Happy Summer!
WE WEIGH THIS WEEK! Read details below…
Welcome to the 18th year of Green Thumb CSA –
Huntington, and its 2nd year at the Cinema Arts Centre! Whoo-hoo!
CSA Weather report…88 and sunny with an air quality alert
and scattered thunderstorms which will cool things off a bit (don’t leave your
CSA share in the car…it will be very unhappy because it’s way too hot in
there)!
What happens if you don’t get any CSA emails and
Thursday rolls around and it’s time to go to the CSA? GO ANYWAY! There
have been times over the years when various things have prevented a CSA email
from being sent…computers, storms, health emergencies, etc. However, the thing
to do is to come to the Cinema and in all probability, your CSA share will be
there (unless there’s weather that’s so treacherous travel would be extremely
ill-advised and even then, the farm will show up and drive from Water Mill to
Huntington before some CSA members would drive from Huntington…to Huntington).
And if not (which I doubt…there was only one snowstorm where the farm showed up
on Friday instead of Thursday because no one could drive anywhere), there would
be a sign on the door saying something, or you could call me (though with
Hurricane Sandy, even my land line was down because of the Verizon battery it’s
hooked up to….grrrrrrr…I need to get that detached so I can get phone calls
during those times when the power goes out).
Parking suggestion…try parking all the way
around the building in the upper parking lot where the day care center play
area is. You hopefully will find a spot, and it’s a short walk down the stairs
to the entrance from there, and most people don’t seem to think of parking up
there. If you park illegally you can get a parking ticket, it does happen!
If you are going to show up at the CSA later than
7:30pm, but before the Box Office is closing for the night (can be
different every week but probably be open till at least 10pm) and it’s the last
minute and you’re running late…call the Cinema Arts Centre Box Office at
631-423-7610 xt 0 and ask them to transfer the call to the café (do NOT leave a
message to be given to the CSA because there have been occasions where we
didn’t get the message and someone showed up to get their food and was not
happy their food wasn’t there) so we can pack a bag for you, put your name on
it, and leave it at the Box Office. If you don’t get to the Cinema before the
Box Office closes, your food will NOT be there the next day. The Cinema is
under no obligation to store your food, and we don’t want to be the cause of
bugs being attracted to our wonderful CSA food.
If you’re sharing a CSA share with someone…it’s
possible they’re not on this email list yet (if not email me their full name
and email address…or have them do it), so check with them and then forward this
if they didn’t get it (and always check the junk/spam folder).
Keep in mind that anything you read in this email (unless
it’s directly related to the functioning and operation of the CSA) is
subjective and like they say in the 12 step world…take what you like and leave
the rest!
This week’s email includes…
1. The
CSA doesn’t need you this week (but we will soon enough J )
2. CSA
101 – Bring Bags!!!
3. We
start weighing our produce this week…not rocket science but there are things to
be mindful of!
4. Help
change the world with a click…
5. The
List- subject to change without notice because…farming is like that!
6. Eat
fish? Read this…
7. Notes
from the Farm – 2 – July 5, 2016
8. Yet
another reason to eat (and garden) organically
9. Event
Listings…both near and far
10. It’s
not all bad news!
11. What
you actually got last week
12. And
now for something completely different
1.The CSA doesn’t need you this week (but we will soon
enough)
We’re talking about working at the CSA.
We have the help we need for this week. Whoo-hoo!
If you didn’t already get an email from Rene or/and suzanne
talking to you about being at the CSA on the Early Shift (3:30pm to 5:30pm) or
the Late Shift (5:30pm to 7:30pm) this week, you’re not on the schedule for
this week.
HOWEVER, you can always show up a little before 3:30pm or
5:30pm and offer to help out just in case someone doesn’t show up (stuff
happens).
2.CSA 101…Bring Bags!
CSA basic, for this CSA anyway, is that you need to
bring your own supply of bags for packing up your CSA share every week from now
till December 8th!
So, my suggestion…put bags that you’re setting aside for
your CSA share in EVERY vehicle you own or might ride in! J Put them in the trunk, or the glove
compartment, or in a bigger bag somewhere in the car, or whatever you think
will work for your situation. That way, you don’t even have to remember,
they’re just there.
The CSA is under NO obligation to provide you with bags for
your food.
