the hay loft!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5X4EEybkRI

And then look at this farmer’s field (I mean lake)…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8o7M8rWeZ6A&feature=related

Donate here…

Help NYC urban farms and gardens here…
https://www.nyrp.org/Donate_and_Membership/Make_a_Donation

Group that organizes the NYC Greenmarkets is setting up a donation page (they will be very effected by the crop losses)…
http://www.ediblemanhattan.com/topics/farms-foodshed/as-reports-of-farm-damage-roll-in-grownyc-has-set-up-a-donation-page-earmarked-for-hurricane-relief-nycgreenmarkets-grownyc/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=as-reports-of-farm-damage-roll-in-grownyc-has-set-up-a-donation-page-earmarked-for-hurricane-relief-nycgreenmarkets-grownyc

Things needed at an upstate shelter in farm country…
http://www.crcs.k12.ny.us/news/1112/0830redcrossshelter.html?utm_source=CHRF+Information&utm_campaign=9e6038db4e-WinterShareTeaser_081511&utm_medium=email#items

Like the Fabulous Beekman Boys? They want to help too…
http://www.facebook.com/FabulousBeekmanBoys/posts/10150358108404283

Fundraiser by Punk Domestics for the younger (by age or by heart) locavores amongst us…
http://www.punkdomestics.com/content/homesteaders-help-victims-irene

Radio station raising money for Delaware and Otsego County…
http://www.facebook.com/FabulousBeekmanBoys/posts/10150358108404283#!/profile.php?id=100000645762583&sk=wall

more ways to help…
http://www.watershedpost.com/2011/post-irene-how-help-catskill-region-farmers

http://catskillmountainrelief.blogspot.com/

http://www.hvfoodnetwork.com/forum/topics/irene-requests-offers

And let’s not forget the Vermont farmers that also got decimated…
http://7d.blogs.com/blurt/2011/08/after-irene-how-you-can-help-vermont.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/05/us/05cows.html?_r=2

http://www.menafn.com/qn_news_story.asp?storyid=%7B37fd09a0-bd1b-489e-a410-9cd5a30a9a12%7D

Donate directly to Poor Farm (yes, Virginia…that’s really the name of it) in Vermont…
http://applewoodny.com/poorfarm.html

And now in Pennsylvania…
The Pennsylvania Farm Bureau has fielded reports of damage from throughout the state, including a Wyoming County dairy that had to dump a tank of milk because delivery trucks were blocked by bad roads, a Bradford County winery that lost 10 tons of grapes worth $15,000 and an aquaculture operation that lost $1.75 million worth of fish and equipment from flooding at facilities in York and Lebanon counties.

Can you give the gift of labor and time? Join “Crop Mob” and you’ll get periodic emails asking you to go to some farm that may need your help doing…whatever…there are now TWENTY farms upstate NY that are asking for help due to Hurricane Irene damage (I’m sure there will be more to come)…
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=265873753432271#!/groups/329782632114/

###

2011-09-07T09:49:00.001-04:00

Happy Summer!

CSA Lost & Found – Who left their canvas grocery bag at the CSA last week? It’s 100% organic cotton…natural color with the world Ecological written across the bottom on the graphic image side that has dots on it with the occasional heart/leaf/cotton boll/recycle sign…the other side is blank except it says it’s made by Fossil.

Anyone still interested in Pine Nuts (NOT from China…if you don’t know why this is an issue…Google it) and Sundried Tomatoes? CSA member Fritz Lang wants to do a bulk order but needs so MORE PEOPLE to split the booty. He can give you the details so let me know if you’re interested and I’ll make the connection. The Pine Nuts could be organic and grown in the USA IF there are enough takers and the order gets in quickly enough.

TIME TO START WEIGHING!!! Digital scales are here. The main thing is to err on the side of under weighing rather than being over the amount stated on the Wall Chart. The second thing is to please follow the weighing directions given by whoever is working by the scales (usually that means weighing more than one thing at a time in a certain order…this is what our farmer wants so this is what we do).

Flower Shares and Herb Shares still available (see #5).

BRING BAGS TO PACK YOUR CSA SHARE…now and forever! Put bags (paper/plastic/canvas) in every car you own so you’ll never be without. In your trunk, glove compartment, back seat…whatever works for you. You’ll be needing them every week and the CSA is not set up to provide them. If you are sending someone else to pick up your CSA share (spouse, relative, friend, offspring), this is the most important thing to tell them.

Only ONE (or maybe two depending on Farmer Bill) more weeks left for new members to sign up…after that, whether we fill the CSA or not, Farmer Bill will stop accepting new members. We still have 80 intrepid CSAers for the twentieth week of the CSA season and we still have room for about 70 CSA members for the rest of the season. If each CSA member were to find ONE more member…ONLY ONE EACH…we could fill the CSA. Green Thumb Farms’ Brooklyn CSA is closed for membership with 200 members, their Queens CSA is closed for the season with 110 members and we’re last on the totem pole still trying to get to 100, and at that point seeing if our farmer will allow us to get to 150 members. Back a few years ago, he would have LOVED for us to have 200 members but since we’ve never come close, I think he’s given up hope…but would be amused and pleased if it ever happened. Plus it’s wacky…with everyone sharing, people having multiple email addresses, and the fact that there are people who want to get our emails who aren’t CSA members (events, veg sheets, etc), I’m sending this email to 110 email addresses! I’d be so happy if that translated to 110 CSA members but not yet!

Attached in the next email will be the CSA “kit” consisting of the contract for new members, brochure and fee sheet. Let’s do this thing! The sooner I don’t have to beat the bushes for members, the more time I have for things like managing the CSA better, finding cool new things to add to the CSA mix (Mushrooms, Tempeh, a Winter CSA Share?) and doing the extra work it would entail.

I’d be happy to place brochures, do a lecture, call, email…do whatever’s needed to spread the good word about CSA. If you have suggestions, please make them known.

This email includes…

***SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT***

BULK TOMATOES AVAILABLE AS OF…NOW!

What? Boxes of Paste Tomatoes (also known as Plum or Italian) from our own Green Thumb Farm (therefore certified-organic)…20 lbs of Tomatoes per box…Red, and a small amount of Yellow ones are the colors available

How? To order…call the farm (631-726-1900) between 9am and 5pm any day of the week to place your order. It must be placed no later than noon on Wednesday for the week you want it (don’t order way in advance so the farm doesn’t have to keep track of it…call Friday to Wednesday of the week you want it to arrive on Thursday). If you wanted them this week and can call by noon today…you’ve got it!

Payment? Credit card only when you place the order by phone.

For how long? Till the end of September (September 8, 15, 27, 29) HOWEVER Farmer Bill said to order them…the sooner the better. What does that tell me? Two things…1) when they’re gone, they’re gone if a lot of people order them, and 2) I have no idea of what Tomato Blight is or isn’t doing at the farm (can change from day to day) and other things can also effect Tomato health and happiness (heavy rain, another hurricane – heaven forbid, etc). So, there’s no guarantee that they’ll be there at the end of the month.

1. Your CSA DOES need you this week! We’re looking for ONE (1) person from 5:30 to 7:30pm
2. Have you been washing your Tomatoes? PLEASE READ THIS!
3. The list…subject to change without notice…farming is like that!
4. One of America’s oldest seed companies is in danger of going out of business…BUY SOMETHING NOW (and spread the word as far as you can)!!!
5. Dines Farm Report
6. Bitter Melon turns up in the most unexpected places!
7. We still have plenty of Herb Shares and Flower Shares available. Why would you want one?
8. What you actually got last week
9. Fun, Cool & Interesting Stuff to Do (new events added weekly)
10. Click here…
11. Certified Organic Seedlings Available from Green Thumb Farm!
12. And now for something completely different…
13. Eaters/consumers in the NY Metro area interested in eating locally are going to be effected by Hurricane Irene for a LONG time (CSAs not able to fulfill their deliveries for the rest of this year…and possibly next year, farmers not being able to come to greenmarkets because of roads not being passable or they have nothing to sell anymore, NY area restaurants/eateries/stores not having any local foods to prepare/sell because their farmers were wiped out). Please read, look, and learn what’s going on, and consider helping in whatever way you can.

1. Your CSA DOES need you this week! We’re looking for ONE (1) person from 3:30 to 5:30pm and ONE (1) person from 5:30 to 7:30pm

If interested and available…
1. reply to this email from now to before 1pm Thursday
2. call 631-421-4864 from now to before 1pm Thursday
3. call the CSA at 631-385-1079 after 3pm only on Thursday

You can ALWAYS show up a little before 3:30 or 5:30pm at the CSA and offer to work IF help is still needed…you never know! Everyone that’s scheduled doesn’t always show up on time…or at all.

If you didn’t get a confirmation email from Judi, you’re not on the schedule to work this week. If you did, you are.

2. Have you been washing your Tomatoes? PLEASE READ THIS!

Guess what? The Tomatoes have had Copper sprayed on them so they really need to be washed before you eat or use them. Why Copper? It’s an approved fungicide that can be used on certified organic produce to protect against the dreaded Tomato Blight. We’re lucky…Quail Hill Farm in Amagansett had to cancel its Tomato Taste-off because if it, Golden Earthworm in Jamesport is having their Tomato plants die because of it, and Green Thumb Farm is doing ok so far. Organic or not, all produce should be washed. Attached to this email is a good piece on what to use…Water, Bleach or Veggie Washes/Soap?

Tips for safely and properly washing produce…
http://ccetompkins.org/nutrition/food-safety-storage/7-tips-cleaning-fruits-and-vegetables
http://extension.oregonstate.edu/gardening/wash-fresh-fruits-and-vegetables-cutting-peeling-and-eating

3. The list…subject to change without notice…farming is like that!

Vegetable Info Sheets attached to email (keep in a notebook – by the end of the year you’ll have a cookbook!)

Week #20
September 8, 2011

1. Squash, Winter - Acorn
2. Carrots
3. Tomatoes
4. Snap Beans
5. Peppers, Sweet
6. Lettuce

Total Items: 6 (?)

Herb Share – Sept 1A
Parsley, Italian Flat Leaf AND Sage

4. One of America’s oldest seed companies is in danger of going out of business…BUY SOMETHING NOW (and spread the word as far as you can)!!!

The beautiful seed catalog is only $5.00. If you’re an artist or a crafter, catalogs like this are great to make greeting cards or for collage projects…
http://www.facebook.com/LandrethSeedCo

Read the company’s plea to help here…
http://www.facebook.com/LandrethSeedCo#!/event.php?eid=132783473485114

More info about the people that own the company in the comments section here…
http://www.chicagonow.com/chicago-garden/2011/09/help-save-americas-oldest-seed-company/

5. Dines Farm Report…

The very short story is…
1. Dines Farm won’t be here till further notice…I’ll let you know what I know when I know it.

Spoke to Larry (who’s doing ok) and Dines Farm was above the flooding!!! Jay and animals are ok.

Jay is still figuring out how to make farming sustainable (economically…he has the other part pretty much down) to remain a farmer. Still looking for funding for USDA certification needs. I believe he is still at the Cobble Hill CSA (Green Thumb Farm supplies the majority of the produce they get) every Tuesday but Larry wants to check to make sure Jay will be there. Maybe someone could make a run to the CSA in Brooklyn to pick up orders and bring them to Huntington. You MIGHT be able to get me to do that.

6. Bitter Melon turns up in the most unexpected places!

Jarobi White of the band A Tribe Called Quest has a food blog and here he’s talking about…BITTER MELON (as well as going all organic and eating Apricot Pits for Vitamin B17)!!!
http://jarobiwhite.com/2011/08/bitter-melon-2/

7. We still have plenty of Herb Shares, Basil Shares, and Flower Shares available. Why would you want one?

Why a Flower Share?

You’re paying $7 for a bunch of flowers that might easily cost $10 elsewhere (I just paid $10 for two VERY SMALL stems of Lilac the other week at the Sweet Hollow Hall market and they were on their way out after two days…the gal didn’t cut them properly as I learned in my research AND she should have had little packs of flower food to include for that price) AND the Flower Share flowers are organic. I get two Flower Shares every year and they are a joy to behold!

You don’t have to cut the ones in your garden and you can leave them to beautify your landscape.

They’re organically grown so you can sniff with impunity!

The first ones we usually get are Peonies (that’s enough of a reason for me) and then it may be followed by (and not in this order) Sunflowers, Zinneas, Sweet Williams, Snapdragons, Straw Flowers, Gomphrena, Flamingo Feathers…some are everlasts (can be dried) and some are not…all depending on what’s ready and when. The flowers do NOT come every week.

Why an Herb Share or a Basil Share?

Tired of eating the same vegetable more than one week in a row…USE HERBS! They can totally change the flavor profile of what you’re cooking.

Just like we get Vegetable Information Sheets, we have Herb Information Sheets (and we may put an order in for an Herb Wheel…later for that).

You can freeze or dry them for use during the winter (or when you don’t have them fresh on hand).

Herbs are amazing for our health. We don’t eat enough of them. They have more antioxidants than Blueberries! Use them in Juices (in small quantities), on Salad, in Salad Dressings, on most anything you cook…Vegetables, Meat, Fish, Eggs, Soups…anything!

Herbs are green…anything that’s green is ultra healthy. Here’s some info from Dr. Andrew Weil…
To turn down pain: Like some over-the-counter painkillers, some plants also act as natural COX 2 inhibitors, thus reducing pain and inflammation. Adding Basil to the diet may be useful for those with minor aches and pains.
To fight infections: In India, Basil is commonly used a home remedy for coughs and colds and topically for minor cuts and scrapes. Research has now shown that the herb indeed has potent antimicrobial activity and may reduce bronchial spasm, said Dr. Low Dog. Thyme is another herb to consider when fighting off a cold. It is approved in Europe for use in upper respiratory infections; it’s also effective against oral thrush. Likewise, Sage tea is effective for sore throats.
To calm and soothe: Rosemary is a traditional remedy for headaches—perhaps due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Sage is approved in Germany for those troubled by excessive perspiration, and herbalists commonly recommend it for menopausal women troubled with night sweats.
To improve your outlook: Another promising herb for brain health may be Sage. Dr. Low Dog presented some of the research that suggests the herb may improve some symptoms of early Alzheimer’s disease. She also noted that the word “sage” is used to signify a wise elder. Maybe the ancients were on to somethin
We DO get Herbs as part of our basic CSA share (this week we’re getting Parsley) but you get more of them with the CSA share…

We will most likely be getting Celery at some point this season…
Please Pass the Parsley … and the Celery
Parsley and celery contain a compound that may help protect against breast cancer, possibly by blocking the growth of tumor cells. This interesting finding, from a University of Missouri animal study, suggests that apigenin, a flavonoid found in parsley, celery, apples, oranges, nuts and other plant products, seemed to block or delay tumor formation in rats that had been programmed to develop breast cancer when exposed to MPA (medroxyprogesterone acetate). MPA is a synthetic hormone that has been found to accelerate human breast tumor development in women on hormone replacement therapy. In the rat study, apigenin blocked the formation of new blood vessels needed by breast tumors, and also reduced the overall number of tumors the rats developed. However, apigenin didn't stop cancer cells from forming in the breast in the first place. The investigators said that they're not yet sure what dose of apigenin would be appropriate for humans, but suggested that eating some parsley and fruit daily could help ensure that you're getting the minimal amount. The study was published online April 19, 2011 by Cancer Prevention Research.
How to I get an Herb, Basil or Flower Share after the CSA season start?

It’s easy…ASK or EMAIL! You need to join AT the CSA because…it’s a timing thing.

8. What you actually got last week

September 1, 2011
Week #19

1. Cucumbers – 1 lb
2. Peppers, Sweet: assorted Bell, Hungarian Wax and other Peppers of many colors – 1 lb
3. Squash, Summer: Zucchini, 8 Ball, Yellow, Golden, Cousa Magda, Patty Pan- Green, Costata Romanesco AND/OR Bitter Melon – 1 lb
1, 2 and 3 weighed together for a total weight of 3 lbs and a total price of - $6.00
4. Beans, Snap: Green OR Yellow/Wax – 1 lb - $3.00
5. Tomatoes, Mini: Cherry, Red OR Sungold - Red – 1 pt - $4.00
6. Lettuce: Leaf, Green – 1 head - $2.50
7. Cilantro – 1 bunch - $2.25
8. Eggplant, Japanese – 1 - $1.75

Total Items: 8
Total Amount: $19.50 ($2.00 more than we paid for our weekly share…it adds up over the course of the season)

9. Fun, Cool & Interesting Stuff to Do (new events added weekly)

September 1st to September 30th

The NY Locavore Challenge

Eat fresh, local, in season, organic…for a day, a week, a month! Put on by the Northeast Organic Farmer’s Association, this is the 2nd year for this event.

For more info, to register, and to get involved…keep coming back as clearly it’s early in the planning stages…unless YOU want to help plan and be actively involved…
https://www.nofany.org/?q=node/237
https://www.nofany.org/events/ny-locavore-challenge

Wednesday, September 7th

5 to 6pm

iEat Green Radio Show (internet)
http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/eating-green/
Bhavani Jharoff, of iEat Green (and Slow Food – Huntington) will interview Nicole Betancourt, Founder and CEO of Parent Earth. Nicole is a producer, director and social entrepreneur with seventeen years experience in media production and distribution. Her business, Parent Earth, aims to answer parents’ questions about food, and work with partners to create a world that nurtures healthy, thriving children. Parent Earth creates short online videos on everything from cooking and gardening to nutrition and behavior
http://www.parentearth.com/
7pm to 10pm

Wondrous Stories band
Hudson & McCoy
340 Woodcleft Ave (Freeport’s Nautical Mile)
Freeport
http://www.hudsonmccoy.com/

For more info on the band:
http://www.wonderous-stories.com/

CSA member Kenny Friedman is playing with this band…check it out! All performances are out doors and will be canceled on account of rain.

Thursday, September 8th

7 to 10:30pm

Wonderous Stories band
Malibu Beach Club
1500 Lido Blvd
Lido Beach
For more info:
http://malibushoreclub.com/_pages/blueoysterbar.html

For more info on the band:
http://www.wonderous-stories.com/

CSA member Kenny Friedman is playing with this band…check it out! All performances are out doors and will be canceled on account of rain.

Friday, September 9th

7 to 11pm

Wonderous Stories band
The Fishery
1 Main St
East Rockaway
http://www.kpsearch.com/DF/Fishery/all.asp

For more info on the band:
http://www.wonderous-stories.com/

CSA member Kenny Friedman is playing with this band…check it out! All performances are out doors and will be canceled on account of rain.

Saturday, September 10th

9am to 10am (submit entries)
11am – prizes awarded (Tomatoes can’t be picked up till 5pm)

14th Annual Hicks Nurseries Tomato Contest
Hicks Nursery
100 Jericho Tpke
Westbury
For more info:
516-334-0066

Prizes awarded for heaviest, largest circumference, most unusual looking and tiniest red Tomato.

Healthy Planet Membership Fun Drive
The Water Well
386 NY Ave
Huntington
For more info:
631-421-5591
www.healthy-planet.org

Socializing and speakers all day…music all night!

Noon

Food Chain Radio
http://metrofarm.com/
Food Chain Radio show with Michael Olson…he doesn’t announce what’s on the show till Thursday but it’s worth checking out and you can hear the older shows that are archived and there are a BAZILLION interesting shows on everything green and food related….everything from beer and bedbugs to raw milk and cosmetics.

Sunday, September 11th

6 to 10pm

The Invisible Band
The Fishery
1 Main St
East Rockaway
http://www.kpsearch.com/DF/Fishery/all.asp

For more info on the band:
http://www.invisibleband.com/

CSA member Kenny Friedman is playing with HIS band…check it out! All performances are out doors and will be canceled on account of rain.

Sunday, September 18th

Slow Food National $5 Challenge Day
Old Westbury
$5
RSVP:
Bhavani@ieatgreen.com
For more info about the event:
https://secure3.convio.net/sfusa/site/SPageServer?pagename=5Challenge_Home

You're invited to help take back the 'value meal' by getting together with other Slow Food members for a slow food meal that costs no more than $5 per person.
Slow food shouldn't have to cost more than fast food. Join us for a 'value meal' prepared by Slow Food Huntington members. You can cook and bring a meal or show up and eat with the gang.

Wednesday, September 21st

7pm (6pm with VIP tickets)

Just Food: Let us Eat Local
The Altman Building
135 W 18th St
NYC
$175 to $275 (benefit for Just Food)
To purchase tickets:
http://www.nycharities.org/Events/EventLevels.aspx?ETID=3865
For more info:
http://www.justfood.org/events

Just Food is hosting an event bringing together some of the best sustainable food in New York City for a delicious tasting — an extension of the work they’ve been doing for fifteen years to raise awareness in the city about sustainable agriculture and connect city residents with farmers. This event will be a chance to raise funds for the great work Just Food is doing, including facilitating Community Supported Agriculture (CSAs) in New York City, providing support to urban farmers, conducting workshops and hands on training, cooking demonstrations and food justice advocacy work.

Thursday, September 23rd to Sunday, September 25th

10am to 4pm

169th Annual Long Island Fair: Celebrating Agriculture on Long Island
Old Bethpage Village Restoration
1303 Round Swamp Rd
Old Bethpage
$12 Adults/$8 Children and Seniors
For more info:
http://www.lifair.org/

Friday, September 23

6 to 7pm

The Healthy Planet Radio Show
WUSB-FM 90.1

HealthyPlanet's Executive Director, Bob DiBenedetto's, “The Healthy Planet” radio program is airing on WUSB (90.1 FM), broadcasting out of SUNY Stony Brook. This is part of “Natural Alternatives” which airs every Friday from 6 to 7 PM. “The Healthy Planet” will be on at least one Friday each month.

Saturday, September 24th

Moving Planet
For more info:
631-421-5591
www.healthy-planet.org

Join Healthy Planet, 350.org and other groups in a bike ride rally to demand solutions to the climate crisis

2pm to 10pm

Gaia’s Essence Women’s Wellness Conference
Islandia Marriot
3635 Expressway Drive North
Islandia
$30 (includes a LOT…check out the website…DVD Food Matters and goody bag)
To register online:
http://www.gewwc.com/tickets.htm
For more info:
http://www.gewwc.com/index.htm
The featured speaker is Andrea Beaman. Andrea is a natural foods chef, author, and television host dedicated to alternative healing and green, sustainable living. Her inspirational story follows an eye-opening journey from sickness to wellness. Successfully healing her incurable thyroid disease with health-promoting foods, exercise and other natural therapies was the catalyst that transformed Andrea Beaman’s life. Andrea was a featured contestant on Bravo’s Top Chef and was a guest on Barbara Walters’ The View and CBS news. She is a food expert with the wisdom to help you clean out your body and get healthy

Sunday, September 25th

Dine Out Irene
Participating restaurants will give up to 10% of their sales to Just Food and Grow NYC, to help NY area farms devastated by Hurricane Irene

For more info and to see participating restaurants…
http://dineoutirene.com/

Tuesday, September 27th

7pm

The Art of Farming
Sotheby’s
1334 York Ave (at 72nd St)
NYC
$500
For more info and to purchase tickets:
http://artoffarming.org/

Celebrate edible heirlooms and the art involved in their creation. Just in time for the harvest season, this special evening provides a unique platform for local farmers, purveyors, celebrity chefs, food industry experts and philanthropists to join together for a shared interest in supporting local agriculture and sustainable food options for all New Yorkers. The evening includes a cocktail reception with delicious hors d'oeuvres by Rouge Tomate, followed by a seated family-style dinner reflecting the bounty of the season. Featured dishes will be created by a line-up of prominent NYC and tri-state area chefs, known for their pride in farm-to-table cuisine, including Dan Kluger of ABC Kitchen, Alexandra Guarnaschelli of Butter, Ralf Kuettel of Trestle on Tenth, Jeremy Bearman of Rouge Tomate, Jimmy Carbone of Jimmys 43, and more. The chefs will use heirloom vegetables grown by local farmers especially for the occasion.

The evening's highlight will be a live auction of incredible food and drink experiences led by a Sotheby's auctioneer. All proceeds from the event will benefit GrowNYC, an organization working to create the next generation of farmers and healthy food ambassadors through Greenmarkets, school and community gardens, and hands-on education programs, and The Sylvia Center, a program that inspires and teaches children to eat well through hands-on experiences at Katchkie Farm and in school and community centers all over New York City.

Sunday, October 9th

Healthy Planet Restaurant Outing and Lecture featuring Michael Greger, MD

For more info and reservations:
631-421-5591
www.healthy-planet.org

HealthyPlanet Restaurant Outings are social outings with a purpose. Bring together delicious food and knowledgeable speakers on informative topics of all kinds, and you get the perfect mix of fun and growth-promoting education. They are also designed to establish a relationship with restaurants which encourages them to offer more health-enriching, plant-based options. These events are also an opportunity to meet and enjoy the company of other concerned community members. Good friends make the best partners when it comes to making a difference in our world!

Sunday, October 16th

World Food Day
Millions Against Monsanto actions/events
For more info:
http://www.facebook.com/millionsagainst
http://organicconsumers.org/monsanto/index.cfm

Sunday, October 23rd

12:30pm

Wild Food & Ecology Tour with Wildman Steve Brill
Sunken Meadow Park
Kings Park
Parking lot by bath house
$20/$10 for children

For more info and to reserve a spot:
http://www.wildmanstevebrill.com/

Monday, October 24th

Food Day
For more info:

10. Click here…

Help save NY food stamps and emergency food rations…
https://secure3.convio.net/fbnyc/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=177

Protect our drinking water…
http://action.ewg.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=1938&tag=natfrackingpetitionfull&utm_source=natfrackingpetitionfull&utm_medium=email&utm_content=image&utm_campaign=natres

Fox guarding the hen house as Monsanto’s lobbyist, Michael Taylor, was appointed FDA food safety czar…let’s get the fox out of the hen house…
http://fdn.actionkit.com/cms/sign/dump_monsanto_mike?referring_akid=369.30354.hiXTis&source=taf

11. Certified Organic Seedlings Available from Green Thumb Farm!

Order certified organic seedlings grown at Green Thumb Farm and have them delivered to the CSA for your garden!

