Green Thumb Farm Huntington CSA

Happy Summer!

Can you help out a fellow CSA member? First year CSA member Fiona Larkin can’t make it to the CSA by 7:30pm tonight. She lives on Cold Spring Hills Rd in Huntington and could pick up the food about 9:30pm tonight, or on Friday or Saturday. Anybody able to pack her food and keep it for her till she can pick up? Normally, I’d say she could pick it up at our alternate late night pickup site in the neighborhood (more about that next week), but with this heat??? Her food would be very sad by the time she got there. If you’re able to help out…respond to this email by 1pm today, or call the CSA after 3pm at 631-385-1079 (if no one picks up the hall phone at the UUFH…keep calling till they do!).

Any Unitarians out there that we don’t know about? If so, you have UUFH fridge privileges! if you don’t pick up your food by the end of the night and your name isn’t checked off (unless you’ve contacted me to tell me not to if you’ll be gone longer than a week), we pack a bag, write your last name on it and put it in the fridge in the kitchen and email you to remind you to pick up your food so if you are, please let us know. At the moment the only names I have on the list are Nielsen and Willard.

Anybody make it to Green Thumb Farm last Saturday for the farm tour? Let us know how it went. CSA member Haley Wiggins went and got some Strawberries (I didn’t think there’d be any) and a fine time was had by her and her family.

So much for the road being closed last week! False alarm there. However, I did see white wooden “horses” on the side of the road so maybe it was closed earlier in the day. Good for us!

IMPORTANT!!! Sounds simple but PLEASE check the wall chart for what your share is every week, and check what’s in your bag with what’s on the wall chart before you leave to make sure that you didn’t take too much or too little food! Please take your time when picking your produce and if there are any questions, please ask!!! If someone takes more than what the allotted CSA share that means at the end of the night someone is going to get less than what they paid for. As Martha would say…that is NOT a good thing!

We could use a LOT more CSA members! If each of us (we’re now 46) managed to find five more members our farmer would be VERY happy. However, even one more member each would be a help and if THEY got one more member…you get the idea. Even ideas of where to leave CSA brochures or posters, and where to do lectures about CSA would be helpful. So far this season I participated in the 1st LI CSA Fair, the 2nd LI Small Farm Summit, and a health fair at the Vitamin Shoppe in Melville, gave a lecture to the Holistic Moms Network about eating local and just put an ad (VERY reasonably priced) in the brochure for a charity auction for the local Montessori School. I said I would do this last year and didn’t so, I’ll be walking the streets around the UUFH and leaving brochures with a cover sheet that’s an invite to visit the CSA in people’s mailboxes. The exercise will do me good  ! Any and all suggestions would be appreciated and considered. Another thing that was talked about last year and not done that will be done this year is putting an a paid ad in The Beacon, the newsletter of the UUFH, for several issues.

This week’s email includes…

1. Your CSA does not need you this week, however…
2. Call NOW about the upcoming Farm Bill
3. Bags and you!
4. This week’s list…subject to change without notice (farming is like that)
5. Great story! Scottish school girl blogs about, and photographs, school lunches to raise money to feed school children in Africa and is ordered to stop!
6. Fun, Cool & Interesting Stuff to Do (new events added weekly)
7. Ten reasons to eat Beets!
8. Notes from the Farm
9. What you actually got last week
10. You can do a lot by just clicking!
11. And now…for something completely different



1. Your CSA does not need you this week, however…

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…life happens! 

If you didn’t get a confirmation email from Judi (occasionally it’s me), you’re not scheduled to work this week. And if you got an email from Judi asking you to confirm that you’re working…you need to respond to that in the time frame stated in the email otherwise she’s going to try and find someone else to take your place.



2. Call NOW about the upcoming Farm Bill

This site was the least complicated in terms of instructions about calling. It’s possible that these amendments have been voted on since yesterday when I got this email but call anyway!

Basically the office workers wanted the names of the amendments after I said that I was calling for the Senator to support several amendments in the Farm Bill. Schumer wanted my name and zip and Gillibrand said their computer system did it for them.

I didn’t bother to go thru the whole speech they give you on the website…
http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/call/urgent_farm_bill_vote_good_bad_ugly/?rd=1&t=5&referring_akid=576.31784.L-SfJ7



3. Bags and you!

The short story is make sure to bring bags to pack your CSA food as the CSA does not provide them.

Suggestion…put bags (paper/plastic/cloth) in EVERY vehicle you own. Put them in the glove compartment, trunk, wherever, and make sure to replenish them when the supply is running low or you’re out of them. That way it will be hard to forget them.

And, if someone is picking up for you, please remind them about bringing bags with them.



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

Week #9
June 21, 2012

1. Peas: Sugar Snap
2. Peas: Shelling
3. Beets
4. Jerusalem Artichokes
5. Curly Cress *(also known as Pepper Cress)
6. Lettuce

Total Items: 6 (?)

