Thursday, August 6, 2026

Huntington CSA **2026 Season** Thursday, August 6, 2026 Week #10

 Happy Summer!

 Do any of you out there have children, or grandchildren, who are involved with the Girl Scouts? If so, read #3 and let me know!

 Save the date! Sunday, August 16th, from 2pm to 6pm, we’re having our first CSA Pot Luck Pool Party in Greenlawn (all CSA Members and CSA Share Partners invited…family friendly – bring the kids/grandkids…all dietary lifestyles welcome)!

 CSA weather report

Hot and muggy (mid 80s but will feel like 100)

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 )

 

***Important…if you ever send anyone to the CSA to pick up food for you, please tell them to BRING BAGS (and make sure at least one of them is plastic for the wet foods so you don’t get the dry ones wet which would not be a good thing…will make the foods that don’t want to be wet rot faster)!

 

 This email includes… 

  1. What you need to know
  2. Did you know Long Island is currently having a drought?
  3. Want to see a family friendly feel good movie? This is a MUST see starting THIS FRIDAY!
  4. Food safety and COVID, and colds and the flu, and even food poisoning and cyclosporiasis…
  5. Why Sweetgreen is the best of the “bowl” eateries
  6. Click activism…it doesn’t necessarily take that much to make a difference!
  7. How best to contact the CSA/suzanne
  8. It’s that time of year to nominate local businesses/organizations for The Best of Long Island!
  9. Emergency situations at the CSA (hurricanes/electronic communication glitches/medical emergencies, etc.)
  10. CSA Member Danielle Tarantola is doing a half day yoga retreat in Northport coming up soon!
  11. What you actually got last week!
  12. 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… 

  1. Bring at least TWO bags to the CSA EVERY WEEK for wet and dry food items (and never the twain should meet)
  2. 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! 😊
  3. 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)
  4. Plan on using your food in the order of how long it will reasonably stay fresh.

 

Before you leave the houseBRING 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 😊 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

  1. Check in at the sign-in desk with our friendly CSA worker
  2. 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 😊)! 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. 

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 #10

August 6, 2026 

  1. Cucumbers
  2. Fennel – 1 bunch
  3. Leeks – 1 bunch
  4. Eggplant
  5. Beans – 1 bag
  6. Lettuce – 1 head
  7. Tomatoes, Mini – 1 pt. 

Total Items: 7 

 

2. Did you know Long Island is currently having a drought, and in particular the east end?

 I know with some of the recent rains lately you wouldn’t think there’s a drought going on with rivers of water flowing down New York Ave in Huntington Village, but that’s the problem. We’re not getting consistent levels of rain on multiple days. It’s what I call not raining, but “dumping” for a brief time period and then lots of no rain at all.

 Here’s the map indicating that our neck of the woods is having a Level 3 Watch Drought (it only goes up to 4), but the East End is still in the Severe range…

https://dec.ny.gov/environmental-protection/water/water-quantity/drought/current-drought-conditions

 Here’s another more detailed map…

https://www.drought.gov/states/new-york/county/suffolk

 And here’s info on what a Level 3 is and suggestions of how to help conserve water…

https://dec.ny.gov/sites/default/files/2024-11/droughtwatchwarningfs.pdf

 Here are some more ways suggested to help conserve water…

https://www.scwa.com/conservation/

 You can get money back from Suffolk County for buying these water saving devices…

https://www.scwa.com/waterwise/

 One of the reasons for the drought out east is that so many of the mansions/large residential estates out east use huge amounts of water and have very large irrigation systems to maintain their large and luxurious lawns (70% of summer water usage is due to watering grass).

 Certified organically managed soil retains more water than conventionally farmed land, so at least our farm gets to keep more of it than the non-organic farms out east.

  

3.Want to see a family friendly feel good movie THIS WEEKEND? This is a MUST see!