How:
Have your credit card ready (to be paid only by credit card) and call the farm at 631-726-1900 between 9:30 to 4pm any day of the week and they will tell you, depending on when you place your order, what week they will arrive at the CSA…and make sure you don’t forget to pick them up!

How much:
$5.50 per pot (4” pot) with a 4 pot minimum order

What:
(if you don’t see what you’re looking for on this list, or want more details…call the farm and ask)

Flowers
Marigolds, Bonanza
Marigolds, Genie (edible)
Nasturtiums
Petunias

Herbs
Basil
Chives
Oregano
Parsley
Sage
Tarragon, French
Thyme

Tomatoes
Heirlooms
Minis
Red

Vegetables
Broccoli
Cabbage
Kale
Swiss Chard

12. And now for something completely different…

A sweet video with soundtrack by Willie Nelson (unless you’re a vegetarian but even still…small family farms are better than factory farms)

I own no stock in Chipotle (nor do I work for them) but admit I do like them a lot…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMfSGt6rHos&feature=channel_video_title

13. Eaters/consumers in the NY Metro area interested in eating locally are going to be effected by Hurricane Irene for a LONG time (CSAs not able to fulfill their deliveries for the rest of this year…and possibly next year, farmers not being able to come to greenmarkets because of roads not being passable or they have nothing to sell anymore, NY area restaurants/eateries/stores not having any local foods to prepare/sell because their farmers were wiped out). Please read, look, and learn what’s going on, and consider helping in whatever way you can.

CSAs and Irene…
http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Hurricane-Irene-Strikes-our-CSA-Farms.html?soid=1101511788374&aid=W_4k2l-CYEA

NYC greenmarkets will feel the losses of Hurricane Irene in the coming weeks…
http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2011/09/01/2011-09-01_oh_crops_farms_flood_local_markets_to_be_without_fresh_veggies.html

http://newyork.seriouseats.com/2011/09/hurrican-irene-and-the-farmers-of-the-union-s.html

Letter from Kira (woman farmer) of Evolutionary Organics farm…heartbreaking and hopeful…
http://www.2minutestodinner.com/2011/09/06/floods-and-farming/

Good site for updated farm info and donation info…
http://www.justfood.org/

Check out these photos…this one’s a doozy…
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.185925204812296.47295.134669806604503&type=1#!/photo.php?fbid=185950308143119&set=a.185925204812296.47295.134669806604503&type=1&theater

http://blogs.villagevoice.com/forkintheroad/2011/08/will_the_nyc_gr.php#more
http://nonabrooklyn.com/regional-farms-devastated-by-flooding-nyc-greenmarkets-seeks-donations/

http://www.grownyc.org/blog/?p=137

How cute is this? But what a pain in the butt it must have been to haul all these goats up to the hay loft!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5X4EEybkRI

And then look at this farmer’s field (I mean lake)…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8o7M8rWeZ6A&feature=related

Donate here…

Help NYC urban farms and gardens here…
https://www.nyrp.org/Donate_and_Membership/Make_a_Donation

Group that organizes the NYC Greenmarkets is setting up a donation page (they will be very effected by the crop losses)…
http://www.ediblemanhattan.com/topics/farms-foodshed/as-reports-of-farm-damage-roll-in-grownyc-has-set-up-a-donation-page-earmarked-for-hurricane-relief-nycgreenmarkets-grownyc/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=as-reports-of-farm-damage-roll-in-grownyc-has-set-up-a-donation-page-earmarked-for-hurricane-relief-nycgreenmarkets-grownyc

Things needed at an upstate shelter in farm country…
http://www.crcs.k12.ny.us/news/1112/0830redcrossshelter.html?utm_source=CHRF+Information&utm_campaign=9e6038db4e-WinterShareTeaser_081511&utm_medium=email#items

Like the Fabulous Beekman Boys? They want to help too…
http://www.facebook.com/FabulousBeekmanBoys/posts/10150358108404283

Fundraiser by Punk Domestics for the younger (by age or by heart) locavores amongst us…
http://www.punkdomestics.com/content/homesteaders-help-victims-irene

Radio station raising money for Delaware and Otsego County…
http://www.facebook.com/FabulousBeekmanBoys/posts/10150358108404283#!/profile.php?id=100000645762583&sk=wall

more ways to help…
http://www.watershedpost.com/2011/post-irene-how-help-catskill-region-farmers

http://catskillmountainrelief.blogspot.com/

http://www.hvfoodnetwork.com/forum/topics/irene-requests-offers

And let’s not forget the Vermont farmers that also got decimated…
http://7d.blogs.com/blurt/2011/08/after-irene-how-you-can-help-vermont.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/05/us/05cows.html?_r=2

http://www.menafn.com/qn_news_story.asp?storyid=%7B37fd09a0-bd1b-489e-a410-9cd5a30a9a12%7D

Can you give the gift of labor and time? Join “Crop Mob” and you’ll get periodic emails asking you to go to some farm that may need your help doing…whatever…there are now TWENTY farms upstate NY that are asking for help due to Hurricane Irene damage (I’m sure there will be more to come)…
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=265873753432271#!/groups/329782632114/

###

2011-08-24T11:06:00.001-04:00

Happy Summer!

Quickie…the restaurant H2O in Smithtown has a Sustainable Shellfish Menu till the end of this month! http://www.h2oseafoodgrill.com/

CSA Mystery – What female CSA member was at the CSA last week with about 4 high school/college age folks (guys and gals) and one of the fellas had a Deadmau5 green and black glowing necklace on? I have a story for you! Please identify yourself!!! I asked the person at the desk who signed you in and she couldn’t remember your name.

Anyone still interested in Pine Nuts (NOT from China…if you don’t know why this is an issue…Google it) and Sundried Tomatoes? CSA member Fritz Lang wants to do a bulk order but needs some people to split the booty. He can give you the details so let me know if you’re interested and I’ll make the connection. The Pine Nuts could be organic and grown in the USA IF there are enough takers and the order gets in quickly enough.

TIME TO START WEIGHING!!! Digital scales are here. The main thing is to err on the side of under weighing rather than being over the amount stated on the Wall Chart. The second thing is to please follow the weighing directions given by whoever is working by the scales (usually that means weighing more than one thing at a time in a certain order…this is what our farmer wants so this is what we do).

Flower Shares and Herb Shares still available (see #5).

BRING BAGS TO PACK YOUR CSA SHARE…now and forever! Put bags (paper/plastic/canvas) in every car you own so you’ll never be without. In your trunk, glove compartment, back seat…whatever works for you. You’ll be needing them every week for the next 30 weeks and the CSA is not set up to provide them. If you are sending someone else to pick up your CSA share (spouse, relative, friend, offspring), this is the most important thing to tell them.

Only TWO more weeks left for new members to sign up…after that, whether we fill the CSA or not, Farmer Bill will stop accepting new members. We still have 75 intrepid CSAers for the eighteenth week of the CSA season and we still have room for about 75 CSA members for the rest of the season. If each CSA member were to find ONE more member…ONLY ONE EACH…we could fill the CSA. Green Thumb Farms’ Brooklyn CSA is closed for membership with 200 members, their Queens CSA is closed for the season with 110 members and we’re last on the totem pole still trying to get to 100, and at that point seeing if our farmer will allow us to get to 150 members. Back a few years ago, he would have LOVED for us to have 200 members but since we’ve never come close, I think he’s given up hope…but would be amused and pleased if it ever happened. Plus it’s wacky…with everyone sharing, people having multiple email addresses, and the fact that there are people who want to get our emails who aren’t CSA members (events, veg sheets, etc), I’m sending this email to 110 email addresses! I’d be so happy if that translated to 110 CSA members but not yet!

Attached in the next email will be the CSA “kit” consisting of the contract for new members, brochure and fee sheet. Let’s do this thing! The sooner I don’t have to beat the bushes for members, the more time I have for things like managing the CSA better, finding cool new things to add to the CSA mix (Mushrooms, Tempeh, a Winter CSA Share?) and doing the extra work it would entail.

I’d be happy to place brochures, do a lecture, call, email…do whatever’s needed to spread the good word about CSA. If you have suggestions, please make them known.

This email includes…

1. Your CSA DOES need you this week! We’re looking for ONE (1) person from 5:30 to 7:30pm
2. Notes from the Farm
3. The list…subject to change without notice…farming is like that!
4. What to do with megazucchini…
5. Dines Farm Report
6. New report on the benefit of eating herbs and spices…
7. We still have plenty of Herb Shares and Flower Shares available. Why would you want one?
8. What you actually got last week
9. Fun, Cool & Interesting Stuff to Do (new events added weekly)
10. Do you drink Coconut Water? If so (or you know someone who does), check this out…
11. Certified Organic Seedlings Available from Green Thumb Farm!
12. Know where your food is coming from…Chinese citizens starting to grow their own food (many organically) out of legitimate distrust and fear of their food supply (a lot of the non-organic Garlic in this country is grown in China)
13. Computer click activist…Click below for a pro-Raw milk petition…

1. Your CSA DOES need you this week! We’re looking for ONE (1) person from 3:30 to 5:30pm.

If interested and available…
1. reply to this email from now to before 1pm Thursday
2. call 631-421-4864 from now to before 1pm Thursday
3. call the CSA at 631-385-1079 after 3pm only on Thursday

You can ALWAYS show up a little before 3:30 or 5:30pm at the CSA and offer to work IF help is still needed…you never know! Everyone that’s scheduled doesn’t always show up on time…or at all.

If you didn’t get a confirmation email from Judi, you’re not on the schedule to work this week. If you did, you are.

2. Notes from the Farm (present and past)

August 19, 2011

Labor Day is just a short way away, and on the farm…we’re thinking fall.

Winter Squash is growing well. Fall Carrots, Beets and Scallions are also doing good. Last week, we began seeding our fall Oriental greens, 4 types of Turnips, as well as Daikon Radish and several other types of winter Radishes. Our Kale, Broccoli and Cauliflower have all been planted and are growing well, thanks to our frequent rain showers.

Tomatoes are here and we’ll be having those over the next month. Melons are beginning but won’t last long. Summer Squashes and Snap Beans are still happening. Leeks have begun and we’ll have these until December. Lettuces, after a few hot weeks, are starting to return also due to those rain showers.

So, have a happy Labor Day, enjoy those summer crops, and know that there’s still much more on the way from now till December 15th.

Please enjoy our local, certified-organic and seasonal bounty!

Organically yours,
Farmer Bill (Halsey)

Not sure if I emailed this one or not so…

June 17, 2011

Summer has begun and Strawberry season is here! After two good weeks of Strawberry picking, the rains have begun and the Strawberries have begun to suffer. Spotted Strawberries and many more unpickable ones are appearing. Without the use of fungicides, which conventional farmers are now using to fight the wet weather, our certified-organic Strawberries do not last as long. Strawberries are one of the foods listed containing the most pesticides. So, enjoy those certified-organic Strawberries while they last!

Looking forward to our Summer Squash, Beets and Onions which will be along soon. Peas are doing very well. Snow Peas, Sugar Snap Peas, and even some Shelling Peas, are all being harvested now and will be for several weeks more. Lettuces and many herbs are still abundant, and Radicchio will also soon make its spring appearance. Fennel, Swiss Chard and Radishes will also be here soon.

Between showers this week, we have managed to plant our Cranberry, Lima, and Soy Beans (as well as more String Beans and Summer Squash) for August harvest.

Eggplant and Peppers are in the ground and are also growing well. Expect these in late July!

Organically Yours,
Farmer Bill (Halsey)

3. The list…subject to change without notice…farming is like that!

Vegetable Info Sheets attached to email (keep in a notebook – by the end of the year you’ll have a cookbook!)

Week #18
August 25, 2011

1. Cantaloupe - 1
2. Swiss Chard – 1 bunch
3. Tomatoes
4. Snap Beans
5. Peppers, Sweet
6. Squash, Summer

Total Items: 6 (?)

Flower Share Week #8 – maybe

Herb Share – Aug 2B
Basil AND Sorrel

4. What to do with megazucchini…

The old expression when life gives you Lemons-make lemonade, applies very well to gardening, farming, and being a CSA member…
http://nrnfoodwriter.blogspot.com/2011/08/what-to-do-with-oversized-zucchini.html

5. Dines Farm Report…

The short story is that…
1. Dines Farm won’t be here till further notice…I’ll let you know what I know when I know it. They’re no longer at the Northport market.

Spoke to Larry and he’s having some health issues (stable for the moment but let’s all think good thoughts) but he said he’d call Jay and see about getting to Huntington with some meaty goodness.

2. Jay Dine is looking for a loan of $50,000 to be able to stay in business. He needs to get USDA certification to be able to sell his meats retail and that would make his life a lot easier (and more profitable). If you have less than a certain number of animals you don’t need USDA certification but he needs/wants to expand his business to stay afloat with the price of gas, etc. It’s a long story. If you are interested, or know anyone who might be (1 person or 50 people loaning $1,000 a piece…why not?), please get in touch with me for further details. He would be eternally grateful and I imagine that person (or persons) would be very well fed.

6. New report on the benefit of eating herbs and spices…

We don’t use enough herbs (and spices)!!!

They’re so good for us…and taste good too…in the study they used Sage, Oregano, Garlic and Rosemary (all of which we get in either our regular CSA share or the Herb Share)…
http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/food/2011/08/22/2011-08-22_research_shows_that_cooking_with_spices_helps_counter_the_negative_effects_of_hi.html

7. We still have plenty of Herb Shares, Basil Shares, and Flower Shares available. Why would you want one?

Why a Flower Share?

You’re paying $7 for a bunch of flowers that might easily cost $10 elsewhere (I just paid $10 for two VERY SMALL stems of Lilac the other week at the Sweet Hollow Hall market and they were on their way out after two days…the gal didn’t cut them properly as I learned in my research AND she should have had little packs of flower food to include for that price) AND the Flower Share flowers are organic. I get two Flower Shares every year and they are a joy to behold!

You don’t have to cut the ones in your garden and you can leave them to beautify your landscape.

They’re organically grown so you can sniff with impunity!

The first ones we usually get are Peonies (that’s enough of a reason for me) and then it may be followed by (and not in this order) Sunflowers, Zinneas, Sweet Williams, Snapdragons, Straw Flowers, Gomphrena, Flamingo Feathers…some are everlasts (can be dried) and some are not…all depending on what’s ready and when. The flowers do NOT come every week.

Why an Herb Share or a Basil Share?

Tired of eating the same vegetable more than one week in a row…USE HERBS! They can totally change the flavor profile of what you’re cooking.

Just like we get Vegetable Information Sheets, we have Herb Information Sheets (and we may put an order in for an Herb Wheel…later for that).

You can freeze or dry them for use during the winter (or when you don’t have them fresh on hand).

Herbs are amazing for our health. We don’t eat enough of them. They have more antioxidants than Blueberries! Use them in Juices (in small quantities), on Salad, in Salad Dressings, on most anything you cook…Vegetables, Meat, Fish, Eggs, Soups…anything!

Herbs are green…anything that’s green is ultra healthy. Here’s some info from Dr. Andrew Weil…
To turn down pain: Like some over-the-counter painkillers, some plants also act as natural COX 2 inhibitors, thus reducing pain and inflammation. Adding Basil to the diet may be useful for those with minor aches and pains.
To fight infections: In India, Basil is commonly used a home remedy for coughs and colds and topically for minor cuts and scrapes. Research has now shown that the herb indeed has potent antimicrobial activity and may reduce bronchial spasm, said Dr. Low Dog. Thyme is another herb to consider when fighting off a cold. It is approved in Europe for use in upper respiratory infections; it’s also effective against oral thrush. Likewise, Sage tea is effective for sore throats.
To calm and soothe: Rosemary is a traditional remedy for headaches—perhaps due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Sage is approved in Germany for those troubled by excessive perspiration, and herbalists commonly recommend it for menopausal women troubled with night sweats.
To improve your outlook: Another promising herb for brain health may be Sage. Dr. Low Dog presented some of the research that suggests the herb may improve some symptoms of early Alzheimer’s disease. She also noted that the word “sage” is used to signify a wise elder. Maybe the ancients were on to somethin
We DO get Herbs as part of our basic CSA share (this week we’re getting Parsley) but you get more of them with the CSA share…

We will most likely be getting Celery at some point this season…
Please Pass the Parsley … and the Celery
Parsley and celery contain a compound that may help protect against breast cancer, possibly by blocking the growth of tumor cells. This interesting finding, from a University of Missouri animal study, suggests that apigenin, a flavonoid found in parsley, celery, apples, oranges, nuts and other plant products, seemed to block or delay tumor formation in rats that had been programmed to develop breast cancer when exposed to MPA (medroxyprogesterone acetate). MPA is a synthetic hormone that has been found to accelerate human breast tumor development in women on hormone replacement therapy. In the rat study, apigenin blocked the formation of new blood vessels needed by breast tumors, and also reduced the overall number of tumors the rats developed. However, apigenin didn't stop cancer cells from forming in the breast in the first place. The investigators said that they're not yet sure what dose of apigenin would be appropriate for humans, but suggested that eating some parsley and fruit daily could help ensure that you're getting the minimal amount. The study was published online April 19, 2011 by Cancer Prevention Research.
How to I get an Herb, Basil or Flower Share after the CSA season start?

It’s easy…ASK or EMAIL! You need to join AT the CSA because…it’s a timing thing.

8. What you actually got last week…and a bunch of other weeks I didn’t get around to typing in

August 18, 2011
Week #17

1. Leeks – 1 bunch - $3.50
2. Peppers, Sweet: Bell, Green AND/OR Bell, Purple AND/OR Hungarian Wax AND/OR Heirloom Corno di Toro – 1 lb
3. Squash, Summer: Zucchini, 8 Ball, Yellow, Golden, Cousa Magda, Patty Pan- Green – 1 lb
2 and 3 weighed together for a total weight of 2 lbs and a total price of - $5.00
4. Eggplant – 1 - $2.25
5. Beans, Snap: Romano – ½ lb - $1.50
6. Cucumber – 1 - $.50
7. Tomatoes, Mini: Heirloom Purple Krim, Cherry-Yellow, Plum-Red – 2 lbs - $4.00
8. Cantaloupe – 1 - $2.75

Total Items: 8
Total Amount: $19.50 ($2.00 more than we paid for our weekly share…it adds up over the course of the season)

August 4, 2011
Week #15

1. Cabbage, Green – 1 head
2. Squash, Summer: 8 Ball, Costato Romanesco, Gold, Patty Pan-White, Yellow, Zucchini AND/OR Bitter Melon/Foo Gwo – 2 lbs total - $4.00
3. Beets – 1 bunch - $3.25
4. Radishes: French Breakfast, Red – 1 bunch - $2.75
5. Peppers, Sweet: Green – 2 - $1.75
6. Lettuce: Oak Leaf, Green – 1 head - $2.50
7. Tomatoes, Mini: Cherry, Red or Cherry, Yellow or Grape, Red or Grape, Yellow or Sungold- 1 pt - $4.00

Total Items: 7
Total Amount: $18.25 ($.75 over what we pay for our weekly share…it adds up over the course of the season!)

Flower Share
Week #6
Flamingo Feather (Celosia)/Zinnia/Russian Sage (?) mixed bunch

July 28, 2011
Week #14

1. Cucumbers AND/OR Bitter Melon/Foo Gwa – 1 lb
2. Squash, Summer – 1 lb – weighed together 2 lbs total - $4.25
3. Carrots – 1 bunch - $3.25
4. Fennel – 1 bunch - $2.75
5. Pepper, Sweet: Green AND Pepper, Sweet: Purple – 2 - $1.50
6. Lettuce: Waldmans, Green – 1 head – $2.50
7. Tomatoes, Mini – 1 pt - $4.00

Total Items: 7
Total Amount: $18.25 ($.75 more than we paid for our weekly share…it adds up over the course of the season!)

Flower Share
Week # 6
Statice

July 21, 2011
Week #13

1. Peas: Sugar Snap OR Snow – ½ lb - $3.00
2. Peas: Shelling – 1 lb - $4.50
3. Beans, Snap: Green, Purple, Yellow/Wax – 1 lb - $3.00
4. Onions, Spring – 1 bunch - $3.25
5. Lettuce: Salad Bowl, Green – 1 bunch - $2.50
6. Squash, Summer AND/OR Cucumbers – 1 lb - $2.25

Total Items: 6
Total Amount: $18.50 ($1.00 more than we paid for the weekly share…adds up over the course of a year)

Herb Share –July 2B
Cilantro AND Sorrel

Flower Share
Week #5
Zinnias

July 14, 2011
Week #12

1. Squash, Summer – 2 lbs
2. Beans, Fava – 1 lb – 3 lbs total - $7.75
3. Peas, Sugar Snap – ½ lb - $3.00
4. Lettuce: Leaf, Red OR Iceberg – 1 head - $2.50
5. Onions, Spring – 1 bunch - $3.25
6. Broccoli Rabe OR Radishes – 1 bunch - $2.75

Total Items: 6
Total Amount: $19.25 ($1.75 more than we paid for our share…adds up over the course of the season!)

Flower Share
Week #4
Sunflowers

Herb Share – July 1A
Chives, Garlic AND Oregano

July 7, 2011
Week #11

1. Peas, Sugar Snap – 2/3 lb - $4.00
2. Peas, Snow – ½ lb - $2.50
3. Swiss Chard – 1 bunch - $3.25
4. Fennel – 1 bunch - $3.50
5. Radicchio – 1 head - $3.00
6. Lettuce: Oakleaf, Red – 1 head - $2.50

Total Items: 6
Total Amount: $18.75 ($1.25 more than we pay for our weekly share…it adds up over the course of a season!)

Flower Share
Week #3
Snapdragons

June 30, 2011
Week #10

1. Peas, Sugar Snap - .6 lb - $3.50
2. Radishes – 1 bunch - $2.50
3. Peas, Shelling - .6 lb - $3.50
4. Spinach – ½ lb - $3.25
5. Cilantro – 1 bunch - $2.25
6. Lettuce: Romaine – 1 bunch - $2.50

Total Items: 6
Total Amount: $17.50

Herb Share – June 2B
Parsley, Italian Flat Leaf AND Thyme, Lemon

Flower Share
Week #2
Ageratum

June 23, 2011
Week #9

1. Peas, Snow – ½ lb - $3.25
2. Peas, Sugar Snap – ½ lb - $2.75
3. Swiss Chard – 1 bunch - $3.50
4. Lavender – 1 bunch - $2.50
5. Curly/Pepper Cress – 1 bunch - $2.25
6. Lettuce: Leaf, Red – 1 head - $2.50

Total Items: 6
Total Amount: $16.75 (-$.75 but farmer will make up for this in the coming weeks by giving us more than the $17.50 per week we pay)

Flower Share
Week #1
Yarrow

June 15, 2011
Week #8

1. Strawberries – 1 qt - $6.50
2. Peas, Snow - .4 lb - $2.50
3. Peas, Shelling – ¾ lb - $4.50
4. Lettuce: Salad Bowl, Green – 1 head - $2.50
5. Savory, Winter – 1 bunch - $2.25

Total Items: 5
Total Amount: $18.25 ($.75 more than the $17.50 we pay for our weekly CSA share)

Herb Share – June 1A
Mint AND Tarragon, French

9. Fun, Cool & Interesting Stuff to Do (new events added weekly)

Wednesday, August 25th

5 to 6pm

iEat Green Radio Show (internet)…you can also listen to archived shows here as well
http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/eating-green/

Bhavani Jharoff, of iEat Green (and Slow Food – Huntington) will interview Clay Dunn, the Online Community Director at Share Our Strength, a national nonprofit that connects children with the nutritious food they need to lead healthy, active lives. Clay oversees the organization’s websites, social media, email program and digital partnerships. Before joining Share Our Strength, Clay held positions with National Geographic Channel, a digital consulting firm, an electoral campaign and The City of New York. Join me, as we learn about all of the important work Share Our Strength is doing!

Saturday, August 27th

Noon

Food Chain Radio
http://metrofarm.com/
Food Chain Radio show with Michael Olson…he doesn’t announce what’s on the show till Thursday but it’s worth checking out and you can hear the older shows that are archived and there are a BAZILLION interesting shows on everything green and food related….everything from beer and bedbugs to raw milk and cosmetics.
Last week was The Monsanto Bug with Professor Emeritus Dr. Don Huber from Purdue University, for a conversation about a newly-discovered– and as yet unnamed– glysophate pathogen. Monsanto has declined an invitation to participate. (Food Chain Radio #739)
With its roundup herbicide and roundup-ready genes, the Monsanto Corporation has made growing crops a lot easier. Some, however, say Monsanto’s technology has spawned a new pathogen that causes abortion rates of 20% to 45% in the animals that feed upon the crops.
Topics include how we know the Monsanto Bug exists when Monsanto says it does not; what impact, if any, this pathogen has on the food chain of plants, animals and people; and why so few in authority want to consider these questions.

2pm to 10pm

Gaia’s Essence Women’s Wellness Conference
Islandia Marriot
3635 Expressway Drive North
Islandia
$30 (includes a LOT…check out the website…DVD Food Matters and goody bag)
To register online:
http://www.gewwc.com/tickets.htm
For more info:
http://www.gewwc.com/index.htm
The featured speaker is Andrea Beaman. Andrea is a natural foods chef, author, and television host dedicated to alternative healing and green, sustainable living. Her inspirational story follows an eye-opening journey from sickness to wellness. Successfully healing her incurable thyroid disease with health-promoting foods, exercise and other natural therapies was the catalyst that transformed Andrea Beaman’s life. Andrea was a featured contestant on Bravo’s Top Chef and was a guest on Barbara Walters’ The View and CBS news. She is a food expert with the wisdom to help you clean out your body and get healthy

Sunday, August 28th

11am to 6pm

23rd Annual Ecofest
Pier 86 (by the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum)
West Side Hwy and 46th St
NYC
For more info:
http://www.ecofest.com/home.html

With green exhibits and eco-booths including environmental groups, information, animal care, products, health and fitness, healthy food and technologies, plus music, dance and entertainment. ECOFEST features all achievements, choices and activities that present to the general public a Better Life.

