Green Thumb Farm Huntington CSA: November 2022

Friday, November 25, 2022

Huntington CSA - Holiday Wishes

To all the wonderful members of Green Thumb CSA – Huntington (and you ARE all wonderful 😊)…

Whether you’re spending this Thanksgiving on your own, with family, with friends, or in a crowd of strangers (at the Thanksgiving Day parade in NYC, perhaps? 😊); whether you’re staying at home, or traveling near or far; and whether you’re eating a home-cooked meal, dining at a restaurant, or heating up leftovers from the recent past 😊…here’s wishing you a HAPPY THANKSGIVING! 😊

I’m personally grateful to all of you for having chosen to be CSA members in Green Thumb CSA – Huntington this year (and I know our farmers and their families are grateful for that as well)!

May you enjoy whatever CSA food you’ve incorporated into today’s menu 😊.

And for your amusement (it’s annoying that you have to click on some of them to see under the Pinterest “Save” thingies, but at least some are worth checking out)…

https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/2022/11/01/best-thanksgiving-memes/10596349002/

For you fans of Saturday Night Live and Will Ferrell/Maya Rudolph/Fred Armisen (never saw this one 😊)…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDUDlAEv5pU&ab_channel=SaturdayNightLive

And more Thanksgiving silliness (jokes/knock-knock jokes and wordplay)…

https://www.countryliving.com/life/a28522581/thanksgiving-jokes/

Best wishes always…suzanne

Wednesday, November 23, 2022

Huntington CSA 2022 Season Thursday, Nov. 24, 2022 Week #25 Pick Up is TODAY! Wed. 11/24/2022 Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Autumn!

CSA weather report…cool

Thanksgiving Schedule…

This week our CSA is on WEDNESDAY, November 23rd
The hours will be from 1:30pm to 7:30pm
If you’re not coming to the CSA this week and no one is picking up for you (and you haven’t let us know already), PLEASE EMAIL BEFORE 11AM TODAY and let us know in case we can go home early (BUT if you need to pick up at 7:30pm…or need a bag packed to pick up at the Box Office – check to see how late they’ll be there - that is TOTALLY fine 😊).

Please be patient! We will be closing the CSA for approx. 15 minutes from 3:30pm to 3:45pm and 5:30pm to 5:45pm.

Why? Several weeks ago we were missing one bag of Tomatoes at the end of the night (the Tomatoes were counted twice by two different people before the start of the CSA, so it’s not because the farm shorted us), and no one has provided any information/help to solve this mystery. So, to do a better job of keeping track of our CSA food, we’ll be closing down the CSA at 5:30pm for as long as it takes to count our food (hopefully no more than 15 minutes and possibly less). This will be a weekly occurrence until further notice.

Exchange Table this week!

Short story…will be a table by the exit to the CSA, after you’ve taken your CSA Share if there’s something on the Exchange Table that you want to exchange for it, you can.

However, you have to exchange the entire food item and not leave part of it (ex. If we get 2 lbs. of Tomatoes you have to leave all 2 lbs. to get something from the Exchange Table). There will be someone stationed at the table to answer any questions.

Why haven’t we done this before? We didn’t have enough volunteers working at the CSA and this week we do. Will we do it again this year? Depends on how many people sign up to work on any given week.

CSA member Noelle DeLorenzo with be gracing the world with her voice (along with her fellow choir members 😊) on December 3^rd, 4^th, and (see CSA Events listings for details).

CSA member Tom Cohn is the organizer and hosts the Huntington Public Library’s Great Books Reading and Discussion Group (for all you book lovers out there 😊), and the next event is on Monday, November 28th. See CSA Events listings for details.

Important…if you send anyone to the CSA to pick up food for you, please tell them to BRING BAGS (at least two…one for dry food and one for wet food)!

This email includes…

What you need to know
Food safety and COVID-19…
It’s cold & flu season so when it comes to our CSA…
Vote early and vote often (in this case…you can)
Emergency situations at the CSA (hurricanes/electronic communication glitches/medical emergencies, etc.)
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! 😊
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 too 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 (if stored properly). Any questions regarding what this would be…ask. 😊

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.

Time – 3:30pm to 7:30pm

Place – Sky Room Café 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 desk with our friendly CSA worker
Read the CSA 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 😊)! 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 that’s waiting to pick it up and get on their way.