I also recommend a selection of canvas, paper and plastic. I
bag my CSA share up in my paper (Strawberries) and plastic bags (most
everything else) and put it in my bigger canvas bag so when I get home,
everything’s pretty much (with some exceptions…like herbs) ready to be put
right into the fridge.
And if you send someone to pick up your CSA share for
you, you need to tell them to…BRING BAGS!
3.We start weighing our produce this week…not rocket
science but there are things to be mindful of!
It’s time to weigh our food!
A.
Please be aware that it may take a little more
time for you to collect your CSA share when weighing is part of the experience
so plan accordingly.
B.
Check the CSA Wall Chart that our farmer brings
in every week before taking any food so you know what you’re taking and how
much to take…assume nothing and please feel free to ask questions! J
C.
Bring your reading glasses or ask someone to
help if you can’t see the numbers on the scale clearly.
D.
PLEASE DO NOT GO OVER THE AMOUNT STATED on
the Wall Chart.
Please err on the under side of the weight posted…NEVER
over. It may not seem like much to you, but we have 56 CSA members this week,
and if every person is over by ONE OUNCE (for crying out loud! It’s only an
ounce!!!) …that means we’ll be short over 4 1/2 POUNDS of produce and 5 CSA
members (and one of them could be you) won’t get the food they paid for.
E.
IF you are asked to weigh more than one food
item at the same time (and you probably will at some point in the CSA
season)…please follow the directions given to you, and weigh in the order you
are asked (you might not think there’s any good reason to be doing this but our
farmer does, and that should be enough of a reason right there but if you want
a further explanation – ask someone working at the CSA or contact suzanne…there
is always a method to the madness)
4. Help change the world with a click…
A.Tell food companies to get Proply Paraben out of our foods
(it’s an endocrine disruptor…not a good thing…see below)…
B.Tell nail polish companies to stop using endocrine
disruptors (they’re not just in our food and they cause reproductive and
developmental problems, weight gain and obesity)…
C.Tell you Senators to sign the BPA in food packaging right
to know act (because we need to know! J
)…
D.Tell the Senate to support safe cosmetics and not have
ingredients that are carcinogenic or endocrine disruptors (because we
want to look good while we’re eating organic J
)…
5.The List - subject to change without notice
because…farming is like that!
July 7, 2016
Week #6
1.Lettuce: Salad Bowl, Green – 1 head
2.Beets - 1 bunch
3.Radishes: French Breakfast – 1 bunch
4.Peas: Shelling – 1 bag
5.Squash, Summer (various kinds…keep repeating the CSA
mantra…Squash is Squash…you know what to do with Zucchini so you know what to
do with ANY Summer Squash) – up to but not over 2 lbs
Total Items: 5
6.Eat fish? Read this…
90% of the seafood in the USA is imported and UNTRACEABLE!
So, you’re more than likely getting ripped off regarding what you’re getting
and what you’re paying for it. Plus, if you’re trying to avoid certain fish
because of toxins like Mercury…good luck.
And I don’t want to eat Tilapia…ever (only fish that I know
of that has more Omega 6 fatty acids…kind we want to avoid…and LESS Omega 3
fatty acids…the kind we’re encouraged to eat for health). And not sure how
possible that is with the lack of accountability (when I eat out, for the most
part, all bets are off).
However, some people are trying to do the right thing…
7. Notes from the Farm – 2 – July 5, 2016
Happy July, we hope everybody enjoyed their holiday weekend, and all the
produce that has been coming in from our fields. Our fields are filling up with
beautiful produce to send in! With the abundance of sun and much needed rain
recently, everything is growing strong and healthy.
produce that has been coming in from our fields. Our fields are filling up with
beautiful produce to send in! With the abundance of sun and much needed rain
recently, everything is growing strong and healthy.
Beets, carrots, summer squash, as well as fava beans will be included in the
weeks ahead. We have a wide variety of lettuces and herbs that we will be
alternating throughout the course of the season, string beans and tomatoes are
on their way as well.
Everything has been busy, moving right along out on our farm.. Our newest
second seasonal farm-stand down the road was opened for it’s first weekend,
spreading our wonderful produce a little further. Plant sales are winding down
and our greenhouses are filled with transplants to be planted in the field.
Thank you all for your continued support; we strive to make each delivery
exciting and enjoyable.