Tuesday, August 30th to Friday, September 1st

Preview for Oh My Girls!
For more info:
http://www.ohmygirls.com/

OMG is a healthy living center exclusively designed for girls between the ages of 8 and 18, where Bhavani (of Slow Food Huntington and iEat Green radio) will be the Senior Chef. Its focus is on the physical, nutritional, psychological and social health of teens and tweens.

Wednesday, August 31st

5 to 6pm

iEat Green Radio Show (internet)
http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/eating-green/

Bhavani Jharoff, of iEat Green (and Slow Food – Huntington) will interview Andrea Beaman, healthy living life coach and tv host of Fed Up! on the Veria Network (and cured her “uncurable” thyroid disease with alternative health treatments).
http://www.andreabeaman.com/health/

September 1st to September 30th

The NY Locavore Challenge

Eat fresh, local, in season, organic…for a day, a week, a month! Put on by the Northeast Organic Farmer’s Association, this is the 2nd year for this event.

For more info, to register, and to get involved…keep coming back as clearly it’s early in the planning stages…unless YOU want to help plan and be actively involved…
https://www.nofany.org/?q=node/237
https://www.nofany.org/events/ny-locavore-challenge

Thursday, September 1st

6pm

Farm-to-table Cooking Class with Bhavani
Old Westbury
$75
To register (space limited):
516-238-3616
Bhavani@ieatgreen.com

Join Natural Food Chef, Bhavani Jaroff, in her garden and kitchen. The class begins by harvesting the vegetables and then creating a gourmet, vegetarian meal that will be shared together under the stars

7pm

Vanishing of the Bee’s (movie)
Crossroads Farm at Grossman’s
480 Hempstead Ave
Malverne
$5 to $1,000 (this is a fundraiser)
For more info:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=235664813135691

Bring your own folding chairs and/or blankets…co-director Maryam Henein will be there for a Q & A after the film.

Saturday, September 3rd

9am to noon

13th Annual Great Tomato Taste-Off
Quail Hill Farm
Deep Lane
Amagansett
$10 (kids under 12 free)
For more info:
http://www.peconiclandtrust.org/events.php?Ym=20110901#10

Heavy rains will cancel event.

12:30pm

Wild Food & Ecology Tour with Wildman Steve Brill
Sunken Meadow Park
Kings Park
Parking lot by bath house
$20/$10 for children

For more info and to reserve a spot:
http://www.wildmanstevebrill.com/

Saturday, September 10th

9am to 10am (submit entries)
11am – prizes awarded (Tomatoes can’t be picked up till 5pm)

14th Annual Hicks Nurseries Tomato Contest
Hicks Nursery
100 Jericho Tpke
Westbury
For more info:
516-334-0066

Prizes awarded for heaviest, largest circumference, most unusual looking and tiniest red Tomato.

Healthy Planet Membership Fun Drive
The Water Well
386 NY Ave
Huntington
For more info:
631-421-5591
www.healthy-planet.org

Socializing and speakers all day…music all night!

Sunday, September 18th

Slow Food National $5 Challenge Day
Old Westbury
$5
RSVP:
Bhavani@ieatgreen.com
For more info about the event:
https://secure3.convio.net/sfusa/site/SPageServer?pagename=5Challenge_Home

You're invited to help take back the 'value meal' by getting together with other Slow Food members for a slow food meal that costs no more than $5 per person.
Slow food shouldn't have to cost more than fast food. Join us for a 'value meal' prepared by Slow Food Huntington members.

Wednesday, September 21st

7pm (6pm with VIP tickets)

Just Food: Let us Eat Local
The Altman Building
135 W 18th St
NYC
$175 to $275 (benefit for Just Food)
To purchase tickets:
http://www.nycharities.org/Events/EventLevels.aspx?ETID=3865
For more info:
http://www.justfood.org/events

Just Food is hosting an event bringing together some of the best sustainable food in New York City for a delicious tasting — an extension of the work they’ve been doing for fifteen years to raise awareness in the city about sustainable agriculture and connect city residents with farmers. This event will be a chance to raise funds for the great work Just Food is doing, including facilitating Community Supported Agriculture (CSAs) in New York City, providing support to urban farmers, conducting workshops and hands on training, cooking demonstrations and food justice advocacy work.

Thursday, September 23rd to Sunday, September 25th

10am to 4pm

169th Annual Long Island Fair: Celebrating Agriculture on Long Island
Old Bethpage Village Restoration
1303 Round Swamp Rd
Old Bethpage
$12 Adults/$8 Children and Seniors
For more info:
http://www.lifair.org/

Friday, September 23

6 to 7pm

The Healthy Planet Radio Show
WUSB-FM 90.1

HealthyPlanet's Executive Director, Bob DiBenedetto's, “The Healthy Planet” radio program is airing on WUSB (90.1 FM), broadcasting out of SUNY Stony Brook. This is part of “Natural Alternatives” which airs every Friday from 6 to 7 PM. “The Healthy Planet” will be on at least one Friday each month.

Saturday, September 24th

Moving Planet
For more info:
631-421-5591
www.healthy-planet.org

Join Healthy Planet, 350.org and other groups in a bike ride rally to demand solutions to the climate crisis

Sunday, October 9th

Healthy Planet Restaurant Outing and Lecture featuring Michael Greger, MD

For more info and reservations:
631-421-5591
www.healthy-planet.org

HealthyPlanet Restaurant Outings are social outings with a purpose. Bring together delicious food and knowledgeable speakers on informative topics of all kinds, and you get the perfect mix of fun and growth-promoting education. They are also designed to establish a relationship with restaurants which encourages them to offer more health-enriching, plant-based options. These events are also an opportunity to meet and enjoy the company of other concerned community members. Good friends make the best partners when it comes to making a difference in our world!

Sunday, October 23rd

12:30pm

Wild Food & Ecology Tour with Wildman Steve Brill
Sunken Meadow Park
Kings Park
Parking lot by bath house
$20/$10 for children

For more info and to reserve a spot:
http://www.wildmanstevebrill.com/

Monday, October 24th

Food Day
For more info:

10. Do you drink Coconut Water? If so (or you know someone who does), check this out…

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/04/coconut-water-not-the-mag_n_918135.html?ir=Food

11. Certified Organic Seedlings Available from Green Thumb Farm!

Order certified organic seedlings grown at Green Thumb Farm and have them delivered to the CSA for your garden!

How:
Have your credit card ready (to be paid only by credit card) and call the farm at 631-726-1900 between 9:30 to 4pm any day of the week and they will tell you, depending on when you place your order, what week they will arrive at the CSA…and make sure you don’t forget to pick them up!

How much:
$5.50 per pot (4” pot) with a 4 pot minimum order

What:
(if you don’t see what you’re looking for on this list, or want more details…call the farm and ask)

Flowers
Marigolds, Bonanza
Marigolds, Genie (edible)
Nasturtiums
Petunias

Herbs
Basil
Chives
Oregano
Parsley
Sage
Tarragon, French
Thyme

Tomatoes
Heirlooms
Minis
Red

Vegetables
Broccoli
Cabbage
Kale
Swiss Chard

12. Know where your food is coming from…Chinese citizens starting to grow their own food (many organically) out of legitimate distrust and fear of their food supply (a lot of the non-organic Garlic in this country is grown in China)

I love Chinese food, I love Chinese culture…but this food stuff is out of control…
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-14387817

Can you blame them???
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2011/0805/1224301872819.html

And when you put it this way…
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/8476080/Top-10-Chinese-Food-Scandals.html

At least this time it wasn’t the food producers fault but…I didn’t know about the dairy farmer poisoning milk to screw his competitor! Oh dear!!!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/22/tainted-vinegar-suspected_n_932862.html

13. Computer click activist…Click below for a pro-Raw milk petition…

http://www.freshthemovie.com/pass-it-on-whos-the-real-threat-cargill-or-raw-milk/

###

2011-08-18T10:29:00.001-04:00

Greetings!

Hooray! We have enough CSA workers to cover today’s early and late shifts (if everyone shows up and there’s no last minute cancellations due to…life  )! Thanks to everyone that responded.

That said…anybody want to buy a Basil Share today???

It’s $10 cash for 4 bunches of lovely, certified-organic Green Thumb Farm classic Italian Genovese green Basil.

Someone ordered a Basil Share and low and behold, when the time came for delivery, they recalled they’re growing Basil and the last thing they need is more (though I don’t think I could ever have enough).

Basil is great in and on many things, is so good for you, and Pesto is good on everything! Corn on the cob, toast, pasta (of course), in eggs, on various meat (steak, chicken), in a wrap or sandwich…and on and on!

Get in touch with Fritz Lang (I’ll get you the contact info) if you want Pine Nuts that won’t be from China to use in your Pesto (and you don’t have to use Pine Nuts for Pesto anyway…you can use Walnuts, etc).

5 ways to preserve Basil…
http://www.herbcompanion.com/herbs-in-the-kitchen/how-to-preserve-basil-5-ways.aspx

Check out its medicinal properties…good for Arthritis, it’s anti-inflammatory, antibacterial…darn - can even protect cells from radiation damage…and much more! Who knew!!!
http://www.herbcompanion.com/herbal-living/amazing-health-benefits-of-basil.aspx

Whole bunch of other fabulous articles about Basil…including recipes…
http://www.herbcompanion.com/search.aspx?search=basil

If you’re interested in being the first one to claim this Basil Share…

1. respond to this email before 1pm today
2. call today before 1pm at 631-421-4864 and leave a message
3. call the CSA today after 3pm at 631-385-1079

Yes, we probably will be getting a bunch of Basil at some point in our regular CSA shares.

Best wishes,

2011-08-17T10:28:00.001-04:00

Happy Summer!

Anyone interested in Pine Nuts (NOT from China…if you don’t know why this is an issue…Google it) and Sundried Tomatoes? CSA member Fritz Lang wants to do a bulk order but needs some people to split the booty. He can give you the details so let me know if you’re interested and I’ll make the connection. The Pine Nuts could be organic and grown in the USA IF there are enough takers and the order gets in quickly enough.

TIME TO START WEIGHING!!! Digital scales are here. The main thing is to err on the side of under weighing rather than being over the amount stated on the Wall Chart. The second thing is to please follow the weighing directions given by whoever is working by the scales (usually that means weighing more than one thing at a time in a certain order…this is what our farmer wants so this is what we do).

Flower Shares and Herb Shares still available (see #5).

BRING BAGS TO PACK YOUR CSA SHARE…now and forever! Put bags (paper/plastic/canvas) in every car you own so you’ll never be without. In your trunk, glove compartment, back seat…whatever works for you. You’ll be needing them every week for the next 30 weeks and the CSA is not set up to provide them. If you are sending someone else to pick up your CSA share (spouse, relative, friend, offspring), this is the most important thing to tell them.

We still have 75 intrepid CSAers for the seventeenth week of the CSA season and we still have room for about 75 CSA members for the rest of the season. If each CSA member were to find ONE more member…ONLY ONE EACH…we could fill the CSA. Green Thumb Farms’ Brooklyn CSA is closed for membership with 200 members, their Queens CSA is closed for the season with 110 members and we’re last on the totem pole still trying to get to 100, and at that point seeing if our farmer will allow us to get to 150 members. Back a few years ago, he would have LOVED for us to have 200 members but since we’ve never come close, I think he’s given up hope…but would be amused and pleased if it ever happened. Plus it’s wacky…with everyone sharing, people having multiple email addresses, and the fact that there are people who want to get our emails who aren’t CSA members (events, veg sheets, etc), I’m sending this email to 110 email addresses! I’d be so happy if that translated to 110 CSA members but not yet!

Attached in the next email will be the CSA “kit” consisting of the contract for new members, brochure and fee sheet. Let’s do this thing! The sooner I don’t have to beat the bushes for members, the more time I have for things like managing the CSA better, finding cool new things to add to the CSA mix (Mushrooms, Tempeh, a Winter CSA Share?) and doing the extra work it would entail.

I’d be happy to place brochures, do a lecture, call, email…do whatever’s needed to spread the good word about CSA. If you have suggestions, please make them known.

This email includes…

1. Your CSA DOES need you this week! We’re looking for TWO (2) folks from 3:30 to 5:30pm and TWO (2) folks from 5:30 to 7:30pm
2. Notes from the Farm
3. The list…subject to change without notice…farming is like that!
4. New Bitter Melon/Foo Gwa recipe…
5. Dines Farm Report…same as last week
6. Do you buy non-local Honey or processed food products that contain Honey?
7. We still have plenty of Herb Shares and Flower Shares available. Why would you want one?
8. What you actually got last week
9. Fun, Cool & Interesting Stuff to Do (new events added weekly)
10. Before you eat that Cantaloupe…read this!
11. Certified Organic Seedlings Available from Green Thumb Farm!
12. Squash is Squash!
13. Dr Weil says…eat local, eat organic, join a CSA!

1. Your CSA DOES need you this week! We’re looking for ONE (1) person from 3:30 to 5:30pm.

If interested and available…
1. reply to this email before 1pm today
2. call 631-421-4864 before 1pm today
3. call the CSA at 631-385-1079 after 3pm

You can ALWAYS show up a little before 3:30 or 5:30pm at the CSA and offer to work IF help is still needed…you never know! Everyone that’s scheduled doesn’t always show up on time…or at all.

If you didn’t get a confirmation email from Judi, you’re not on the schedule to work this week. If you did, you are.

2. Notes from the Farm

July 22, 2011

Summer’s heat has arrived!!!!

The last week the heat has been excessive, and our crops are beginning to show the results. Lettuces are bolting (going to seed), Beans are becoming drier, other greens are either wilting or going through their life cycle with no size (no increased growth). The heat pushes the vegetable plants to grow faster, but with no increased size. And, our Peas are finished.

Our Tomatoes are beginning. We started picking a few this week and expect to begin our CSA deliveries of them this week. Mini Tomatoes most always come first, and then the others. Eggplants and Peppers will also soon begin.

So it is…some crops will always do well while others don’t. Our CSA is based on seasonal availability so depending on weather conditions, this is what we will be bringing to all our CSA members.

THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

Organically yours,
Farmer Bill (Halsey)

3. The list…subject to change without notice…farming is like that!

Vegetable Info Sheets attached to email (keep in a notebook – by the end of the year you’ll have a cookbook!)

Week #17
August 18, 2011

1. Cantaloupe - 1
2. Leeks – 1 bunch
3. Tomatoes, Mini – 1 pt
4. Snap Beans
5. Peppers, Sweet
6. Squash, Summer
7. Eggplant
8. Bitter Melon (?)

Total Items: 8 (?)

4. New Bitter Melon/Foo Gwa recipe…

Discovered by CSA member Lisa McInnis…
http://amisvegetariandelicacies.blogspot.com/2011/07/bitter-melon-salad.html

5. Dines Farm Report…

The short story is that…
1. Dines Farm won’t be here till further notice…I’ll let you know what I know when I know it. In the meanwhile, you can find him on Saturday mornings from 8am to 1pm at the Northport farmer’s market
http://northportfarmersmarket.org/
CSA member, Haley Wiggins reported that Dines Farm was not at the Northport Market last weekend. I will call Larry and Jay before next week to see what’s up. I checked the Northport Farmer’s website and they are still listed (though that could be from inattention to updating the website rather than Dines Farm still being there).

2. Jay Dine is looking for a loan of $50,000 to be able to stay in business. He needs to get USDA certification to be able to sell his meats retail and that would make his life a lot easier (and more profitable). If you have less than a certain number of animals you don’t need USDA certification but he needs/wants to expand his business to stay afloat with the price of gas, etc. It’s a long story. If you are interested, or know anyone who might be (1 person or 50 people loaning $1,000 a piece…why not?), please get in touch with me for further details. He would be eternally grateful and I imagine that person (or persons) would be very well fed.

6. Do you buy non-local Honey or processed food products that contain Honey?

Sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings but the Chinese are at it again…
http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2011/08/honey-laundering/

I sent a quick email to the maker of Kind Bars to tell them I won’t buy any of their products containing Honey unless they can show me that they’re testing, or can prove, that their Honey doesn’t contain heavy metals or any of the other dreadful things they’re finding in Chinese Honey. I just got a reply saying they don’t buy ANYTHING from China, try to get everything from the USA but since they do nuts and tropical fruits…must source globally. With the chicanery going on with the Honey…not sure I feel as confident as I’d like to be. I’ll probably write back but not today.

PS – We’ll have another Honey order in the fall for NY State Honey from Biodynamically raised bees.

7. We still have plenty of Herb Shares, Basil Shares, and Flower Shares available. Why would you want one?

Why a Flower Share?

You’re paying $7 for a bunch of flowers that might easily cost $10 elsewhere (I just paid $10 for two VERY SMALL stems of Lilac the other week at the Sweet Hollow Hall market and they were on their way out after two days…the gal didn’t cut them properly as I learned in my research AND she should have had little packs of flower food to include for that price) AND the Flower Share flowers are organic. I get two Flower Shares every year and they are a joy to behold!

You don’t have to cut the ones in your garden and you can leave them to beautify your landscape.

They’re organically grown so you can sniff with impunity!

The first ones we usually get are Peonies (that’s enough of a reason for me) and then it may be followed by (and not in this order) Sunflowers, Zinneas, Sweet Williams, Snapdragons, Straw Flowers, Gomphrena, Flamingo Feathers…some are everlasts (can be dried) and some are not…all depending on what’s ready and when. The flowers do NOT come every week.

Why an Herb Share or a Basil Share?

Tired of eating the same vegetable more than one week in a row…USE HERBS! They can totally change the flavor profile of what you’re cooking.

Just like we get Vegetable Information Sheets, we have Herb Information Sheets (and we may put an order in for an Herb Wheel…later for that).

You can freeze or dry them for use during the winter (or when you don’t have them fresh on hand).

Herbs are amazing for our health. We don’t eat enough of them. They have more antioxidants than Blueberries! Use them in Juices (in small quantities), on Salad, in Salad Dressings, on most anything you cook…Vegetables, Meat, Fish, Eggs, Soups…anything!

Herbs are green…anything that’s green is ultra healthy. Here’s some info from Dr. Andrew Weil…
To turn down pain: Like some over-the-counter painkillers, some plants also act as natural COX 2 inhibitors, thus reducing pain and inflammation. Adding Basil to the diet may be useful for those with minor aches and pains.
To fight infections: In India, Basil is commonly used a home remedy for coughs and colds and topically for minor cuts and scrapes. Research has now shown that the herb indeed has potent antimicrobial activity and may reduce bronchial spasm, said Dr. Low Dog. Thyme is another herb to consider when fighting off a cold. It is approved in Europe for use in upper respiratory infections; it’s also effective against oral thrush. Likewise, Sage tea is effective for sore throats.
To calm and soothe: Rosemary is a traditional remedy for headaches—perhaps due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Sage is approved in Germany for those troubled by excessive perspiration, and herbalists commonly recommend it for menopausal women troubled with night sweats.
To improve your outlook: Another promising herb for brain health may be Sage. Dr. Low Dog presented some of the research that suggests the herb may improve some symptoms of early Alzheimer’s disease. She also noted that the word “sage” is used to signify a wise elder. Maybe the ancients were on to somethin
We DO get Herbs as part of our basic CSA share (this week we’re getting Parsley) but you get more of them with the CSA share…

We will most likely be getting Celery at some point this season…
Please Pass the Parsley … and the Celery
Parsley and celery contain a compound that may help protect against breast cancer, possibly by blocking the growth of tumor cells. This interesting finding, from a University of Missouri animal study, suggests that apigenin, a flavonoid found in parsley, celery, apples, oranges, nuts and other plant products, seemed to block or delay tumor formation in rats that had been programmed to develop breast cancer when exposed to MPA (medroxyprogesterone acetate). MPA is a synthetic hormone that has been found to accelerate human breast tumor development in women on hormone replacement therapy. In the rat study, apigenin blocked the formation of new blood vessels needed by breast tumors, and also reduced the overall number of tumors the rats developed. However, apigenin didn't stop cancer cells from forming in the breast in the first place. The investigators said that they're not yet sure what dose of apigenin would be appropriate for humans, but suggested that eating some parsley and fruit daily could help ensure that you're getting the minimal amount. The study was published online April 19, 2011 by Cancer Prevention Research.
How to I get an Herb, Basil or Flower Share after the CSA season start?

It’s easy…ASK or EMAIL! You need to join AT the CSA because…it’s a timing thing.

8. What you actually got last week

August 8, 2011
Week #16

1. Onions: Red AND/OR White – 1 lb
2. Peppers, Sweet: Bell, Green AND/OR Bell, Purple AND/OR Hungarian Wax – 1 lb
3. Squash, Summer: Zucchini, 8 Ball, Yellow, Magda…I could swear Farmer Bill told me it was called Zohra but let’s amend that (Middle Eastern Cousa…Arabic word for Summer Squash) AND/OR Bitter Melon/Foo Gwa – 1 lb
1 to 3 weighed together for a total weight of 3 lbs and a total price of - $7.00
4. Carrots: Yellow, Orange, Red/Purple Mixed – 1 bunch - $3.25
5. Dill OR Cilantro – 1 bunch - $2.25
6. Cucumber, Kirby – 1 - $.50
7. Tomatoes: Orange AND/OR Red – 2 lbs - $5.25

Total Items: 7
Total Amount: $18.25 ($.75 more than we paid for our weekly share…it adds up over the course of the season)

Herb Share – Aug 1A
Mint AND Savory, Summer

Flower Share
Week #7
Zinnia/Statice Mixed Bunch

9. Fun, Cool & Interesting Stuff to Do (new events added weekly)

September 1st to September 30th

The NY Locavore Challenge

Eat fresh, local, in season, organic…for a day, a week, a month! Put on by the Northeast Organic Farmer’s Association, this is the 2nd year for this event.

For more info, to register, and to get involved…keep coming back as clearly it’s early in the planning stages…unless YOU want to help plan and be actively involved…
https://www.nofany.org/?q=node/237
https://www.nofany.org/events/ny-locavore-challenge

Saturday, September 10th

9am to 10am (submit entries)
11am – prizes awarded (Tomatoes can’t be picked up till 5pm)

14th Annual Hicks Nurseries Tomato Contest
Hicks Nursery
100 Jericho Tpke
Westbury
For more info:
516-334-0066

Prizes awarded for heaviest, largest circumference, most unusual looking and tiniest red Tomato.

9am to noon

13th Annual Great Tomato Taste-Off
Quail Hill Farm
Deep Lane
Amagansett
$10 (kids under 12 free)
For more info:
http://www.peconiclandtrust.org/events.php?Ym=20110901#10

Heavy rains will cancel event.

Healthy Planet Membership Fun Drive
The Water Well
386 NY Ave
Huntington
For more info:
631-421-5591
www.healthy-planet.org

Socializing and speakers all day…music all night!

Friday, September 23

6 to 7pm

The Healthy Planet Radio Show
WUSB-FM 90.1

HealthyPlanet's Executive Director, Bob DiBenedetto's, “The Healthy Planet” radio program is airing on WUSB (90.1 FM), broadcasting out of SUNY Stony Brook. This is part of “Natural Alternatives” which airs every Friday from 6 to 7 PM. “The Healthy Planet” will be on at least one Friday each month.

Saturday, September 24th

Moving Planet
For more info:
631-421-5591
www.healthy-planet.org

Join Healthy Planet, 350.org and other groups in a bike ride rally to demand solutions to the climate crisis

Sunday, October 9th

Healthy Planet Restaurant Outing and Lecture featuring Michael Greger, MD

For more info and reservations:
631-421-5591
www.healthy-planet.org

HealthyPlanet Restaurant Outings are social outings with a purpose. Bring together delicious food and knowledgeable speakers on informative topics of all kinds, and you get the perfect mix of fun and growth-promoting education. They are also designed to establish a relationship with restaurants which encourages them to offer more health-enriching, plant-based options. These events are also an opportunity to meet and enjoy the company of other concerned community members. Good friends make the best partners when it comes to making a difference in our world!

Monday, October 24th

Food Day
For more info:

10. Before you eat that Cantaloupe…read this!

Eat seasonal

Eat local (avoids many steps on the chain to contamination)…Picked on farm (person #1) and put in a container…brought to CSA…placed on table (person #2)…picked up by CSA member (person #3) and brought home…much different from produce purchased elsewhere!

Do yourself and your family and PLEASE wash your food before you eat it…even if it’s organic…even if it’s from the CSA…even if it’s from a farmstand or greenmarket!!!

I’d differ from this article and say to NOT wash your Melon until you’re going to eat it (washing it early will make it go bad faster). With organic produce, soil is a protective covering. Wash before eating (don’t bother with veggie washes…Cornell U did tests and water alone does fine and some of the soaps are things you don’t want to be consuming…natural or not!), and dry it off so you don’t drag soil…whatever…into the interior of your melon when you’re cutting it up…
http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2011/03/melons-stand-out-as-produce-safety-problem/

11. Certified Organic Seedlings Available from Green Thumb Farm!

Order certified organic seedlings grown at Green Thumb Farm and have them delivered to the CSA for your garden!

How:
Have your credit card ready (to be paid only by credit card) and call the farm at 631-726-1900 between 9:30 to 4pm any day of the week and they will tell you, depending on when you place your order, what week they will arrive at the CSA…and make sure you don’t forget to pick them up!

