Sunday, June 13, 2010

Some procedural modifications

We will be making some changes to the procedures based on feedback received from our first week. Below are some forthcoming changes; please use the comment section below to add any other requests or insights. Thanks.

  • When the volunteers are not on shift (1 pm - 6 pm), the sign in sheet should be posted above the bags. You must sign in if you pick up your delivery. If you have any troubles, contact Julie per the below.
  • Between 5 pm - 6 pm, the office may be closed and USH's doors locked. Please come back at 6 pm, when a volunteer will be available to help you.
  • If you have any problems, pls email Julie at jdsteinberg@optonline.net, or text my cell at 973.517.2318.

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Day one: Recipes and Suggestions

OK folks, here are this week's recipes.  Take a look and give some a try.  Send in your stories and pictures, and let us know how it goes. 


Lettuce heads

Oregano
Note: Hyssop, a key plant in the bible, is considered by many scholars to be oregano.  For more, see my recent post on Chez Noonie.
Chard 

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

T minus 6

Well, we are getting closer to our first delivery next week.  I am getting very excited to eat well, and am already clearing out the veggie drawers in my fridge. 

A couple of notes:
  • First delivery is Tuesday June 8th.  Pick up is from 12:00 pm - 7:45 pm.
  • Here is what we can expect for the first delivery:
  • 1-2 lettuce heads
  • Sweet onions with their green edible tops
  • Oriental Green bunches (red mustard, toyko bekana, torazorah)
  • Sunflower sprouts
  • Oregano
  • Garlic Greens
  • Chard ??? Farmer Rich is not sure if it will be ready for delivery.  
  • There may be another item or two depending upon his rounds through the fields and what might be ready.
  • Each share must volunteer for at least one shift during the season.  You are more than welcome to volunteer more often.  We currently have 40% of the slots filled; please sign up as soon as possible for a shift. 
  • Procedures for working the shifts are now available on the google group forum.  Please review them, as they provide a lot of good detail on how things should be executed during the volunteer shifts, and what to expect work wise.  
  • We ordered eco grocery bags, which are corn based and break down after 45 days. Rabbi Scheinberg is going to pay for the bags through his discretionary fund. We then need to reimburse him for the funds. He will then take the funds we pay back, and donate them to a charity of his choice. Thanks Rabbi for this thoughtful offer. Each share owes $5. You can either pay cash or check when you see us on Tuesday (leave the money with Laura in the office), or send funds to my paypal account (you can locate it using jdsteinberg@optonline.net).
Finally, here is a little something from Soni Basi, CSA member:
I wanted to recommend a book for people who are new to this (like me) - a book I was introduced to last weekend by a friend:

http://www.amazon.com/Asparagus-Community-Supported-Agriculture-Coalition/dp/061523013X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1275533158&sr=8-1

It was put together by another CSA group, and is available on Amazon for a pretty decent price.  It goes through most of the veggies, alphabetically, gives a little bit of information about it, talks about storage options, and also provides recipes.  It doesn't have all the "exotics", but it does have the major veggies covered.

Another great one is Farmer John's Dirt on Vegetables - that was similar to the above, but I thought it had fewer thoughts on freezing than did the one by the CSA group.  Neither had photos of cooked food :)