Mt. Sinai Survey: What Do You Eat?

Just Food's Paula Lukats brought to our attention an online survey on eating habits being conducted by Mt Sinai School of Medicine. Here's what she says:

Just Food works throughout New York City and the region to promote and support CSAs. Rigorous documentation of the impact of the CSA program would allow us to demonstrate the importance of CSAs to funders and policymakers.

The survey is not just for CSA members, it's meant to review a broad spectrum of food habits, but getting CSA members to participate would highlight a particular set of choices.

The survey is taken twice — once now, and again in about a month — and each should take no more than 15 minutes. Here's the link: What do you eat?

Zero-Out Your Scale

I noticed some of our new members fumbling with our scales at the first distribution yesterday, trying to figure out the right way to weigh out their spinach and kale. The trick is to make sure that the scale is set to zero with an empty yellow bowl sitting on top. Then you'll get an accurate read on whatever you put in the bowl.

A lot of the children who come to distribution like to play with the scales, so you should always give yours a check before you start gathering your greens. (The members on duty should also be re-calibrating the scales periodically, but somehow they never stay set.)

Also, be aware that two of the scales have a loose spring and are designed for measurements up to 32 oz., while two others measure out many pounds (5?). And you might as well learn it now: there are 16 ounces in 1 pound.

Week 1

May 25, 2010 Week 1
Full Share from Woodbridge Farm

Great to see you all on the first distribution - sunny spring day was the perfect way to start the season!

First Cheese Coming with Veggies Tuesday

From Farmer/Cheesemaker Dave:

The first cheese will be our "Udderly Delicious," a washed rind cheese that is based on a French Tomme recipe. It's the softer of the two you tried during our last visit. We will then alternate between it and the "Cosmic Cow" which is based on a Gruyer recipe.

We will mix in other cheeses as they become available. We plan to make a camembert and a chaurce which are both classified as bloomy rind soft cheeses. Feta possibly down the road and Yogurt if you think folks wouldn't mind a non-cheese dairy item in the mix.

Announcing 2nd Tuesdays

This year, on the "2nd Tuesday" of each month, the Grand Street CSA will hold a community event during distribution, with the dual purpose of increasing our members' knowledge about cooking, eating, and food AND giving us all an opportunity to hang out and get to know each other. We'll have music, a topic table with helpful CSA-related information ("How to Care for Your Share" is the first one on June 8), cooking demos (we hope), and ... whatever else you can help us with!

Please use the form below to let us know if you can participate.

Update from the Farm

Julia from Woodbridge Farm writes:

The vegetables are looking beautiful, lush and green, and it appears that this spring a lot of leaf crops are exactly 10 days early. This means I am going to send a lot of lettuce and boc choys your way next week. There will also be some herbs and a mild salad greens mix with spinach, as well as kale and swiss chard.

On the dairy side of our operation, things are looking fabulous as well. The pastures are lush, cows and calves are happy and healthy, and we now finally have our official raw milk license.

See you all Tuesday!

Surpise!

We just got this note from Farmers Julia and Dave:

We are actually coming next Tuesday a week earlier then you thought. Last pick up will be the last Tuesday in October.

We will work on a farm update and send to you asap. Looking forward to another bountiful season!!

"Know Your Food!"

So there you have it — first distribution will be Tuesday, May 25!

A few things to remember:

• We'll be at Abrons Arts Center, 466 Grand Street, on the stepped plaza outside the main entrance.
• Come between 5pm and 8pm.
• Bring your own bag.
• Clean out the veggie bin in your fridge.

See you on Tuesday!

Volunteer Schedule Is Set

Our first distribution is just a few weeks away, so it's time to start getting ready. First thing to take care of is scheduling members for distribution shifts, which is almost completely done and can be viewed on our calendar page. To find your shifts, you'll need to scroll through the whole calendar to pick out your name (which will be the first name and last initial with which you signed up for the CSA). You'll get a reminder email a week before your shift, but we'd prefer you stick it in your calendar now so you don't forget.

We've split distribution into three shifts this year, which we hope will be more convenient for more people: Set Up is 4:30-5:45; the Bridge is 5:30-7:00; and Closing is 6:45-8:15.

Our first distribution on June 1 will be staffed entirely by the core group, so we should be able to answer any questions from new members. Though if you have any questions before then, don't hesitate to send us a note.