Veggie info sheets are added as needed. This is the link to the: Veggie Info Sheets. Print them out, put them in a notebook and you end up with a cookbook at the end of the CSA season. Also, there are good tips on storage, prep, and nutrition.

The list…this is a general list and you’ll be sent another email within the next week with the detailed list after I get it (which isn’t till the day of the CSA…the list is subject to change without notice because farming is like that! 😊 However, most of the time it’s accurate and if it’s not…usually only one food item will be changed)…

CSA words to live by…when trying any new food you’ve never eaten before…START SLOW!!! Read up about it (make sure it doesn’t interfere with any medications you might be taking or any health conditions you might have), see what traditional/conventional ways it’s prepared (cultures that have been eating certain foods for many years basically have a good idea what they’re doing, and we can learn from that), try a small portion, see how your body/digestive system reacts, and proceed from there. Then try preparing in different ways and see what you come up with, and feel free to ask for suggestion/info/recommendations!

Paraphrased wise words by a nutritionist that I read (and don’t remember where I read it or who said it), BUT it’s pretty smart info regarding eating seasonally in our part of the globe…

Spring… is all about detoxing (what we get from the CSA at this time is a lot of green things that are really good to help clean us out from whatever we accumulated during the winter)

Interesting piece about spring greens (out of the 14 listed, we get 12 of them with our CSA…watercress nutritionally and botanically similar to Curly Cress/Peppercress) and detoxing…

http://www.nourishingmeals.com/2012/03/detox-with-spring-greens.html

Summer is all about being hydrated (the popular summer foods are all full of water…Tomatoes, Lettuces, Summer Squashes, etc.)

Fall/winter is all about storing energy (we get all the dense vegetables…Sweet Potatoes, Winter Squashes, etc…. that are energy powerhouses to fuel us through the winter) to get you through the winter to make it to…Spring!

Week #26

November 23, 2022

Rutabaga* – See CSA Wall Chart
Squash, Winter – See CSA Wall Chart
Peppers, Sweet: assorted – 1 bag
Tat Soi – 1 bunch
Sage** – 1 bunch

Total Items: 5

Herb Share – November 2B

Dill AND Thyme

*Rutabaga inspiration…

Good article (9 simple ways to prepare them)…

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/diet-nutrition/a20706455/rutabaga-recipes/

They’re in the cruciferous family so if you want their cancer prevention benefits…do not microwave when cooking or reheating (explained in a previous email…ask suzanne if you didn’t read the info and want to know why)

https://www.foodnetwork.com/fn-dish/recipes/2016/03/what-do-i-do-with-rutabagas

More ideas from the Smithsonian magazine…

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/five-ways-to-eat-rutabaga-74280331/

And more…

https://www.thekitchn.com/rutabaga-recipes-tips-and-ideas-22928359

How to freeze and variations on mashed…

https://www.thespruceeats.com/easy-mashed-rutabagas-3061932

*What to do with a bunch of Sage?

A dozen ways to preserve Sage…

https://www.thekitchn.com/12-creative-ways-to-preserve-sage-221034

Good basic info about Sage…

https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-cook-with-sage-11-culinary-uses-for-sage

16 ways to use fresh Sage…

https://food52.com/blog/11666-fresh-sage-and-16-ways-to-use-it-that-don-t-involve-poultry-or-stuffing

Sage Sage (😊) suggestions from the Pioneer Woman (Ree Drummond)…

https://www.thepioneerwoman.com/food-cooking/cooking-tips-tutorials/a34161450/how-to-cook-fresh-sage/

What isn’t good fried? Have you ever tried fried Sage leaves?

Try this recipe…

https://www.thewickednoodle.com/fried-sage-leaves/

And check out these suggestions of what to do with fried Sage…

https://thishealthytable.com/blog/crispy-sage-leaves/

2.Food safety and COVID-19…

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

And read in more detail here…

https://www.seriouseats.com/2020/03/food-safety-and-coronavirus-a-comprehensive-guide.html#covid-on-food

After keeping the CSA going thru 2020 and 2021 (with everyone staying healthy using the simple practices of wearing face coverings, hand washing, and social distancing), this is where we are now at this moment in time…

Face coverings are optional
Hand washing upon entering the theater is STRONGLY 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/

We will try and keep the CSA area relatively uncrowded
Enter near the Box Office entrance, and exit thru the door that leads out to the Cinema garden and upper parking lot stairs