*Learn about Curly Cress (Pepper Cress)…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garden_cress
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lepidium
http://www.bonappetit.com/tipstools/ingredients/2009/09/peppercress
http://newarcsite.com/microgreens/peppercress/
http://crabappleherbs.com/blog/category/herbs/peppercress/
http://www.foodsubs.com/Greensld.html
http://noteatingoutinny.com/2009/04/20/peppercress-and-poached-egg-salad/
http://www.simplesocialkitchen.com/2010/06/07/csa-cooking-curly-cress-jerusalem-artichokes-and-strawberries/

Flower Share – maybe yes or maybe no!

Herb Share – 3
Oregano AND Savory (not sure if it’s Winter or Summer…my guess is, oddly enough, it’s Winter)



5. Great story! Scottish school girl blogs about, and photographs, school lunches to raise money to feed school children in Africa and is ordered to stop!

How cool is this?
http://www.thebraiser.com/jamie-olivers-favorite-9-year-old-food-blogger-shut-down-by-school-officials/
Scottish girl is awesome in raising money to feed kids in Africa, and putting the spotlight on school lunches!!!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-18454800#TWEET160058
Check out her blog…
http://neverseconds.blogspot.co.uk/



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


June 23rd

Eat Drink Local Week 6/23 to 6/30
For more info:
http://www.ediblemanhattan.com/events/eat-drink-local-week/
We’re thrilled to announce our fourth annual Eat Drink Local Week, an eight-day fest for our foodshed celebrated by Edibles around the Tri-state area. The Week kicks off June 23 and involves partners from every part of our local food system, who urge you to dine out, cook in, and celebrate the ingredients, landscape and people behind our plates through a week’s worth of events, restaurant meals and plenty of cooking and drinking at home. What can you do to join in?


12pm

The Festival
Mechanics Hall
Worcester, MA
$60 per session
For more info and tickets:
www.The-Festival.us

An international celebration of over 60 small brewers and cider makers and food from local food trucks including the Clover Food Truck (locavores…possibly also organic).


Sunday, June 24th

The Festival (see June 23rd)
Worcester, MA

11am

UnCooking Class – East West Asia
Live Island Café
201 E Main St
Huntington
$25
To register:
631-923-1831
rawchefelyse@gmail.com
For more info:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/LiveIslandCafe
http://www.facebook.com/#!/ChefElyse

Join Chef Elyse in making…Sushi, Pad Thai, Scallion Pancakes, Seaweed Salad, Wasabi Mayo, “Salmon”


12:30pm

Bringing Nature Home: How you can sustain wildlife with native plants with Douglas W. Tallamy
LI Horticultural Society
The Conference Center
Planting Fields Arboretum
Planting Fields Rd
Oyster Bay
$15 General Public/Free – LIHS members (membership is $25)
For more info:
www.lihort.org
Bruce Hambrecht – bruce@lihort.org


Tuesday, June 26th

7pm

Huntington Food Share – Food Not Bombs
Fairground Ave and E 6th St (outside of All Weather Tires)
Huntington Station
For more info and to get involved:
http://www.lifnb.com/chapters/huntington_food_share

Distribution of food and clothing to all who attend and are in need.


Wednesday, June 27th

4pm to 5pm

iEat Green
http://prn.fm/shows/lifestyle-shows/i-eat-green/

iEat Green is hosted by Slow Food Huntington’s Bhavani Jharoff. Listen to this internet radio show either live or if you miss this show, you can listen to it on the archives and it’s available for downloading on iTunes for your iPhone.

Today’s guest will be, Jeff Negron. Jeff is the owner and operator of The Growing Seed, a for profit business that designs, installs, maintains and harvests vegetable gardens for residential and commercial properties.

Saturday, June 30th

5pm

Eat Drink Local Film Festival
Silas Marder Gallery
120 Snake Hollow Rd
Bridgehampton
FREE (except food for purchase)
For more info:
http://www.parrishart.org/calendar.asp?fp=cal&id=79&pid=1024

5pm – art exhibit opening, 6pm – bee demo, 7:30 – food vendors, 8:30pm – film screening

Celebrating locally produced food, this one-night screening will feature short films and videos about farmers, fishers, vintners, and other food purveyors in the region.

Part of Eat Drink Local week, the food chain celebration organized by Edible magazines throughout the region, with partner restaurants on both forks, the evening will feature tacos from Estia's Little Kitchen in Sag Harbor, beer from Greenport Harbor Beer Company, cheese tastings from Mecox Bay Dairy, a selection of Peconic Bay oysters, local honey from Bee's Needs, and a corresponding honey bee demonstration with Mary Woltz.


