April 29 News Flash
To Astoria CSA Members,
In this News Flash:
1) Payments Due
2) Volunteer Hours
3) May 4 Farm Visit
4) Beer Share- please respond if interested
5) Donations
6) CSA Meat/ Dairy Orders
7) First Delivery June
8) Other News
1) 2008 Season Payments due THIS THURSDAY May 1
Thank you to those of you who have already responded to our reminder emails about making final payments. Full payments are due May 1– This coming Thursday! Please remember to finish making your payments. Return to the membership page to keep up your payment cycle. Thank you to those who have made payments. All money we’ve received is already at the farm!
2) Sign up for your Volunteer Hours
Now that you’re a full-fledged member of Astoria CSA, don’t forget to sign up for your volunteer hours. Please email volunteer@astoriacsa.com to arrange your dates!
3) Farm Visit: Spring Walking Tour, Sunday, May 4, 2-3:30 PM
Rain or shine! Dress warm it gets chilly out there! Our farmers are hosting their annual Spring Walking Tour! Open to all members, friends, family and potential members. Spend a day on the Golden Earthworm Farm and see your vegetables grow, talk to your farmer and meet other CSA members! GEF is located on the north fork of Long Island (with all the Long Island vineyards). Directions are posted on the blog (www.astoriacsa.com). There is no need to RSVP for the visit. Please email us if you are interested in organizing and driving group transport for the trip: info@astoriacsa.com.
4) Beer? Local Low-Carbon Beer
As many of us try to reduce our carbon footprint in different parts of our lives, we have decided this year to attempt a low-carbon, local beer delivery in partnership with Bierkraft in Park Slope, Brooklyn. Deliveries of beer “growlers” (4 pint jugs) eliminate the waste of glass and would bring us local, super fresh, artisanal, small craft beer unavailable in stores, from as close as Red Hook, Brooklyn! Please email info@astoriacsa.com so we can see what interest there is. Orders would be placed and paid online and Bierkraft would distribute weekly at our regular Thursday deliveries. Growler deposits are $4 per jug and must be washed and returned every week in exchange for a new full jug. More details will be worked out if Bierkraft thinks there is enough demand. See their website for more info and let us know if you’d like some beer!
5) Donations! Donations! Donations!
Our donation feature is up and running on the website. Please consider helping us keep low-income shares thriving, whether it is $1 or $1,000! Log into your account (use the main shareholder’s email address) on the membership page (http://www.astoriacsa.com/join.php) and find the donation information at bottom. All money received goes towards supporting low-income shares.
6) CSA Pastures Meat/ Dairy Orders
May 3 is the last day to place orders for the May 10th delivery of CSA Pastures, our grass-fed/ pastured meat, egg, cheese, jam, honey and organic bread co-op upstate. Starting in June, deliveries will begin once a month on Thursdays, during pick up. If you need sign-in information, head to your membership page (use the main shareholder’s email address): http://www.astoriacsa.com/join.php.
7) Save the Date: June 5
First delivery of our 2008 season!
8) Other News
** Steinway Food Pantry has agreed to be our fiscal sponsor (meaning they will act as our 501(c)3). We are meeting with them this week to discuss the possibility of accepting food stamps in the CSA and applying for grants.
** We are applying for discretionary funds/ general funding from Astoria Councilman Vallone, Assembly Member Gianaris, Congresswoman Malloney and Queens Borough Pres. Helen Marshall. We are seeking money to support Food and Nutrition Workshops taking place this season at ARROW for all CSA members, transportation for Farm Visits and support for our low-income shares for the 2009 season. Keep your fingers crossed, we’re notified in July.