Happy Summer!
Warm and muggy
Do NOT leave your CSA Shares in your car! They
will not be happy, and neither will you when your food doesn’t last as long as
it could. Over 40 degrees in your car and your CSA Share’s not happy (and
inside your car with closed windows it’s probably hotter than you’d think… and
it is – check this out… https://abc7news.com/how-hot-can-it-get-inside-a-car-baby-in-gets/2266627/#:~:text=Here's%20a%20look%20at%20just%20how%20hot%20it%20can%20get%3A&text=When%20it's%2080%20degrees%20outside,and%20119%20after%2030%20minutes
)
- What
you need to know
- Did you
know Long Island is still having a drought?
- It’s
Tomato time! Why CSA Tomatoes are different
- Food safety and COVID, and colds and the flu, and
even food poisoning and cyclosporiasis…
- There’s
still time to join our CSA Flower and Herb Shares
- Click
activism…it doesn’t necessarily take that much to make a difference!
- How
best to contact the CSA/suzanne
- It’s
that time of year to nominate local businesses/organizations for The Best
of Long Island!
- Emergency
situations at the CSA (hurricanes/electronic communication
glitches/medical emergencies, etc.)
- CSA
Member Danielle Tarantola is doing a half day yoga retreat in Northport
THIS SATURDAY!
- What
you actually got last week!
- And now, for something completely different…
*Anything in any of our CSA emails not directly related to the functioning of the CSA, feel free to take or leave at your discretion, and anything related to health issues always consult with your physician(s) before taking any action.
1.What you need to know (will be either new info to first
time CSA members, or reminders/old hat to returning CSA members)…
Most immediate helpful hints…
- Bring at least TWO bags to
the CSA EVERY WEEK for wet and dry food items (and never the
twain should meet)
- When packing up your CSA
food, start at the left side of the long table and work your way to the
right and out the garden door. Why? We set out the food to be packed in
that order so the heaviest food items will be on the bottom of your bag,
and your food won’t get squished (another way to make your food go bad
faster), and if you separate the wet from the dry foods you’re doing
pretty good on having your food last longer! π
- When you get your food
home, if it’s in a plastic bag take it OUT of the plastic bag and store
elsewhere…even if it’s in another plastic bag (the original bag will be
wet and your food won’t be happy there for long)
- Plan on using your food in
the order of how long it will reasonably stay fresh.
Before you leave the house…BRING BAGS to pack up
your food (CSA members are responsible for packing up their own shares) –
canvas/plastic/paper…bring whatever suits your fancy. The CSA does NOT provide
bags for CSA members. Consider stashing wet and dry bags in every vehicle you
own or might end up driving (or someone would use to pick up for you) and stash
them in the glove compartment, hatch, trunk…whatever π so
you never have to end up not having anything to pack your CSA Share in.
Time – 3:30pm to 7:30pm
Place – Sky Room CafΓ© in the Cinema Arts Centre
at 423 Park Ave, Huntington
Parking – park in the all the way around at the
back of the building by the day care center (you’ll see a fenced in playground
area with a sandbox)
When you arrive at the CSA –
- Check in at the sign-in
desk with our friendly CSA worker
- Read the Wall Chart that
tells us every week what we’re getting, how much we’re getting, and what
the farm charged us for it…some weeks it’s take one of everything but…SOME
WEEKS IT’S NOT!!! So you have to make sure you read the Wall Chart every
week, and not assume anything. You can also ask your fellow CSA members
that are working that day what the story is for the day (they should have
name tags on).
Before you leave the CSA – Make sure you have everything on
the list (like the story of the 3 bears…not too much, not too little, but just
right π)! If
you get to talking with people, have kids with you, etc., it can be easy to be
distracted and if you get home and find out you don’t have everything that was
on the list, you’re out of luck because at 7:31pm the food is donated to a
local food organization (Community Solidarity…read more about them in the CSA
Events email under Tuesdays) that’s waiting to pick it up and get on their way.