How much:
$5.50 per pot (4” pot) with a 4 pot minimum order

What:
(if you don’t see what you’re looking for on this list, or want more details…call the farm and ask)

Flowers
Marigolds, Bonanza
Marigolds, Genie (edible)
Nasturtiums
Petunias

Herbs
Basil
Chives
Oregano
Parsley
Sage
Tarragon, French
Thyme

Tomatoes
Heirlooms
Minis
Red

Vegetables
Broccoli
Cabbage
Kale
Swiss Chard

12. Squash is Squash!

http://www.finegardening.com/how-to/articles/cooking-summer-squash-sautee.aspx

13. Dr Weil says…eat local, eat organic, join a CSA!

http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/TIP04159/Shopping-Local-and-Organic.html

###

2011-08-11T10:05:00.001-04:00

Happy Summer!

Yes, it really was Oak Leaf Lettuce last week. Got a message from Farmer Bill and though it wasn’t what you may be used to be seeing or growing…it’s another variety. I did notice the rosette growing pattern which made me think it could be another variety. Farmer Bill was looking for a pelleted variety of Oak Leaf Lettuce and this was the variety he found/got. What’s pelleted seeds? Seeds with a coating (with organic seeds it’d be a natural clay). Why pelleted? For small seeds like Lettuce, they’re easier to handle, easier to see, and allow for more accurate spacing when planting (and if they use a mechanical seed planter…you really want pelleted seeds to have it function properly) which means the need for less thinning (less work) of the plants later on. If you go on the October farm tour, you can ask Farmer Bill any further questions you might have (like the specific name of the variety and where he bought them). I understand some home gardeners prefer pelleted seeds for small seeds, some make their own coatings, and some don’t bother with pelleted seeds as they are more expensive.

Anyone interested in Pine Nuts (NOT from China…if you don’t know why this is an issue…Google it) and Sundried Tomatoes? CSA member Fritz Lang wants to do a bulk order but needs some people to split the booty. He can give you the details so let me know if you’re interested and I’ll make the connection.

Anyone want to be a cheese maker (or know someone)? Catapano Dairy Farm in Peconic is for sale for $1.5 million (down from $3 million)! Includes a herd of goats, 8,000 square foot barn with solar panels, all equipment and recipes. House has 4 bedrooms, 2 ½ baths on 5 acres of farmland which could be used as an educational center for cooking classes and cheesemaking. Listing agent is Elizabeth Gilpin with Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty at 631-749-1155.

Must read re: cooking with CSA food…
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/27/dining/thats-not-trash-thats-dinner.html

A few quick notes about policies for the CSA being at the UUFH (these notices have been on the board next to our CSA Wall Chart as of last week)…
1. No pets in the building (unless seeing eye/service dogs)
2. Park cars only in designated spaces (my car is out front when I’m unloading and loading and though I may leave it there for as long as I’m at the CSA…I should move it into a spot as well)
3. No unsupervised children inside or outside of the building, and children are not allowed to play on the playset

TIME TO START WEIGHING!!! Digital scales are here. The main thing is to err on the side of under weighing rather than being over the amount stated on the Wall Chart. The second thing is to please follow the weighing directions given by whoever is working by the scales (usually that means weighing more than one thing at a time in a certain order…this is what our farmer wants so this is what we do).

Flower Shares and Herb Shares still available (see #5).

We may have a Green Thumb CSA – Huntington contingent at the NOFA Summer Conference this year! See August 12th under the events listings for more info.

BRING BAGS TO PACK YOUR CSA SHARE…now and forever! Put bags (paper/plastic/canvas) in every car you own so you’ll never be without. In your trunk, glove compartment, back seat…whatever works for you. You’ll be needing them every week for the next 30 weeks and the CSA is not set up to provide them. If you are sending someone else to pick up your CSA share (spouse, relative, friend, offspring), this is the most important thing to tell them.

We have 75 intrepid CSAers for the sixteenth week of the CSA season and we still have room for about 75 CSA members for the rest of the year. If each CSA member were to find ONE more member…ONLY ONE EACH…we could fill the CSA. Green Thumb Farms’ Brooklyn CSA is closed for membership with 200 members, their Queens CSA is closed for the season with 110 members and we’re last on the totem pole still trying to get to 100, and at that point seeing if our farmer will allow us to get to 150 members. Back a few years ago, he would have LOVED for us to have 200 members but since we’ve never come close, I think he’s given up hope…but would be amused and pleased if it ever happened. Plus it’s wacky…with everyone sharing, people having multiple email addresses, and the fact that there are people who want to get our emails who aren’t CSA members (events, veg sheets, etc), I’m sending this email to 110 email addresses! I’d be so happy if that translated to 110 CSA members but not yet!

Attached in the next email will be the CSA “kit” consisting of the contract for new members, brochure and fee sheet. Let’s do this thing! The sooner I don’t have to beat the bushes for members, the more time I have for things like managing the CSA better, finding cool new things to add to the CSA mix (Mushrooms, Tempeh, a Winter CSA Share?) and doing the extra work it would entail.

I’d be happy to place brochures, do a lecture, call, email…do whatever’s needed to spread the good word about CSA. If you have suggestions, please make them known.

This email includes…

1. Your CSA DOES need you this week! We’re looking for TWO (2) folks from 3:30 to 5:30pm and TWO (2) folks from 5:30 to 7:30pm .
2. Monsanto’s at it again…your comments needed by Friday, August 12th!
3. The list…subject to change without notice…farming is like that!
4. Eat old vegetables…really!
5. Dines Farm Report…same as last week
6. Another raw Milk raid…this time with guns drawn!!!
7. We still have plenty of Herb Shares and Flower Shares available. Why would you want one?
8. While the feds are busy dumping raw Milk that hasn’t made anyone ill, the government knew about the contaminated ground Turkey meat since 2010…
9. Fun, Cool & Interesting Stuff to Do (new events added weekly)
10. Seasonal Allergies and Honey and such
11. Certified Organic Seedlings Available from Green Thumb Farm!
12. And now…for something completely different (as Monty Python used to say)!

1. Your CSA DOES need you this week! We’re looking for ONE (1) person from 3:30 to 5:30pm.

If interested and available…
1. reply to this email before 1pm today
2. call 631-421-4864 before 1pm today
3. call the CSA at 631-385-1079 after 3pm

You can ALWAYS show up a little before 3:30 or 5:30pm at the CSA and offer to work IF help is still needed…you never know! Everyone that’s scheduled doesn’t always show up on time…or at all.

If you didn’t get a confirmation email from Judi, you’re not on the schedule to work this week. If you did, you are.

2. Monsanto’s at it again…your comments needed by Friday, August 12th!

Regarding new GMO (Genetically Modified Organism) Corn…it says it’s drought tolerant but the USDA even says this new GMO corn is no more drought tolerant than existing conventional varieties…please help stop this…feel free to forward to anyone/everyone you think would be interested…
https://secure3.convio.net/cfs/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=375

3. The list…subject to change without notice…farming is like that!

Vegetable Info Sheets attached to email (keep in a notebook – by the end of the year you’ll have a cookbook!)

Week #16
August 11, 2011

1. Summer Squash
2. Dill OR Cilantro – 1 bunch
3. Tomatoes
4. Onions
5. Cucumbers
6. Peppers, Sweet
7. Carrots

Total Items: 7 (?)

Herb Share
Mint AND Savory (not sure if it’s Winter or Summer…could be either)

4. Eat old vegetables…really!

Be creative! Waste not, want not…

http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/WBL02084/Hang-on-to-Old-Veggies.html

5. Dines Farm Report…same as last week

The short story is that…
1. Dines Farm won’t be here till further notice…I’ll let you know what I know when I know it. In the meanwhile, you can find him on Saturday mornings from 8am to 1pm at the Northport farmer’s market (he’s no longer at the Huntington one on Sunday…they don’t have a permit for him to be able to cook so he’s out of there)
http://northportfarmersmarket.org/

2. Jay Dine is looking for a loan of $50,000 to be able to stay in business. He needs to get USDA certification to be able to sell his meats retail and that would make his life a lot easier (and more profitable). If you have less than a certain number of animals you don’t need USDA certification but he needs/wants to expand his business to stay afloat with the price of gas, etc. It’s a long story. If you are interested, or know anyone who might be (1 person or 50 people loaning $1,000 a piece…why not?), please get in touch with me for further details. He would be eternally grateful and I imagine that person (or persons) would be very well fed.

6. Another raw Milk raid (and the 2nd time for this location)…this time with guns drawn!!!

http://blogs.forbes.com/erikkain/2011/08/03/swat-team-raids-raw-milk-farm-rawesome-arrests-owner/
You’ve got to see this to believe it…this is video from the first time this health food group was raided but this is basically what happened this time as well…it’s pretty scary…the owner said that someone was in the back using a hand scanner and it looks like a Taser and they could have been shot if the police decided it was a weapon…Who were they going to run in to? Aging hippies?? A cow???
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2jgpGyyQW8

If you’re interested in this issue, consider joining the Weston A. Price Foundation http://www.westonaprice.org/ and/or the Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund http://www.ftcldf.org/index.html

7. We still have plenty of Herb Shares, Basil Shares, and Flower Shares available. Why would you want one?

Why a Flower Share?

You’re paying $7 for a bunch of flowers that might easily cost $10 elsewhere (I just paid $10 for two VERY SMALL stems of Lilac the other week at the Sweet Hollow Hall market and they were on their way out after two days…the gal didn’t cut them properly as I learned in my research AND she should have had little packs of flower food to include for that price) AND the Flower Share flowers are organic. I get two Flower Shares every year and they are a joy to behold!

You don’t have to cut the ones in your garden and you can leave them to beautify your landscape.

They’re organically grown so you can sniff with impunity!

The first ones we usually get are Peonies (that’s enough of a reason for me) and then it may be followed by (and not in this order) Sunflowers, Zinneas, Sweet Williams, Snapdragons, Straw Flowers, Gomphrena, Flamingo Feathers…some are everlasts (can be dried) and some are not…all depending on what’s ready and when. The flowers do NOT come every week.

Why an Herb Share or a Basil Share?

Tired of eating the same vegetable more than one week in a row…USE HERBS! They can totally change the flavor profile of what you’re cooking.

Just like we get Vegetable Information Sheets, we have Herb Information Sheets (and we may put an order in for an Herb Wheel…later for that).

You can freeze or dry them for use during the winter (or when you don’t have them fresh on hand).

Herbs are amazing for our health. We don’t eat enough of them. They have more antioxidants than Blueberries! Use them in Juices (in small quantities), on Salad, in Salad Dressings, on most anything you cook…Vegetables, Meat, Fish, Eggs, Soups…anything!

Herbs are green…anything that’s green is ultra healthy. Here’s some info from Dr. Andrew Weil…
To turn down pain: Like some over-the-counter painkillers, some plants also act as natural COX 2 inhibitors, thus reducing pain and inflammation. Adding Basil to the diet may be useful for those with minor aches and pains.
To fight infections: In India, Basil is commonly used a home remedy for coughs and colds and topically for minor cuts and scrapes. Research has now shown that the herb indeed has potent antimicrobial activity and may reduce bronchial spasm, said Dr. Low Dog. Thyme is another herb to consider when fighting off a cold. It is approved in Europe for use in upper respiratory infections; it’s also effective against oral thrush. Likewise, Sage tea is effective for sore throats.
To calm and soothe: Rosemary is a traditional remedy for headaches—perhaps due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Sage is approved in Germany for those troubled by excessive perspiration, and herbalists commonly recommend it for menopausal women troubled with night sweats.
To improve your outlook: Another promising herb for brain health may be Sage. Dr. Low Dog presented some of the research that suggests the herb may improve some symptoms of early Alzheimer’s disease. She also noted that the word “sage” is used to signify a wise elder. Maybe the ancients were on to somethin
We DO get Herbs as part of our basic CSA share (this week we’re getting Parsley) but you get more of them with the CSA share…

We will most likely be getting Celery at some point this season…
Please Pass the Parsley … and the Celery
Parsley and celery contain a compound that may help protect against breast cancer, possibly by blocking the growth of tumor cells. This interesting finding, from a University of Missouri animal study, suggests that apigenin, a flavonoid found in parsley, celery, apples, oranges, nuts and other plant products, seemed to block or delay tumor formation in rats that had been programmed to develop breast cancer when exposed to MPA (medroxyprogesterone acetate). MPA is a synthetic hormone that has been found to accelerate human breast tumor development in women on hormone replacement therapy. In the rat study, apigenin blocked the formation of new blood vessels needed by breast tumors, and also reduced the overall number of tumors the rats developed. However, apigenin didn't stop cancer cells from forming in the breast in the first place. The investigators said that they're not yet sure what dose of apigenin would be appropriate for humans, but suggested that eating some parsley and fruit daily could help ensure that you're getting the minimal amount. The study was published online April 19, 2011 by Cancer Prevention Research.
How to I get an Herb, Basil or Flower Share after the CSA season start?

It’s easy…ASK or EMAIL! You need to join AT the CSA because…it’s a timing thing.

8. While the feds are busy dumping raw Milk that hasn’t made anyone ill, the government knew about the contaminated ground Turkey meat since 2010…

Meanwhile, Cargill keeps chugging along…(can’t say it enough…know where your food comes from…eat local…eat organic)…36 million pounds of ground Turkey recalled…
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/03/cargill-turkey-recall_n_917801.html
http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2011/08/the-36-million-pound-turkey-recall-is-that-enough/

And our government knew about this problem since 2010…
http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/08/10/government-knew-about-bacteria-in-turkey/
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/232355.php

9. Fun, Cool & Interesting Stuff to Do (new events added weekly)

Thursday, August 11th

7:30pm

Let’s Eat: Food on Film presents…Forks over Knives
With Dr Caldwell Esselstyn live via Skype!
Cinema Arts Centre
423 Park Ave
Huntington
$9 – Members, $13 – General Public (includes reception catered by Whole Foods)
To reserve tickets:
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/185377
For more info about the event:
http://www.cinemaartscentre.org/011/011July/ForksKnives.html#ForksOverKnives
To see the trailer and get even more info:
http://forksoverknives.com/

This event is being catered by Whole Foods, Jericho, and co-sponsored by Slow Food – Huntington, Healthy Planet, CenterFood Co-Op, Sustainable Sea Cliff Cooperative, and Green Thumb CSA – Huntington. Available for purchase will be copies of the movie (if you want to share with friends/family/teachers) and the book.

August 12th to 14th

NOFA (Northeast Organic Farmers Association) 37th Annual Summer Conference
With Northeast Animal-Power Field Days
University of Massachusetts
Amherst, MA
For more info and registration:
http://www.nofasummerconference.org/

I’m going this year…and you? It’s fun, educational, reasonably priced, and anyone who goes WILL have a great time. Whether you’re single, family, senior…whatever…a good time will be had! Keynote speakers will be Eric Toensmeier (author promoting food forestry to sequester carbon) and Ignacio Chapela (GMO, agri-fuel and global food crisis activist and scientist). I’m going there to see ex-Long Islander and the person who’s responsible for turning me on to one of my all-time FAVORITE books, Common Sense Pest Control by Olkowski (not very sexy unless you’re interested in this stuff and then it’s most awesome and I personally think every human should own a copy), Steve Restmeyer…organic landscape expert and apprentice shaman! As well as Ellen Kamhi (the Natural Nurse…from Long island), Mac Mead (head of the Pfeiffer Institute…for Biodynamic study upstate), Lee Reich (fruit growing expert from upstate), and MANY other workshops, parties, etc.
There’s workshops for children, teens, if you’re interested in becoming a farmer, Permaculture, CSAs, and even one on making music about farming/growing things or just singing while you’re out in the garden!

This gives you a good overview of the game plan for the weekend…
http://www.nofasummerconference.org/program.php

Info about teen & the children’s conference and parties, etc…
http://www.nofasummerconference.org/program.php

This is the list of workshop descriptions…it’s overwhelming but awesome…
http://www.nofasummerconference.org/pdfs/2011_Workshop_Descriptions.pdf

Info about meals, parking, details, etc…
http://www.nofasummerconference.org/logistics.php

September 1st to September 30th

The NY Locavore Challenge

Eat fresh, local, in season, organic…for a day, a week, a month! Put on by the Northeast Organic Farmer’s Association, this is the 2nd year for this event.

For more info, to register, and to get involved…keep coming back as clearly it’s early in the planning stages…unless YOU want to help plan and be actively involved…
https://www.nofany.org/?q=node/237
https://www.nofany.org/events/ny-locavore-challenge

Saturday, September 10th

9am to 10am (submit entries)
11am – prizes awarded (Tomatoes can’t be picked up till 5pm)

14th Annual Hicks Nurseries Tomato Contest
Hicks Nursery
100 Jericho Tpke
Westbury
For more info:
516-334-0066

Prizes awarded for heaviest, largest circumference, most unusual looking and tiniest red Tomato.

9am to noon

13th Annual Great Tomato Taste-Off
Quail Hill Farm
Deep Lane
Amagansett
$10 (kids under 12 free)
For more info:
http://www.peconiclandtrust.org/events.php?Ym=20110901#10

Heavy rains will cancel event.

Monday, October 24th

Food Day
For more info:
http://www.foodday.org/

10. Seasonal Allergies and Honey and such

Someone at the CSA didn’t want to buy Honey because it wasn’t within a 10 mile radius for reasons of allergies. I told her that it’s more complicated than that (which it is).

Ideally, you would know when and where the Honey was collected to know that it contained the pollen from whatever it is you’re allergic to. THEN you have to start eating it a few months before your allergy season.

http://health.howstuffworks.com/diseases-conditions/allergies/allergy-treatments/local-honey-for-allergies2.htm
http://www.bee-pollen-buzz.com/honey-and-allergies.html
http://www.fitsugar.com/Eating-Local-Honey-Could-Help-Seasonal-Allergies-1527318

they recommend Honey comb…
http://www.earthclinic.com/Remedies/honey.html

Here’s Dr Andrew Weil’s take on allergies…
http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART03109/Allergic-Rhinitis.html

11. Certified Organic Seedlings Available from Green Thumb Farm!

Order certified organic seedlings grown at Green Thumb Farm and have them delivered to the CSA for your garden!

How:
Have your credit card ready (to be paid only by credit card) and call the farm at 631-726-1900 between 9:30 to 4pm any day of the week and they will tell you, depending on when you place your order, what week they will arrive at the CSA…and make sure you don’t forget to pick them up!

How much:
$5.50 per pot (4” pot) with a 4 pot minimum order

What:
(if you don’t see what you’re looking for on this list, or want more details…call the farm and ask)

Flowers
Marigolds, Bonanza
Marigolds, Genie (edible)
Nasturtiums
Petunias

Herbs
Basil
Chives
Oregano
Parsley
Sage
Tarragon, French
Thyme

Tomatoes
Heirlooms
Minis
Red

Vegetables
Broccoli
Cabbage
Kale
Swiss Chard

12. And now…for something completely different (as Monty Python used to say)!

Oedipus performed with/by produce (FYI - there is a Potato/Tomato sex scene…and Billy Dee Williams plays a Sweet Bell Pepper)…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbEfdiY-7eE

###

2011-08-04T13:28:00.001-04:00

Happy Summer!

There are only TWO extra Honey “bears” left ($10 each – cash only) so if you’re interested, let me know and I’ll put them aside for you. If interested, we’ll have another order in the fall in time for the holidays.

Anyone interested in Pine Nuts (NOT from China…if you don’t know why this is an issue…google it) and Sundried Tomatoes? CSA member Fritz Lang wants to do a bulk order but needs some people to split the booty. He can give you the details so let me know if you’re interested and I’ll make the connection.

Anyone want to be a cheese maker (or know someone)? Catapano Dairy Farm in Peconic is for sale for $1.5 million (down from $3 million)! Includes a herd of goats, 8,000 square foot barn with solar panels, all equipment and recipes. House has 4 bedrooms, 2 ½ baths on 5 acres of farmland which could be used as an educational center for cooking classes and cheesemaking. Listing agent is Elizabeth Gilpin with Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty at 631-749-1155.

Must read re: cooking with CSA food…
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/27/dining/thats-not-trash-thats-dinner.html

A few quick notes about policies for the CSA being at the UUFH (these notices have been on the board next to our CSA Wall Chart as of last week)…
1. No pets in the building (unless seeing eye/service dogs)
2. Park cars only in designated spaces (my car is out front when I’m unloading and loading and though I may leave it there for as long as I’m at the CSA…I should move it into a spot as well)
3. No unsupervised children inside or outside of the building, and children are not allowed to play on the playset

TIME TO START WEIGHING!!! Digital scales are here. The main thing is to err on the side of under weighing rather than being over the amount stated on the Wall Chart. The second thing is to please follow the weighing directions given by whoever is working by the scales (usually that means weighing more than one thing at a time in a certain order…this is what our farmer wants so this is what we do).

Flower Shares and Herb Shares still available (see #5).

We may have a Green Thumb CSA – Huntington contingent at the NOFA Summer Conference this year! See August 12th under the events listings for more info.

BRING BAGS TO PACK YOUR CSA SHARE…now and forever! Put bags (paper/plastic/canvas) in every car you own so you’ll never be without. In your trunk, glove compartment, back seat…whatever works for you. You’ll be needing them every week for the next 30 weeks and the CSA is not set up to provide them. If you are sending someone else to pick up your CSA share (spouse, relative, friend, offspring), this is the most important thing to tell them.

We have 75 intrepid CSAers for the fifteenth week of the CSA season and we still have room for about 75 CSA members for the rest of the year. If each CSA member were to find ONE more member…ONLY ONE EACH…we could fill the CSA. Green Thumb Farms’ Brooklyn CSA is closed for membership with 200 members, their Queens CSA is closed for the season with 110 members and we’re last on the totem pole still trying to get to 100, and at that point seeing if our farmer will allow us to get to 150 members. Back a few years ago, he would have LOVED for us to have 200 members but since we’ve never come close, I think he’s given up hope…but would be amused and pleased if it ever happened. Plus it’s wacky…with everyone sharing, people having multiple email addresses, and the fact that there are people who want to get our emails who aren’t CSA members (events, veg sheets, etc), I’m sending this email to 110 email addresses! I’d be so happy if that translated to 110 CSA members but not yet!

Attached in the next email will be the CSA “kit” consisting of the contract for new members, brochure and fee sheet. Let’s do this thing! The sooner I don’t have to beat the bushes for members, the more time I have for things like managing the CSA better, finding cool new things to add to the CSA mix (Mushrooms, Tempeh, a Winter CSA Share?) and doing the extra work it would entail.

I’d be happy to place brochures, do a lecture, call, email…do whatever’s needed to spread the good word about CSA. If you have suggestions, please make them known.

This email includes…

1. Your CSA DOES need you this week! We’re looking for ONE (1) person from 3:30 to 5:30pm.
2. Another reason to not eat at fast food places with your children/grandchildren/any children (at least the ones with playgrounds)…
3. The list…subject to change without notice…farming is like that!
4. Beet Salad Recipe I found…
5. Dines Farm Report…same as last week
6. Still have any Bitter Melon/Foo Gwa hanging around?
7. We still have plenty of Herb Shares and Flower Shares available. Why would you want one?
8. Dr. Andre Weil’s Sauerkraut Recipe (we’ll be getting more Cabbage later in the year)…
9. Fun, Cool & Interesting Stuff to Do (new events added weekly)
10. Fave recipe submitted by CSA member Frank Petersen…
11. Certified Organic Seedlings Available from Green Thumb Farm!
12. And now…for something completely different (as Monty Python used to say)!

1. Your CSA DOES need you this week! We’re looking for ONE (1) person from 3:30 to 5:30pm.

If interested and available…
1. reply to this email before 1pm today
2. call 631-421-4864 before 1pm today
3. call the CSA at 631-385-1079 after 3pm

You can ALWAYS show up a little before 3:30 or 5:30pm at the CSA and offer to work IF help is still needed…you never know! Everyone that’s scheduled doesn’t always show up on time…or at all.

If you didn’t get a confirmation email from Judi, you’re not on the schedule to work this week. If you did, you are.

2. Another reason to not eat at fast food places with your children/grandchildren/any children (at least the ones with playgrounds)…

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/13/mcdonalds-playlands-gross_n_897703.html

3. The list…subject to change without notice…farming is like that!

Vegetable Info Sheets attached to email (keep in a notebook – by the end of the year you’ll have a cookbook!)

Week #15
August 4, 2011

1. Summer Squash
2. Lettuce
3. Tomatoes, Mini
4. Beets
5. Radishes
6. Peppers, Sweet
7. Cabbage, Green

Total Items: 7 (?)

Flower Share

4. Beet Salad Recipe I found…

Suggestions from the Rucola Kitchen
Raw Beet and Beet Green Salad
• 1 Bunch raw beets, cleaned, quartered, and sliced thin
• 4 pickled beet stems, chopped, with some pickling liquid
• 1 bunch cleaned and chopped beet greans
• Ricotta salata (or another crumbly cheese)
Mix beets, stems, and greens in a bowl. Dress with olive oil, salt and pepper to taste. Plate and finish with shaved ricotta salata.

Pickled Beet Stems
• 1 bunch stemmed beet stems
• 1c distilled white vinegar
• 1c water
• 2T Kosher salt
• 1t pickling spices (we use a mixture of bay leaves, black pepper, mustard seed, fennel seed and coriander)
Bring vinegar, water, salt and spices to a boil. Pour over beet stems. Let cool. Pickling liquid can be used as the base for a salad dressing (just strain and whisk in olive oil and black pepper!)

5. Dines Farm Report…same as last week

The short story is that…
1. Dines Farm won’t be here till further notice…I’ll let you know what I know when I know it. In the meanwhile, you can find him on Saturday mornings from 8am to 1pm at the Northport farmer’s market (he’s no longer at the Huntington one on Sunday…they don’t have a permit for him to be able to cook so he’s out of there)
http://northportfarmersmarket.org/

2. Jay Dine is looking for a loan of $50,000 to be able to stay in business. He needs to get USDA certification to be able to sell his meats retail and that would make his life a lot easier (and more profitable). If you have less than a certain number of animals you don’t need USDA certification but he needs/wants to expand his business to stay afloat with the price of gas, etc. It’s a long story. If you are interested, or know anyone who might be (1 person or 50 people loaning $1,000 a piece…why not?), please get in touch with me for further details. He would be eternally grateful and I imagine that person (or persons) would be very well fed.

