Published: 01/25/2010 06:00 AM
We are thrilled to be in our second season! We'd like to thank everyone who participated last year and made it such a success! The energy and enthusiasm of our members was terrific!
Our CSA is currently re-signing up the 2009 members. Emails have been sent to all members and if a member hasn't received an email with membership 2010 info they should write to SunsetParkCSA@yahoo.com. New members should watch this site for information about the 2010 season which should be posted around Feb. 13, 2009 when the CSA opens up membership to the public.
Membership materials for the 2010 season will be available on this website after February 13, 2010.
Published: 01/23/2010 07:22 AM
Dear Sunset Park CSA Members:
We are pleased to announce a winter egg share to take us through the cold season and to early spring. Distribution for the egg shares will be once per month on Sundays from 10 to 11 a.m. on February 21st, March 21st, April 18th and May 16th. The distribution location will be near 44th Street and 5th Ave. We will send out the distribution address to those people who sign up for the winter egg share. The share includes all four dates - there is no partial share. If your are unavailable on a particular date you can have a friend pick them up for you - just make sure they know to tell us your name when they pick up the eggs. Please note that unlike our December distribution, all eggs must be pre-ordered and pre-paid for the four week winter share. Also, the winter egg share is open to non-CSA members so please pass this email on to your friends and neighbors!
Eggs are still at the special winter price of $4.00 per dozen.
Here are the share prices.
1 dozen per distribution = $16 (4 dozen total)
2 dozen per distribution = $32 (8 dozen total)
3 dozen per distribution = $48 (12 dozen total)
4 dozen per distribution = $64 (16 dozen total)
If you want to order more than 4 dozen eggs, follow this formula: [(Number of dozen) times ($4) times (4 weeks) = $_____total cost.]
All orders must be paid in full by February 12, 2010. In order to participate in the winter egg share you should drop off or mail the following information to the address below (you will make our job easier if you print this email, write in your information and include it with your check):
your name,
address,
telephone number,
email address,
the number of dozen eggs per week - circle one: (1 dozen) (2 dozen) (3 dozen) (4 dozen) (other _____)
and a check for the appropriate share price: Amount Enclosed $_____________
Sunset Park CSA
c/o Abby Youngblood
439 54th Street
Brooklyn, NY 11220
Please email SunsetParkCSA@yahoo.com if you have any questions.
Sunset Park CSA
www.SunsetParkCSA.org
Published: 12/14/2009 03:17 PM
Special Winter Egg Sale!
Our CSA farmers, Martin and Gaudencia Rodriguez of Mimomex Farm have an abundance of farm fresh eggs from their chickens. Their markets have ended for the winter, but the chickens are still laying eggs. They would like to provide us with a special offer—eggs at a discounted price* of $4 per dozen!
We would like to extend the offer to Sunset Park CSA members AND friends of Sunset Park CSA to purchase eggs. We will have a special egg distribution on Sunday, December 20 from 10-11 am. You can pick up your eggs at St. Michael's church (our usual spot) located on 4th Ave between 42nd and 43rd Streets.
Please respond to this email with your name and the number of dozens of eggs you would like to purchase. You will pay for your eggs on Sunday when you pick them up, so please bring cash or a check book. The eggs are $4 per dozen and you may order as many dozens as you wish. Eggs keep very well, so do not hesitate to order a whole month’s supply! We also encourage you to bring egg cartons to transport your eggs home (if you have extra egg cartons, please bring them so others who do not have an egg carton can use them).
Because our goal is to sell as many eggs as possible, we will be opening up sales to friends and community members. Only CSA members have the option of reserving eggs in advance (by responding to this email) but others will have the opportunity to purchase eggs on the day of the sale on a first come, first serve basis. In addition to the eggs reserved for Sunset Park CSA members, Mimomex will bring several extra dozens of eggs to sell to others who want to purchase them on Sunday.
In addition to eggs, Mimomex Farm is also hoping to bring some root vegetables and apples to sell, so please bring extra cash or checks if you would like to purchase these items.