Interesting piece about spring greens (out of the 14 listed, we
get 12 of them with our CSA…watercress nutritionally and botanically similar to
Curly Cress/Peppercress) and detoxing…
http://www.nourishingmeals.com/2012/03/detox-with-spring-greens.html
August 13, 2026
- Cucumbers
- Beans, Snap – 1 bag
- Carrots – 1 bunch - tops
are edible
- Squash, Summer
- Eggplant
- Peppers, Sweet
- Tomatoes
- Lettuce – 1 head
Total Items: 8
Flower Shares – Week #6
Sunflowers
Chives AND Lemon Balm
https://dec.ny.gov/environmental-protection/water/water-quantity/drought/current-drought-conditions
https://www.drought.gov/states/new-york/county/suffolk
https://dec.ny.gov/sites/default/files/2024-11/droughtwatchwarningfs.pdf
https://www.scwa.com/conservation/
https://www.scwa.com/waterwise/
From now till September 6th we can order Bulk Tomato Shares…20 lbs. or Roma/Paste/Plum (different names for the same thing π) Tomatoes for $65. If 20 lbs. seems like too much, try splitting it with a friend or neighbor OR ask and will try and find a Tomato Share partner for you. What can you do with these? Freezing is the fastest and easiest…wash, cut out the cores, put in freezer bags in the amounts you might use them, and put in the freezer. Easy peasy! Or some folks will make Tomato Sauce and freeze or can (for longer storage).
And if they don’t look ripe and were rock hard I’d put them on a
paper bag/paper towel (why? any other surfaces are hygroscopic and will attract
moisture and will make the Tomatoes rot quicker) till they seem ready to eat or
go in the fridge.
Even though it’s been a while since the word “pandemic” has been
bandied about, people are still getting COVID and other illnesses. And the
lessons we learned during the past few years can still come in handy today to
avoid basic things like colds and the flu, food poisoning, and even
cyclosporiasis.
Watch writer J. Kenji Lopez-Alt (son of a Harvard University
geneticist and immunologist, grandson of a chemist, and author of Food Lab:
Better Home Cooking Through Science), talk about COVID-19 and food safety…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkvw9lZ3v3I
- Face coverings are
optional
- Hand washing upon
entering the theater is recommended (it’s always a good idea in
preventing COVID as well as the flu and colds)
Why COVID HATES soap (works better than hand sanitizer or gloves),
and we’re talking plain soap, NOT antibacterial soap (the use of which causes
antibiotic resistance which could kill us all ☹)…
https://healthmatters.nyp.org/how-does-handwashing-with-soap-kill-the-coronavirus/
- Will try and keep the CSA
area relatively uncrowded if any future outbreaks of any infectious
diseases occur
- Enter near the Box Office
entrance, and exit thru the door that leads out to the Cinema garden and
upper parking lot stairs
1.TAKE ACTION BY SEPTEMBER 4: Tell the EPA to Ban Toxic Sludge From
Farmland!
Sewage sludge contains toxic substances like PFAS “forever chemicals,”
pharmaceuticals, hormone disruptors, microplastics, and heavy metals that
contaminate soil, water, and food. These toxins can lead to cancer,
reproductive issues, developmental problems, and long-term environmental
damage. PFAS “forever chemicals” persist in the environment and accumulate in
the food chain. And yet EPA supports the disposal of sewage sludge on farmland,
misrepresenting so-called “biosolids” to farmers as a safe, cost-effective, and
natural alternative to synthetic fertilizers when nothing could be further from
the truth.
If by chance you click on this and my contact info is here, just replace it
with yours and continue π… https://advocacy.organicconsumers.org/page/100358/action/1?chain
2.Tell Driscoll to stop poisoning school children…
Some people are even boycotting purchasing from Driscoll’s because
of their policies…PFAS on their conventional Strawberries, and a whistleblower
reporting incorrect pesticide usage coverup (Strawberries is their most visible
crop in stores).
TWELVE different pesticide residues found on their Strawberries
(non-organic I’ll assume) and some found are banned for use in other countries…
https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2026/07/21/878294.htm
First thing you might think is…I don’t need or want this info.
- Something’s come up at the last minute and you
know you’re going to be running late and would like to have your CSA Share
packed and waiting for you at the Cinema Box Office to pick it up before
the theater closes
- You’re scheduled to help out at the CSA and
something comes up at the last minute and you need to cancel
- Something comes up and you can’t make it to the
CSA at all and you’d like to see if someone can take your CSA Share and
hold on to it till you could pick it up from them
I am not a 24/7 connected person, have no desire to be, and try
and keep my CSA and personal communications separate, so…
- Phone…you can leave a message on my landline
(yes, they do still exist π) at 631-421-4864
at any time 24/7 (keep the ringer off when sleeping), BUT on Thursdays if
you leave a message it needs to be before noon otherwise I won’t hear it
till I get back from the CSA Thursday night
- Email – you can email 24/7 at gtCSAhuntington@gmail.com but
again, if you email after noon on Thursday, I won’t get it till I get back
from the CSA Thursday night
- On Thursdays I am totally incommunicado from
noon to 3:30pm so if you want to get in touch with me between those times,
the best option is to make sure you call or email me before noon OR wait
till after 3:30pm and call the Cinema Box Office at 631-423-7611 xt. 0 to
reach me up till 7:30pm
- On Thursdays after 3:30pm (and up to 8pm),
call the Box Office at the Cinema Arts Centre at 631-423-7611 xt. 0 and
ask to speak to someone at the CSA and they will connect the call to the
CafΓ©, and we’ll talk to you directly. It’s not the Cinema staff’s job to
take messages for the CSA, and THEY MIGHT NOT GET IT RIGHT! If you leave a
message with someone at the Box Office, we might not get it in a timely
manner or at all, and they may not get it right (which happened recently
and someone almost didn’t get their CSA Share because of it).
