The Village Fishmonger Fish Share option was a success this fall and we are excited to bring another round of fresh fish to the CSA! Sign Up Now for a simple, 5-delivery, Winter Fish Share (prorated shares are available). The deliveries will be the same as our winter vegetable delivery dates.
Fish Shares are open to everyone, both CSA members and non-CSA members. You can choose a Small Share (1lb.) for $75 or a Medium Share (2 lbs.) for $150. Low-mercury, allergy-sensitive, and Kosher options are available too for those with dietary needs. You can also add extra seafood items such as scallops, oysters, and lobster to any or all of your deliveries!
Sign-up anytime, you will be prorated for the remaining weeks in the season. Right now, extra seafood items are only available to those with subscriptions.
IMPORTANT, when you Sign Up, make sure to choose “CSA Location Members” under “payment plan,” which will give you the 5-week winter plan.
When you choose a payment option, it lists “weekly” or “bi-weekly” but ignore that—both choices are set for the same amount and both of them get you the 5-delivery plan. Just pick one.
If you had a fall fish share, your account will automatically go on hold until you sign up for the winter share. Do not be alarmed- they will take it off hold after they process your payment.
PLEASE NOTE
If you had a fall fish share and want to switch from a small to medium share or vice-versa, you need to email them and they will switch it for you- otherwise, it defaults to what you had last time. Email them at: info@villagefishmongernyc.com
If you miss the first pickup date, you can still join for the remaining four dates. And if you want the share but will be on vacation on one of those 5 dates, you can email them and they’ll credit you towards the next round of fish in the summer!
DELIVERY INFORMATION
LOCATION: Sunnyside Community Services (43-31 39th Street, Sunnyside)
Winter vegetable deliveries, including Fish Shares and Winter Sun deliveries:
DATES: December 19, January 9, January 30, February 20, March 13 (always Thursdays)
TIME: 5pm – 8pm
Golden Earthworm Share*
Beets – 2 lobs
Rutabaga – 2 lbs
Watermelon Radish – 2.5 lbs
Sweet Potatoes – 2 lb.
White Potatoes – 2 lbs
Carrots – 5 lb.
Fennel – 2 pieces
*Contents of the share may fluctuate over the week.
Golden Earthworm Cider Share
Golden Earthworm Apple Share
Mixed apples (Cameo & Fuji) 1 bag
Winter Sun Share
Sweet Corn
Green Beans
Peppers
Kale
Blueberries
Tomato Puree
Plus an extra frozen item (read news below)
Winter Sun Share a la carte options
Fishmongers Fish Share
A few friendly reminders & updates:
Welcome to Winter Shares!
Thanks for joining us! We have a lot of new food offerings this season, and as we roll them out, we hope you’ll check out the “extras” that can be delivered with (or without) you vegetable shares. Be sure to join our Yahoo group because this is how we send important info and updates! Contact Us anytime with questions, comments or suggestions!
Happy Holidays from Sunnyside CSA!
NEWS From Winter Sun Farms
A Note from our Winter Sun farmers: Dear Sunnyside CSA members, We are sorry to say that this month has been a hard one for pea shoots. The farm that we get our pea shoots from, Little Seed Gardens in Chatham, NY, was hit particularly hard with a cold snap and they lost their pea shoots.
The plan as it stands is to have pea shoots again in January and in subsequent months. In the meantime, you will get an extra frozen item in your December share in place of the pea shoots.
We know how beloved the pea shoots are among our members, so we are sad to bring you to this news.
In our continuing effort to bring good food to Sunnyside all year round, there are more things you can order, even if you missed out on the Winter Vegetable Shares. You don’t have to be a CSA member to enjoy these new food options! Just sign-up, order and pick-up your food on our delivery dates! Check it out:
Sign up for a simple, 5-delivery, Winter Fish Share. The deliveries will be the same as our winter vegetable delivery dates. You can also add extra seafood items such as scallops, oysters, and lobster to any or all of your deliveries!
You can choose a small share (1lb.) for $75 or a medium share (2 lbs.) for $150 with optional add-ons and a la carte items like shellfish. Low-mercury, allergy-sensitive, and Kosher options are available too for those with dietary needs.