3.It’s cold & flu season so when it comes to our CSA…

It’s never a bad idea to wash your hands before entering our CSA BUT…if you have any signs of illness (sore throat, fever, coughing, swollen glands, sneezing, runny nose, congestion, unusual fatigue, body aches, headaches, vomiting, diarrhea or combination thereof) – PLEASE STAY HOME! 😊

You need to be home taking care of yourself, and we all don’t want to get whatever it might be that you have. 😊

Please have someone else pick up your CSA Share. But if you don’t have anyone who can do that for you, let us know and we’ll see what we can do. If it’s after noon on Thursday (the day of our CSA), call the Cinema Arts Centre Box Office after 3:30pm at 631-423-7611 and ask to speak to someone at the CSA so we can see if we can get someone to either hold your food till someone can come get it, or have someone drop it off at your house.

4.Vote early and vote often (in this case…you can! 😊)

From now till December 15^th (our CSA doesn’t end till December 8^th 😊), you can vote for the Cinema Arts Centre to win the “Best of Long Island” award for 2022 AND you’re allowed one vote per one person per each day for each category (in this case the category is Movie Theater). So like I said…vote early (start now 😊), and vote often 😊!

Why vote for them? Well, it is the best movie theater on Long Island (IMHO as the kids say 😊), but they’ve also been gracious enough, over these past few years, to host Green Thumb CSA – Huntington and so this is a fairly simple way to show them your appreciation (if you feel so inclined 😊).

Here's the link…

https://www.bestoflongisland.com/voting/#/gallery/?group=436121

And since Green Thumb Farm wasn’t nominated for best Farm Stand (I will try and make that happen next year 😊), I’m voting for Garden of Eve Organic Farm…

https://www.bestoflongisland.com/voting/#/gallery/?group=436126

Under “Local Raw Honey” I voted for Bees Needs because that’s owned by the beekeeper, Mary, for our farm…

https://www.bestoflongisland.com/voting/#/gallery/?group=436126

Are any of you out there nominated? If so, let us know any maybe we’ll vote for you! 😊

5.Emergency situations at the CSA (hurricanes/electronic communication glitches/medical emergencies, etc.)

It’s hurricane season till November 30^th (our CSA’s last day is December 8^th)! 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 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! 😊

If there’s an emergency situation in progress, consider offering to help out at the CSA whether you’re asked to or not.

6.What you actually got last week

Week #25

November 17, 2022

Sweet Potatoes – 1 bag (3 lbs.) - $6.25
Fennel – 1 bunch - $5.25
Kale: Lacinato – 1 bunch - $5.25
Radicchio: Chiogga – 1 head - $4.75
Parsley – 1 bunch - $3.75

Total Items: 5

Total Amount: $25.25

We pay $20 per week for our CSA share…some weeks we get a bit more, some a bit less. This week, it was $5.25 over $20.00. Doesn’t sound like a whole lot, but it adds up over the course of the CSA season (so far the total is up to $65 over what we paid). We seem to always get at least one CSA share’s worth of food every year that we didn’t pay for…some years two (so far it’s over three CSA Shares worth), and last year it was almost four weeks worth extra so we’re talking almost $80 worth of food we got gratis…it’s all good! 😊

7.And now, for something completely different…

Why did the German scientists get cows stoned on cannabis? Sounds like the setup for a joke, but it’s true!

https://www.popsci.com/environment/cow-cannibis-milk-hemp/

Events…both near and far

Sunday, November 20^th to Monday, November 28^th

About a dozen other events will be scheduled till November 28^th and you’re more than welcome to attend and to help, so sign up to volunteer and get more info. And if you can’t volunteer, you can always donate to the group so they can continue to do the work they do.