Unfortunately, if you’re calling around 7:30pm, it may be a time where the
Box Office is busy selling tickets, and they either might not pick up the
phone, or pick up the phone and put you on hold. If they don’t pick up the
phone, keep calling, and they should eventually pick up and be able to
speak with you. We are at the CSA cleaning up till about 8pm so you should
be able to catch us before we leave (though if we are ready to leave
earlier, we will).
- FYI – I don’t get emails on my phone at all, and
CSA members aren’t able to text me as I don’t deal with CSA issues on my
cell phone
Consider putting the two phone numbers (suzanne – 631-421-4864 and
the Cinema 631-423-7611 xt. 0) in your phone under “CSA” or “Green Thumb CSA –
Huntington” (or whatever works for you to remember where you put them π) and
you can put in the notes the details of when to call, what days to call, etc.
We have till August 31st to nominate our favorite businesses/organizations/people to be voted The Best of Long Island! And here’s the link to get started…
If you want to be nominated for your business, service,
organization you’re connected to, feel free to email me and use the format
below to include all the required info and will put in the next CSA email.
They’re making it more labor intensive than it used to be but I’ll
let you know who I’m voting for and give you the info required (you don’t have
to fill all the info out)…
Main Category – Click on Arts & Entertainment
Category – Movie Theater
Nominee – Cinema Arts Centre
Nominee address – 423 Park Ave
Nominee city – Huntington
Scroll down to…
Nominee website – www.cinemaartscentre.org
Scroll down to click on
Main Category – Click on Food
Category – Farm Stand
Nominee – Green Thumb Organic Farm
Nominee address – 829 Montauk Hwy
Nominee city – Water Mill
Scroll down to…
Nominee website – www.greenthumborganicfarm.com
This is CSA member Danielle Tarantola’s place AND CSA Member
Debbie Fratello teaches here too…
Main Category – Click on Health & Wellness
Category – Yoga Studio
Nominee – Yoga Foundation
Nominee address – 680 East Jericho Tpke
Nominee city – Huntington Station
Scroll down to…
Nominee website – https://www.yoga-foundation.com/
Am hoping we’ll be having our Bitter Melon CSA dinner later this
month here…
Main Category – Click on Restaurant
Category – Thai Restaurant
Nominee – Thai USA
Nominee address – 273 New York Ave
Nominee city – Huntington
Scroll down to…
Nominee website – https://www.huntingtonthaiusa.com/
- It’s hurricane season from
June 1st till November 30th (our CSA’s last day is December 10th)!
Farmers are more hardcore than postal workers so your food will be at the
CSA between 3:30pm and 7:30pm on Thursdays, pretty much no matter what.
Hurricane Sandy didn’t stop our CSA. We were at the Unitarian Fellowship
in Huntington, and there was no power and there were tree limbs around the
property BUT I checked out the building to make sure there was no danger
for us being in the building or entering the property, and with
flashlights brought by me, we had our CSA. If there’s no emails…show up anyway.
If there’s some problem/issue with the food arriving there should be a
note on the door of the Cinema letting you know what’s up (if we’re not
already in there waiting for you). In a storm situation please bring a
flashlight/lantern as it could be helpful for you and those of us at the
CSA. Again…show up, and at 3:30pm and 5:30pm if there were no emails please
offer to work if you’re able and available. If you feel it’s not safe/wise
for you to venture out, know that any food left at the end of the CSA will
be picked up and donated to the gang at Community Solidarity. They have
NEVER missed a food distribution day even in snow and ice storms
(regardless of the weather…hungry people will still be hungry if there’s
no food to eat).
- Electronic communication
is FAR from perfect. IF you get no CSA emails or responses to your emails
on any given week…come to the CSA anyway. It could be a problem with my
laptop, etc. Stuff happens.
- Anything else that might
come up (these days…who knows???)…no emails, etc., come anyway and will do
our best to keep everyone informed as best we can (look for notes on front
door of Cinema if nothing else). The CSA has always happened every week
during our 20+ seasons…(lifted from the postal worker motto) - Neither
snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom stays these farmers & CSA crew from
the swift completion of their appointed rounds…to get you your CSA Shares!