6. Still have any Bitter Melon/Foo Gwa hanging around?

IF pregnant…don’t eat it as it can possibly cause a miscarriage. However, not seeing how much it would take to do this and….
http://www.drugs.com/npp/bitter-melon.html

this advice looks more reasonable and…
http://www.juicing-for-health.com/bitter-gourd-benefits.html

here’s another opinion that it could be useful for gestational diabetes…
http://pregnanteats.com/2010/05/05/eating-for-a-healthy-pregnancy-bitter-melon/

Oh yeah, I forgot it also slows down the growth of, and kills, breast cancer cells (and not surrounding normal cells) as an extract in a Petri dish…
http://articles.nydailynews.com/2010-02-24/entertainment/27057193_1_breast-cancer-melon-cancer-research
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100223131956.htm

They want to take the natural extract, turn it into something chemically produced and costing a fortune. I’d rather eat it and pay for the vegetable.

Recipes and chats about Bitter Melon (darker the Bitter Melon…more bitter it is)…
This is a scream…my new favorite cooking show…Cooking with Dog! That dog looks awfully close to the burner!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bp-a5y8rY28&NR=1&feature=fvwp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5bwWHImhUA (I’d take the pith and seeds out and don’t eat with bread…ugh…rice would be nice)
http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2010/07/seriously-asian-bitter-melon-stir-fry.html
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/324491
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/asianveg/msg0818541820091.html
http://chinesefood.about.com/od/vegetablesrecipes/r/bittermelon.htm
http://www.cooks.com/rec/search/0,1-0,bitter_melon,FF.html

Bitter Melon (spellings are more how to pronounce than correct…)
Goya – Japan
Kerala – India
Mah-Lah –Thailand
oh-Wah - Vietna
Pahvahkah – India, in Kerala

General Info…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bitter_melon
http://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/69138.cfm#Warnings

I had no idea! The National Bitter Melon Council…
http://bittermelon.org/

7. We still have plenty of Herb Shares, Basil Shares, and Flower Shares available. Why would you want one?

Why a Flower Share?

You’re paying $7 for a bunch of flowers that might easily cost $10 elsewhere (I just paid $10 for two VERY SMALL stems of Lilac the other week at the Sweet Hollow Hall market and they were on their way out after two days…the gal didn’t cut them properly as I learned in my research AND she should have had little packs of flower food to include for that price) AND the Flower Share flowers are organic. I get two Flower Shares every year and they are a joy to behold!

You don’t have to cut the ones in your garden and you can leave them to beautify your landscape.

They’re organically grown so you can sniff with impunity!

The first ones we usually get are Peonies (that’s enough of a reason for me) and then it may be followed by (and not in this order) Sunflowers, Zinneas, Sweet Williams, Snapdragons, Straw Flowers, Gomphrena, Flamingo Feathers…some are everlasts (can be dried) and some are not…all depending on what’s ready and when. The flowers do NOT come every week.

Why an Herb Share or a Basil Share?

Tired of eating the same vegetable more than one week in a row…USE HERBS! They can totally change the flavor profile of what you’re cooking.

Just like we get Vegetable Information Sheets, we have Herb Information Sheets (and we may put an order in for an Herb Wheel…later for that).

You can freeze or dry them for use during the winter (or when you don’t have them fresh on hand).

Herbs are amazing for our health. We don’t eat enough of them. They have more antioxidants than Blueberries! Use them in Juices (in small quantities), on Salad, in Salad Dressings, on most anything you cook…Vegetables, Meat, Fish, Eggs, Soups…anything!

Herbs are green…anything that’s green is ultra healthy. Here’s some info from Dr. Andrew Weil…
To turn down pain: Like some over-the-counter painkillers, some plants also act as natural COX 2 inhibitors, thus reducing pain and inflammation. Adding Basil to the diet may be useful for those with minor aches and pains.
To fight infections: In India, Basil is commonly used a home remedy for coughs and colds and topically for minor cuts and scrapes. Research has now shown that the herb indeed has potent antimicrobial activity and may reduce bronchial spasm, said Dr. Low Dog. Thyme is another herb to consider when fighting off a cold. It is approved in Europe for use in upper respiratory infections; it’s also effective against oral thrush. Likewise, Sage tea is effective for sore throats.
To calm and soothe: Rosemary is a traditional remedy for headaches—perhaps due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Sage is approved in Germany for those troubled by excessive perspiration, and herbalists commonly recommend it for menopausal women troubled with night sweats.
To improve your outlook: Another promising herb for brain health may be Sage. Dr. Low Dog presented some of the research that suggests the herb may improve some symptoms of early Alzheimer’s disease. She also noted that the word “sage” is used to signify a wise elder. Maybe the ancients were on to somethin
We DO get Herbs as part of our basic CSA share (this week we’re getting Parsley) but you get more of them with the CSA share…

We will most likely be getting Celery at some point this season…
Please Pass the Parsley … and the Celery
Parsley and celery contain a compound that may help protect against breast cancer, possibly by blocking the growth of tumor cells. This interesting finding, from a University of Missouri animal study, suggests that apigenin, a flavonoid found in parsley, celery, apples, oranges, nuts and other plant products, seemed to block or delay tumor formation in rats that had been programmed to develop breast cancer when exposed to MPA (medroxyprogesterone acetate). MPA is a synthetic hormone that has been found to accelerate human breast tumor development in women on hormone replacement therapy. In the rat study, apigenin blocked the formation of new blood vessels needed by breast tumors, and also reduced the overall number of tumors the rats developed. However, apigenin didn't stop cancer cells from forming in the breast in the first place. The investigators said that they're not yet sure what dose of apigenin would be appropriate for humans, but suggested that eating some parsley and fruit daily could help ensure that you're getting the minimal amount. The study was published online April 19, 2011 by Cancer Prevention Research.
How to I get an Herb, Basil or Flower Share after the CSA season start?

It’s easy…ASK or EMAIL! You need to join AT the CSA because…it’s a timing thing.

8. Dr. Andre Weil’s Sauerkraut Recipe (we’ll be getting more Cabbage later in the year)…

http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART02021/Dr-Weil-Savoring-Sauerkraut.html

9. Fun, Cool & Interesting Stuff to Do (new events added weekly)

Thursday, August 4th

7pm

Creating Balance in the Home from a Yogic Perspective
Holistic Moms Network
Elwood Public Library
1929 Jericho Tpke
E Northport
For more info:
wsuffolkhmn@aol.com
www.holisticmoms.org

Speaker is Roni Yarri, owner of Inner sprit Yoga Center in E Northport.

Tuesday, August 9th

10pm

Watch on PBS…check local listings to make sure the time is right
POV is showing…
Food, Inc.
http://www.pbs.org/pov/foodinc/

If you haven’t seen it…it’s must see tv. If you have…you might want to catch it again….it’s a classic!

Thursday, August 11th

7:30pm

Let’s Eat: Food on Film presents…Forks over Knives
With Dr Caldwell Esselstyn live via Skype!
Cinema Arts Centre
423 Park Ave
Huntington
$9 – Members, $13 – General Public (includes reception catered by Whole Foods)
To reserve tickets:
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/185377
For more info about the event:
http://www.cinemaartscentre.org/011/011July/ForksKnives.html#ForksOverKnives
To see the trailer and get even more info:
http://forksoverknives.com/

This event is being catered by Whole Foods, Jericho, and co-sponsored by Slow Food – Huntington, Healthy Planet, CenterFood Co-Op, Sustainable Sea Cliff Cooperative, and Green Thumb CSA – Huntington.

August 12th to 14th

NOFA (Northeast Organic Farmers Association) 37th Annual Summer Conference
With Northeast Animal-Power Field Days
University of Massachusetts
Amherst, MA
For more info and registration:
http://www.nofasummerconference.org/

I’m going this year…and you? It’s fun, educational, reasonably priced, and anyone who goes WILL have a great time. Whether you’re single, family, senior…whatever…a good time will be had! Keynote speakers will be Eric Toensmeier (author promoting food forestry to sequester carbon) and Ignacio Chapela (GMO, agri-fuel and global food crisis activist and scientist). I’m going there to see ex-Long Islander and the person who’s responsible for turning me on to one of my all-time FAVORITE books, Common Sense Pest Control by Olkowski (not very sexy unless you’re interested in this stuff and then it’s most awesome and I personally think every human should own a copy), Steve Restmeyer…organic landscape expert and apprentice shaman! As well as Ellen Kamhi (the Natural Nurse…from Long island), Mac Mead (head of the Pfeiffer Institute…for Biodynamic study upstate), Lee Reich (fruit growing expert from upstate), and MANY other workshops, parties, etc.
There’s workshops for children, teens, if you’re interested in becoming a farmer, Permaculture, CSAs, and even one on making music about farming/growing things or just singing while you’re out in the garden!

This gives you a good overview of the game plan for the weekend…
http://www.nofasummerconference.org/program.php

Info about teen & the children’s conference and parties, etc…
http://www.nofasummerconference.org/program.php

This is the list of workshop descriptions…it’s overwhelming but awesome…
http://www.nofasummerconference.org/pdfs/2011_Workshop_Descriptions.pdf

Info about meals, parking, details, etc…
http://www.nofasummerconference.org/logistics.php

September 1st to September 30th

The NY Locavore Challenge

Eat fresh, local, in season, organic…for a day, a week, a month! Put on by the Northeast Organic Farmer’s Association, this is the 2nd year for this event.

For more info, to register, and to get involved…keep coming back as clearly it’s early in the planning stages…unless YOU want to help plan and be actively involved…
https://www.nofany.org/?q=node/237
https://www.nofany.org/events/ny-locavore-challenge

Saturday, September 10th

9am to 10am (submit entries)
11am – prizes awarded (Tomatoes can’t be picked up till 5pm)

14th Annual Hicks Nurseries Tomato Contest
Hicks Nursery
100 Jericho Tpke
Westbury
For more info:
516-334-0066

Prizes awarded for heaviest, largest circumference, most unusual looking and tiniest red Tomato.

9am to noon

13th Annual Great Tomato Taste-Off
Quail Hill Farm
Deep Lane
Amagansett
$10 (kids under 12 free)
For more info:
http://www.peconiclandtrust.org/events.php?Ym=20110901#10

Heavy rains will cancel event.

Monday, October 24th

Food Day
For more info:
http://www.foodday.org/

10. Fave recipe submitted by CSA member, Frank Petersen…
Recipe:
The World of Rice Salads
By Mark Bittman
From the How to Cook Everything Vegetarian® app
Introduction:
There are so many kinds of rice to choose from and so many ways to use them that there's no reason to eat the same rice salad twice. This starting point offers enough variations to give you the hang of the way ingredients come together in different cuisines, making rice salad an easy way to experiment with traditional or even cross‐cultural combinations. But there are also ideas here for simple, almost single‐ingredient rice salads. Many of the salads are also vegan. The master recipe here will work for virtually any type of rice. Though I make suggestions for the specific variations, ultimately you should use whatever you like and whatever you have handy. Feel free to try other grains here too. In my opinion, rice salads should never be eaten directly out of the refrigerator (unless, of course, you're desperately hungry), because the starches in the rice need some time to soften up. This slight disadvantage also places them among the ultimate make‐ahead dishes. If the salad is assembled a few hours in advance, the rice has a chance to soak up flavors, whether in the fridge or out (you usually don't have to refrigerate if it's going to be only a couple of hours). Before serving, just pull the salad out and leave it covered on the counter for a half hour or so to take the chill off.
Ingredients:
• 3 to 4 cups cooked rice, cooled
• ¼ cup chopped scallion
• 1 small or ½ large red or yellow bell pepper, cored, seeded, and chopped
• ½ cup chopped celery
• ½ cup chopped carrot
• ¼ to ½ cup Vinaigrette, made with extra virgin olive oil and red wine vinegar, plus more as needed
• ½ cup chopped fresh parsley
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Steps:
1. Put the rice and all the vegetables in a large bowl. Drizzle with vinaigrette and use 2 big forks to combine, fluffing the rice and tossing gently to separate the grains.
2. Stir in the parsley, taste, and adjust the seasoning or moisten with a little more dressing. Serve at room temperature or refrigerate for up to a day, bringing the salad back to room temperature before serving.
Variations:
Rice Salad, Japanese Style
Use brown or white short‐grain rice. Halve the amount of celery and carrot and finely chop them or shred them on a grater. Add 1 cup cubed firm tofu (preferably baked). Instead of the vinaigrette, toss with ¼ cup or so of Simple Miso Dipping Sauce. Instead of the parsley, crumble 2 sheets of nori over the rice salad and sprinkle with 2 tablespoons black or white sesame seeds.
Rice Salad, Mexican Style
Long‐grain or medium‐grain, white or brown, all work well here: When blending the vinaigrette, add 1 tablespoon Chili Powder and 2 tablespoons Mexican crema or mayonnaise (or substitute). Instead of celery and carrot, add 1 cup chopped fresh tomato. Substitute chopped fresh cilantro for the parsley and, at the same time, add 2 chopped hard‐cooked eggs and chopped jalapeño chiles if you like. Serve with lime wedges.
Rice Salad, Indian Style
Use brown or white basmati rice. When making the vinaigrette, use rice wine vinegar, replace the oil with coconut milk, and add 1 tablespoon Fragrant Curry Powder, or more to taste. Instead of the bell pepper, celery, and carrot, add ½ cup each cubed cooked potato, cooked cauliflower florets, and green peas (cooked frozen are fine). Substitute cilantro for the parsley.
Citrus Rice Salad
Use any rice. Instead of red wine vinegar, make the vinaigrette with freshly squeezed citrus juice: Choose from lemon, lime, orange, blood orange, tangerine, pink grapefruit, or a combination. Whatever you use, add 2 tablespoons of the grated zest and 1 tablespoon of sugar or honey to the blender. Do not include the scallion or the vegetables. (You might want to use a little less dressing.) Instead of the parsley, use mint if you like. A handful of chopped almonds or pecans make a nice addition.
Tomato Rice Salad
Use any kind of brown or white rice. When making the vinaigrette, eliminate the vinegar and add 1 medium tomato to the blender. Instead of the scallion and other vegetables, add 2 cups chopped fresh tomato (a mixture of heirloom varieties is nice). Instead of the parsley, use chopped fresh basil or mint, or ¼ cup chopped fresh chives, chervil, dill, or about a tablespoon of fresh thyme leaves.

11. Certified Organic Seedlings Available from Green Thumb Farm!

Order certified organic seedlings grown at Green Thumb Farm and have them delivered to the CSA for your garden!

How:
Have your credit card ready (to be paid only by credit card) and call the farm at 631-726-1900 between 9:30 to 4pm any day of the week and they will tell you, depending on when you place your order, what week they will arrive at the CSA…and make sure you don’t forget to pick them up!

How much:
$5.50 per pot (4” pot) with a 4 pot minimum order

What:
(if you don’t see what you’re looking for on this list, or want more details…call the farm and ask)

Flowers
Marigolds, Bonanza
Marigolds, Genie (edible)
Nasturtiums
Petunias

Herbs
Basil
Chives
Oregano
Parsley
Sage
Tarragon, French
Thyme

Tomatoes
Heirlooms
Minis
Red

Vegetables
Broccoli
Cabbage
Kale
Swiss Chard

12. And now…for something completely different (as Monty Python used to say)!

http://territimely.com/_/v/2-short-films?video_id=34

We actually get most of the vegetables “sampled” at our CSA!

###

2011-07-28T12:45:00.001-04:00

Happy Summer!

If you ordered Honey…it may be showing up this week. If you didn’t order and want some or did and want more…there are 10 extra “bears” ordered so if you’re interested in any of them, let me know and I’ll put them aside for you.

Must read re: cooking with CSA food…
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/27/dining/thats-not-trash-thats-dinner.html

A few quick notes about policies for the CSA being at the UUFH (these notices have been on the board next to our CSA Wall Chart as of last week)…
1. No pets in the building (unless seeing eye/service dogs)
2. Park cars only in designated spaces (my car is out front when I’m unloading and loading and though I may leave it there for as long as I’m at the CSA…I should move it into a spot as well)
3. No unsupervised children inside or outside of the building, and children are not allowed to play on the playset

TIME TO START WEIGHING!!! Digital scales are here. The main thing is to err on the side of under weighing rather than being over the amount stated on the Wall Chart. The second thing is to please follow the weighing directions given by whoever is working by the scales (usually that means weighing more than one thing at a time in a certain order…this is what our farmer wants so this is what we do).

Flower Shares and Herb Shares still available (see #5).

We may have a Green Thumb CSA – Huntington contingent at the NOFA Summer Conference this year! See August 12th under the events listings for more info.

BRING BAGS TO PACK YOUR CSA SHARE…now and forever! Put bags (paper/plastic/canvas) in every car you own so you’ll never be without. In your trunk, glove compartment, back seat…whatever works for you. You’ll be needing them every week for the next 30 weeks and the CSA is not set up to provide them. If you are sending someone else to pick up your CSA share (spouse, relative, friend, offspring), this is the most important thing to tell them.

We have 75 intrepid CSAers for the fourteenth week of the CSA season and we still have room for about 75 CSA members for the rest of the year. If each CSA member were to find ONE more member…ONLY ONE EACH…we could fill the CSA. Green Thumb Farms’ Brooklyn CSA is closed for membership with 200 members, their Queens CSA is closed for the season with 110 members and we’re last on the totem pole still trying to get to 100, and at that point seeing if our farmer will allow us to get to 150 members. Back a few years ago, he would have LOVED for us to have 200 members but since we’ve never come close, I think he’s given up hope…but would be amused and pleased if it ever happened. Plus it’s wacky…with everyone sharing, people having multiple email addresses, and the fact that there are people who want to get our emails who aren’t CSA members (events, veg sheets, etc), I’m sending this email to 110 email addresses! I’d be so happy if that translated to 110 CSA members but not yet!

Attached in the next email will be the CSA “kit” consisting of the contract for new members, brochure and fee sheet. Let’s do this thing! The sooner I don’t have to beat the bushes for members, the more time I have for things like managing the CSA better, finding cool new things to add to the CSA mix (Mushrooms, Tempeh, a Winter CSA Share?) and doing the extra work it would entail.

I’d be happy to place brochures, do a lecture, call, email…do whatever’s needed to spread the good word about CSA. If you have suggestions, please make them known.

This email includes…

1. Your CSA doesn’t need you this week! However…
2. The Dalai Lama on a cooking show!
3. The list…subject to change without notice…farming is like that!
4. Dines Farm Report…same as last week
5. We still have plenty of Herb Shares and Flower Shares available. Why would you want one?
6. Know anyone who wants to get pregnant?
7. Fun, Cool & Interesting Stuff to Do (new events added weekly)
8. Certified Organic Seedlings Available from Green Thumb Farm!
9. The week in meat!
10. Donate with a click to Save the Children…win a fridge…commit to eating fresh!

1. Your CSA doesn’t need you this week! However…

You can ALWAYS show up a little before 3:30 or 5:30pm at the CSA and offer to work IF help is still needed…you never know! Everyone that’s scheduled doesn’t always show up on time…or at all.

If you didn’t get a confirmation email from Judi, you’re not on the schedule to work this week. If you did, you are.

2. The Dalai Lama on a cooking show!

The Dalai Lama on MasterChef Australia…
http://newyork.grubstreet.com/2011/07/the_dalai_lama_thinks_your_coc.html?e=grubstreet--20110722

3. The list…subject to change without notice…farming is like that!

Vegetable Info Sheets attached to next email (keep in a notebook – by the end of the year you’ll have a cookbook!)

Week #14
July 28, 2011

1. Summer Squash and/or Cucumbers
2. Lettuce: Leaf, Waldman’s Green – 1 head
3. Tomatoes, Mini – 1 pt
4. Carrots – 1 bunch
5. Fennel – 1 bunch
6. Peppers, Sweet – 1 Green AND 1 Purple

Total Items: 6

Flower Share

4. Dines Farm Report…same as last week

The short story is that…
1. Dines Farm won’t be here till further notice…I’ll let you know what I know when I know it. In the meanwhile, you can find him on Saturday mornings from 8am to 1pm at the Northport farmer’s market (he’s no longer at the Huntington one on Sunday…they don’t have a permit for him to be able to cook so he’s out of there)
http://northportfarmersmarket.org/

2. Jay Dine is looking for a loan of $50,000 to be able to stay in business. He needs to get USDA certification to be able to sell his meats retail and that would make his life a lot easier (and more profitable). If you have less than a certain number of animals you don’t need USDA certification but he needs/wants to expand his business to stay afloat with the price of gas, etc. It’s a long story. If you are interested, or know anyone who might be (1 person or 50 people loaning $1,000 a piece…why not?), please get in touch with me for further details. He would be eternally grateful and I imagine that person (or persons) would be very well fed.

5. We still have plenty of Herb Shares, Basil Shares, and Flower Shares available. Why would you want one?

Why a Flower Share?

You’re paying $7 for a bunch of flowers that might easily cost $10 elsewhere (I just paid $10 for two VERY SMALL stems of Lilac the other week at the Sweet Hollow Hall market and they were on their way out after two days…the gal didn’t cut them properly as I learned in my research AND she should have had little packs of flower food to include for that price) AND the Flower Share flowers are organic. I get two Flower Shares every year and they are a joy to behold!

You don’t have to cut the ones in your garden and you can leave them to beautify your landscape.

They’re organically grown so you can sniff with impunity!

The first ones we usually get are Peonies (that’s enough of a reason for me) and then it may be followed by (and not in this order) Sunflowers, Zinneas, Sweet Williams, Snapdragons, Straw Flowers, Gomphrena, Flamingo Feathers…some are everlasts (can be dried) and some are not…all depending on what’s ready and when. The flowers do NOT come every week.

Why an Herb Share or a Basil Share?

Tired of eating the same vegetable more than one week in a row…USE HERBS! They can totally change the flavor profile of what you’re cooking.

Just like we get Vegetable Information Sheets, we have Herb Information Sheets (and we may put an order in for an Herb Wheel…later for that).

You can freeze or dry them for use during the winter (or when you don’t have them fresh on hand).

Herbs are amazing for our health. We don’t eat enough of them. They have more antioxidants than Blueberries! Use them in Juices (in small quantities), on Salad, in Salad Dressings, on most anything you cook…Vegetables, Meat, Fish, Eggs, Soups…anything!

Herbs are green…anything that’s green is ultra healthy. Here’s some info from Dr. Andrew Weil…
To turn down pain: Like some over-the-counter painkillers, some plants also act as natural COX 2 inhibitors, thus reducing pain and inflammation. Adding Basil to the diet may be useful for those with minor aches and pains.
To fight infections: In India, Basil is commonly used a home remedy for coughs and colds and topically for minor cuts and scrapes. Research has now shown that the herb indeed has potent antimicrobial activity and may reduce bronchial spasm, said Dr. Low Dog. Thyme is another herb to consider when fighting off a cold. It is approved in Europe for use in upper respiratory infections; it’s also effective against oral thrush. Likewise, Sage tea is effective for sore throats.
To calm and soothe: Rosemary is a traditional remedy for headaches—perhaps due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Sage is approved in Germany for those troubled by excessive perspiration, and herbalists commonly recommend it for menopausal women troubled with night sweats.
To improve your outlook: Another promising herb for brain health may be Sage. Dr. Low Dog presented some of the research that suggests the herb may improve some symptoms of early Alzheimer’s disease. She also noted that the word “sage” is used to signify a wise elder. Maybe the ancients were on to somethin
We DO get Herbs as part of our basic CSA share (this week we’re getting Parsley) but you get more of them with the CSA share…

We will most likely be getting Celery at some point this season…
Please Pass the Parsley … and the Celery
Parsley and celery contain a compound that may help protect against breast cancer, possibly by blocking the growth of tumor cells. This interesting finding, from a University of Missouri animal study, suggests that apigenin, a flavonoid found in parsley, celery, apples, oranges, nuts and other plant products, seemed to block or delay tumor formation in rats that had been programmed to develop breast cancer when exposed to MPA (medroxyprogesterone acetate). MPA is a synthetic hormone that has been found to accelerate human breast tumor development in women on hormone replacement therapy. In the rat study, apigenin blocked the formation of new blood vessels needed by breast tumors, and also reduced the overall number of tumors the rats developed. However, apigenin didn't stop cancer cells from forming in the breast in the first place. The investigators said that they're not yet sure what dose of apigenin would be appropriate for humans, but suggested that eating some parsley and fruit daily could help ensure that you're getting the minimal amount. The study was published online April 19, 2011 by Cancer Prevention Research.
How to I get an Herb, Basil or Flower Share after the CSA season start?

It’s easy…ASK or EMAIL! You need to join AT the CSA because…it’s a timing thing.

6. Know anyone who wants to get pregnant?

Men…diet…and sperm health!

At the CSA we get “Pumpkins” (winter squash Butternut and our Nepalese squash would be included), Spinach, Parsley and Carrots…all mentioned in the article.
http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/men-who-eat-mangoes-avocados-have-stronger-sperm-study-20110718-1hlk5.html

7. Fun, Cool & Interesting Stuff to Do (new events added weekly)

Wednesday, August 3rd

5pm

Foraging Walk with Ellen Kamhi, the Natural Nurse
Restoration Farm
Old Bethpage Village Restoration
Old Bethpage
$5 – NOFA/AHG/Restoration Farm CSA Members/$10 – General Public
Map…
http://www.restorationfarm.com/about.html

The Natural Nurse, Dr. Ellen Kamhi, PhD RN leads this walk on a discovery of what Native Long Islanders have known for centuries - wild weeds are often the best food and medicine! Dr. Kamhi will guide you in discovering the ‘roots’ of medicine, along with the leaves, stems, fruits and seeds that have always been the mainstay of the human diet in all parts of the world. Enjoy this historic, folkloric adventure, and learn to appreciate the beauty and bounty that surrounds us on the island of long!