 I was asked by someone at the Cinema Arts Centre to spread the word about this movie, saw the trailer, and told them that this was like a movie made out of puppies, kittens, bunnies, and anything else you’d find adorable and charming and uplifting…

 Friday, August 7th to Sunday, August 9th

 Cookie Queens

Cinema Arts Centre

423 Park Ave

Huntington

To watch the trailer…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnSQS43Eil8

For more info and to buy tickets…

https://cinemaartscentre.org/shows/cookie-queens

 And if you have any family members involved with Girl Scouts (kids/grandkids/you’re a Scout Leader), get it touch as the Cinema Arts Centre would like to spread the word to Girl Scout troops in the area.

 However, in all honesty, I have a problem (as a former Girl Scout) with the ingredients used for these cookies as in 2026 they should be able to do a LOT better (certified organic would be my preference…surprise, surprise 😊). BUT, there are TWO companies that make Girls Scout Cookies and one uses better ingredients than the other. ABC Bakers…no thank you, Little Brownie Bakers…not ideal but better than ABC Bakers.

 And there are Girl Scouts who aren’t crazy about them either. Some are advocating for changes, and some are going rogue and baking their own and selling those instead…

https://www.nhpr.org/nh-news/2023-03-08/why-a-cookie-recipe-made-this-nh-girl-scout-go-rogue

 Regardless of the cookie controversy 😊, this movie looks like it has a lot to offer in terms of positivity and general good vibes.

  

4.Food safety and COVID, and colds and the flu, food poisoning and even cyclosporiasis…

 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

 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 while the Cinema Arts Centre was closed (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

  1. 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/

  1. Will try and keep the CSA area relatively uncrowded if any future outbreaks of any infectious diseases occur
  2. Enter near the Box Office entrance, and exit thru the door that leads out to the Cinema garden and upper parking lot stairs

 

 5.Why Sweetgreen is the best of the “bowl” eateries

 I could just say because I said so 😊, but I won’t. Last year we had a CSA outing for the location near the Walt Whitman Mall (with other locations in Garden City, Manhasset and Woodbury, as well as all over NYC) and for whatever reason, it ended up being only me and one other person. Nevertheless, we had a nice meal and the other person was guaranteed of winning the raffle!

 They’re losing money because they refuse to lower the quality of the ingredients they’re providing, and as much as Americans talk about wanting to eat better and healthier…they don’t put their money where their mouths are. I understand part of it is the economy, but there are enough people on Long Island who are doing just fine and could be supporting a place like this (and I’m sure they have delivery by Door Dash or some other services). In 2026 they had a loos of 34 million dollars so I have no idea how they’re still staying in business so get it while you can.

 That said, Sweetgreen (which during this cyclospora outbreak I’ve seen various media outlets advising people not to eat here which was I thought was unfair and ridiculous…they don’t even use Iceberg Lettuce at all) has the MOST certified organic and local sources of ingredients of any of the “bowl” eateries, AND they list them on the wall when you go in one of the doors. The fact that they have that sort of accountability and awareness of their food sources told me they were a place I COULD go and eat a takeout salad…which I did 😊.

 They also do collaborations with celebrity chefs like David Chang (creator of the long gone Lucky Peach magazine and owner of the former Momofuku restaurant empire) and at the moment, Alice Waters (who I had the honor of meeting out east one year and yes, I did bow to her and say “we’re not worthy” a la the movie Wayne’s World 😊 and it made her smile). At the moment Sweetgreen’s featuring Alice Water’s Peach and Goat Cheese Salad, and a portion of the proceeds when you purchase this salad goes to her Edible Schoolyard project…

https://www.sweetgreen.com/

Must admit I haven’t tried this yet because I keep ordering my favorites…The Shroomami Bowl (love me some Mushrooms 😊), the Super Green Goddess (with Tofu added for extra protein) that you don’t have to only order online no matter what it says on the website 😊, and my new fave, Chicken Sesame Crunch. BUT will be trying the Alice Waters bowl soon before Peach season is over and gets taken off the menu. Service can be slow, but knowing that in advance at least you can be prepared.