Read more about the Fish Share of at Village Fishmonger. They deal with payment, so please note the following tips:
IMPORTANT, when you Sign Up, make sure to choose “CSA Location Members” under “payment plan,” which will give you the 5-week winter plan.
When you choose a payment option, it lists “weekly” or “bi-weekly” but ignore that—both choices are set for the same amount and both of them get you the 5-delivery plan. Just pick one.
If you miss the first pickup date, you can still join for the remaining four dates. And if you want the share but will be on vacation on one of those 5 dates, you can email them and they’ll credit you towards the next round of fish in the summer!
You can now order a la carte items from Winter Sun and pick them up on any (or all!) of our winter vegetable delivery dates. Choose from local meats, frozen veggies, maple syrup, applesauce, etc. Also available; goat cheese, goat fudge and goat soap. Read more and learn how to set up an account.
Winter deliveries of Lewis Waite items are on TUESDAYS. Chose from a huge variety of local goodies including, meat, eggs, beans, cheese, bread, and so much more! Please check the order deadlines on the Lewis Waite site. The variety of food available through here will keep your supermarket shopping at a minimum! If you’ve never done so, it’s easy- just follow these instructions.
LOCATION: Sunnyside Community Services (43-31 39th Street, Sunnyside)
Winter vegetable deliveries, including Fish Shares and Winter Sun deliveries:
DATES: December 19, January 9, January 30, February 20, March 13 (always Thursdays)
TIME: 5pm – 8pm
Lewis Waite deliveries:
DATES: December 17, January 7, February 4, March 11, April 8, May 13 (Tuesdays in the Winter)
TIME: 6pm – 8pm
Golden Earthworm Veggie Share*
Savoy Cabbage – 1 head
Russet or White Potatoes – 2 lbs.
Watermelon Radish – 3 lb bag
Broccoli – 3 heads
Carrots – 1 bunch or 1.5 lb bag
Toscano Kale – 1 bunch
Romanesco – 1 head
Mache – .25 lb bag
*Contents of the share may fluctuate over the week.
Winter Share Deliveries START December 19th!
TIME: 5:00-8:00 pm *We cannot accommodate early or late pick-ups. No exceptions.*
LOCATION: Sunnyside Community Services (43-31 39th St., Sunnyside, NY)
DATES:
December 19
January 9
January 30
February 20
March 13
NEWS FROM THE FARM
Happy Holidays! The final delivery of the season is finally here. Now it’s time to put the farm to bed and enjoy a restful off-season. As the farmer’s wife, I like to joke that my husband is married to both me and the farm… and it certainly feels like that during the growing season! I look forward to this time of year when we can spend quality time together as a family. Our two little ones are growing up so quickly and Galen has really taken to his role as “Little Farmer” this season, driving the tractor (with his daddy), washing veggies and even packing the CSA boxes! (He loves it and begs to stay at the farm well past dinnertime when we drag him home…) Zinn is just starting to take his first steps, so I’m sure he’ll be tottering around in the warm greenhouses this winter.
CONNECT WITH YOUR FARM
Golden Earthworm welcomes you to explore their website to learn more about our farm and the wonderful things you can do with your weekly share.
If you have questions or concerns about your share, please do not hesitate to contact the farm. That is one of the benefits of knowing where your food comes from!
No delivery next week due to the holiday. December 5th will be our final delivery of the 2013 Summer/Autumn season.
Winter Shares are SOLD OUT
We’re already excited to bring you winter veggies! The first Winter pick-up will be December 19th, from 5-8pm at Sunnyside Community Services (43-31 39th St., Sunnyside, NY). Questions? Contact us!
Fish Shares
Now available!! Fresh seafood, delivered weekly with your CSA bounty via Brooklyn-based Village Fishmonger! Low-mercury options are available. Sign-up today!
Lewis Waite Farm CSA Extras
Order your next Lewis Waite products for delivery on Tuesday, December 10th. IMPORTANT NOTE: Winter deliveries are on Tuesdays (NOT Thursdays). Place your order now!