Ellen Kamhi PhD, RN, AHG, AHN-BC is a medical school professor, author and master herbalist, and will be presenting a workshop on “Natural Energy and Vitality Enhancers- Stimulating the RING OF FIRE!” at the NOFA Summer Conference in Massachusetts. www.naturalnurse.com

Tuesday, August 9th

10pm

Watch on PBS…check local listings to make sure the time is right
POV is showing…
Food, Inc.
http://www.pbs.org/pov/foodinc/

If you haven’t seen it…it’s must see tv. If you have…you might want to catch it again….it’s a classic!

Thursday, August 11th

7:30pm

Let’s Eat: Food on Film presents…Forks over Knives
With Dr Caldwell Esselstyn live via Skype!
Cinema Arts Centre
423 Park Ave
Huntington
$9 – Members, $13 – General Public (includes reception catered by Whole Foods)
To reserve tickets:
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/185377
For more info about the event:
http://www.cinemaartscentre.org/011/011July/ForksKnives.html#ForksOverKnives
To see the trailer and get even more info:
http://forksoverknives.com/

This event is being catered by Whole Foods, Jericho, and co-sponsored by Slow Food – Huntington, Healthy Planet, CenterFood Co-Op, Sustainable Sea Cliff Cooperative, and Green Thumb CSA – Huntington.

August 12th to 14th

NOFA (Northeast Organic Farmers Association) 37th Annual Summer Conference
With Northeast Animal-Power Field Days
University of Massachusetts
Amherst, MA
For more info and registration:
http://www.nofasummerconference.org/

I’m going this year…and you? It’s fun, educational, reasonably priced, and anyone who goes WILL have a great time. Whether you’re single, family, senior…whatever…a good time will be had! Keynote speakers will be Eric Toensmeier (author promoting food forestry to sequester carbon) and Ignacio Chapela (GMO, agri-fuel and global food crisis activist and scientist). I’m going there to see ex-Long Islander and the person who’s responsible for turning me on to one of my all-time FAVORITE books, Common Sense Pest Control by Olkowski (not very sexy unless you’re interested in this stuff and then it’s most awesome and I personally think every human should own a copy), Steve Restmeyer…organic landscape expert and apprentice shaman! As well as Ellen Kamhi (the Natural Nurse…from Long island), Mac Mead (head of the Pfeiffer Institute…for Biodynamic study upstate), Lee Reich (fruit growing expert from upstate), and MANY other workshops, parties, etc.
There’s workshops for children, teens, if you’re interested in becoming a farmer, Permaculture, CSAs, and even one on making music about farming/growing things or just singing while you’re out in the garden!

This gives you a good overview of the game plan for the weekend…
http://www.nofasummerconference.org/program.php

Info about teen & the children’s conference and parties, etc…
http://www.nofasummerconference.org/program.php

This is the list of workshop descriptions…it’s overwhelming but awesome…
http://www.nofasummerconference.org/pdfs/2011_Workshop_Descriptions.pdf

Info about meals, parking, details, etc…
http://www.nofasummerconference.org/logistics.php

September 1st to September 30th

The NY Locavore Challenge

Eat fresh, local, in season, organic…for a day, a week, a month! Put on by the Northeast Organic Farmer’s Association, this is the 2nd year for this event.

For more info, to register, and to get involved…keep coming back as clearly it’s early in the planning stages…unless YOU want to help plan and be actively involved…
https://www.nofany.org/?q=node/237
https://www.nofany.org/events/ny-locavore-challenge

Monday, October 24th

Food Day
For more info:
http://www.foodday.org/

8. Certified Organic Seedlings Available from Green Thumb Farm!

Order certified organic seedlings grown at Green Thumb Farm and have them delivered to the CSA for your garden!

How:
Have your credit card ready (to be paid only by credit card) and call the farm at 631-726-1900 between 9:30 to 4pm any day of the week and they will tell you, depending on when you place your order, what week they will arrive at the CSA…and make sure you don’t forget to pick them up!

How much:
$5.50 per pot (4” pot) with a 4 pot minimum order

What:
(if you don’t see what you’re looking for on this list, or want more details…call the farm and ask)

Flowers
Marigolds, Bonanza
Marigolds, Genie (edible)
Nasturtiums
Petunias

Herbs
Basil
Chives
Oregano
Parsley
Sage
Tarragon, French
Thyme

Tomatoes
Heirlooms
Minis
Red

Vegetables
Broccoli
Cabbage
Kale
Swiss Chard

9. The week in meat!

Meat in the USA can be sold with all virulent E Coli with one exception (why not all of them?)…
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2011-07-25-ecoli-testing_n.htm

As much as it would have been cool for the USA to win the Women’s Soccer World Cup…the Japanese have been through so much (radioactive meat)…
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-07-24/threat-to-japanese-food-chain-multiplies-as-cesium-contamination-spreads.html

Another reason to eat at Chipotle and buy local, sustainably raised meat…
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/wendy-gordon/food-antibiotics-_b_871780.html

Eat meat? Learn more and read this (and sign the pledge)…
http://breakingnews.ewg.org/meateatersguide/

What it comes down to is…know where your food is coming from, know who’s growing it, know how it’s being grown, and eat local (or don’t eat meat at all…another option  ).

10. Donate with a click to Save the Children…win a fridge…commit to eating fresh!

You’re a CSA member and so you’re already eating fresh…that should be easy!

Donate to Save the Children with your click…enter to win a new fridge!
http://www.maketimeforchange.com/index.html

###

2011-07-21T11:15:00.002-04:00

Happy Summer!

Recommended for beating the heat (or at least surviving it)…in addition to keeping hydrated by drinking water, increase your intake of fruits and vegetable (according to Channel 7 news yesterday)…especially things that contain a lot of water like…Cucumbers, Lettuce, Summer Squash, etc.

A few quick notes about policies for the CSA being at the UUFH (these notices have been on the board next to our CSA Wall Chart as of last week)…
1. No pets in the building (unless seeing eye/service dogs)
2. Park cars only in designated spaces (my car is out front when I’m unloading and loading and though I may leave it there for as long as I’m at the CSA…I should move it into a spot as well)
3. No unsupervised children inside or outside of the building, and children are not allowed to play on the playset

TIME TO START WEIGHING!!! Digital scales are here. The main thing is to err on the side of under weighing rather than being over the amount stated on the Wall Chart. The second thing is to please follow the weighing directions given by whoever is working by the scales (usually that means weighing more than one thing at a time in a certain order…this is what our farmer wants so this is what we do).

Farmer Bill still didn’t ask for Honey numbers this week so this should be the LAST WEEK FOR HONEY ORDERING (see #2)!

Flower Shares and Herb Shares still available (see #5).

We may have a Green Thumb CSA – Huntington contingent at the NOFA Summer Conference this year! See August 12th under the events listings for more info.

BRING BAGS TO PACK YOUR CSA SHARE…now and forever! Put bags (paper/plastic/canvas) in every car you own so you’ll never be without. In your trunk, glove compartment, back seat…whatever works for you. You’ll be needing them every week for the next 30 weeks and the CSA is not set up to provide them. If you are sending someone else to pick up your CSA share (spouse, relative, friend, offspring), this is the most important thing to tell them.

We have 73 intrepid CSAers for the thirteenth week of the CSA season and we still have room for about 100 CSA members for the rest of the year. If each CSA member were to find ONE more member…ONLY ONE EACH…we could fill the CSA. Green Thumb Farms’ Brooklyn CSA is closed for membership with 200 members, their Queens CSA is closed for the season with 110 members and we’re last on the totem pole still trying to get to 100, and at that point seeing if our farmer will allow us to get to 150 members. Back a few years ago, he would have LOVED for us to have 200 members but since we’ve never come close, I think he’s given up hope…but would be amused and pleased if it ever happened. Plus it’s wacky…with everyone sharing, people having multiple email addresses, and the fact that there are people who want to get our emails who aren’t CSA members (events, veg sheets, etc), I’m sending this email to 110 email addresses! I’d be so happy if that translated to 110 CSA members but not yet!

Attached in the next email will be the CSA “kit” consisting of the contract for new members, brochure and fee sheet. Let’s do this thing! The sooner I don’t have to beat the bushes for members, the more time I have for things like managing the CSA better, finding cool new things to add to the CSA mix (Mushrooms, Tempeh, a Winter CSA Share?) and doing the extra work it would entail.

I’d be happy to place brochures, do a lecture, call, email…do whatever’s needed to spread the good word about CSA. If you have suggestions, please make them known.

This email includes…

1. Your CSA doesn’t need you this week! However…
2. Honey anyone?
3. The list…subject to change without notice…farming is like that!
4. We still have plenty of Herb Shares and Flower Shares available. Why would you want one?
5. Notes from the Farm
6. Fun, Cool & Interesting Stuff to Do (new events added weekly)
7. Certified Organic Seedlings Available from Green Thumb Farm!
8. Snorting Asparagus? Who woulda thunk it???

1. Your CSA doesn’t need you this week! However…

You can ALWAYS show up a little before 3:30 or 5:30pm at the CSA and offer to work IF help is still needed…you never know! Everyone that’s scheduled doesn’t always show up on time…or at all.

If you didn’t get a confirmation email from Judi, you’re not on the schedule to work this week. If you did, you are.

2. Honey anyone?

The CSA will now be taking orders this week for a delivery of Honey.

Cost - $10 per lb container (the classic Honey bear plastic squeeze bottle…no breakage in transport this way)

How to order?
Bring cash or check (made out to Halseys Green Thumb Farm) in an envelope with your name on it (and if you’re sharing with some, write…I share with – name of CSA member), number of jars of Honey and amount enclosed. Leave it with the person at the CSA Sign-In Desk and send an email to me letting me know that you dropped it of, to make sure it didn’t disappear between the desk and me.

Honey provenance – It’s unfiltered, unpasteurized Honey from Biodynamically raised bees, raised by Farmer Bill Halsey’s adult daughter on her property upstate NY by the St Lawrence River. Honey can not be certified organic (possibly it could in Canada or Hawaii where there’s enough land to make sure bees didn’t stray onto unorganic land), however, her neck of the woods is pretty isolated and if the bees are happy they don’t wander as far as if they’re not (average 5 miles if they’re not happy where they are). Why not Honey from our farm? My guess is Farmer Bill’s trying to lure his daughter back to the farm by helping her be a successful beekeeper and so maybe one of these days she’ll come back to the fold and be the beekeeper on the family farm.

Boy…wish I could have taken these classes! Gunther Hauk (he rocks!) was the founder of the Pfeiffer Center upstate…our closest source for solid Biodynamic gardening/farming education…Mac Mead, the new head of the Pfeiffer Center will be teaching a few classes at the NOFA Summer Conference…one of the reason’s I’ll be at the NOFA Summer Conference this year…
http://www.anthroposophy.org/nc/calendar/event-details/archive/2011/03//article/sustainable-biodynamic-beekeeping-543.html
Gunther’s beekeeping book…
http://www.amazon.com/Toward-Saving-Honeybee-Gunther-Hauk/dp/0938250140

3. The list…subject to change without notice…farming is like that!

Vegetable Info Sheets attached to next email (keep in a notebook – by the end of the year you’ll have a cookbook!)

Week #13
July 21, 2011

1. Summer Squash
2. Lettuce
3. Peas, Shelling
4. Peas, Sugar Snap
5. Spring Onions
6. Cucumbers
7. Beans: Green and/or Romano

Total Items: 7 (?)

Herb Share – July-2B

4. We still have plenty of Herb Shares, Basil Shares, and Flower Shares available. Why would you want one?

Why a Flower Share?

You’re paying $7 for a bunch of flowers that might easily cost $10 elsewhere (I just paid $10 for two VERY SMALL stems of Lilac the other week at the Sweet Hollow Hall market and they were on their way out after two days…the gal didn’t cut them properly as I learned in my research AND she should have had little packs of flower food to include for that price) AND the Flower Share flowers are organic. I get two Flower Shares every year and they are a joy to behold!

You don’t have to cut the ones in your garden and you can leave them to beautify your landscape.

They’re organically grown so you can sniff with impunity!

The first ones we usually get are Peonies (that’s enough of a reason for me) and then it may be followed by (and not in this order) Sunflowers, Zinneas, Sweet Williams, Snapdragons, Straw Flowers, Gomphrena, Flamingo Feathers…some are everlasts (can be dried) and some are not…all depending on what’s ready and when. The flowers do NOT come every week.

Why an Herb Share or a Basil Share?

Tired of eating the same vegetable more than one week in a row…USE HERBS! They can totally change the flavor profile of what you’re cooking.

Just like we get Vegetable Information Sheets, we have Herb Information Sheets (and we may put an order in for an Herb Wheel…later for that).

You can freeze or dry them for use during the winter (or when you don’t have them fresh on hand).

Herbs are amazing for our health. We don’t eat enough of them. They have more antioxidants than Blueberries! Use them in Juices (in small quantities), on Salad, in Salad Dressings, on most anything you cook…Vegetables, Meat, Fish, Eggs, Soups…anything!

Herbs are green…anything that’s green is ultra healthy. Here’s some info from Dr. Andrew Weil…
To turn down pain: Like some over-the-counter painkillers, some plants also act as natural COX 2 inhibitors, thus reducing pain and inflammation. Adding Basil to the diet may be useful for those with minor aches and pains.
To fight infections: In India, Basil is commonly used a home remedy for coughs and colds and topically for minor cuts and scrapes. Research has now shown that the herb indeed has potent antimicrobial activity and may reduce bronchial spasm, said Dr. Low Dog. Thyme is another herb to consider when fighting off a cold. It is approved in Europe for use in upper respiratory infections; it’s also effective against oral thrush. Likewise, Sage tea is effective for sore throats.
To calm and soothe: Rosemary is a traditional remedy for headaches—perhaps due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Sage is approved in Germany for those troubled by excessive perspiration, and herbalists commonly recommend it for menopausal women troubled with night sweats.
To improve your outlook: Another promising herb for brain health may be Sage. Dr. Low Dog presented some of the research that suggests the herb may improve some symptoms of early Alzheimer’s disease. She also noted that the word “sage” is used to signify a wise elder. Maybe the ancients were on to somethin
We DO get Herbs as part of our basic CSA share (this week we’re getting Parsley) but you get more of them with the CSA share…

We will most likely be getting Celery at some point this season…
Please Pass the Parsley … and the Celery
Parsley and celery contain a compound that may help protect against breast cancer, possibly by blocking the growth of tumor cells. This interesting finding, from a University of Missouri animal study, suggests that apigenin, a flavonoid found in parsley, celery, apples, oranges, nuts and other plant products, seemed to block or delay tumor formation in rats that had been programmed to develop breast cancer when exposed to MPA (medroxyprogesterone acetate). MPA is a synthetic hormone that has been found to accelerate human breast tumor development in women on hormone replacement therapy. In the rat study, apigenin blocked the formation of new blood vessels needed by breast tumors, and also reduced the overall number of tumors the rats developed. However, apigenin didn't stop cancer cells from forming in the breast in the first place. The investigators said that they're not yet sure what dose of apigenin would be appropriate for humans, but suggested that eating some parsley and fruit daily could help ensure that you're getting the minimal amount. The study was published online April 19, 2011 by Cancer Prevention Research.
How to I get an Herb, Basil or Flower Share after the CSA season start?

It’s easy…ASK or EMAIL! You need to join AT the CSA because…it’s a timing thing.

5. Notes from the Farm

July 8, 2011

Summer is here and so is the return of the heat! The last week has been VERY hot out here, and our warm weather crops are doing well…Tomatoes, Peppers, Eggplants, Summer Squashes and Beans. While our cooler weather crops are winding down…Peas, Lettuces, Herbs and other greens.

Fava Beans are here for a very brief harvest period. Beets, Carrots and Swiss Chard are starting. Fennel is ready to harvest for the next several weeks. We still have Radishes for several more weeks. Onions are ready for harvest and we will be bringing them in also.

Our Garlic is ready to harvest and we will be doing that this week, then curing it in our barn, and then distributing it to you in the fall.

Look for Summer Squashes, and Beans, and more Peas in your immediate future. We still have some beautiful Lettuces and Radicchios for a couple more weeks.

Enjoy the seasonality of it all because whatever crop it is… it does not last long!

Organically yours,
Farmer Bill (Halsey)

6. Fun, Cool & Interesting Stuff to Do (new events added weekly)

Sunday, July 24th

3pm

Healthy Planet Lecture & Lunch featuring Dr. Steven Blake (from Hawaii!)
Boosting Immune Power
Copper Wok Indian Fusion Eatery
16 Marie St
Hicksville
$20 – Members/$25 – General Public
For reservations (seating is limited) and more info:
http://www.healthy-planet.org/Series/index.asp
About Dr. Steven Blake
http://www.naturalhealthwizards.com/about-us.html

6:30pm

Healthy Planet Hands on Cooking Class and Poolside Nutritional Chat with Chef/Author Catherine Blake (from Hawaii!)
Huntington
$22 – Members/$28 – General Public
For reservations call:
631-421-5591
For more info:
http://www.healthy-planet.org/Series/index.asp
For more info about Catherine Blake…
http://www.naturalhealthwizards.com/about-us.html

Wednesday, August 3rd

5pm

Foraging Walk with Ellen Kamhi, the Natural Nurse
Restoration Farm
Old Bethpage Village Restoration
Old Bethpage
$5 – NOFA/AHG/Restoration Farm CSA Members/$10 – General Public
Map…
http://www.restorationfarm.com/about.html

The Natural Nurse, Dr. Ellen Kamhi, PhD RN leads this walk on a discovery of what Native Long Islanders have known for centuries - wild weeds are often the best food and medicine! Dr. Kamhi will guide you in discovering the ‘roots’ of medicine, along with the leaves, stems, fruits and seeds that have always been the mainstay of the human diet in all parts of the world. Enjoy this historic, folkloric adventure, and learn to appreciate the beauty and bounty that surrounds us on the island of long!

Ellen Kamhi PhD, RN, AHG, AHN-BC is a medical school professor, author and master herbalist, and will be presenting a workshop on “Natural Energy and Vitality Enhancers- Stimulating the RING OF FIRE!” at the NOFA Summer Conference in Massachusetts. www.naturalnurse.com

Thursday, August 11th

7:30pm

Let’s Eat: Food on Film presents…Forks over Knives
With Dr Caldwell Esselstyn live via Skype!
Cinema Arts Centre
423 Park Ave
Huntington
$9 – Members, $13 – General Public (includes reception catered by Whole Foods)
To reserve tickets:
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/185377
For more info about the event:
http://www.cinemaartscentre.org/011/011July/ForksKnives.html#ForksOverKnives
To see the trailer and get even more info:
http://forksoverknives.com/

This event is being catered by Whole Foods, Jericho, and co-sponsored by Slow Food – Huntington, Healthy Planet, CenterFood Co-Op, Sustainable Sea Cliff Cooperative, and Green Thumb CSA – Huntington.

August 12th to 14th

NOFA (Northeast Organic Farmers Association) 37th Annual Summer Conference
With Northeast Animal-Power Field Days
University of Massachusetts
Amherst, MA
For more info and registration:
http://www.nofasummerconference.org/

I’m going this year…and you? It’s fun, educational, reasonably priced, and anyone who goes WILL have a great time. Whether you’re single, family, senior…whatever…a good time will be had! Keynote speakers will be Eric Toensmeier (author promoting food forestry to sequester carbon) and Ignacio Chapela (GMO, agri-fuel and global food crisis activist and scientist). I’m going there to see ex-Long Islander and the person who’s responsible for turning me on to one of my all-time FAVORITE books, Common Sense Pest Control by Olkowski (not very sexy unless you’re interested in this stuff and then it’s most awesome and I personally think every human should own a copy), Steve Restmeyer…organic landscape expert and apprentice shaman! As well as Ellen Kamhi (the Natural Nurse…from Long island), Mac Mead (head of the Pfeiffer Institute…for Biodynamic study upstate), Lee Reich (fruit growing expert from upstate), and MANY other workshops, parties, etc.
There’s workshops for children, teens, if you’re interested in becoming a farmer, Permaculture, CSAs, and even one on making music about farming/growing things or just singing while you’re out in the garden!

This gives you a good overview of the game plan for the weekend…
http://www.nofasummerconference.org/program.php

Info about teen & the children’s conference and parties, etc…
http://www.nofasummerconference.org/program.php

This is the list of workshop descriptions…it’s overwhelming but awesome…
http://www.nofasummerconference.org/pdfs/2011_Workshop_Descriptions.pdf

Info about meals, parking, details, etc…
http://www.nofasummerconference.org/logistics.php

September 1st to September 30th

The NY Locavore Challenge

Eat fresh, local, in season, organic…for a day, a week, a month! Put on by the Northeast Organic Farmer’s Association, this is the 2nd year for this event.

For more info, to register, and to get involved…keep coming back as clearly it’s early in the planning stages…unless YOU want to help plan and be actively involved…
https://www.nofany.org/?q=node/237
https://www.nofany.org/events/ny-locavore-challenge

Monday, October 24th

Food Day
For more info:
http://www.foodday.org/

7. Certified Organic Seedlings Available from Green Thumb Farm!

Order certified organic seedlings grown at Green Thumb Farm and have them delivered to the CSA for your garden!

How:
Have your credit card ready (to be paid only by credit card) and call the farm at 631-726-1900 between 9:30 to 4pm any day of the week and they will tell you, depending on when you place your order, what week they will arrive at the CSA…and make sure you don’t forget to pick them up!

How much:
$5.50 per pot (4” pot) with a 4 pot minimum order

What:
(if you don’t see what you’re looking for on this list, or want more details…call the farm and ask)

Flowers
Marigolds, Bonanza
Marigolds, Genie (edible)
Nasturtiums
Petunias

Herbs
Basil
Chives
Oregano
Parsley
Sage
Tarragon, French
Thyme

Tomatoes
Heirlooms
Minis
Red

Vegetables
Broccoli
Cabbage
Kale
Swiss Chard

8. Snorting Asparagus? Who woulda thunk it???

And what does it do to your body/lungs once it gets up your nose???
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2015938/Vegetable-powder-goes-sale--does-glamorise-drugs.html

###

2011-07-14T09:29:00.001-04:00

Happy Summer!

Sorry this is so late but I just got the list from the farm!

We just may see Dines Farm at the CSA next week (finally got a hold of Jay Dines)…will let you know when I know.

TIME TO START WEIGHING!!! We ARE getting new digital scales but will have to make due with the old ones for the next week or two. The main thing is to err on the side of under weighing rather than being over the amount stated on the Wall Chart. The second thing is to please follow the weighing directions given by whoever is working by the scales (usually that means weighing more than one thing at a time in a certain order…this is what our farmer wants so this is what we do).

Farmer Bill didn’t ask for Honey numbers this week so this should be the LAST WEEK FOR HONEY ORDERING (see #2)!

Flower Shares and Herb Shares still available (see #5).

We may have a Green Thumb CSA – Huntington contingent at the NOFA Summer Conference this year! See August 12th under the events listings for more info.

BRING BAGS TO PACK YOUR CSA SHARE…now and forever! Put bags (paper/plastic/canvas) in every car you own so you’ll never be without. In your trunk, glove compartment, back seat…whatever works for you. You’ll be needing them every week for the next 30 weeks and the CSA is not set up to provide them. If you are sending someone else to pick up your CSA share (spouse, relative, friend, offspring), this is the most important thing to tell them.

We still have 71 intrepid CSAers for the twelfth week of the CSA season and we still have room for about 100 CSA members for the rest of the year. If each CSA member were to find ONE more member…ONLY ONE EACH…we could fill the CSA. Green Thumb Farms’ Brooklyn CSA is closed for membership with 200 members, their Queens CSA is closed for the season with 110 members and we’re last on the totem pole still trying to get to 100, and at that point seeing if our farmer will allow us to get to 150 members. Back a few years ago, he would have LOVED for us to have 200 members but since we’ve never come close, I think he’s given up hope…but would be amused and pleased if it ever happened. Plus it’s wacky…with everyone sharing, people having multiple email addresses, and the fact that there are people who want to get our emails who aren’t CSA members (events, veg sheets, etc), I’m sending this email to 110 email addresses! I’d be so happy if that translated to 110 CSA members but not yet!

Attached in the next email will be the CSA “kit” consisting of the contract for new members, brochure and fee sheet. Let’s do this thing! The sooner I don’t have to beat the bushes for members, the more time I have for things like managing the CSA better, finding cool new things to add to the CSA mix (Mushrooms, Tempeh, a Winter CSA Share?) and doing the extra work it would entail.

I’d be happy to place brochures, do a lecture, call, email…do whatever’s needed to spread the good word about CSA. If you have suggestions, please make them known.

This email includes…

1. Your CSA doesn’t need you this week! However…
2. Honey anyone?
3. The list…subject to change without notice…farming is like that!
4. We still have plenty of Herb Shares and Flower Shares available. Why would you want one?
5. Fun, Cool & Interesting Stuff to Do (new events added weekly)
6. Certified Organic Seedlings Available from Green Thumb Farm!

1. Your CSA doesn’t need you this week! However…

You can ALWAYS show up a little before 3:30 or 5:30pm at the CSA and offer to work IF help is still needed…you never know! Everyone that’s scheduled doesn’t always show up on time…or at all.

If you didn’t get a confirmation email from Judi, you’re not on the schedule to work this week. If you did, you are.

2. Honey anyone?

The CSA will now be taking orders this week for a July delivery of Honey.

Cost - $10 per lb container (the classic Honey bear plastic squeeze bottle…no breakage in transport this way)

How to order?
Bring cash or check (made out to Halseys Green Thumb Farm) in an envelope with your name on it (and if you’re sharing with some, write…I share with – name of CSA member), number of jars of Honey and amount enclosed. Leave it with the person at the CSA Sign-In Desk and send an email to me letting me know that you dropped it of, to make sure it didn’t disappear between the desk and me.

