Calling All Volunteers! Sign Up For LIC CSA Distribution Volunteer Shifts

Dear Members of the Long Island City CSA,

During each season, we require all members to volunteer four hours of their time (per household) as part of the CSA. By volunteering, you provide necessary help to run the CSA and get to know your fellow members.

Your hours can be completed by taking part in a two-hour shift at Hour Children, helping to distribute the weekly share. Find our Volunteer Schedule online and sign-up for the dates and times that work for you at Volunteer Spot. Pick any two available shifts and fulfill your requirement for the season!

The distribution begins on June 6th and runs through November 7th. A hard copy sign-up sheet will also be provided at distribution.

Volunteers are essential during distribution, but there are other volunteer opportunities as well. If you have any questions, suggestions and/or interest in volunteering beyond distribution, please e-mail our Volunteer Coordinator, Victoria Liu at longislandcitycsa [at] gmail [dot] com. 

Thanks for being a part of our community!

Join Us Tomorrow at the Socrates Sculpture Park’s Annual Kite Flight

Kite Making Workshop at Socrates Sculpture Park – FREE Saturday, May 19, 2012 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM (Rain or Shine) Socrates and The Noguchi Museum present the annual kite event. Using recycled materials, children and their families draw inspiration from the Park’s fantastic view of the Manhattan skyline to build and decorate kites, and then fly them in the Park. Abby Burke and the LIC CSA will be there manning a table to collect forms in-person and to do outreach. There will also be coloring materials for children!

New This Season! Canning Share from the Farm at Millers Crossing

The Farm at Millers Crossing is pleased to announce a NEW canning/freezing share for 2012, as well as a pre-order for these same items. This share and pre-order allows the Farm to plan accordingly for your canning and freezing needs, minimizing un-harvested produce and shortages.

Included in the share are cucumbers, kale, basil, green beans, and tomatoes. As these vegetables will all ripen at different times, under unknown circumstances we can only give an educated guess of their approximate delivery. But here are some date ranges;

Cucumbers – end of June
Kale -September-October
Basil – July-September
Green beans – August
Tomatoes – mid-late August-September

When the crops are approaching maturity, we will give you a 1-2 week notice in a special section of the weekly newsletter. All weights are approximate.

Below is the canning share for $100.
1—1 1/9 kale 12 bunches ($18)
1—1/2 bushel (10 lbs.) Green Beans ($20)
1—20# Paste tomatoes ($25)
1—1/2 bushel (12 bunches) Basil ($18)
1—1/2 bushel (20 lbs.) Pickling cucumbers ($20)

The below items will be offered as a la carte pre-purchases, but must be ordered pre-season!! All weights are approximate.
1/2 bushel (10 lbs.) Green Beans $24.
20# Paste tomatoes $30.
1/2 bushel (12 bunches) Basil $21.50
1/2 bushel (20 lbs.) Pickling cucumbers $24.
1 1/9 bushel (12 bunches) Kale $21.

To place an order, use this FORM and mail directly to Katie and Chris at the Farm at Miller’s Crossing.

Meet & Greet with Farmer Chris – Save the Date!

“Hunger Hits Home”- A New Documentary About Childhood Hunger In America

The Food Network is airing a new documentary, “Hunger Hits Home” on Saturday, April 14, at 8/7C PM (check your local listings for channels).  The documentary, takes a first-hand look at the crisis of childhood hunger in America through the eyes of the parents, children, anti-hunger activists, educators and politicians on the frontlines of the battle.  The film is part of an ongoing partnership between Food Network and Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry Campaign to end childhood hunger in America by 2015.

In addition to childhood hunger in America being a huge issue that impacts all members of the community, “Hunger Hits Home” features interviews with Joel Berg, Executive Director of The New York City Coalition Against Hunger (NYCCAH).  The Long Island City CSA (LIC CSA) and the New York City Coalition Against Hunger partner together to bring fresh, local food from Farm at Miller’s Crossing in Hudson, NY to the Long Island City community.  We are a mixed income CSA, ensuring access to good food for people of all income levels.

Because of our partnership and commitment, the LIC CSA will be featured in parts of the documentary, including the 2011 Farm Trip to the Farm at Miller’s Crossing and a in-season distribution.  We ask that all members of the LIC CSA share this important issue and eye-opening documentary with your friends and family and tune in to watch it on April 14th.

ANNOUNCING: The 2012 LIC CSA Season!

Hello Members and Soon-to-Be Members,

It’s our favorite time of the season – the first part when we focus on building our community! That means accepting applications for all our Veggie loving/ CSA sponsoring neighbors in the LIC and Astoria areas (and say, Manhattan, like your friendly website updater).

Below are the applications for the 2012 season to be filled out and mailed in with your payment(s).

2012 Veggie Share Application

2012 Extra Items Agreement

Please note that in order to purchase a fruit share and/or extra items, you must buy a vegetable share.

Distribution will take place between June 6 through November 7 on Wednesdays, between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. at Hour Children located at 36‐49 11th Street, Long Island City.

Any questions please leave a comment below, or email us at longislandcitycsa [at] gmail [dot] com.

We look forward to seeing returning members and new members on the first week of distribution!

Calling Core Group Volunteers for the 2012 Season!

The LIC CSA Core Group is busy with pre-season preparations. We will be sending out member applications/extra-shares forms by mid-March.

The LIC CSA is volunteer run and we need YOUR help!!  The core group is responsible for all aspects of running the CSA distribution site. We welcome new core group members who have 4-10 hours to donate a month to working with our farms and contributing their talents to help run the CSA. The LIC CSA is looking for a Volunteer Coordinator, Social Media, Events, and Outreach Coordinator.  If you are passionate about farm fresh produce, community building, and food issues we encourage you to contact Abigael Burke longislandcitycsa [at] gmail [dot] com.

Your support is much appreciated. Keep and eye out for 2012 applications coming soon and feel free to contact us if you have any questions. Distribution will run on Wednesdays from 5-8pm at Hour Children Community Outreach and Food Pantry.

Can’t wait for the spring!

Abigael Burke
Core Group/Co-Site Coordinator

Winter Distribution Toiletries and Paper Goods Drive

Please join us in donating toiletries and paper goods to Hour Children during the 2011-2012  winter season.  

 

 

Veggie Share, Week 22 – LAST WEEK!

Today, members will be receiving the following goodies:

1 lb. sweet potatoes
1 butternut
1 lb. carrots
1 red cabbage
2 garlic
1 head lettuce
2 broccoli
1 lb. cauliflower
1 baby bok choy
1 bunch green kale

View this week’s recipes from the farm chef, Carol Hargis and read the letter from Farmer Chris and his family.

If you want to read/print out the newsletter as a newsletter in print, you can!

Enjoy!

Veggie Share, Week 21

Today, members will be receiving the following goodies:

-1 lb. fingerling potatoes (rusiian banana)
-2 heads broccoli
-1 bunch turnips
-1 head lettuce
-2 peppers
-1 Butternut
-1 bunch collards
-1 lb. onions
-1 bunch arugula

View this week’s recipes from the farm chef, Carol Hargis and read the letter from Farmer Chris and his family.

If you want to read/print out the newsletter as a newsletter in print, you can!

Enjoy!