CONNECT WITH YOUR FARM
Golden Earthworm welcomes you to explore their website to learn more about our farm and the wonderful things you can do with your weekly share.
If you have questions or concerns about your share, please do not hesitate to contact the farm. That is one of the benefits of knowing where your food comes from!
Winter Shares SIGN-UP NOW!DEADLINE Nov 18th
There are two kinds of Winter Vegetable Shares: 1. Golden Earthworm’s root vegetable share, and 2. Winter Sun Farms‘ frozen local vegetable share. The two shares complement each other well, so feel free to sign-up for both! In addition to veggies, you can also purchase a Cider Share and/or an Apple Share from Briermere Farms. Sign-Up DEADLINE is Monday, November 18th! Sign-Up now!
NEWS FROM THE FARM
Snow! It may be beautiful, but it’s not nice weather for working in fields. As the season comes to a close, it’s less comfortable for our workers picking and washing the veg in these cold temperatures. They deserve a big thank you for their hard work all season, and especially now as they work through the snow and wind and freezing wash waters.
CONNECT WITH YOUR FARM
Golden Earthworm welcomes you to explore their website to learn more about our farm and the wonderful things you can do with your weekly share.
If you have questions or concerns about your share, please do not hesitate to contact the farm. That is one of the benefits of knowing where your food comes from!
We are posting this week’s Lewis Waite Farm CSA Extras newsletter so you can learn all about and ORDER your holiday turkey via Sunnyside CSA. As you may know, we work with Lewis Waite to provide you with fresh local products beyond veggies and LWF is proud to offer you locally raised, all natural turkeys again this year!
ORDER DEADLINES
Stonewood Farm
All Natural Turkeys DEADLINE: Thursday, November 14th
Coldwater Creek Farm & Homestead Farm
Pastured Turkeys DEADLINE: Monday, November 18th
In this Newsletter
-Thanksgiving Turkeys + FAQs
-How to Defrost Your Turkey
Thanksgiving Turkeys
Stonewood Farm: $4.39/lb Stonewood Farm specializes in premium quality turkeys with superior flavor and juiciness that can only be grown in Vermont. They grow their turkeys naturally; no antibiotics or growth hormones. Plenty of fresh Vermont air, cool nights, good feed and tender loving care on their family farm make for a wonderfully juicy turkey. They raise their turkeys for your family without any artificial ingredients inside large, open-sided barns. They are processed on the farm in their USDA facility without any preservatives. Paul Stone was the Commissioner of Agriculture for the State of Vermont and now his son Peter is taking a leading role on the farm. Sample the flavor by ordering All Natural turkey parts before the big day!
Coldwater Creek Farm and Homestead Farm Turkeys: $6.39/lb
Both Farms allow the turkeys free-range to enjoy life in the pastures. Movable fencing allows them to bring their turkeys into areas that have a high insect or weed population. Many people enjoy the gregarious personalities of our turkeys. As with our other poultry, the turkeys receive antibiotic-free and hormone-free feed containing no animal byproducts. They thrive in their natural environment producing a turkey that they have been told “is the best we’ve ever had.” They will be processed by Garden of Spices Farm in Easton, NY. We are never sure of the quantities or weights until they arrive (they guess 13-26 lbs), so please give us an indication of your desired size when you order. We have a limited supply, so get your order in early.
FAQs
How much do I need? We recommend 1 lb. per person for the meal, but don’t forget to plan for turkey sandwiches, turkey tetrazzini, and turkey soup (usually 4-5 lbs)! Larger birds have a higher meat to bone ratio, so you may need slightly more per person for small birds than larger ones.
When will it come to Sunnyside CSA? It will be there on Thursday, November 21st
What other local products can I get? Our entire list of family farm and artisan products is available to help keep your holiday meal locally sourced. Putney Mountain Sparkling Ciders, lots of local cheeses, cranberry sauce, grains and beans for side dishes, bread, etc. After you’ve added your turkey to the shopping cart, you can keep shopping, or check out and return at a later date to EDIT your existing Turkey order. Be sure to pay attention to the DELIVERY DATE of your order.