Honey provenance – It’s unfiltered, unpasteurized Honey from Biodynamically raised bees, raised by Farmer Bill Halsey’s adult daughter on her property upstate NY by the St Lawrence River. Honey can not be certified organic (possibly it could in Canada or Hawaii where there’s enough land to make sure bees didn’t stray onto unorganic land), however, her neck of the woods is pretty isolated and if the bees are happy they don’t wander as far as if they’re not (average 5 miles if they’re not happy where they are). Why not Honey from our farm? My guess is Farmer Bill’s trying to lure his daughter back to the farm by helping her be a successful beekeeper and so maybe one of these days she’ll come back to the fold and be the beekeeper on the family farm.

Boy…wish I could have taken these classes! Gunther Hauk (he rocks!) was the founder of the Pfeiffer Center upstate…our closest source for solid Biodynamic gardening/farming education…Mac Mead, the new head of the Pfeiffer Center will be teaching a few classes at the NOFA Summer Conference…one of the reason’s I’ll be at the NOFA Summer Conference this year…
http://www.anthroposophy.org/nc/calendar/event-details/archive/2011/03//article/sustainable-biodynamic-beekeeping-543.html
Gunther’s beekeeping book…
http://www.amazon.com/Toward-Saving-Honeybee-Gunther-Hauk/dp/0938250140

3. The list…subject to change without notice…farming is like that!

Vegetable Info Sheets attached to next email (keep in a notebook – by the end of the year you’ll have a cookbook!)

Week #12
July 14, 2011

1. Summer Squash
2. Lettuce: Iceberg OR Red Leaf – 1 head
3. Beans, Fava *
4. Peas, Sugar Snap
5. Spring Onions
6. Broccoli Rabe OR Radishes

Total Items: 6

Herb Share

Flower share

*No Veggie Info Sheet but…
http://www.oceanmist.com/products/favabeans/fava.aspx
http://www.affairsofliving.com/imported-20100106014405/2010/4/13/how-to-cook-fresh-fava-beans.html
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9163283
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vicia_faba

4. We still have plenty of Herb Shares, Basil Shares, and Flower Shares available. Why would you want one?

Why a Flower Share?

You’re paying $7 for a bunch of flowers that might easily cost $10 elsewhere (I just paid $10 for two VERY SMALL stems of Lilac the other week at the Sweet Hollow Hall market and they were on their way out after two days…the gal didn’t cut them properly as I learned in my research AND she should have had little packs of flower food to include for that price) AND the Flower Share flowers are organic. I get two Flower Shares every year and they are a joy to behold!

You don’t have to cut the ones in your garden and you can leave them to beautify your landscape.

They’re organically grown so you can sniff with impunity!

The first ones we usually get are Peonies (that’s enough of a reason for me) and then it may be followed by (and not in this order) Sunflowers, Zinneas, Sweet Williams, Snapdragons, Straw Flowers, Gomphrena, Flamingo Feathers…some are everlasts (can be dried) and some are not…all depending on what’s ready and when. The flowers do NOT come every week.

Why an Herb Share or a Basil Share?

Tired of eating the same vegetable more than one week in a row…USE HERBS! They can totally change the flavor profile of what you’re cooking.

Just like we get Vegetable Information Sheets, we have Herb Information Sheets (and we may put an order in for an Herb Wheel…later for that).

You can freeze or dry them for use during the winter (or when you don’t have them fresh on hand).

Herbs are amazing for our health. We don’t eat enough of them. They have more antioxidants than Blueberries! Use them in Juices (in small quantities), on Salad, in Salad Dressings, on most anything you cook…Vegetables, Meat, Fish, Eggs, Soups…anything!

Herbs are green…anything that’s green is ultra healthy. Here’s some info from Dr. Andrew Weil…
To turn down pain: Like some over-the-counter painkillers, some plants also act as natural COX 2 inhibitors, thus reducing pain and inflammation. Adding Basil to the diet may be useful for those with minor aches and pains.
To fight infections: In India, Basil is commonly used a home remedy for coughs and colds and topically for minor cuts and scrapes. Research has now shown that the herb indeed has potent antimicrobial activity and may reduce bronchial spasm, said Dr. Low Dog. Thyme is another herb to consider when fighting off a cold. It is approved in Europe for use in upper respiratory infections; it’s also effective against oral thrush. Likewise, Sage tea is effective for sore throats.
To calm and soothe: Rosemary is a traditional remedy for headaches—perhaps due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Sage is approved in Germany for those troubled by excessive perspiration, and herbalists commonly recommend it for menopausal women troubled with night sweats.
To improve your outlook: Another promising herb for brain health may be Sage. Dr. Low Dog presented some of the research that suggests the herb may improve some symptoms of early Alzheimer’s disease. She also noted that the word “sage” is used to signify a wise elder. Maybe the ancients were on to somethin
We DO get Herbs as part of our basic CSA share (this week we’re getting Parsley) but you get more of them with the CSA share…

We will most likely be getting Celery at some point this season…
Please Pass the Parsley … and the Celery
Parsley and celery contain a compound that may help protect against breast cancer, possibly by blocking the growth of tumor cells. This interesting finding, from a University of Missouri animal study, suggests that apigenin, a flavonoid found in parsley, celery, apples, oranges, nuts and other plant products, seemed to block or delay tumor formation in rats that had been programmed to develop breast cancer when exposed to MPA (medroxyprogesterone acetate). MPA is a synthetic hormone that has been found to accelerate human breast tumor development in women on hormone replacement therapy. In the rat study, apigenin blocked the formation of new blood vessels needed by breast tumors, and also reduced the overall number of tumors the rats developed. However, apigenin didn't stop cancer cells from forming in the breast in the first place. The investigators said that they're not yet sure what dose of apigenin would be appropriate for humans, but suggested that eating some parsley and fruit daily could help ensure that you're getting the minimal amount. The study was published online April 19, 2011 by Cancer Prevention Research.
How to I get an Herb, Basil or Flower Share after the CSA season start?

It’s easy…ASK or EMAIL! You need to join AT the CSA because…it’s a timing thing.

5. Fun, Cool & Interesting Stuff to Do (new events added weekly)

August 12th to 14th

NOFA (Northeast Organic Farmers Association) 37th Annual Summer Conference
With Northeast Animal-Power Field Days
University of Massachusetts
Amherst, MA
For more info and registration:
http://www.nofasummerconference.org/

I’m going this year…and you? It’s fun, educational, reasonably priced, and anyone who goes WILL have a great time. Whether you’re single, family, senior…whatever…a good time will be had! Keynote speakers will be Eric Toensmeier (author promoting food forestry to sequester carbon) and Ignacio Chapela (GMO, agri-fuel and global food crisis activist and scientist). I’m going there to see ex-Long Islander and the person who’s responsible for turning me on to one of my all-time FAVORITE books, Common Sense Pest Control by Olkowski (not very sexy unless you’re interested in this stuff and then it’s most awesome and I personally think every human should own a copy), Steve Restmeyer…organic landscape expert and apprentice shaman! As well as Ellen Kamhi (the Natural Nurse…from Long island), Mac Mead (head of the Pfeiffer Institute…for Biodynamic study upstate), Lee Reich (fruit growing expert from upstate), and MANY other workshops, parties, etc.
There’s workshops for children, teens, if you’re interested in becoming a farmer, Permaculture, CSAs, and even one on making music about farming/growing things or just singing while you’re out in the garden!

This gives you a good overview of the game plan for the weekend…
http://www.nofasummerconference.org/program.php

Info about teen & the children’s conference and parties, etc…
http://www.nofasummerconference.org/program.php

This is the list of workshop descriptions…it’s overwhelming but awesome…
http://www.nofasummerconference.org/pdfs/2011_Workshop_Descriptions.pdf

Info about meals, parking, details, etc…
http://www.nofasummerconference.org/logistics.php

September 1st to September 30th

The NY Locavore Challenge

Eat fresh, local, in season, organic…for a day, a week, a month! Put on by the Northeast Organic Farmer’s Association, this is the 2nd year for this event.

For more info, to register, and to get involved…keep coming back as clearly it’s early in the planning stages…unless YOU want to help plan and be actively involved…
https://www.nofany.org/?q=node/237
https://www.nofany.org/events/ny-locavore-challenge

Monday, October 24th

Food Day
For more info:
http://www.foodday.org/

6. Certified Organic Seedlings Available from Green Thumb Farm!

Order certified organic seedlings grown at Green Thumb Farm and have them delivered to the CSA for your garden!

How:
Have your credit card ready (to be paid only by credit card) and call the farm at 631-726-1900 between 9:30 to 4pm any day of the week and they will tell you, depending on when you place your order, what week they will arrive at the CSA…and make sure you don’t forget to pick them up!

How much:
$5.50 per pot (4” pot) with a 4 pot minimum order

What:
(if you don’t see what you’re looking for on this list, or want more details…call the farm and ask)

Flowers
Marigolds, Bonanza
Marigolds, Genie (edible)
Nasturtiums
Petunias

Herbs
Basil
Chives
Oregano
Parsley
Sage
Tarragon, French
Thyme

Tomatoes
Heirlooms
Minis
Red

Vegetables
Broccoli
Cabbage
Kale
Swiss Chard

###

2011-07-07T10:15:00.001-04:00

Happy Summer!

Did anyone by chance accidentally take an extra bunch of Radishes last week? If so, please let me know. Thanks!

Who’s sharing with Constance Schwartz? Please let me know and either give me her contact info or tell her to email me to get her on the CSA email list.

Very brief email again…ok, THIS is the weekend for catching up!

Farmer Bill didn’t ask for Honey numbers last week so this is the LAST WEEK FOR HONEY ORDERING (see #2)!

Flower Shares and Herb Shares still available (see #5).

We may have a Green Thumb CSA – Huntington contingent at the NOFA Summer Conference this year! See August 12th under the events listings for more info.

BRING BAGS TO PACK YOUR CSA SHARE…now and forever! Put bags (paper/plastic/canvas) in every car you own so you’ll never be without. In your trunk, glove compartment, back seat…whatever works for you. You’ll be needing them every week for the next 30 weeks and the CSA is not set up to provide them. If you are sending someone else to pick up your CSA share (spouse, relative, friend, offspring), this is the most important thing to tell them.

We still have 71 intrepid CSAers for the eleventh week of the CSA season and we still have room for about 100 CSA members for the rest of the year. If each CSA member were to find ONE more member…ONLY ONE EACH…we could fill the CSA. Green Thumb Farms’ Brooklyn CSA is closed for membership with 200 members, their Queens CSA is closed for the season with 110 members and we’re last on the totem pole still trying to get to 100, and at that point seeing if our farmer will allow us to get to 150 members. Back a few years ago, he would have LOVED for us to have 200 members but since we’ve never come close, I think he’s given up hope…but would be amused and pleased if it ever happened. Plus it’s wacky…with everyone sharing, people having multiple email addresses, and the fact that there are people who want to get our emails who aren’t CSA members (events, veg sheets, etc), I’m sending this email to 110 email addresses! I’d be so happy if that translated to 110 CSA members but not yet!

Attached in the next email will be the CSA “kit” consisting of the contract for new members, brochure and fee sheet. Let’s do this thing! The sooner I don’t have to beat the bushes for members, the more time I have for things like managing the CSA better, finding cool new things to add to the CSA mix (Mushrooms, Tempeh, a Winter CSA Share?) and doing the extra work it would entail.

I’d be happy to place brochures, do a lecture, call, email…do whatever’s needed to spread the good word about CSA. If you have suggestions, please make them known. So far this year we’re going to put an ad in the program for an auction at a local Montessori School. Next, will be an ad placed in the UUFH bulletin called The Beacon (never done before…silly CSA). Both should be reasonably priced. $40 for the Montessori ad and not sure about the UUFH one yet but I don’t imagine it will be very expensive (that one we may want to run a few times).

Any ideas for recruiting new members will be considered… how about jumping out of a van, putting a bag over some random person’s head, taking them to a warehouse in a discreet industrial area, feeding them amazing salads, juiced veggies, soups, vegetable delights made with CSA produce, and Dines Farm grilled marinated chicken thighs, Hamburgers and Hot Dogs (if they’re not vegetarians), and let the food do the talking? Just a thought  .

This email includes…

1. Your CSA doesn’t need you this week! However…
2. Honey anyone?
3. The list…subject to change without notice…farming is like that!
4. We still have plenty of Herb Shares and Flower Shares available. Why would you want one?
5. Fun, Cool & Interesting Stuff to Do (new events added weekly)
6. Certified Organic Seedlings Available from Green Thumb Farm!
7. Armchair activism for raw Milk supporters

1. Your CSA doesn’t need you this week! However…

You can ALWAYS show up a little before 3:30 or 5:30pm at the CSA and offer to work if help is still needed…you never know! Everyone that’s scheduled doesn’t always show up on time…or at all.

If you didn’t get a confirmation email from Judi, you’re not on the schedule to work this week. If you did, you are.

2. Honey anyone?

The CSA will now be taking orders from this week to the end of June, for a July delivery of Honey….mid to end of July.

Cost - $10 per lb container (the classic Honey bear plastic squeeze bottle…no breakage in transport this way)

How to order?
Bring cash or check (made out to Halseys Green Thumb Farm) in an envelope with your name on it (and if you’re sharing with some, write…I share with – name of CSA member), number of jars of Honey and amount enclosed. Leave it with the person at the CSA Sign-In Desk and send an email to me letting me know that you dropped it of, to make sure it didn’t disappear between the desk and me.

Honey provenance – It’s unfiltered, unpasteurized Honey from Biodynamically raised bees, raised by Farmer Bill Halsey’s adult daughter on her property upstate NY by the St Lawrence River. Honey can not be certified organic (possibly it could in Canada or Hawaii where there’s enough land to make sure bees didn’t stray onto unorganic land), however, her neck of the woods is pretty isolated and if the bees are happy they don’t wander as far as if they’re not (average 5 miles if they’re not happy where they are). Why not Honey from our farm? My guess is Farmer Bill’s trying to lure his daughter back to the farm by helping her be a successful beekeeper and so maybe one of these days she’ll come back to the fold and be the beekeeper on the family farm.

Boy…wish I could have taken these classes! Gunther Hauk (he rocks!) was the founder of the Pfeiffer Center upstate…our closest source for solid Biodynamic gardening/farming education…Mac Mead, the new head of the Pfeiffer Center will be teaching a few classes at the NOFA Summer Conference…one of the reason’s I’ll be at the NOFA Summer Conference this year…
http://www.anthroposophy.org/nc/calendar/event-details/archive/2011/03//article/sustainable-biodynamic-beekeeping-543.html
Gunther’s beekeeping book…
http://www.amazon.com/Toward-Saving-Honeybee-Gunther-Hauk/dp/0938250140

3. The list…subject to change without notice…farming is like that!

Vegetable Info Sheets attached to next email (keep in a notebook – by the end of the year you’ll have a cookbook!)

Week #11
July 7, 2011

1. Swiss Chard
2. Lettuce
3. Fennel
4. Peas, Sugar Snap
5. Peas, Shelling
6. Radicchio *

Total Items: 6

Flower Share
Week #3 – Snapdragons (maybe)

*No Veggie Info Sheet but will send info in the next email (when in doubt Google “Radicchio recipe”)
Quick tips…using sparingly in a Salad, brush/drizzle with olive oil and grill (cutting in half lengthwise and leaving the end on so the leaves don’t fall apart) and finish off with salt, pepper and freshly squeezed Lemon juice, can be baked with cheese (look for recipes…good one in How to Cook Everything by Mark Bittmann)

4. We still have plenty of Herb Shares, Basil Shares, and Flower Shares available. Why would you want one?

Why a Flower Share?

You’re paying $7 for a bunch of flowers that might easily cost $10 elsewhere (I just paid $10 for two VERY SMALL stems of Lilac the other week at the Sweet Hollow Hall market and they were on their way out after two days…the gal didn’t cut them properly as I learned in my research AND she should have had little packs of flower food to include for that price) AND the Flower Share flowers are organic. I get two Flower Shares every year and they are a joy to behold!

You don’t have to cut the ones in your garden and you can leave them to beautify your landscape.

They’re organically grown so you can sniff with impunity!

The first ones we usually get are Peonies (that’s enough of a reason for me) and then it may be followed by (and not in this order) Sunflowers, Zinneas, Sweet Williams, Snapdragons, Straw Flowers, Gomphrena, Flamingo Feathers…some are everlasts (can be dried) and some are not…all depending on what’s ready and when. The flowers do NOT come every week.

Why an Herb Share or a Basil Share?

Tired of eating the same vegetable more than one week in a row…USE HERBS! They can totally change the flavor profile of what you’re cooking.

Just like we get Vegetable Information Sheets, we have Herb Information Sheets (and we may put an order in for an Herb Wheel…later for that).

You can freeze or dry them for use during the winter (or when you don’t have them fresh on hand).

Herbs are amazing for our health. We don’t eat enough of them. They have more antioxidants than Blueberries! Use them in Juices (in small quantities), on Salad, in Salad Dressings, on most anything you cook…Vegetables, Meat, Fish, Eggs, Soups…anything!

Herbs are green…anything that’s green is ultra healthy. Here’s some info from Dr. Andrew Weil…
To turn down pain: Like some over-the-counter painkillers, some plants also act as natural COX 2 inhibitors, thus reducing pain and inflammation. Adding Basil to the diet may be useful for those with minor aches and pains.
To fight infections: In India, Basil is commonly used a home remedy for coughs and colds and topically for minor cuts and scrapes. Research has now shown that the herb indeed has potent antimicrobial activity and may reduce bronchial spasm, said Dr. Low Dog. Thyme is another herb to consider when fighting off a cold. It is approved in Europe for use in upper respiratory infections; it’s also effective against oral thrush. Likewise, Sage tea is effective for sore throats.
To calm and soothe: Rosemary is a traditional remedy for headaches—perhaps due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Sage is approved in Germany for those troubled by excessive perspiration, and herbalists commonly recommend it for menopausal women troubled with night sweats.
To improve your outlook: Another promising herb for brain health may be Sage. Dr. Low Dog presented some of the research that suggests the herb may improve some symptoms of early Alzheimer’s disease. She also noted that the word “sage” is used to signify a wise elder. Maybe the ancients were on to somethin
We DO get Herbs as part of our basic CSA share (this week we’re getting Parsley) but you get more of them with the CSA share…

We will most likely be getting Celery at some point this season…
Please Pass the Parsley … and the Celery
Parsley and celery contain a compound that may help protect against breast cancer, possibly by blocking the growth of tumor cells. This interesting finding, from a University of Missouri animal study, suggests that apigenin, a flavonoid found in parsley, celery, apples, oranges, nuts and other plant products, seemed to block or delay tumor formation in rats that had been programmed to develop breast cancer when exposed to MPA (medroxyprogesterone acetate). MPA is a synthetic hormone that has been found to accelerate human breast tumor development in women on hormone replacement therapy. In the rat study, apigenin blocked the formation of new blood vessels needed by breast tumors, and also reduced the overall number of tumors the rats developed. However, apigenin didn't stop cancer cells from forming in the breast in the first place. The investigators said that they're not yet sure what dose of apigenin would be appropriate for humans, but suggested that eating some parsley and fruit daily could help ensure that you're getting the minimal amount. The study was published online April 19, 2011 by Cancer Prevention Research.
How to I get an Herb, Basil or Flower Share after the CSA season start?

It’s easy…ASK or EMAIL! You need to join AT the CSA because…it’s a timing thing.

5. Fun, Cool & Interesting Stuff to Do (new events added weekly)

August 12th to 14th

NOFA (Northeast Organic Farmers Association) 37th Annual Summer Conference
With Northeast Animal-Power Field Days
University of Massachusetts
Amherst, MA
For more info and registration:
http://www.nofasummerconference.org/

I’m going this year…and you? It’s fun, educational, reasonably priced, and anyone who goes WILL have a great time. Whether you’re single, family, senior…whatever…a good time will be had! Keynote speakers will be Eric Toensmeier (author promoting food forestry to sequester carbon) and Ignacio Chapela (GMO, agri-fuel and global food crisis activist and scientist). I’m going there to see ex-Long Islander and the person who’s responsible for turning me on to one of my all-time FAVORITE books, Common Sense Pest Control by Olkowski (not very sexy unless you’re interested in this stuff and then it’s most awesome and I personally think every human should own a copy), Steve Restmeyer…organic landscape expert and apprentice shaman! As well as Ellen Kamhi (the Natural Nurse…from Long island), Mac Mead (head of the Pfeiffer Institute…for Biodynamic study upstate), Lee Reich (fruit growing expert from upstate), and MANY other workshops, parties, etc.
There’s workshops for children, teens, if you’re interested in becoming a farmer, Permaculture, CSAs, and even one on making music about farming/growing things or just singing while you’re out in the garden!

This gives you a good overview of the game plan for the weekend…
http://www.nofasummerconference.org/program.php

Info about teen & the children’s conference and parties, etc…
http://www.nofasummerconference.org/program.php

This is the list of workshop descriptions…it’s overwhelming but awesome…
http://www.nofasummerconference.org/pdfs/2011_Workshop_Descriptions.pdf

Info about meals, parking, details, etc…
http://www.nofasummerconference.org/logistics.php

September 1st to September 30th

The NY Locavore Challenge

Eat fresh, local, in season, organic…for a day, a week, a month! Put on by the Northeast Organic Farmer’s Association, this is the 2nd year for this event.

For more info, to register, and to get involved…keep coming back as clearly it’s early in the planning stages…unless YOU want to help plan and be actively involved…
https://www.nofany.org/?q=node/237
https://www.nofany.org/events/ny-locavore-challenge

Monday, October 24th

Food Day
For more info:
http://www.foodday.org/

6. Certified Organic Seedlings Available from Green Thumb Farm!

Order certified organic seedlings grown at Green Thumb Farm and have them delivered to the CSA for your garden!

How:
Have your credit card ready (to be paid only by credit card) and call the farm at 631-726-1900 between 9:30 to 4pm any day of the week and they will tell you, depending on when you place your order, what week they will arrive at the CSA…and make sure you don’t forget to pick them up!

How much:
$5.50 per pot (4” pot) with a 4 pot minimum order

What:
(if you don’t see what you’re looking for on this list, or want more details…call the farm and ask)

Flowers
Marigolds, Bonanza
Marigolds, Genie (edible)
Nasturtiums
Petunias

Herbs
Basil
Chives
Oregano
Parsley
Sage
Tarragon, French
Thyme

Tomatoes
Heirlooms
Minis
Red

Vegetables
Broccoli
Cabbage
Kale
Swiss Chard

7. Armchair activism for raw Milk supporters

CSA member, Alyssa Axelrod brought this to my attention…check out this petition…
http://www.ftcldf.org/petitions/pnum1079.php

###

2011-06-30T10:58:00.000-04:00

Happy Summer!

Very brief email again…will send attachments for this week and last week, etc, over the long holiday weekend.

LAST WEEK FOR HONEY ORDERING (see #2)!

Flower Shares and Herb Shares still available (see #5).

We may have a Green Thumb CSA – Huntington contingent at the NOFA Summer Conference this year! See August 12th under the events listings for more info.

BRING BAGS TO PACK YOUR CSA SHARE…now and forever! Put bags (paper/plastic/canvas) in every car you own so you’ll never be without. In your trunk, glove compartment, back seat…whatever works for you. You’ll be needing them every week for the next 30 weeks and the CSA is not set up to provide them. If you are sending someone else to pick up your CSA share (spouse, relative, friend, offspring), this is the most important thing to tell them.

We have 71 intrepid CSAers for the tenth week of the CSA season and we still have room for about 100 CSA members for the rest of the year. If each CSA member were to find ONE more member…ONLY ONE EACH…we could fill the CSA. Green Thumb Farms’ Brooklyn CSA is closed for membership with 200 members, their Queens CSA is closed for the season with 110 members and we’re last on the totem pole still trying to get to 100, and at that point seeing if our farmer will allow us to get to 150 members. Back a few years ago, he would have LOVED for us to have 200 members but since we’ve never come close, I think he’s given up hope…but would be amused and pleased if it ever happened. Plus it’s wacky…with everyone sharing, people having multiple email addresses, and the fact that there are people who want to get our emails who aren’t CSA members (events, veg sheets, etc), I’m sending this email to 110 email addresses! I’d be so happy if that translated to 110 CSA members but not yet!

Attached in the next email will be the CSA “kit” consisting of the contract for new members, brochure and fee sheet. Let’s do this thing! The sooner I don’t have to beat the bushes for members, the more time I have for things like managing the CSA better, finding cool new things to add to the CSA mix (Mushrooms, Tempeh, a Winter CSA Share?) and doing the extra work it would entail.

I’d be happy to place brochures, do a lecture, call, email…do whatever’s needed to spread the good word about CSA. If you have suggestions, please make them known. So far this year we’re going to put an ad in the program for an auction at a local Montessori School. Next, will be an ad placed in the UUFH bulletin called The Beacon (never done before…silly CSA). Both should be reasonably priced. $40 for the Montessori ad and not sure about the UUFH one yet but I don’t imagine it will be very expensive (that one we may want to run a few times).

Any ideas for recruiting new members will be considered… how about jumping out of a van, putting a bag over some random person’s head, taking them to a warehouse in a discreet industrial area, feeding them amazing salads, juiced veggies, soups, vegetable delights made with CSA produce, and Dines Farm grilled marinated chicken thighs, Hamburgers and Hot Dogs (if they’re not vegetarians), and let the food do the talking? Just a thought  .

This email includes…

1. Your CSA doesn’t need you this week! However…
2. Honey anyone?
3. The list…subject to change without notice…farming is like that!
4. We still have plenty of Herb Shares and Flower Shares available. Why would you want one?
5. Fun, Cool & Interesting Stuff to Do (new events added weekly)
6. Certified Organic Seedlings Available from Green Thumb Farm!

1. Your CSA doesn’t need you this week! However…

You can ALWAYS show up a little before 3:30 or 5:30pm at the CSA and offer to work if help is still needed…you never know! Everyone that’s scheduled doesn’t always show up on time…or at all.