Organically Yours,
Farmers Ray, Jesse and Clinton
Our closest location to Huntington:
Green Thumb Hayground Market located at 1616 Montauk Hwy, Bridgehampton
8.Yet another reason to eat (and garden) organically
GMO Soy…ugh! Plus, this doesn’t mention that GMO soy has
less genistein which is a cancer protective element and why some people consume
Soy foods.
Also, know anyone that uses Roundup in their yards or edible
gardens? Then you’ve GOT to see this!
And read this…
And
if you have questions whether to be eating Soy foods or not, here’s a decent
article giving you the good, the bad, and the rest of it…
9.Event Listings…both near and far
Friday, July 8th
7:30pm
World Peace Café
Dipamkarma Meditation Center
282 NY Ave
Huntington
$10
Meditation at 7:30pm, Café snacks and entertainment (live
music, poetry, comedy) at 8:15pm (and check out next door to Sip Tea Lounge for
some tea).
Monday, July 11th to July 23rd
Kick Sugar Addiction World Summit 2016 Online Conference
FREE
For 12 days hear 21 experts in the field of sugar addiction
and sugar addiction recovery. Check website for the list of speakers.
Monday, July 18th
8:30am to 7pm
Farm Tour and Organic Agriculture Workshop
The Rodale Institute
Kutztown, PA
$90
For more info and to make reservations:
516-626-0908
Join the Long Island Food Coalition, Slow Food North Shore
and iEat Green on a chartered bus road trip to The Rodale Institute for a farm
tour and workshop about organic agriculture!
Sunday, July 31st
5pm
Hayground Chef’s Dinner
Hayground School (Jeff’s Kitchen)
151 Mitchell Lane
Bridgehampton
Tickets: $1200 (seriously)
A superstar chef event (http://www.haygroundchefsdinner.org/chefs-1/
) for a good cause. If you got it, here’s a good place to spend it! J
About Hayground School…
Friday, August 12th to Sunday, August 14th
NOFA Summer Conference
University of Massachusetts
Amherst, MA
For more info and to register (early bird prices till July
15):
NOFA (Northeast Organic Farmer’s Association) is the group
that’s been certifying farms organic since the time before the USDA got
involved. They rock. We have a NY chapter that you can join…
There are 2 conferences every year. In the winter, each NOFA
member state (NY, NJ, CT, RI, MA, NH, VT) has their own winter conference (the
one that farmers can attend because…they’re not working). In the summer,
everybody from all the member states gets together for the summer conference
and about 1,000 to 2,000 people that are interested in health, organic farming
and gardening, healthy living and healthy eating get together for a WHOLE lot
of workshops, movies and parties, and cafeteria style eating of organic/local
foods that would accommodate most any dietary needs (gluten free, vegan, paleo,
raw). It’s great for families (they have workshops for kids from 5 to 12, and
13 to 17…and they have childcare available for ages 2 to 4), singles, seniors,
and just about anybody. If you go, a good time will be had by all! Feel free to
ask me any questions as have been to the summer and winter conferences, and CSA
member Vickie Muller has gone to the NOFA Summer Conference with her daughter
for a few years too.
This year’s keynote speakers…
10.It’s not all bad news!
Eat Chicken? Perdue (who now says it’s using Oregano instead
of antibiotics…something more humans should be doing J ) now has humane animal treatment on its radar.
And that’s a good thing…
11.What you actually got last week (not always what was
in the email the week before because farming is like that regarding occasional
last minute changes)
June 30, 2016
Week #5
1.Lettuce: Crisp, Red – 1 head - $3.00
2.Fennel - 1 bunch - $3.50
3.Radishes: French Breakfast OR Red – 1 bunch - $3.00
4.Peas: Sugar Snap – 1 bag (3/4 lb.) - $6.00
5.Parsley, Italian – 1 bunch - $3.50
Total Items: 5
Total Amount: $19.00
(since we pay $18.50 per week for our CSA share, this week
we got $.50 more than we paid, SO that means at the moment, our farmer has
given us $3.50 more than we paid for up to this point. Over the course of the
CSA year…and over the years…we have gotten at least one, and sometimes up to
two, share’s worth of food that we didn’t pay for…so keep reading this and see
how it plays out from week to week)
12.And now for something completely different
Coffee drinker? Watch this! J
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