NOFA-NY Winter Conference 2012

Hi everyone, Kimberly here. The Northeast Organic Farmers Association, New York chapter’s annual winter conference was just held, and I was lucky enough to have been able to attend. Your farmers, Chris and Eve, are active members (yes, I ran into them there, along with their staff members Hasleer and Lisa, and they even donated some sweet potatoes to the conference’s food), and I believe are certified organic through them. NOFA-NY also has an excellent Farmers’ Pledge program, as an alternative for farms who cannot afford the fees that go along with certification, or choose not to be certified because they think the national organic standards are not strong enough.

The conference was held this year in Saratoga Springs, a little north of Albany (about a 4 hour trip by car), a lovely small city with a quaint downtown and where people still go to “take the waters”. I was there as a beginning farmer with an eye to make the most of the workshops (like the one on no-till farming being held by Four Winds Farm, a farm close to my new farm and by chance we plan this year to emulate their system), and they did not disappoint, except that some of them could have gone on longer!

The conference’s theme this year was “The Cooperative Economy”, and I found that even more important than the workshops was the chance to meet so many other like-minded people; it was so nourishing to be able to sit down randomly at one of the big, round breakfast/lunch/dinner tables, and be welcomed by strangers and have the most amazing conversation with them! Btw, did I mention how amazing the food was (much of it was donated by member farms and cooked by the creative hotel staff)?

In addition to the workshops and food, there was an exhibit hall, book shop, silent auction, key note addresses (this year included author and professor John Ikerd, Appalachian Sustainable Development director Kathlyn Terry, and NOFA-NY Farmers of the Year Paul and Maureen Knapp), early morning yoga (no, I never made it in time) and for the first time an Organic Research Symposium. At the fundraiser dinner, Just Food was given an award which Paula Lukats (who runs their CSA in NYC program) accepted on their behalf. There were also some great social events, including a Contradance (square dancing, people! SO MUCH FUN even for a beginner like me!) and a motivational worksongs singalong (which went on until midnight, when we were kicked out because security needed to close up the room). And I heard the joyful refrains of, but didn’t participate in (duh!) , the Children’s Conference, which kept kids ages 5+ busy during the day (childcare for ages 3-5 was also available).

Despite its name, the organization welcomes gardeners, homesteaders and consumers as members, and their commitment to that sector showed at the conference, with quite a few workshops appropriate for non-farmers, so please check out their website and consider becoming a member. Please note: each April (in honor of Earth Day) and September (in honor of the Locavore Challenge) they offer a special introductory membership of only $10!!

Thoughts on King

On this national holiday for Dr. King, we have an opportunity to look back at his writings and speeches to see what they tell us about today and to wonder "what if...?" For example, we might reread his 1964 Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech and say "Occupy."

I see connections between Dr. King and today's food movement.
• In my view, today's interest in food justice has a link back to King's last major project, his Poor People's Campaign, which addressed a range of issues, including hunger, poverty, and access to food.
• The food movement's concern for the rights of farm workers reminds me that King always showed up to support workers in their search for economic justice. "All Labor has dignity," he said. (That is the title of a new collection of his writings, just out this week.)
• And when we invoke the term "community," I recall that King was a grassroots organizer who knew that all politics is local, and all change is local; and I remember he spoke of his vision of a 'beloved community.'"
• Lastly, today I learned about a direct connection between King and farming. When he was a young man, King went to Hartford, Connecticut to work on a tobacco farm, and the experience influenced his decision to become a minister and to dedicate his life to social change.

The issues King addressed in his time are still relevant today.

Eat. Work. Grow The Movement 2/24 and 2/25

Here's the latest news from Just Food on their 2012 Conference.

Join Just Food, local food lovers and advocates, CSA members, community gardeners, urban and rural farmers, food professionals and entrepreneurs for two days of hands-on workshops, discussions, skills-building sessions, and good food. Learn about cooking and food preservation techniques, CSA trends, and the food justice movement in New York City and beyond, as well as ways you can mobilize to create good food projects in your own community.
We will be adding information about the workshops that will be offered soon so keep your eye on our website!
Help your CSA win a free canning class!Once again, this year we are excited to offer a free canning class to the Just Food Network CSA with the highest percentage of members in attendance at the conference. Register today and be sure to tell us which CSA you belong to in order to secure this prize for your community!

2011 Weekly Share Photos

Just posted on the "Forms & Veggie Tip Sheets" page of our website--the full set of photos of Season 2011 by member Tom Tavcar, a familiar face from weekly distro. In addition to helping facilitate the distro operation, Tom documented each share, artfully arranging the veggies, fruit, eggs, and flowers which he then turned into a PowerPoint page for the binder which we kept at the sign-in table. Members who flipped through were mighty impressed. The man has a true gift. Anyone interested in joining the CSA will now be able to see the entire 2011 season. How could anyone resist?

Season 2010 share photos can be viewed at the flickr site, along with other weekly photos.

Garden Of Eve Winter CSA 1/7/2012

It was like a bright morning in early Fall as walked to the Rutledge Ave. pickup site, turned into 89th St, and then a right into the community drive where Toby was setting things out for us all. We opened our two boxes and were struck by the amount of green for this time of year. Just what the doctor ordered! Also, farm fresh eggs, a good load of carrots, and home-made soup. This winter share is working out OK. And, we ran into a few members and chatted and we met someone new.
Our VEGETABLE share included; Arugula, large bunch; Broccoli 2 lb; Kale, 1 Bag; 2 Daikon Radish; Garlic, 3 Bulb; Braising greens 1 lb; Collards, 1 bag; Carrots, 1 1/2 Lb.; Beets, 1 large bunch; Salad Turnips; Mizuna, 1/2 lb; Eggs, 3 dozen; 2 Baking Potatoes.
Our Vegan SHOPPING BASKET SHARE included Broccoli 1 lb; Braising greens, 1/2 lb ; Kale, 1 Bag; Salad Turnips; 1 1/2 lb carrots; 2 lb Apples; Collards 1 bag; 2 Baking Potatoes; Garden of Eve grown and made frozen organic carrot OR butternut squash soup; NYS Grown and processed OG Kasha (buckwheat) OR OG buckwheat cereal.

We had the butternut squash soup for lunch--and tasty it was, though maybe a little chicken brothy--and for dinner we had salad (with apples) and arugula pesto, which we put over pasta. Our fridge is filled with leafy greens and other veggies and we're glad we signed up for the Garden of Eve Winter Share. --KB

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Community

It is fitting that our first post for 2012 should relate to Community.

• News: The real estate section of the Times has discovered Queens. As noted previously (scroll down to 11/27), a piece on Glendale . And now, in the 1/1/2012 edition, a profile of Ridgewood. Two neighborhoods among others that are well represented in our CSA.
• Glendale is 100 years old we are told, and that is a cause for celebration! And that is what the Glendale Property Owners Association is doing at their January meeting on Thursday 1/5 at St. Pancras. UPDATE: Here is press coverage of the meeting/celebration in the Ridgewood Times and the Glendale Register.

Has anyone heard the rumors that 2012 is going to see a Queens revival, or renaissance? We have and it is curious and exciting. Makes sense to us, a good place to live.