Sunday, November 20^th

1pm to 4pm

Vegan Thanksgiving Bonanza 2022

Municipal Parking Lot #1

Cooper St. N. & Washington Ave

Hempstead

For more info and to volunteer…

https://communitysolidarity.org/vegan-thanksgiving-2022?utm_source=Community+Solidarity+Newsletter&utm_campaign=ac07709d52-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_10_22_05_39_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_775a503f33-ac07709d52-534030597&mc_cid=ac07709d52&mc_eid=2e56bdceae

Join Community Solidarity in the world’s largest vegan Thanksgiving! Check out this link if you want to see what last year’s event looked like and understand why they need the help...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_IPVJSfwl0&ab_channel=JonSTeps

Monday, November 28^th

7pm

Great Books Reading and Discussion Group

Huntington Public Library – Main Auditorium

338 Main Street

Huntington

FREE (but registration is required)

For more info and to register…

631-427-5165 xt. 270

tom_cohn@huntlib.org

Or read about it on page 3 of the library newsletter…

https://myhpl.libnet.info/frontend-images/pdfs/myhpl/2022NovDec_FinalwCropsv2.pdf

Join CSA member Tom Cohn and fellow book lovers for this ongoing (celebrating its 18th year!) book club/discussion group.

Tuesday, November 29th

10am to 11am

Green Street Radio

WBAI-FM/99.5FM

To listen live or check out the archives…

https://www.wbai.org/program.php?program=365

Join Long Islanders Doug & Patti Wood (founders of the Port Washington Farmer’s Market…the only all organic greenmarket in New York State), in their weekly show featuring conversations on health and sustainable living.

7pm – Volunteers

8:15pm – Drive-thru distribution

Huntington Food Share

Community Solidarity

Fairground Ave. & 6^th 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? 😊), 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.ted.com/talks/jon_stepanian_community_solidarity_hunger_relief

Saturday, December 3^rd

4pm to 5pm

North Shore Chamber Choir

First Presbyterian Church

Main St. & South St.

Pt. Jefferson

FREE

For more info:

https://portjeff.com/dickens/

Come hear CSA member Noelle DeLorenzo singing in the North Shore Chamber Choir, selections from Handel’s Messiah, as part of Port Jefferson’s 26^th Annual Charles Dickens Festival.

Sunday, December 4th

7:30pm

North Shore Chamber Choir

St. John the Baptist Church

1488 N. Country Rd.

Wading River

FREE (though there will be a free will offering and raffle tickets are being sold at the door)

For more info:

https://portjeff.com/dickens/

Come hear CSA member Noelle DeLorenzo singing in the North Shore Chamber Choir, selections from Handel’s Messiah.

Tuesday, December 6th

10am to 11am

Green Street Radio

WBAI-FM/99.5FM

To listen live or check out the archives…

https://www.wbai.org/program.php?program=365

7pm – Volunteers

8:15pm – Drive-thru distribution

Huntington Food Share

Community Solidarity

Fairground Ave. & 6^th 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

https://communitysolidarity.org/

Here’s founder Jon Stepanian’s TED Talk (TEDxNYU) on Community Solidarity and Hunger Relief…

https://www.ted.com/talks/jon_stepanian_community_solidarity_hunger_relief

Saturday, December 10^th

8pm

Tis the Season

Northport Middle School

11 Middleville Re.

Northport

$15 (tickets sold at the door)

Come hear CSA member, Noelle DeLorenzo, sing along with the Northport Chorale in this holiday concert, featuring the Northport Community and Jazz Bands.

Sunday, December 11^th

7:30am to 12:30pm

Huntington Winter Market

John J. Flanagan Center (formerly the gym of the YMCA)

423 Park Ave

Huntington

From now till March.

###

Thursday, November 10, 2022

Huntington CSA 2022 Season Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022 Week #24

Happy Autumn!

Please be patient! We will be closing the CSA for approx. 15 minutes from 5:30pm to 5:45pm.

Thanksgiving Schedule…

That week our CSA is on WEDNESDAY, November 23rd
The hours will be from 1:30pm to 7:30pm (if you’re not coming to pick up that day and no one is picking up for you, PLEASE let us know so we can possibly go home early…BUT if you need to pick up at 7:30pm, that’s totally fine…we’re happy to wait for you 😊)

CSA weather report…warm to cool

Important…if you send anyone to the CSA to pick up food for you, please tell them to BRING BAGS!

This email includes…

What you need to know
Food safety and COVID-19…
It’s cold & flu season so when it comes to our CSA…
What to do with Broccoli stems (if you don’t know and/or don’t use them already 😊)…
Vote early and vote often (in this case…you can)
Got non-stick pans? Read this…
Emergency situations at the CSA (hurricanes/electronic communication glitches/medical emergencies, etc.)
Tired of plain old baked Sweet Potatoes? Check this out…
Food to avoid buying pre-made
It’s also Turkey time so here’s some info if you haven’t purchased yours already
And for you non-meat eaters, you don’t get off so easy for Thanksgiving either 😊
Essential things to know about composting…
What you actually got last week
And now, for something completely different…

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! 😊
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 too 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 (if stored properly). Any questions regarding what this would be…ask. 😊

Time – 3:30pm to 7:30pm

Place – Sky Room Café 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 desk with our friendly CSA worker
Read the CSA 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).