Thursday, July 5th

7pm

1st Anniversary of the Holistic Moms Network Huntington Chapter!
1929 Elwood Public Library
E Northport
Jericho Tpke (intersection of Elwood Rd in the shopping center on the northeast corner)
FREE
For more info:
www.holisticmoms.org
Email: huntingtonhmn@aol.com

Join the gang (this group was started by CSA member Vickie Muller) for an informal evening of socializing and planning events for the coming year. Come connect with other parents (and grandparents) interested in holistic health and green living.


August 2nd to 5th

6th National Farm to Cafeteria Conference
Burlington, VT
For more info and to register:
http://farmtocafeteriaconference.org/6/
Farm to Cafeteria is Digging In! Whether you are new to the movement or have years of wisdom to share, the 6th National Farm to Cafeteria Conference: Digging In! is a great opportunity to network, build skills and get energized!
Farm to Cafeteria began with the common goal of building strong communities, healthy individuals and resilient local farms. Across the country great progress has been made connecting farm-fresh foods with K-12 schools, pre-schools, childcare settings, colleges, universities, hospitals, prisons and beyond – now we are Digging In!
The conference will bring together food service professionals, farmers, educators, policy makers, representatives from government agencies and nonprofits, entrepreneurs, students and others who are breaking down barriers and expanding the impact of Farm to Cafeteria.
There will be skill-building short-courses, field trips to innovative Vermont farms and institutions, a diverse workshop program, and plenty of opportunities to network with inspiring individuals from across the country.

August 10th to 12th

NOFA (Northeast Organic Farming Association) Summer Conference
University of Massachusetts
Amherst, MA
For more info:
http://www.nofasummerconference.org/
And to register and see a listing of workshops:
http://www.nofasummerconference.org/pdfs/2012_SC_regform.pdf

Featured speaker this year is Jeffery Smith, author of Seeds of Destruction and an authority on GE/GMO foods. Over 200 workshops, kid friendly, fun for everyone…singles, seniors, families – everyone! Great food and a good time will be had by all who attend.



7. Ten reasons to eat Beets!

Some are simplistic for us longtime Beet eaters but it’s never a bad idea for reminders…
http://www.bewellbuzz.com/nutrition/10-reasons-eat-beets/



8. Notes from the Farm

June 15, 2012

After a wet several weeks, the sun is back and crops are growing well! This week we planted our second crop of Eggplant and Peppers, as well as our Sweet Potatoes. We hope to do better on these than last year. Our Peas are coming in…Snow peas, Sugar Snap Peas, and Shelling Peas. We should have these for a month or so. Then come Beans and Summer Squashes. Our Beets, Red and Chiogga, are also about ready and will be followed by Carrots, and then Scallions.

This time of year, we also bring in several types of Herbs for everyone – Chives, Oregano, Savory and Thyme. These can be frozen or dried to preserve what is not used fresh. Cilantro, Dill and Basils will be brought in also throughout the season.

Lettuces are looking beautiful this time of year! Cooler nights and enough rainfall has made for large delicious heads. We have about ten types of Lettuce. Radicchio will be ready soon and Fava Beans should show up in early July. There’s much to enjoy now, and look forward to, as our seasons progress.

Thank you for all your support! Our local certified organic farming depends upon it!

Organically yours,
Farmer Bill (Halsey)



9. What you actually got last week

Week #8
June 14, 2012

1. Peas: Snow – 1/2 lb - $3.25
2. Kale: Curly, Green – 1 bunch - $3.25
3. Mustard Greens – 1 bunch - $3.25
4. Lavender – 1 bunch - $2.50
5. Sorrel – 1 bunch - $2.75
6. Lettuce: Leaf, Red – 1 head - $2.75

Total Items: 6
Total Amount: $17.75 (We pay $17.50 per week to our farmer for the food we get every week. Today we’ve gotten $.25 extra, making the total extra that we’ve received from our farmer [over and above the $17.50 we pay per week] for the year so far $6.25)

Flower Share
Week #3
Yarrow

Herb Share - 2
Chives AND Rosemary



10. You can do a lot by just clicking!

Click under “Hot Issue” to allow farm workers to be paid for overtime (says “Tell lawmakers to end shameful legacy of racism…”)…
http://www.ufw.org/

Agent Corn…remember Agent Orange? We don’t want this on our food…
Click here to act!
https://act.credoaction.com/campaign/poison_corn/index.html?r=6901345

Email or call your senator today about the Farm Bill!!!
http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/5735/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=6161

Email about Food Bill labeling GMO food…
http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/o/1881/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=7935



11. And now for something completely different…

Here’s what not eating local looks like!
http://newyork.grubstreet.com/2012/06/see-video-of-the-dominos-supply_chain.html

More food as art…
http://weburbanist.com/2010/05/04/bento-chocolate-and-jesus-10-intriguing-examples-of-food-art/

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