Our CSA can only survive with volunteer help at the pickup site. We ask that all members of our CSA complete at least 3 volunteer sessions.  We have implemented a new volunteer procedure for 2011, using www.volunteerspot.com. If you have not received an invitation e-mail, please e-mail our volunteer coordinator Jane Stevens at janestevens89@live.com.

When it is time for you to volunteer, please download and print the instruction manual for the shift(s) you’re working so that you have a good idea of the protocols at our generous host site, the Church of the Holy Trinity on 88th Street.

Swing Shift Instructions 2010

Set-up Shift Instructions 2010

Clean-up Shift Instructions 2010

FARM WORK VISIT

Friday, JULY 16, 2010 11-3

LOOKS LIKE WE MAY BE HARVESTING GARLIC BUT WE WILL NEED TO WAIT TO SEE FOR SURE.

It has been brutally hot this week and it looks like the heat may be with us for a while.  Members are invited to come to the farm and give a hand.   Bring your own picnic lunch and plenty of water to drink.   You will be working in the soil so wear shoes and clothes you don’t mind getting dirty and a hat for the sun. [Don't forget sun screen.]

In case of a postponement due to the weather, notification will be posted on the farm website under Upcoming Events. Directions to the farm can be found the website under “EMAIL & DIRECTIONS”.  If anyone has a question, they should just send an e-mail to info@stoneledgefarmny.org.

Travel Tips for Stoneledge Farm Visit
See the Stoneledge Farm web site, www.stoneledgefarmny.org for directions, but also check out the tips below.  Stoneledge is about 120 miles north of the city.  There is not an easy way to get to the farm using public transportation.

Directions:   Allow 2-2 ½ hours to get there.  NYS Thruway to Exit 21, Catskill. NOTE: Stop at the Malden Rest Stop after Exit 20 (before Catskill Exit 21) to take advantage of more spacious rest rooms. After toll booth at Exit 21, go a short distance and make a right hand turn onto Rt. 23 B, not Rt. 23 A (unmarked at right turn, but sign for County road 23 B is short
distance down road). Follow Rt. 23 B for about 3.5 miles to South Cairo.  The South Cairo Country Store & gas station is on your left.  Make immediate first right onto County Route 67 (not marked until you make the right turn).  Go over a small bridge and take first right onto Garcia Lane (about 1/4 mile) and follow Garcia Lane all the way to the end—keep going on the dirt road to the two gray barns. You’re there!

If you use Mapquest, the address is 100 Garcia Lane, Leeds NY 12451  Use this zip code to check weather reports online for Friday.

Things to Do in Catskill: If you want to make a weekend of it, check out http://www.thecatskills.com/ for events and more things to see in Greene County.  You can also go to http://www.iloveny.com/, the I Love NY information site, for more ideas and places to stay.

Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival runs from July 15th through the 18th. This event grows larger and larger every year. For more information on camping, tickets, and artists who will be there, visit
www.greyfoxbluegrass.com or call 1-888-946-8495. There is also a monthly ticket giveaway on Facebook, www.facebook.com/greyfoxbluegrass, or catch their tweets at twitter.com/gfbluegrass. This event is considered a who’s who of bluegrass music and offers a good time to all that attend. Located in Oak Hill approximately 10 minutes from Stoneledge Farm.

This week’s newsletter includes a recipe for Swiss Chard and Beet Saute.

Carnegie Hill Newsletter – Week 5

Dear CSA Member,

Happy Fourth of July.  The sunshine and heat have really made it feel like summer has arrived.  We are slowly moving toward the vegetables that like heat and some of the greens that have filled your bag for the last weeks are now gone.  It is all part of eating with the seasons.

Our farm has been in a pocket of weather that has been hot and dry for weeks now. There have been rain storms all around us, but we have remained dry.   We are moving the irrigation pipes and watering every day.  This is a situation that we would much rather have than the incessant rain of last year.  Tomatoes, Potatoes, Peppers and Eggplant all have drip irrigation so their sensitive leaves do not get wet.  We shout words of encouragement to the tomatoes every time we pass!

This week will be the first of the Rat Tail Radishes.  Not a root crop like the Cherriete Radishes, but a seed pod that is plucked from the plant. You can use them fresh chopped up cold in a vinaigrette or added to a stir fry.  You will be receiving the entire top of the plant.  Pluck the long thin pods from the stalk, they are the edible Rat Tail Radish.  They are a long skinny rat tail looking pod with a delicious radish flavor.

There are also 2 heads of Escarole.  Cooked Escarole with Garlic and White Beans are a favorite, but there are many ways to use Escarole.  If you log onto any of the popular online recipe sites such as Cooks.com and type in “Escarole” you will find many recipes for using Escarole fresh or cooked.

This is the first Fruit Share delivery.  Please only take the fruit if you have reserved and paid for the optional Fruit Share.

Enjoy the sunshine and the vegetables.
Deborah, for everyone at Stoneledge Farm

Full Share Quantities
Early Jersey Wakefield Cabbage – 1 head
Escarole – 2 heads
Red Ace Beets with Greens – 1 bunch – The greens are as good as the beet roots.  Best if cut from the root and used separately.  Two vegetables in one.
Scallions – 1 bunch
Rat Tail Radishes – 1 bunch
Spinach – 1 bunch
Oregano – 1 bunch
Summer Squash – 1 pound

Fruit Share-
1 basket each
Red Currants – organic from our farm
Sweet Cherries – locally grown
Blueberries – locally grown

Red Currants are a slightly tart fruit.  Many members are not familiar with them but they make a delicious sauce or we like to eat them fresh.  To make the sauce, take berries from stem and steam with a little water.  Continue to cook until the berries soften.  Strain or mash and separate the red liquid.  Add sweetener to your liking.  Continue to cook the sweetened currant juice until it gets thickened.  Pour in a container and store in the refrigerator.  It will “set” without the use of pectin.  We use this instead of cranberry sauce.  So good with poultry.