π
- If there’s an emergency
situation in progress, consider offering to help out at the CSA whether
you’re asked to or not.
10.CSA Member Danielle Tarantola is doing a half day yoga retreat in Northport THIS SATURDAY!
Saturday, August 15th
9:30am to 1:30pm
Summer of Sovereignty Yoga Retreat
(location to be shared after signing up)
Northport
$225
For more info…
https://www.yoga-foundation.com/summerretreats
and to sign up…
https://yogafoundation.as.me/schedule/88832b26/?appointmentTypeIds[]=94759019
CSA Member, Danielle Tarantola, will be teaching and leading this
mini-vacation as you give a gift to yourself! This will empower an untouchable peace deep within you, one that
may sometimes feel diminished or inaccessible due to the stressful
circumstances may be at hand in our lives. From the welcome drinks, to the
intentional reflections on empowering the self, to the authentic Yoga
practices, the environment, meals and gifts, offerings will be themed to
enliven the summer within
you in Long Island’s beloved, radiant season. The living will be easy for a
four-hour time slot this summer as we curate a journey to a deep sense of
eternal self. Through this sacred pause, Yoga’s practices will guide us to the
ever-glowing soul beneath the surface of life’s experience. A focused mind and
calm and able body will support the reclamation of your sovereign self,
unbothered, wise and waiting to wake up and live life to the fullest with you.
Event itinerary…
A welcome talk and beverage, an
hour-long Δsana practice with Danielle, a seasonal plant-based lunch by Christina Finkel
(@ V is for Vegan)…Christina also works with
Row 7 Seed Co. (doing cooking demos with their food) which is the source for
the seeds of the Spinach Lettuce and Fusion Lettuce we’ve gotten at our CSA
this year!), an hour of time to spend at the local village beach (transportation
provided) or stay at the house and hang by the pool, a closing meditation
practice with Danielle, and plenty of play time after to explore Northport!
August 6, 2026
- Cucumbers – 3 pc. - $1.50
- Fennel – 1 bunch - $5.75
- Leeks – 1 bunch - $5.50
- Eggplant: Japanese OR
Bitter Melon – 1 pc. total - $1.50
- Beans, Snap: Green – 1 bag
(1/2 lb.) - $4.50
- Escarole – 1 head - $4.50
- Tomatoes, Mini: Indigo Rose – 1 pt. - $6.25
Total Items: 7
Total Amount: $29.50
We pay our farm $23 per week for our CSA share…some weeks we get a
bit more, some a bit less. This week, it was $6.50 over $23.00. I keep track
and it adds up over the course of our CSA season and so far the total is
$36.25. We seem to always get at least one CSA share’s worth of food every year
that we didn’t pay for (we’re now on our way to getting TWO weeks’ worth of
extra food π)…some years two. Last year it was five and
a half weeks’ worth extra, so we’re talking $119 worth of food we got gratis.
No idea what it might be this season but in the end…it’s all good! π
Some are food related so enjoy the wackiness of it all π!
*Please keep in mind that any events or services listed do not
necessarily indicate a direct endorsement from Green Thumb Organic Farm or
Green Thumb CSA – Huntingto
Saturday, August 15th
9:30am to 1:30pm
Summer of Sovereignty Yoga Retreat
(location to be shared after signing up)
Northport
$225
For more info…
https://www.yoga-foundation.com/summerretreats
and to sign up…
https://yogafoundation.as.me/schedule/88832b26/?appointmentTypeIds[]=94759019
CSA Member, Danielle Tarantola, will be teaching and leading this
mini-vacation as you give a gift to yourself! This will empower an untouchable peace deep within you, one that
may sometimes feel diminished or inaccessible due to the stressful
circumstances may be at hand in our lives. From the welcome drinks, to the
intentional reflections on empowering the self, to the authentic Yoga
practices, the environment, meals and gifts, offerings will be themed to
enliven the summer within
you in Long Island’s beloved, radiant season.The living will be easy for a
four-hour time slot this summer as we curate a journey to a deep sense of
eternal self. Through this sacred pause, Yoga’s practices will guide us to the
ever-glowing soul beneath the surface of life’s experience. A focused mind and
calm and able body will support the reclamation of your sovereign self,
unbothered, wise and waiting to wake up and live life to the fullest with you.
