Author: Central Brooklyn CSA

The Central Brooklyn CSA (CBCSA) is dedicated to working with our partners the New York City Coalition Against Hunger, Windflower Farm, and the Hebron French Speaking SDA Church to continue the work of building a Community Supported Agriculture model that increases access to fresh, local produce for all members of our communities, regardless of income level. Join us as we continue to bring fresh, organic, affordable and nutritious vegetables and fruit to the Bed-Stuy, Crown Heights, and surrounding communities.

Sign Up For A Share at the CDSC Community Health & Wellness Fair!

Come visit the Central Brooklyn CSA table at the Child Development Support Corporation Community Health and Wellness Fair on Saturday, April 9 from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm at:

Child Development Support Corporation
352-358 Classon Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11238

Take advantage of this opportunity to get free health care, pre-screened for Food Stamps and purchase your CSA share all at the same time.

Health care services that will be available include an Ask-A-Doctor Session, Shape Up New York, Hemoglobin AIC & Blood Glucose Screening, massages, glaucoma screenings and a mobile mammography van. There will be fun activities too, like raffle prizes, face-painting, activities for children, and refreshments.

Hope to see you there!

We Still Have Shares Available!

We still have shares available for purchase for the 2011 season.

Thanks and welcome to everyone who have already signed up! We are proud of the opportunity our CSA provides for members of our community to eat well for less, and want to make sure that everyone who is interested in becoming a member has a chance to do so.

If you are interested but have questions or financial concerns, please contact us. If you sent in your deposit and membership agreement and want to make sure we received it, email us at CentralBrooklynCSA@gmail.com and we will get back to you right away. Click here to download a membership agreement.

Here’s to a delicious 2011 harvest.

INVITATION to Local Agriculture at the Museum of the City of New York

Central Brooklyn CSA members will receive the museum’s membership discounts. See all the details below:

Friday, March 25 at 6:30 pm

Is Local Agriculture Good for the Environment: The Hidden Costs of Food in New York City

When it comes to eating sustainably the question of locally sourced agriculture versus importing food is far from settled. Are New Yorkers willing to eat in season only and only what New York has the comparative advantage to produce? New Yorkers penchant for eating out adds for an additional complication. What does that mean for the city’s carbon footprint, given that restaurants are often more wasteful than home kitchens – even those committed to the new ideal of “farm-to-table” production? What are the real environmental costs associated with New York’s food system?

Peter Hoffman, chef and owner of Savoy; Gabrielle Langholtz, editor, Edible Manhattan; James E. McWilliams, author of Just Food: Where Locavores Get It Wrong and How We Can Truly Eat Responsibly (Little, Brown, 2009); David Owen, author of Green Metropolis: Why Living Smaller, Living Closer, and Driving Less Are the Keys to Sustainability (Riverhead, 2009); and Jennifer Small, owner and farmer from Flying Pigs Farm evaluate the environmental and social costs and benefits of the city’s food infrastructure.

Presented in conjunction with the exhibition Moveable Feast: Fresh Produce and the NYC Green Cart Program: http://www.mcny.org/exhibitions/future/Moveable-Feast.html

Reservations required: 917-492-3395 or e-mail programs@mcny.org

$6 museum members; $8 seniors and students; $12 non-members

$6 when you mention the Central Brooklyn CSA

Getting Ready for the New Season!

With all of this cold weather, it’s hard to imagine a nice summer evening veggie distribution, but it’s already time to start gearing up! Here is some exciting information about the upcoming season:

1. We are very fortunate that Hebron SDA Church (at 1256 Dean Street) has welcomed us back for 2011, so we will be at the same location as last year.

2. BUT: our distribution day changed! Our new distribution day will be Thursdays, from 5 p.m.-7:30 p.m.

3. AND: our farmer has changed as well! We sorrowfully say goodbye to MimoMex, but due to our day change, we will now be working with Victor Pavia and El Mirador farm! Read about Victor here on our blog.

4. Thanks to our nonprofit partner, the NYC Coalition Against Hunger (NYCCAH), both vegetable AND fruit shares will be available on a sliding scale based on income.

5. So now it’s time to start signing up! Please complete the Membership Agreement located here and send in your payment or deposit (if applicable) before March 31 to make sure you get a share. Remember, its first come, first serve, so send yours in now!

If you have any questions or would like to take on a core group role, email us at centralbrooklyncsa@gmail.com for more information.

Looking forward to a great 2011 season!

Yes, You Can Eat Baby Pumpkins!

Check out this recipe from CDKitchen!

Ingredients:

1/2 pound tinda (baby pumpkin)
2 medium potatoes, cut into cubes
1/2 inch ginger
1 teaspoon coriander seeds
1/4 teaspoon cumin seeds, for the paste
5 whole red chili
1/4 teaspoon garam masala powder
3 green chili
1 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
salt to taste
4 tablespoons cooking oil
1 small, finely chopped tomato
a pinch cumin seeds
2 bay leaves
1 1/2 cup water

Directions:

Mix the potato with 1/2 tsp of turmeric powder and salt. Heat the oil in a pan, and fry the potato till they turn light golden brown. Remove and keep it aside. 

Scrape the baby pumpkin with a peeler and cut into 4 pieces. Add 1/2 tsp turmeric and little salt. Fry in the same oil till they turn light brown. Remove and set aside. Grind to make a paste of ginger, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, and whole red chilli. Add Bay leaf, 1/4 tsp Cumin seeds (seasoning), sugar, garam masala powder to the oil in the pan. When starts spluttering, add the juice from the paste from step 3 using a strainer. Add the rest of the turmeric powder. Fry for 5 minutes in medium heat. Add the chopped tomato and fry till oil leaves the side of the pan. Add the salt, green chilli, fried potato and the tinda. Fry for few minutes. Add 1 1/2 cup of water and bring to boil. Reduce heat and let it simmer for 10 min. Remove and serve with rice or chappati.