Make sure you get an email confirmation of your order! If you didn’t get one, we didn’t get your order either!
Questions? Call: 518-692-3120 or Send an email
“The Big Thaw”
Turkeys must be kept at a safe temperature during “the big thaw.” While frozen, a turkey is safe indefinitely. However, as soon as it begins to thaw, any bacteria that may have been present before freezing can begin to grow again.
A package of frozen meat or poultry left thawing on the counter more than 2 hours is not at a safe temperature. Even though the center of the package may still be frozen, the outer layer of the food is in the “Danger Zone” between 40 and 140 °F — at a temperature where foodborne bacteria multiply rapidly.
There are two safe ways to thaw food: in the refrigerator and in cold water – we do not recommend Microwaves.
Safe Methods for Thawing
Frozen turkeys should not be left on the back porch, in the car trunk, in the basement, or any place else where temperatures cannot be constantly monitored. There is a danger that the outside will warm to above 40 while the interior is still frozen.
Refrigerator Thawing
When thawing a turkey in the refrigerator:
Plan ahead: allow approximately 24 hours for each 4 to 5 pounds in a refrigerator set at 40 °F or below.
Place the turkey in a container to prevent the juices from dripping on other foods.
Refrigerator Thawing Times
Whole turkey:
4 to 12 pounds — 1 to 3 days
12 to 16 pounds — 3 to 4 days
16 to 20 pounds — 4 to 5 days
20 to 24 pounds —5 to 6 days
A thawed turkey can remain in the refrigerator for 1 or 2 days before cooking. Foods thawed in the refrigerator can be refrozen without cooking but there may be some loss of quality.
Cold Water Thawing
Allow about 30 minutes per pound.
First be sure the turkey is in a leak-proof plastic bag to prevent cross-contamination and to prevent the turkey from absorbing water, resulting in a watery product.
Submerge the wrapped turkey in cold tap water. Change the water every 30 minutes until the turkey is thawed. Cook the turkey immediately after it is thawed.
Cold Water Thawing Times
4 to 12 pounds — 2 to 6 hours
12 to 16 pounds — 6 to 8 hours
16 to 20 pounds — 8 to 10 hours
20 to 24 pounds — 10 to 12 hours
A turkey thawed by the cold water method should be cooked immediately. After cooking, meat from the turkey can be refrozen.
Golden Earthworm Veggie Share*
Kale- Toscano or Red – 1 bunch
Lettuce Mix – 1 bag
Sweet Potatoes – 1 quart
Baby Bok Choi – 1 bunch
Broccoli – 2 heads
Cauliflower – 1 head
Bell Peppers – 4 pieces
Poblano Chile – 1 piece
*Contents of the share may fluctuate over the week.
Fruit Share
1 bag mixed Apples (Granny Smith & Red Delicious)
There are two kinds of Winter Vegetable Shares: 1. Golden Earthworm’s root vegetable share, and 2. Winter Sun Farms‘ frozen local vegetable share. The two shares complement each other well, so feel free to sign-up for both! In addition to veggies, you can also purchase a Cider Share and/or an Apple Share from Briermere Farms. Sign-Up DEADLINE is Monday, November 18th! Sign-Up now!
Fish Shares
Now available!! Fresh seafood, delivered weekly with your CSA bounty via Brooklyn-based Village Fishmonger! Low-mercury options are available. Sign-up today! Questions, Contact Us!
NEWS FROM THE FARM
Did I promise the end of the peppers last week? I think I did, but the pepper plants had other plans. So here, fully into the first week of November, we present you with 4 more peppers! It’s amazing, really. And more of the wonderful brassicas you all loved last week… and a nice quart of sweet potatoes for roasting in your oven on a cold night.
We expected a freeze here on Sunday night, but were pleasantly surprised when it didn’t happen! We lose our tender crops in a freeze, so luckily we may have a little more time to harvest them before another freeze warning comes our way. (Our cold weather crops can be harvested through mid-December despite freezing temps!)
