April 10, 2009: PLG CSA Newsletter

You're receiving this newsletter because you are a member of Prospect Lefferts Gardens Community Supported Agriculture (PLGCSA).

From the CSA Board

Welcome to the 2009 PLG CSA!

We'd like to welcome you all the 2009 PLG CSA Season! While we have not officially started with distribution, there is some information we'd like to pass on to you to make this a smooth-runnin' and successful season. Keep reading for information about this year's CSA, a message from David, our farmer at Woodbridge Farms, subscription information for Fruit Shares, and how to get more involved in our CSA.

If you have any questions, concerns, feedback, we are open to hearing them. Remember, we are all volunteers working to make this happen so we appreciate your understanding and your advice. We also need more people to get involved! Feel free to contact any of us at board@plgcsa.org.

Here's to local, fresh, organic food and good eating!

On behalf of the PLG CSA Board,
Karen

Board Members:
Su-Ling Blois
Kimberly Lisi
Diana Liss
Karen Oh
Darren Patrick
Jonny Sender
Pavani Thagirisa

Important CSA Information

SAVE THE DATE: Orientation

Orientation this year will take place on Saturday, May 16 at 3 p.m. and Tuesday, May 19th. at 7:30 p.m. If you are planning to be the one to work a distribution shift, you are required to attend ONE of these. These orientations are critical to a successful weekly distribution. We will be covering distribution details (times, etc.), how to set up a successful distribution, member expectations and to share information/suggestions and answer any of your questions. The Saturday orientation will be followed by an informal reception and we are working to get our farmers to attend.

WOODBRIDGE FARM WORK TRIP:
Saturday, April 25

Help us help Woodbridge Farm! The board is planning a trip out to Woodbridge Farm and we thought we would offer our assistance in helping David and Julia with farm tasks. This is a work trip so we will be planning on clearing a field of rocks, transplanting and anything else they might need us to do. The more the merrier! If you are interested, please RSVP with Stephanie Chiuminatto at schiuminatto@gmail.com or 646.320.0971. We will plan on leaving Brooklyn at 9 a.m. More details to come regarding transport for those who sign up.

Distribution and Pickup

One big change that we are making this year is regarding distribution times. Based on your feedback of a survey that we sent out a few months back, distribution and pickup will take place between 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. More information about distribution will be provided at Orientation.

Communicating with Us and with Members

You are receiving this first email from my personal email account, but the main way that the CSA will communicate with you and that you can communicate with one another is via our Google Groups listserv. We will be sending out a weekly newsletter again through the listserv. You should all have been invited to join and if you have not, then click HERE. Any member can join, so if there is someone in your household who wants to join, have them request to join.

From Our Farmer

A Quick Hello and Update
from David of Woodbridge Farm

As we quickly approach another wonderful season of hard work and good eats we often get caught up in all the "going ons" here on the farm and forget to reach out to all of you with a little update on how we are doing and what we have and will be doing to provide you with real nutritious food that you know.

Last year had its challenges. Mainly with mother natures providing more water then needed. New London County, in which we farm, was designated a "Natural Disaster" area by the USDA. We were amazed at what we were able to provide in such conditions. For more information Please click here. Unfortunately as a diversified farm and not a farm producing a commodity, we would not qualify for aid of any sort.

We have been quite busy in the early part of this year recruiting apprentices to learn Organic and Biodynamic methods of farming and to enjoy the fruits of their labor. Although we stress a lot every year around January, we seem to always - "Knock on wood" - attract a very energized group of young adults who are determined to get as close to their food as possible and obtain the skills necessary to produce them. . . Read More of David's Post

OTHER PRODUCTS

2009 Fruit Share Details

Fruit share information is now available! Our fruit farmer is Hepworth Farms, well known for supplying the Park Slope Food Coop and other stores in New York City.

Fruit CSA Dates: June 23 to October 27 (19 weeks).
Cost: $195 (works out to about $10/week)
Full payment is due by May 1 to Kimberly Lisi, 181 Maple Street.

VOLUNTEER

We Need You!

Join us on our Work Trip to Woodbridge Farm.

PLG CSA is entirely volunteer run. There are many committees that work tirelessly behind the scenes to keep the CSA running. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact us at board@plgcsa.org. From organizational structure, fundraising/subsidies, communications and outreach to distribution and membership, there are opportunities to get involved!