Paraphrased wise words by a nutritionist that I read (and don’t remember where I read it or who said it), BUT it’s pretty smart info regarding eating seasonally in our part of the globe…

Spring… is all about detoxing (what we get from the CSA at this time is a lot of green things that are really good to help clean us out from whatever we accumulated during the winter)

Interesting piece about spring greens (out of the 14 listed, we get 12 of them with our CSA…watercress nutritionally and botanically similar to Curly Cress/Peppercress) and detoxing…

http://www.nourishingmeals.com/2012/03/detox-with-spring-greens.html

Summer is all about being hydrated (the popular summer foods are all full of water…Tomatoes, Lettuces, Summer Squashes, etc.)

Week #24

November 10, 2022

Sweet Potatoes – check CSA Wall Chart
Broccoli – 1 bunch*
Peppers, Sweet – check CSA Wall Chart
Scallions – 1 bunch
Mizuna: Red – 1 bunch

Total Items: 5

Herb Share – November 1A

Cilantro AND Dill

*Hint…you might want to soak your Broccoli in salt water for about 5 minutes to see if any worms float to the top. There may not be anything residing in your Broccoli, but I usually will do this for “just in case”. Here’s a few other suggestions…

https://kitchendos.com/how-to-clean-broccoli-getting-rid-of-broccoli-bugs/

2.Food safety and COVID-19…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkvw9lZ3v3I

And read in more detail here…

https://www.seriouseats.com/2020/03/food-safety-and-coronavirus-a-comprehensive-guide.html#covid-on-food

Face coverings are optional
Hand washing upon entering the theater is STRONGLY recommended (it’s always a good idea in preventing COVID as well as the flu and colds)

https://healthmatters.nyp.org/how-does-handwashing-with-soap-kill-the-coronavirus/

We will try and keep the CSA area relatively uncrowded
Enter near the Box Office entrance, and exit thru the door that leads out to the Cinema garden and upper parking lot stairs

3.It’s cold & flu season so when it comes to our CSA…

You need to be home taking care of yourself, and we all don’t want to get whatever it might be that you have. 😊

4.What to do with Broccoli stems (if you don’t know and/or don’t use them already 😊)…

Over the years, I’ve spoke to a number of chefs who think the stems are the best part!

How to use…

https://www.seriouseats.com/how-to-use-leftover-broccoli-stems-stalks

How to use with video recipe (looks very yum 😊)…

https://www.bonappetit.com/story/stop-throwing-out-broccoli-stems

8 totally different ways to use…

https://www.eatingbirdfood.com/broccoli-stems/

7 ways to use them (some repeats from above and at least one totally different)…

https://food.ndtv.com/food-drinks/how-to-eat-broccoli-stalks-7-ways-to-use-them-to-make-your-meals-more-nutritious-1846190

5.Vote early and vote often (in this case…you can! 😊)

Here's the link…

https://www.bestoflongisland.com/voting/#/gallery/?group=436121

And since Green Thumb Farm wasn’t nominated for best Farm Stand (I will try and make that happen next year 😊), I’m voting for Garden of Eve Organic Farm…

https://www.bestoflongisland.com/voting/#/gallery/?group=436126

Under “Local Raw Honey” I voted for Bees Needs because that’s owned by the beekeeper, Mary, for our farm…

https://www.bestoflongisland.com/voting/#/gallery/?group=436126

Are any of you out there nominated? If so, let us know any maybe we’ll vote for you! 😊

6.Got non-stick pans? Before you use them again, read this and then give them a little inspection first…

There’s the general potential toxicity issue, plastic nanoparticles when you’re cooking, and being toxic to the people that make them (oh dear!)…

https://www.insider.com/microplastics-from-nonstick-cookware-may-end-up-in-food-2022-11

Then there’s the infertility and low sperm count issue that increased amounts of PFAS can lead to…

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/oct/05/pfas-sperm-count-mobility-testicle-development?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=e868db20-12d0-4525-9245-9c743233a83f

Culinary reasons to not use non-stick pans…

https://www.seriouseats.com/stop-cooking-every thing-on-nonstick

General safety article with alternatives…

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/is-nonstick-cookware-safe_l_633dd25ce4b04cf8f36985bc

Finally, when they become scratched (and thereby really toxic), they need to be thrown out and we don’t need more trash in our already overly polluted planet…as opposed to well-cared for cast iron/stainless steel cookware that can last for decades.