If you didn’t get a confirmation email from Judi, you’re not on the schedule to work this week. If you did, you are.

2. Honey anyone?

The CSA will now be taking orders from this week to the end of June, for a July delivery of Honey….mid to end of July.

Cost - $10 per lb container (the classic Honey bear plastic squeeze bottle…no breakage in transport this way)

How to order?
Bring cash or check (made out to Halseys Green Thumb Farm) in an envelope with your name on it (and if you’re sharing with some, write…I share with – name of CSA member), number of jars of Honey and amount enclosed. Leave it with the person at the CSA Sign-In Desk and send an email to me letting me know that you dropped it of, to make sure it didn’t disappear between the desk and me.

Honey provenance – It’s unfiltered, unpasteurized Honey from Biodynamically raised bees, raised by Farmer Bill Halsey’s adult daughter on her property upstate NY by the St Lawrence River. Honey can not be certified organic (possibly it could in Canada or Hawaii where there’s enough land to make sure bees didn’t stray onto unorganic land), however, her neck of the woods is pretty isolated and if the bees are happy they don’t wander as far as if they’re not (average 5 miles if they’re not happy where they are). Why not Honey from our farm? My guess is Farmer Bill’s trying to lure his daughter back to the farm by helping her be a successful beekeeper and so maybe one of these days she’ll come back to the fold and be the beekeeper on the family farm.

Boy…wish I could have taken these classes! Gunther Hauk (he rocks!) was the founder of the Pfeiffer Center upstate…our closest source for solid Biodynamic gardening/farming education…Mac Mead, the new head of the Pfeiffer Center will be teaching a few classes at the NOFA Summer Conference…one of the reason’s I’ll be at the NOFA Summer Conference this year…
http://www.anthroposophy.org/nc/calendar/event-details/archive/2011/03//article/sustainable-biodynamic-beekeeping-543.html
Gunther’s beekeeping book…
http://www.amazon.com/Toward-Saving-Honeybee-Gunther-Hauk/dp/0938250140

3. The list…subject to change without notice…farming is like that!

Vegetable Info Sheets attached to next email (keep in a notebook – by the end of the year you’ll have a cookbook!)

Week #10
June 23, 2011

1. Spinach
2. Lettuce
3. Cilantro
4. Peas, Sugar Snap
5. Peas, Shelling
6. Radishes

Total Items: 6

Flower Share
Week #2 - Ageratum

Herb Share – June 2A
Parsley AND Thyme, Lemon

4. We still have plenty of Herb Shares, Basil Shares, and Flower Shares available. Why would you want one?

Why a Flower Share?

You’re paying $7 for a bunch of flowers that might easily cost $10 elsewhere (I just paid $10 for two VERY SMALL stems of Lilac the other week at the Sweet Hollow Hall market and they were on their way out after two days…the gal didn’t cut them properly as I learned in my research AND she should have had little packs of flower food to include for that price) AND the Flower Share flowers are organic. I get two Flower Shares every year and they are a joy to behold!

You don’t have to cut the ones in your garden and you can leave them to beautify your landscape.

They’re organically grown so you can sniff with impunity!

The first ones we usually get are Peonies (that’s enough of a reason for me) and then it may be followed by (and not in this order) Sunflowers, Zinneas, Sweet Williams, Snapdragons, Straw Flowers, Gomphrena, Flamingo Feathers…some are everlasts (can be dried) and some are not…all depending on what’s ready and when. The flowers do NOT come every week.

Why an Herb Share or a Basil Share?

Tired of eating the same vegetable more than one week in a row…USE HERBS! They can totally change the flavor profile of what you’re cooking.

Just like we get Vegetable Information Sheets, we have Herb Information Sheets (and we may put an order in for an Herb Wheel…later for that).

You can freeze or dry them for use during the winter (or when you don’t have them fresh on hand).

Herbs are amazing for our health. We don’t eat enough of them. They have more antioxidants than Blueberries! Use them in Juices (in small quantities), on Salad, in Salad Dressings, on most anything you cook…Vegetables, Meat, Fish, Eggs, Soups…anything!

Herbs are green…anything that’s green is ultra healthy. Here’s some info from Dr. Andrew Weil…
To turn down pain: Like some over-the-counter painkillers, some plants also act as natural COX 2 inhibitors, thus reducing pain and inflammation. Adding Basil to the diet may be useful for those with minor aches and pains.
To fight infections: In India, Basil is commonly used a home remedy for coughs and colds and topically for minor cuts and scrapes. Research has now shown that the herb indeed has potent antimicrobial activity and may reduce bronchial spasm, said Dr. Low Dog. Thyme is another herb to consider when fighting off a cold. It is approved in Europe for use in upper respiratory infections; it’s also effective against oral thrush. Likewise, Sage tea is effective for sore throats.
To calm and soothe: Rosemary is a traditional remedy for headaches—perhaps due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Sage is approved in Germany for those troubled by excessive perspiration, and herbalists commonly recommend it for menopausal women troubled with night sweats.
To improve your outlook: Another promising herb for brain health may be Sage. Dr. Low Dog presented some of the research that suggests the herb may improve some symptoms of early Alzheimer’s disease. She also noted that the word “sage” is used to signify a wise elder. Maybe the ancients were on to somethin
We DO get Herbs as part of our basic CSA share (this week we’re getting Parsley) but you get more of them with the CSA share…

We will most likely be getting Celery at some point this season…
Please Pass the Parsley … and the Celery
Parsley and celery contain a compound that may help protect against breast cancer, possibly by blocking the growth of tumor cells. This interesting finding, from a University of Missouri animal study, suggests that apigenin, a flavonoid found in parsley, celery, apples, oranges, nuts and other plant products, seemed to block or delay tumor formation in rats that had been programmed to develop breast cancer when exposed to MPA (medroxyprogesterone acetate). MPA is a synthetic hormone that has been found to accelerate human breast tumor development in women on hormone replacement therapy. In the rat study, apigenin blocked the formation of new blood vessels needed by breast tumors, and also reduced the overall number of tumors the rats developed. However, apigenin didn't stop cancer cells from forming in the breast in the first place. The investigators said that they're not yet sure what dose of apigenin would be appropriate for humans, but suggested that eating some parsley and fruit daily could help ensure that you're getting the minimal amount. The study was published online April 19, 2011 by Cancer Prevention Research.
How to I get an Herb, Basil or Flower Share after the CSA season start?

It’s easy…ASK or EMAIL! You need to join AT the CSA because…it’s a timing thing.

5. Fun, Cool & Interesting Stuff to Do (new events added weekly)

June 24th to June 30th

Edible New York’s…
Eat/Drink Local Week!

Great magazine’s…subscribe or pick them up for free if you know where to look (or subscribe to their email lists)…lot’s of fun events and good eating and to be had this week…

Too many events to list all over the place…search for yourselves!

Edible Brooklyn…
http://www.ediblemanhattan.com/guide/community/brooklyn/category/eat-drink-local-week

Edible East End
http://www.ediblemanhattan.com/guide/community/east-end/category/eat-drink-local-week

Edible Queens…
http://www.ediblecommunities.com/queens/edible-eat-drink-local-week/eat-drink-local-week-2011.htm

Edible Manhattan…
http://www.ediblemanhattan.com/events/eat-drink-local-week/

August 12th to 14th

NOFA (Northeast Organic Farmers Association) 37th Annual Summer Conference
With Northeast Animal-Power Field Days
University of Massachusetts
Amherst, MA
For more info and registration:
http://www.nofasummerconference.org/

I’m going this year…and you? It’s fun, educational, reasonably priced, and anyone who goes WILL have a great time. Whether you’re single, family, senior…whatever…a good time will be had! Keynote speakers will be Eric Toensmeier (author promoting food forestry to sequester carbon) and Ignacio Chapela (GMO, agri-fuel and global food crisis activist and scientist). I’m going there to see ex-Long Islander and the person who’s responsible for turning me on to one of my all-time FAVORITE books, Common Sense Pest Control by Olkowski (not very sexy unless you’re interested in this stuff and then it’s most awesome and I personally think every human should own a copy), Steve Restmeyer…organic landscape expert and apprentice shaman! As well as Ellen Kamhi (the Natural Nurse…from Long island), Mac Mead (head of the Pfeiffer Institute…for Biodynamic study upstate), Lee Reich (fruit growing expert from upstate), and MANY other workshops, parties, etc.
There’s workshops for children, teens, if you’re interested in becoming a farmer, Permaculture, CSAs, and even one on making music about farming/growing things or just singing while you’re out in the garden!

This gives you a good overview of the game plan for the weekend…
http://www.nofasummerconference.org/program.php

Info about teen & the children’s conference and parties, etc…
http://www.nofasummerconference.org/program.php

This is the list of workshop descriptions…it’s overwhelming but awesome…
http://www.nofasummerconference.org/pdfs/2011_Workshop_Descriptions.pdf

Info about meals, parking, details, etc…
http://www.nofasummerconference.org/logistics.php

September 1st to September 30th

The NY Locavore Challenge

Eat fresh, local, in season, organic…for a day, a week, a month! Put on by the Northeast Organic Farmer’s Association, this is the 2nd year for this event.

For more info, to register, and to get involved…keep coming back as clearly it’s early in the planning stages…unless YOU want to help plan and be actively involved…
https://www.nofany.org/?q=node/237
https://www.nofany.org/events/ny-locavore-challenge

Monday, October 24th

Food Day
For more info:
http://www.foodday.org/

6. Certified Organic Seedlings Available from Green Thumb Farm!

Order certified organic seedlings grown at Green Thumb Farm and have them delivered to the CSA for your garden!

How:
Have your credit card ready (to be paid only by credit card) and call the farm at 631-726-1900 between 9:30 to 4pm any day of the week and they will tell you, depending on when you place your order, what week they will arrive at the CSA…and make sure you don’t forget to pick them up!

How much:
$5.50 per pot (4” pot) with a 4 pot minimum order

What:
(if you don’t see what you’re looking for on this list, or want more details…call the farm and ask)

Flowers
Marigolds, Bonanza
Marigolds, Genie (edible)
Nasturtiums
Petunias

Herbs
Basil
Chives
Oregano
Parsley
Sage
Tarragon, French
Thyme

Tomatoes
Heirlooms
Minis
Red

Vegetables
Broccoli
Cabbage
Kale
Swiss Chard

###

2011-06-23T10:42:00.001-04:00

Happy Summer!

Did anyone go Strawberry picking at our farm last weekend? If so, please write a line or two (or more) about your experience and I’ll print it in the next CSA email.

Will send another email over the weekend with the veg sheets, etc. – sorry, but didn’t have the time to do more than this.

Last week’s mystery…Did any adult or child misplace a silver necklace charm? It’s a heart (approx 1 ¼” tall by 1 ¼ “ wide) made up of swirls attached to another smaller heart (approx ¼” ) with a link on the top. Could be an earring but seems too heavy. Anyone belong to this? It will be at the CSA Sign-In Desk this week.

Flower Shares and Herb Shares still available (see #5).

We may have a Green Thumb CSA – Huntington contingent at the NOFA Summer Conference this year! See August 12th under the events listings for more info.

BRING BAGS TO PACK YOUR CSA SHARE…now and forever! Put bags (paper/plastic/canvas) in every car you own so you’ll never be without. In your trunk, glove compartment, back seat…whatever works for you. You’ll be needing them every week for the next 30 weeks and the CSA is not set up to provide them. If you are sending someone else to pick up your CSA share (spouse, relative, friend, offspring), this is the most important thing to tell them.

We have 71 intrepid CSAers for the ninth week of the CSA season and we still have room for about 100 CSA members for the rest of the year. If each CSA member were to find ONE more member…ONLY ONE EACH…we could fill the CSA. Green Thumb Farms’ Brooklyn CSA is closed for membership with 200 members, their Queens CSA is closed for the season with 110 members and we’re last on the totem pole still trying to get to 100, and at that point seeing if our farmer will allow us to get to 150 members. Back a few years ago, he would have LOVED for us to have 200 members but since we’ve never come close, I think he’s given up hope…but would be amused and pleased if it ever happened. Plus it’s wacky…with everyone sharing, people having multiple email addresses, and the fact that there are people who want to get our emails who aren’t CSA members (events, veg sheets, etc), I’m sending this email to 110 email addresses! I’d be so happy if that translated to 110 CSA members but not yet!

Attached in the next email will be the CSA “kit” consisting of the contract for new members, brochure and fee sheet. Let’s do this thing! The sooner I don’t have to beat the bushes for members, the more time I have for things like managing the CSA better, finding cool new things to add to the CSA mix (Mushrooms, Tempeh, a Winter CSA Share?) and doing the extra work it would entail.

I’d be happy to place brochures, do a lecture, call, email…do whatever’s needed to spread the good word about CSA. If you have suggestions, please make them known. So far this year we’re going to put an ad in the program for an auction at a local Montessori School. Next, will be an ad placed in the UUFH bulletin called The Beacon (never done before…silly CSA). Both should be reasonably priced. $40 for the Montessori ad and not sure about the UUFH one yet but I don’t imagine it will be very expensive (that one we may want to run a few times).

Any ideas for recruiting new members will be considered… how about jumping out of a van, putting a bag over some random person’s head, taking them to a warehouse in a discreet industrial area, feeding them amazing salads, juiced veggies, soups, vegetable delights made with CSA produce, and Dines Farm grilled marinated chicken thighs, Hamburgers and Hot Dogs (if they’re not vegetarians), and let the food do the talking? Just a thought  .

This email includes…

1. Your CSA doesn’t need you this week! However…
2. Honey anyone?
3. The list…subject to change without notice…farming is like that!
4. We still have plenty of Herb Shares and Flower Shares available. Why would you want one?
5. Fun, Cool & Interesting Stuff to Do (new events added weekly)
6. Certified Organic Seedlings Available from Green Thumb Farm!

1. Your CSA doesn’t need you this week! However…

You can ALWAYS show up a little before 3:30 or 5:30pm at the CSA and offer to work if help is still needed…you never know! Everyone that’s scheduled doesn’t always show up on time…or at all.

If you didn’t get a confirmation email from Judi, you’re not on the schedule to work this week. If you did, you are.

2. Honey anyone?

The CSA will now be taking orders from this week to the end of June, for a July delivery of Honey….mid to end of July.

Cost - $10 per lb container (the classic Honey bear plastic squeeze bottle…no breakage in transport this way)

How to order?
Bring cash or check (made out to Halseys Green Thumb Farm) in an envelope with your name on it (and if you’re sharing with some, write…I share with – name of CSA member), number of jars of Honey and amount enclosed. Leave it with the person at the CSA Sign-In Desk and send an email to me letting me know that you dropped it of, to make sure it didn’t disappear between the desk and me.

Honey provenance – It’s unfiltered, unpasteurized Honey from Biodynamically raised bees, raised by Farmer Bill Halsey’s adult daughter on her property upstate NY by the St Lawrence River. Honey can not be certified organic (possibly it could in Canada or Hawaii where there’s enough land to make sure bees didn’t stray onto unorganic land), however, her neck of the woods is pretty isolated and if the bees are happy they don’t wander as far as if they’re not (average 5 miles if they’re not happy where they are). Why not Honey from our farm? My guess is Farmer Bill’s trying to lure his daughter back to the farm by helping her be a successful beekeeper and so maybe one of these days she’ll come back to the fold and be the beekeeper on the family farm.

Boy…wish I could have taken these classes! Gunther Hauk (he rocks!) was the founder of the Pfeiffer Center upstate…our closest source for solid Biodynamic gardening/farming education…Mac Mead, the new head of the Pfeiffer Center will be teaching a few classes at the NOFA Summer Conference…one of the reason’s I’ll be at the NOFA Summer Conference this year…
http://www.anthroposophy.org/nc/calendar/event-details/archive/2011/03//article/sustainable-biodynamic-beekeeping-543.html
Gunther’s beekeeping book…
http://www.amazon.com/Toward-Saving-Honeybee-Gunther-Hauk/dp/0938250140

3. The list…subject to change without notice…farming is like that!

Vegetable Info Sheets attached to next email (keep in a notebook – by the end of the year you’ll have a cookbook!)

Week #9
June 23, 2011

1. Swiss Chard
2. Lettuce
3. Curly Cress*
4. Peas, Sugar Snap
5. Peas, Snow
6. Lavender (yes, it is edible fresh or dried, OR you can use it as a decorative flower OR you can dry it and use for potpourri…I chuck it in the back of my car for an air freshener)

Total Items: 6

Flower Share…maybe or maybe not! The rain has been a major issue but fear not…there’s plenty more weeks to come for flowers to arrive!

Herb Share – next week

*No Veg Info Sheet but…
http://www.simplesocialkitchen.com/2010/06/07/csa-cooking-curly-cress-jerusalem-artichokes-and-strawberries/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garden_cress
http://newarcsite.com/microgreens/peppercress/
http://jacquelinechurch.com/ldg/1303-eat-cress-and-gain-wit-curly-cress-gains-converts
http://noteatingoutinny.com/2009/04/20/peppercress-and-poached-egg-salad/
http://crabappleherbs.com/blog/category/herbs/peppercress/
http://www.endlesssimmer.com/2011/05/05/always-do-a-lap-before-you-commit/
http://becksposhnosh.blogspot.com/2006/11/hot-cress-fun.html
http://www.food52.com/recipes/10884_peppercress_aioli

4. We still have plenty of Herb Shares, Basil Shares, and Flower Shares available. Why would you want one?

Why a Flower Share?

You’re paying $7 for a bunch of flowers that might easily cost $10 elsewhere (I just paid $10 for two VERY SMALL stems of Lilac the other week at the Sweet Hollow Hall market and they were on their way out after two days…the gal didn’t cut them properly as I learned in my research AND she should have had little packs of flower food to include for that price) AND the Flower Share flowers are organic. I get two Flower Shares every year and they are a joy to behold!

You don’t have to cut the ones in your garden and you can leave them to beautify your landscape.

They’re organically grown so you can sniff with impunity!

The first ones we usually get are Peonies (that’s enough of a reason for me) and then it may be followed by (and not in this order) Sunflowers, Zinneas, Sweet Williams, Snapdragons, Straw Flowers, Gomphrena, Flamingo Feathers…some are everlasts (can be dried) and some are not…all depending on what’s ready and when. The flowers do NOT come every week.

Why an Herb Share or a Basil Share?

Tired of eating the same vegetable more than one week in a row…USE HERBS! They can totally change the flavor profile of what you’re cooking.

Just like we get Vegetable Information Sheets, we have Herb Information Sheets (and we may put an order in for an Herb Wheel…later for that).

You can freeze or dry them for use during the winter (or when you don’t have them fresh on hand).

Herbs are amazing for our health. We don’t eat enough of them. They have more antioxidants than Blueberries! Use them in Juices (in small quantities), on Salad, in Salad Dressings, on most anything you cook…Vegetables, Meat, Fish, Eggs, Soups…anything!

Herbs are green…anything that’s green is ultra healthy. Here’s some info from Dr. Andrew Weil…
To turn down pain: Like some over-the-counter painkillers, some plants also act as natural COX 2 inhibitors, thus reducing pain and inflammation. Adding Basil to the diet may be useful for those with minor aches and pains.
To fight infections: In India, Basil is commonly used a home remedy for coughs and colds and topically for minor cuts and scrapes. Research has now shown that the herb indeed has potent antimicrobial activity and may reduce bronchial spasm, said Dr. Low Dog. Thyme is another herb to consider when fighting off a cold. It is approved in Europe for use in upper respiratory infections; it’s also effective against oral thrush. Likewise, Sage tea is effective for sore throats.
To calm and soothe: Rosemary is a traditional remedy for headaches—perhaps due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Sage is approved in Germany for those troubled by excessive perspiration, and herbalists commonly recommend it for menopausal women troubled with night sweats.
To improve your outlook: Another promising herb for brain health may be Sage. Dr. Low Dog presented some of the research that suggests the herb may improve some symptoms of early Alzheimer’s disease. She also noted that the word “sage” is used to signify a wise elder. Maybe the ancients were on to somethin
We DO get Herbs as part of our basic CSA share (this week we’re getting Parsley) but you get more of them with the CSA share…

We will most likely be getting Celery at some point this season…
Please Pass the Parsley … and the Celery
Parsley and celery contain a compound that may help protect against breast cancer, possibly by blocking the growth of tumor cells. This interesting finding, from a University of Missouri animal study, suggests that apigenin, a flavonoid found in parsley, celery, apples, oranges, nuts and other plant products, seemed to block or delay tumor formation in rats that had been programmed to develop breast cancer when exposed to MPA (medroxyprogesterone acetate). MPA is a synthetic hormone that has been found to accelerate human breast tumor development in women on hormone replacement therapy. In the rat study, apigenin blocked the formation of new blood vessels needed by breast tumors, and also reduced the overall number of tumors the rats developed. However, apigenin didn't stop cancer cells from forming in the breast in the first place. The investigators said that they're not yet sure what dose of apigenin would be appropriate for humans, but suggested that eating some parsley and fruit daily could help ensure that you're getting the minimal amount. The study was published online April 19, 2011 by Cancer Prevention Research.
How to I get an Herb, Basil or Flower Share after the CSA season start?

It’s easy…ASK or EMAIL! You need to join AT the CSA because…it’s a timing thing.

5. Fun, Cool & Interesting Stuff to Do (new events added weekly)

June 24th to June 30th

Edible New York’s…
Eat/Drink Local Week!

Great magazine’s…subscribe or pick them up for free if you know where to look (or subscribe to their email lists)…lot’s of fun events and good eating and to be had this week…

Too many events to list all over the place…search for yourselves!

Edible Brooklyn…
http://www.ediblemanhattan.com/guide/community/brooklyn/category/eat-drink-local-week

Edible East End
http://www.ediblemanhattan.com/guide/community/east-end/category/eat-drink-local-week

Edible Queens…
http://www.ediblecommunities.com/queens/edible-eat-drink-local-week/eat-drink-local-week-2011.htm

Edible Manhattan…
http://www.ediblemanhattan.com/events/eat-drink-local-week/

Monday, June 27nd

6:30 to 8:30pm

Breast Health and Modern Toxicity
Organic Avenue
116 Suffolk St
NYC
FREE
For more info:
http://www.organicavenue.com/events.php?event=10971
Pre-register:
212-358-0500
love@organicavenue.com

In this FREE lecture, Dr. Loretta Friedman of Synergy Health Associates addresses not the question of “Am I toxic”, but “How toxic am I”.

Learn about the extremely noxious world we live in today and how your breast are the #1 target for toxins. According to the American Cancer Society one in two men and one in three women will develop some kind of cancer in their lifetime. Our ill health is directly related to the assaults we face every day. The lymph system is the other circulatory system and is a vital part of our body; it manages elimination of toxins and functions as the bodies primary immune defense. Learn how an organic diet, lifestyle changes, and lymphatic drainage can benefit you whether you are a man or a woman.

August 12th to 14th

NOFA (Northeast Organic Farmers Association) 37th Annual Summer Conference
With Northeast Animal-Power Field Days
University of Massachusetts
Amherst, MA
For more info and registration:
http://www.nofasummerconference.org/

I’m going this year…and you? It’s fun, educational, reasonably priced, and anyone who goes WILL have a great time. Whether you’re single, family, senior…whatever…a good time will be had! Keynote speakers will be Eric Toensmeier (author promoting food forestry to sequester carbon) and Ignacio Chapela (GMO, agri-fuel and global food crisis activist and scientist). I’m going there to see ex-Long Islander and the person who’s responsible for turning me on to one of my all-time FAVORITE books, Common Sense Pest Control by Olkowski (not very sexy unless you’re interested in this stuff and then it’s most awesome and I personally think every human should own a copy), Steve Restmeyer…organic landscape expert and apprentice shaman! As well as Ellen Kamhi (the Natural Nurse…from Long island), Mac Mead (head of the Pfeiffer Institute…for Biodynamic study upstate), Lee Reich (fruit growing expert from upstate), and MANY other workshops, parties, etc.
There’s workshops for children, teens, if you’re interested in becoming a farmer, Permaculture, CSAs, and even one on making music about farming/growing things or just singing while you’re out in the garden!

This gives you a good overview of the game plan for the weekend…
http://www.nofasummerconference.org/program.php

Info about teen & the children’s conference and parties, etc…
http://www.nofasummerconference.org/program.php

This is the list of workshop descriptions…it’s overwhelming but awesome…
http://www.nofasummerconference.org/pdfs/2011_Workshop_Descriptions.pdf

Info about meals, parking, details, etc…
http://www.nofasummerconference.org/logistics.php

September 1st to September 30th

The NY Locavore Challenge

Eat fresh, local, in season, organic…for a day, a week, a month! Put on by the Northeast Organic Farmer’s Association, this is the 2nd year for this event.

For more info, to register, and to get involved…keep coming back as clearly it’s early in the planning stages…unless YOU want to help plan and be actively involved…
https://www.nofany.org/?q=node/237
https://www.nofany.org/events/ny-locavore-challenge

Monday, October 24th

Food Day
For more info:
http://www.foodday.org/

6. Certified Organic Seedlings Available from Green Thumb Farm!

Order certified organic seedlings grown at Green Thumb Farm and have them delivered to the CSA for your garden!

How:
Have your credit card ready (to be paid only by credit card) and call the farm at 631-726-1900 between 9:30 to 4pm any day of the week and they will tell you, depending on when you place your order, what week they will arrive at the CSA…and make sure you don’t forget to pick them up!

How much:
$5.50 per pot (4” pot) with a 4 pot minimum order

What:
(if you don’t see what you’re looking for on this list, or want more details…call the farm and ask)

Flowers
Marigolds, Bonanza
Marigolds, Genie (edible)
Nasturtiums
Petunias

Herbs
Basil
Chives
Oregano
Parsley
Sage
Tarragon, French
Thyme

Tomatoes
Heirlooms
Minis
Red

Vegetables
Broccoli
Cabbage
Kale
Swiss Chard

###