Event itinerary…
A welcome talk and beverage, an
hour-long Δsana practice with Danielle, a seasonal plant-based lunch by Christina Finkel
(@ V is for Vegan)…and Christina also works
with Row 7 Seed Co. (doing cooking demos with their food) which is the source
of the Spinach Lettuce and Fusion Lettuce we’ve gotten at our CSA this year!,
an hour of time to spend at the local village beach (transportation provided)
or stay at the house and hang by the pool, a closing meditation practice with
Danielle, and plenty of play time after to explore Northport!
Sunday, August 16th
2pm to 6pm
First Ever Green Thumb CSA – Huntington Potluck and Pool Party!
Greenlawn
For more info…check your CSA emails about this event or email for
info
Tuesday, August 18th
10am to 11am
Tai Chi class
Cinema Arts Centre
Sky Room CafΓ©
423 Park Ave
Huntington
FREE
Join teacher Roger Sencer in this free Tai Chi class that’s been
held at the Cinema Arts Centre for a number of years. All levels welcome.
7pm – Volunteers
8:15pm – Drive-thru distribution
Huntington Food Share
Community Solidarity
Fairground Ave. & 6th St.
Huntington Station
FREE
For more info…
https://communitysolidarity.org/foodshares/huntington
To volunteer…
https://communitysolidarity.org/volunteer
Or to make a donation (they REALLY need a new truck)…
https://communitysolidarity.org/donate/funds
Community Solidarity (formerly Long Island Food Not Bombs) is an
amazing group, doing much needed good works. These are the folks our CSA
donates food to (and have for the last several years). If you’d like to
volunteer, make a donation (they REALLY, REALLY need a new truck), or have need
of their services (or know people who might)…get in touch/get information via
their website (listed above).
They also need/accept donations of the following…Bicycles, Books,
Clothing, Flowers (good for general mental health…taking care of the mind AND
the body), Food, Medical Care (is there a Doctor or Dentist in the house? π),
Plants/Seedlings, School Supplies, Toys and more. For details on donating
items, please go to the Home Page, scroll to Donate, and read the appropriate
listing (and scroll to Material Goods to see the topics not initially listed)…
https://communitysolidarity.org/
Here’s founder Jon Stepanian’s TED Talk (TEDxNYU) on Community
Solidarity and Hunger Relief…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v76MyFuXfqc
Tuesday, August 25th
10am to 11am
Tai Chi class
Cinema Arts Centre
Sky Room CafΓ©
423 Park Ave
Huntington
FREE
Join teacher Roger Sencer in this free Tai Chi class that’s been
held at the Cinema Arts Centre for a number of years. All levels welcome.
7pm – Volunteers
8:15pm – Drive-thru distribution
Huntington Food Share
Community Solidarity
Fairground Ave. & 6th St.
Huntington Station
FREE
For more info…
https://communitysolidarity.org/foodshares/huntington
To volunteer…
https://communitysolidarity.org/volunteer
Or to make a donation (they REALLY need a new truck)…
https://communitysolidarity.org/donate/funds
Community Solidarity (formerly Long Island Food Not Bombs) is an
amazing group, doing much needed good works. These are the folks our CSA
donates food to (and have for the last several years). If you’d like to
volunteer, make a donation (they REALLY, REALLY need a new truck), or have need
of their services (or know people who might)…get in touch/get information via
their website (listed above).
They also need/accept donations of the following…Bicycles, Books,
Clothing, Flowers (good for general mental health…taking care of the mind AND
the body), Food, Medical Care (is there a Doctor or Dentist in the house? π),
Plants/Seedlings, School Supplies, Toys and more. For details on donating
items, please go to the Home Page, scroll to Donate, and read the appropriate
listing (and scroll to Material Goods to see the topics not initially listed)…
https://communitysolidarity.org/
Here’s founder Jon Stepanian’s TED Talk (TEDxNYU) on Community
Solidarity and Hunger Relief…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v76MyFuXfqc
Wednesday, September 16th to Wednesday, September 23rd
10:45am to 10:45am for access to each day’s episodes
2026 Food Revolution Summit Docuseries: The Science of Food and
Wellness
FREE (though they will ask you to pay $67 for “forever” access to
all the lectures because it’s pretty impossible to spend the time watching them
in the allotted time you’re given π)
To register…
This is a vegan focused event but there isn’t anyone who couldn’t
benefit from this info regardless of whether one is an omnivore or anything but
a hardcore carnivore π, and I KNOW they’re going to be talking
about eating organic foods. The alternative medical folks in this are many…Dr.
Joel Fuhrman (his nutritarian diet π), Dr. Dean Ornish (reversing heart disease
program), Dr. David Perlmutter (neurologist interested in brain health thru
diet), Dr. Dean Sherzai (working on reversing cognitive decine), Dr. William Li
(love this guy…all about cancer preventing foods)
###