Personally, I use my enamel-coated cast iron or cast iron skillets for Eggs, and stainless steel cookware for sauteing fish (the two foods mentioned needing to be cooked in non-stick cookware), and have never felt the need for (or bothered using) non-stick anything (and haven’t had problems cleaning them after using them for Eggs/Fish).

HOWEVER, if you want/need to be on a low/no oil diet, Dr. Dean Ornish recommends using non-stick SCANPAN cookware…

https://www.ornish.com/zine/cooking-without-oil/

https://www.scanpan.com/

Though I could see if I was on this eating program I’d be doing a lot of steaming using bamboo baskets (maybe I’d need to get a wok?) or my trusty stainless steel steamer insert and still might not find I needed to use non-stick cookware…and this is a great website anyhoo 😊…

https://thewoksoflife.com/how-to-steam-food/

Eat organic…cook organic! 😊

7.Emergency situations at the CSA (hurricanes/electronic communication glitches/medical emergencies, etc.)

It’s hurricane season till November 30^th (our CSA’s last day is December 8^th)! 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 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! 😊

If there’s an emergency situation in progress, consider offering to help out at the CSA whether you’re asked to or not.

8.Tired of plain old baked Sweet Potatoes? Check this out…

Personally, I never do BUT if you’re looking for a new taste treat featuring Sweet Potatoes, check these out!

SIXTY Recipes from soup to dessert (including one adult beverage 😊) and could be enough choices to get you thru the winter without any repeats…

https://www.delish.com/holiday-recipes/thanksgiving/g622/sweet-potato-recipes/

And if that wasn’t enough and you want to get a little more creative/ambitious, here’s another 47 more from Bon Appetit magazine (between both of these, you could make a different recipe every other day and not be done till May 2023 😊)!

https://www.bonappetit.com/gallery/healthyish-sweet-potato-recipes

9.Foods to avoid buying pre-made

If you prepare and eat our CSA food, you’ll be avoiding some of these right off the bat!

What to avoid and reasons why…

https://www.eatthis.com/worst-premade-grocery-item/

10.It’s also Turkey time so here’s some info if you haven’t purchased yours already

One thing not mentioned here is to buy two smaller Turkeys instead of one large one, and the reason I’d do this is because the heavier Turkeys get, they lose the ability to walk (not a pretty picture…over 20 lbs. is where they start to get crippled)…

http://oboyorganic.com/how-to-choose-the-healthiest-turkey-for-thanksgiving/

Reasons why you might want to buy a Turkey using the above guidelines (or stop eating them altogether)…

https://www.mspca.org/animal_protection/farm-animal-welfare-turkeys/

Closest local farm to get a Turkey (if you can still order them at this point)…

Makinajian Farm – Huntington (pronounced mack-in-AYE-gin…gin like the beverage 😊)

631-368-9320

The Turkeys are not certified organic but they are raised using organic farming methods (in this case, that’s good enough for me 😊).

Tell them suzanne from Green Thumb CSA – Huntington sent you 😊!

11.And for you non-meat eaters, you don’t get off so easy for Thanksgiving either 😊

These are the plant-based food-like ultraprocessed substances vegans are encouraged to eat on Thanksgiving…

Tofurkey…non-organic, ultraprocessed, gluten nightmare

https://tofurky.com/what-we-make/roasts/roast/#flavormenu

Gardein Plant-based Turk’y Roast…non-organic, ultraprocessed, gluten nightmare using Soy protein isolates (not so healthy*)

https://www.gardein.com/chickn-and-turky/classics/turky-roast

Field Roast Sage & Garlic Celebration Roast…yet another non-organic, ultraprocessed, gluten nightmare

https://fieldroast.com/product/sage-garlic-roast/

*Soy Protein Isolates and why to avoid them…

https://www.wellandgood.com/should-you-avoid-soy-protein-isolate/#:~:text=Soy%20isolate%20protein%20contains%20unhealthy,bath%20oil%2C%22%20Slayton%20says.