Finally, we are in the process of developing an egg share for the months of January through May—we will send more details soon!
Happy Holidays! Hope to see you on Sunday!
Sunset Park CSA core group
(Liz, Katie, Leah, Kenzie and Abby)
www..SunsetParkCSA.org
*Mimomex Farm is offering us a special discounted price for eggs this winter because they have an abundance of eggs but no market for their eggs at the moment. As you recall, the normal price is $5 per dozen.
Published: 11/22/2009 06:40 AM
Here's an article from the "Just Food" e-newsletter that explains what happened to the tomatoes that we were all hoping to see during the season:
Farms throughout Connecticut, New Jersey and New York have suffered one of the worst growing seasons in memory, amounting to an overall crop loss of 45% for some farms. The losses are so bad that most counties in New York and New Jersey have been declared agricultural disaster areas. The cause? Disease and inclement weather.
Rain and chilly weather that began in May continued until mid-July. The National Weather Service for the region's airports have reported rainfalls to total about twice, sometime three times the monthly average. Some farms, such as those located in Riverhead, Long Island, even suffered from hailstorms. The rainy and cold weather resulted in agricultural hardships such as late planting for most farms, fields too muddy for farm equipment, seed,fertilizer and herbicides that washed away, and weather-borne diseases, the worst of which was late blight. This disease, responsible for the Irish potato famine of the 19th century, devastated tomato crops throughout the Northeast this season.
In addition to lost crops, farmers also found this season to be difficult at the farmers markets; rainy days means less consumers. Seasons like this are one of the reasons that farmers participate in CSA! CSAs provide farmers with a solid customer base who have committed to supporting their farm through difficulties such as weather and disease. The understanding and continued support from members enable CSA farmers to remain in business and go on to hopefully have a bountiful season next year!
Here's a link to an NY Times article about the subject: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/15/nyregion/15farm.html?_r=3&adxnnl=1&ref=nyregion&adxnnlx=1258900710-83/H57BqxhFzn2JVknz0rQ
Published: 10/13/2009 06:31 AM
Just a reminder that October 28th is the last date for "Y" shares and November 4th for "Z" shares!
Published: 08/05/2009 10:27 AM
Hello!
On the Waiting List for the CSA? Check out the Sunset Park Greenmarket on Saturdays! Located between 4th Avenue between 59th and 60th Sts. 8-3pm!
EBT/ Food Stamps and WIC & Senior FMNP Coupons Accepted!
Meet your neighbors, learn about new foods, get free recipes, and talk to farmers who raise, catch, and bake fresh food just for you!!
¡Hablamos español!
Hope to see you there this Saturday!
-Yolanda Gonzalez
Greenmarket Seasonal EBT Manager
Published: 08/05/2009 08:02 AM
Hi all! Here's a link to an article that has suggestions on how to deal with the abundance of veggies that we build up in our fridge... http://noteatingoutinny.com/2009/07/29/how-to-cope-with-csa-stress/
Published: 07/08/2009 05:44 AM
The Sunset Park CSA is sold out for the 2009 season. A big thanks to everyone who joined and got our first season off to a great start!! If you would like to join the waiting list for 2010, please send an email to sunsetparkcsa@yahoo.com with your name, mailing address, and email address.
Published: 07/06/2009 11:42 AM
Hello! Here's a listing of veggies we can expect this week (July 8). There may be slight variations or substitutions, but this gives us a good idea of what to expect.
Lettuce, onions (red, white, Spanish), leeks, carrots, beets, kale,summer squash, flowers (presumably squash blossoms),
fava beans, scallions, thyme celery, sweet peas.
Happy cooking!
Published: 06/21/2009 01:43 PM
We have just a few veggie, fruit, and eggs shares left that will start on or after July 8th (if purchased in full by July 1st). Prices will be pro-rated and people who are interested should contact us at sunsetparkcsa@yahoo.com for the share prices. Yee haw!! Just a couple of more days until our first distribution on June 24th!!