 As a fundraiser, they were selling printed copies of Love Letters to Alice (Waters), but they sold out and don’t think they’ll be printing more but you can read it here (featuring letters from Dan Barber – Blue Hill at Stone Barns where we got our Fusion and Spinach Lettuce this year 😊, Mark Bittman – author of How to Cook Everything and many other fine cookbooks, Jose Andres – founder of World Central Kitchen and SHOULD get a Nobel Peace Prize AND a MacArthur genius grant, Michael Pollan – author of The Omnivore’s Dilemma, Sam Kass - worked with Barack AND Michelle Obama at the White House on food policy and as a chef, Nancy Silverton – baker, cookbook author and founder of La Brea Bakery, and others)…

https://www.sweetgreen.com/alice

 So, that’s what I think and I’m sticking to it! 😊

 

 6.Click activism…it doesn’t necessarily take that much to make a difference! 😊

 1.Click here to support standardizing and clarifying food expiration date labels…

https://act.cspi.org/a/support-standardizing-and-clarifying-food-expiration-date-labels?contactdata=QeRFIAL58hxDUyXul+zaUT0DrP%2fw1m3zUpLxmBygGk3Xtj26fmKBJek64vIlI8458412pWqiRwB0C4MxmTbl2GfDli95BHVf2+5ixvsqQNIRcL0Bp3BdeKtE36Ne9pxq7xMBFW6bVC8WvI9YNPdhQrGdVNc5lEjJ33N888zvUlAXP39o0vI2q8%2fze1o96Yl2afBgvn4PptMiw1w7ku7FXwu0rMay4hwpBo3Fet+IKQn2hgcLJsMAha4t86aH3ezh&sourceid=1130178&utm_campaign=stirringthepot_aug&utm_medium=email&utm_source=ea

 

2.Tell Congress to oppose the FRESH Act and any other attempt to preempt state food safety laws…

https://act.cspi.org/a/tell-congress-oppose-the-fresh-act?contactdata=QeRFIAL58hxDUyXul+zaUT0DrP%2fw1m3zUpLxmBygGk3Xtj26fmKBJek64vIlI8458412pWqiRwB0C4MxmTbl2GfDli95BHVf2+5ixvsqQNIRcL0Bp3BdeKtE36Ne9pxq7xMBFW6bVC8WvI9YNPdhQrGdVNc5lEjJ33N888zvUlAXP39o0vI2q8%2fze1o96Yl2afBgvn4PptMiw1w7ku7FXwu0rMay4hwpBo3Fet+IKQn2hgcLJsMAha4t86aH3ezh&sourceid=1130178&utm_campaign=stirringthepot_aug&utm_medium=email&utm_source=ea

 

3.Tell Congress to vote NO on the  toxic Farm Bill…

https://mstr.app/0ab6fc45-79a2-42b5-8236-0a43131294a2

  

7. How best to contact the CSA/suzanne

 First thing you might think is…I don’t need or want this info.

 I get that BUT, there might come a time when you wish you knew…for example…

 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

  1. You’re scheduled to help out at the CSA and something comes up at the last minute and you need to cancel
  2. 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

 

You get the idea 😊.

 

I am not a 24/7 connected person, have no desire to be, and try and keep my CSA and personal communications separate, so…

 

  1. Phone…you can leave a message on my landline (yes, they do still exist 😊) 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
  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. 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).
  5. 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 😊) and you can put in the notes the details of when to call, what days to call, etc.

 

  8.It’s that time of year to nominate local businesses/organizations for The Best of Long Island!

 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…

https://www.bestoflongisland.com/nominations/?utm_source=bestof_li&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=winners&utm_term=Best%20of%20Long%20Island

 

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/

 

 9.Emergency situations at the CSA (hurricanes/electronic communication glitches/medical emergencies…on my part, etc.) 

  1. 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).

 

  1. 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.

 

  1. 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! 😊

 

  1. 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 coming up soon!

 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 āsana 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!

 

 11.What you actually got last week!