Why do I call them gluten nightmares? I do not have any issues with gluten as far as I’m aware, but the one time I tried eating Seitan (gluten fake meat) my throat felt like it was closing up! Didn’t need to go to ER but decided this fake meat gluten stuff is not for me, and then have talked to vegan friends and they’ve told me similar stories about themselves or other people they know. I know this is anecdotal, but it sounds problematic to me.

Anything made by the companies Impossible and Quorn are the worst (if you want deets as to why, email and will be happy to send info), and Beyond Organic would be up with the others (though they don’t use gluten as their main thing but still not great).

Why are ultraprocessed foods so bad to eat…

https://www.cnn.com/2022/09/01/health/ultraprocessed-foods-cancer-early-death-wellness#:~:text=Eating%20a%20lot%20of%20ultraprocessed,British%20medical%20journal%20The%20BMJ

But the good news is that there are plenty of whole food plant-based dishes one could make using organic ingredients to have a healthier and delicious vegan holiday…

https://www.forksoverknives.com/menus-collection-vegan-thanksgiving-recipes/

12.Essential things to know about composting

Whether you’re thinking about starting, or have been at it for a while, here’s some food for thought 😊…

https://www.yardbarker.com/lifestyle/articles/20_essential_things_to_know_before_you_start_composting/s1__36137261#slide_1

13.What you actually got last week

Week #23

November 3, 2022

Squash, Winter: Buttercup AND Sweet Dumpling – 1 of each variety - $5.25
Carrots – 1 bunch - $5.25
Broccoli – 1 - $4.25
Broccoli Rabe/Raab – 1 bunch - $5.25
Mizuna – 1 bunch - $3.75

Total Items: 5

Total Amount: $23.75

We pay $20 per week for our CSA share…some weeks we get a bit more, some a bit less. This week, it was $3.75 over $20.00. Doesn’t sound like a whole lot, but it adds up over the course of the CSA season (so far the total is up to $57 over what we paid). We seem to always get at least one CSA share’s worth of food every year that we didn’t pay for…some years two (so far it’s a little over two CSA Shares worth), and last year it was almost four weeks worth extra so we’re talking almost $80 worth of food we got gratis…it’s all good! 😊

14.And now, for something completely different…

Who comes up with these ideas??? And when they do, why doesn’t anyone tell them to please stop! 😊

https://www.boredpanda.com/funny-pics-we-want-plates/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletter

Events…both near and far

Sunday, November 13th

7:30am to 12pm

Huntington Village Farmers Market

228 Main St.

Huntington

From now till November.

Tuesday, November 15th

10am to 11am

Green Street Radio

WBAI-FM/99.5FM

To listen live or check out the archives…

https://www.wbai.org/program.php?program=365

7pm – Volunteers

8:15pm – Drive-thru distribution

Huntington Food Share

Community Solidarity

Fairground Ave. & 6^th 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

https://communitysolidarity.org/

Here’s founder Jon Stepanian’s TED Talk (TEDxNYU) on Community Solidarity and Hunger Relief…

https://www.ted.com/talks/jon_stepanian_community_solidarity_hunger_relief

Saturday, November 19^th

12:30pm to 3:30pm

Wildman Steve Brill

Sunken Meadow State Park

Rt. 908K

Kings Park

Adults - $20/Under 12 years old - $10

For more info and to register…

https://www.wildmanstevebrill.com/tour-calendar

Or call 914-835-2153

If you’ve never gone, do you self a favor and check this out. A great event for the whole family. If you’ve gone before, you know Steve is the biggest cornball on the planet 😊 but he’s BRILLIANT when it comes to knowing his foraged foods. A goal I have is to take at least four of his tours in one year for each of the seasons. If I get to one this year I’ll be thrilled. 😊 And if you’re going…read all his directions and follow all his recommendations! You’ll be glad you did. 😊

Sunday, November 20th

7:30am to 12pm

Huntington Village Farmers Market

228 Main St.

Huntington

From now till November.

Tuesday, November 22nd

10am to 11am

Green Street Radio

WBAI-FM/99.5FM

To listen live or check out the archives…

https://www.wbai.org/program.php?program=365