Published: 06/08/2009 12:32 PM
We are seeking 3-4 volunteers who can assist us to organize CSA distributions, edit our newsletter, and plan events (including a farm trip!) this summer. Currently, a small group of volunteers (the “core group” for the CSA) has been working with our farmers, Martin and Gaudencia Rodriguez of Mimomex Farm, to prepare for the season and recruit members. There is quite a lot of work to get the CSA up and running, so it would be great to have a few more volunteers. Please note, we ask all CSA members to volunteer for 4 hours each season during CSA distributions. If you sign up for one of the volunteer jobs below, this would be in place of the 4 hour volunteer shift.
Please see the volunteer descriptions below for more details and contact sunsetparkcsa@yahoo.com if you are interested in helping with one of these volunteer jobs!
Volunteer Job Descriptions
Newsletter Editor (1 person)
- Collect recipe ideas and work with CSA core group, Mimomex farm and other members to gather newsletter material
- Format, edit, and photocopy a paper and/or electronic newsletter 2 times per month (in time for CSA distributions on Wed evenings)
- Create innovative ways to involve members in the newsletter
20-30 hours per season
Events Coordinator (1 person)
- Collaborate with the CSA core group, other members, Just Food, and Mimomex Farm to plan fun, informative, relationship- building events for Sunset Park CSA members
- Plan potlucks, food/cooking demonstrations, kids programs, and at least one farm visit per season
12-15 hours per season
CSA Distribution Coordinators (1-2 people)
- Oversee distribution of vegetables 3-5 times during the season, including setting up vegetable distribution area, communicating with members about the weekly share, and ensuring that the site is cleaned up after the distribution ends
- Oversee and engage weekly volunteers in helping with the distribution
- May involve some heavy lifting
12-20 hours per season
Published: 06/03/2009 11:00 AM
This is to let you know that the first distribution for the Sunset Park CSA will be on Wednesday, June 24th. If you purchased an Every Other Week share you will receive a notice shortly with your EOW assignment and the date of your first pick up - either June 24th or July 1st.
Published: 06/01/2009 11:00 AM
Join us to celebrate the start of a new season (our first!) on Saturday June 6th 11am-1pm
Potluck picnic in Sunset Park
We'll meet under the trees outside of the Rec Center
(7th ave. side btw. 41st and 42nd sts)
Bring food to share, a blanket, and your enthusiasm for vegetables!
RSVP to sunsetparkcsa@yahoo.com
Published: 04/08/2009 11:00 AM
We are very happy to announce that we are now offering optional fruit and egg shares. The optional egg share consists of one dozen eggs from pastured chickens at RodriMex farms, the farmer who will provide our vegetable share. You can purchase a Weekly or an Every Other Week optional egg share. The egg share will run for 20 weeks (10 if EOW), the entire CSA season.
The optional fruit share will consist of fruits from a neighboring farm that uses conventional (not organic) farming methods. The optional fruit share will also be available Weekly or EOW, but will run for only 16 weeks (or 8 if EOW) of the CSA season. We will let you know when your first fruit pick-up will take place.
The Sunset Park CSA now has its very own functioning web site. The site is in its fledgling stage with basic information. We will be adding more
content as the season progresses.
To purchase a fruit or egg share, go to our sign up page and download the fruit/egg form. Complete the form and send it in with payment in full to Sunset Park CSA, 439 54th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11220.
If you have any questions feel free to email us at sunsetparkcsa@yahoo.com
Published: 02/28/2009 09:30 AM
Hello! We're just starting to get the website set up, so things are a little sparse... But we will be posting the FAQ sheet and the Membership form very soon so you can easily download and send it in to us with payment. There will be more fun stuff planned for the future.
I just got back from the meetup brunch and wanted to say "Kudos!" to everyone for such fantastic planning and a delicious brunch! It was great to meet so many people from the neighborhood!
Expect more information in the coming few days. If you're already participating in the CSA, be sure to click on the "Sign Up" link in the upper right corner of the screen so we can keep you posted about what vegetables will be coming your way each week!
Woo hoo!