CONNECT WITH YOUR FARM
Golden Earthworm welcomes you to explore their website to learn more about our farm and the wonderful things you can do with your weekly share.
If you have questions or concerns about your share, please do not hesitate to contact the farm. That is one of the benefits of knowing where your food comes from!
EVERYTHING YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT FUNDRAISING (BUT WERE AFRAID TO ASK)
As you’ve probably noticed, we’ve been doing a lot of fundraising lately via raffles and bake sales—and you’re probably wondering what’s up. In an effort to stay transparent with everyone, here’s what’s up:
In order to offer subsidized summer and winter vegetable shares at half-cost, we need $5110 every year. $2192 comes from the farm in the form of free shares, and $675 comes from our admin fees, leaving us with $2243 to raise every year, in order to provide 15 families with this great deal. That’s where individual member donations and raffles come in.
So far, we’ve raised $1891 that way, including this past week’s Bake Sale (which brought in $150- a big THANK YOU to all our bakers!) We have a couple of more raffles before the season is over, such as our current pasture-raised Thanksgiving turkey raffle, so please help us reach our financial goal for the year by buying some tickets next week!
And if we happen to go over, that will mean being able to expand our subsidized share program to more families, and/or with more food plans. How would you like a subsidized Fruit Share? Or Fish Share? With enough funds, we can make it happen… and here’s where we have to send a big SPECIAL THANK YOU to Jay Radner and the Woodside-Sunnyside Runners, who raised $300 last week just by running! This money is earmarked for expanding our subsidy program in 2014, and will go 100% towards families in the area who want to eat well but can’t afford the high costs of organic food. If you’ve got a creative way to raise some bucks for subsidized food, don’t hesitate to Contact Us. Your money couldn’t go to a more direct and useful cause.
Sign-ups are now CLOSED for Winter 2013-14 Vegetable Shares
There are two kinds of Winter Vegetable Shares: 1. Golden Earthworm’s root vegetable share, and 2. Winter Sun Farms‘ frozen local vegetable share. The two shares complement each other well, so feel free to sign-up for both! In addition to veggies, you can also purchase a Cider Share and/or an Apple Share from Briermere Farms. We will continue to offer fish shares and CSA extras through the winter (details on those coming soon).
How to sign-up for Winter Vegetable Shares:
Online Sign-Up: The easiest way to sign-up for a Winter Share is via the web form link below and pay with PayPal. You can also sign up via web form then pay by sending a check to our P.O. box.
OR
In-Person Sign-Up: There will be ONE in-person sign-up on November 7th, from 6-7pm, during regular CSA pickup. If you plan to sign up in-person, please know the details of the shares you are purchasing and *bring your checkbook.*
If you want a winter share, but can’t sign up online and can’t attend our in-person sign-up, please Contact Us ASAP to make other arrangements.
Note: All payments must be received by Monday, November 18th
Read carefully: VOLUNTEERING
Everyone is required to sign-up for a volunteer shift. We’ve amended the Volunteer Agreement in hopes of curtailing ‘no-show’ volunteer incidents. Please read it carefully before signing off. For most folks, nothing will change, other than we need all Winter Share participants to have signed up for a shift by January 15th, 2014 (by then, 2 of the 5 deliveries will have already passed, so that gives you plenty of time!) Questions? Please Contact Us.
Golden Earthworm (Vegetable share) SOLD OUT but you can join the wait list
$150 for five deliveries of mixed root crops and greens (15-18 lbs per delivery). Winter share vegetables may include: sweet potatoes, carrots, beets, potatoes, rutabaga, kohlrabi, watermelon radishes, and kale. (Price includes $4 admin fee)
Winter Sun Farms (Frozen vegetable share with some fresh greens)
$125 for five deliveries of vegetables, typically, 6 frozen and 1 fresh (greenhouse pea shoots). Depending on the harvest, the frozen vegetables and fruits may include broccoli, sweet corn, mixed peppers, green beans, pureed butternut squash, kale, blueberries, raspberries, and edamame. Winter Sun works with local, GMO-free farms, most using organic practices. (Price includes $3 admin fee)