 

Week #9

July 30, 2026 

  1. Cucumbers: Kirby AND Regular – 2 (Kirby) + 1 (Regular) - $2.00
  2. Celery – 1 bunch - $6.00
  3. Squash, Summer: Gold, Kousa, Yellow, Zucchini - 3 pc. total - $1.50
  4. Beans, Snap: Yellow/Wax – 1 bag (1/2 lb.) - $4.50
  5. Peppers, Sweet: Green and Purple -1 bag (1 ½ lb.) - $5.75
  6. Lettuce: Boston, Red – 1 head - $4.50
  7. Cilantro* – 1 bunch - $4.50 

Total Items: 7

Total Amount: $28.75

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 $5.75 over $23.00. I keep track and it adds up over the course of our CSA season and so far the total is $29.75. We seem to always get at least one CSA share’s worth of food every year that we didn’t pay for (which we now are on our way to getting TWO weeks’ worth of extra food 😊)…some years two. Last year it was five and a half week’s 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! 😊

 

*Unless you have an allergy or food sensitivity to Cilantro, there actually are ways of preparing it so it doesn’t taste like soap if you happen to be one of the 3 to 21% of the population who has the gene that makes it taste like that!

 

If you read about the many health benefits of Cilantro, you might want to learn how to sneak it into your meals, but without the soapy flavor!

https://draxe.com/nutrition/cilantro-benefits/

 

You can hide or reduce the soapy taste of cilantro by cooking it, mixing it with strong fresh herbs, or adding heavy acids and fats…

Cooking and Preparation

  • Cook it thoroughly: SautΓ©ing, roasting, or simmering breaks down the aldehydes—the chemical compounds responsible for the soap flavor.
  • Blanch the leaves: Plunging raw cilantro into boiling water briefly and squeezing it dry helps strip away the surface compounds before adding it to cold dishes like sauces or salsas.
  •  

Flavor Pairing and Masking

  • Mix with mint: Combining cilantro in a 50/50 ratio with chopped fresh mint helps the antiseptic and punchy quality of the mint cut through the soapiness.
  • Drench in acid and fat: Pair the herb with heavy doses of lime juice, lemon juice, olive oil, avocado, or coconut milk, which help mask the unpleasant aldehyde perception.

 

If you want to know why it tastes like soap to you, or to some people, check this out…

https://www.seriouseats.com/cilantro-taste-explained-11932655

 

 12.And now, for something completely different

 

A few of these are food related and some of the others are just amazing, so enjoy! 😊

https://www.boredpanda.com/something-i-made-art-crafts/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletter_Bored_Panda_Weekly_Automation&utm_term=2026-04-05&lctg=6cd6f6f3-344e-4278-9d78-9a12c7114e60

 Events…both near and far

 

*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

 

 

Friday, August 7th to Sunday, August 9th

 

Cookie Queens

Cinema Arts Centre

423 Park Ave

Huntington

To watch the trailer…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnSQS43Eil8

For more info and to buy tickets…

https://cinemaartscentre.org/shows/cookie-queens

 

I was asked by someone at the Cinema Arts Centre to spread the word about this movie, saw the trailer, and told them that this was like a movie made out of puppies, kittens, bunnies, and anything else you’d find adorable and charming and uplifting. If you know any Girl Scouts, or ever were one (I was 😊), this is a must see!

 

 

Tuesday, August 11th

 

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? 😊), 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

 

 

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 āsana 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? 😊), 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? 😊), 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 😊)

To register…

https://summit.foodrevolution.org/a-g/?wickedsource=google&wickedid=Cj0KCQjwm8bTBhDWARIsAC9Hi8lkt3cypTqHzzbkn7ef8WMztM4n5-2xAbmScZFN_bKptHbo7G1gNGIaAm8hEALw_wcB&wickedid=&wcid=24087592511&wv=4&utm_source=google-ads&utm_campaign=24087592511&utm_medium=&utm_content=&utm_term=&gad_source=2&gad_campaignid=24092447695&gclid=Cj0KCQjwm8bTBhDWARIsAC9Hi8lkt3cypTqHzzbkn7ef8WMztM4n5-2xAbmScZFN_bKptHbo7G1gNGIaAm8hEALw_wcB

 

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 😊, 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 😊), 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)

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