Lettuce Soup: Wilt briefly with in chicken or veg stock, add some sour cream or yogurt, blend to smooth, season with salt and top with croutons and celery seed or an herb. (Try sprinkling those garlic scapes on top!)

Lettuce Boats: Double up your lettuce boat then fill with a protein (chicken, beef, fish, beans) and add your filling. Some ideas: rice, radishes, Japanese turnips, sprouts, sour cream, herbs, (sauteed) garlic scapes and a sauce. (Try satay, some miso, chipotle, curry, etc).

Lettuce Pesto: Blend it up with some olive oil, something nutty (pine nuts, walnuts, toasted pumpkin seeds, etc) and Parmesan. Use it as a sauce on a protein– chicken, fish, beef, or hey, a salad dressing on more lettuce! (Or freeze it in ice cube trays then transfer to a plastic bag for storage. Use it on a cold winter day when you’re dreaming of lettuce.)

Grilled Lettuce: Those heartier hearts are delicious brushed with olive oil, grilled and spritzed with lemon.

Braised Lettuce: Braise it in cream for something decadent.

Lettuce Stir Fry: Add it as a veggie in your stir fry mix. So…. think the classic Pad Khee Mao (aka drunk man noodle) with broad noodles, basil, protein and lettuce as one of your veg.

Compost On-Site:
We Accept:
Fruit and vegetable scraps
Coffee grounds and filters, Tea bags
Bread, rice, pasta and other grains (no sauce)
Egg shells

We DO NOT Compost:
Meat and fish
Cheese and other dairy products
Fats, oils, greasy food
Animal waste
Plastic bags or rubber bands

Please empty your plastic bags and/or containers of compost into the collection receptacle at the side door to ARROW community garden before picking up your share!

Questions? Contact the Western Queens Compost Initiative at: wqnscompost@gmail.com

About the WESTERN QUEENS COMPOST INITIATIVE:
We are committed to recycling residential food waste from our community into wonderful nutrient-rich compost.

This season, we will be collecting food waste from CSA’s, Greenmarkets, Community Gardens, and Bike Tours. The compost created will be used to grow food and beautify our green spaces.

(1) Your First Three Choices of Dates
(2) If you have any physical issues
(3) If you have volunteered in previous years (so we can schedule newbies with returning members)
(4) If there will be more than one of you from your share, please let me know how many
(5) If you cannot be physically there, if you have any outside interests/skills to use towards your hours (ie. Two Coves compost project, event planning, non-profit work, accounting, low-income, etc). Please provide your IDEA on how to incorporate your skills too– ie, an actual event you would like to plan, etc.

General Rules: Please arrive no later than 3:30pm, you should be home by 8pm. Bring clothes that can get dirty. You only need to volunteer ONCE. Lastly, we do volunteer hours BY SHARE which means one or all of you can volunteer, just let us know how many. You will receive detailed instructions on opening and closing procedure when you receive your confirmation email and you will receive them again when I send out the reminder email the Monday before your shift. PLEASE MARK THIS DATE IN YOUR CALENDAR. The Astoria CSA is volunteer-run, and the veggies come in if we have one or four people there to unload them.

NEW FOR 2010: Your time in and out WILL BE RECORDED and can hurt your chance to re-register or purchase add-ons in the future.

Thursdays: Please bring bags to carry your vegetables and any paid extras home in. Enter ARROW through the doors at the far left and sign in with a CSA member at the door. Provide the main shareholder’s name. Make sure to grab a ticket to pick up any of your add-ons (garlic, herbs, fruit). Beer, wine or CSA Pasture have separate check-ins once inside.

HELP! I CAN’T MAKE A PICK UP:
We cannot hold your share past 7:30 PM. A friend, neighbor or relative may pick up for you during the season. You do not need to notify us. He/She will also use the main shareholder’s name (let them know this!). Please explain if you split a share how it works, or if there are any add-ons that need picking up and how/ what to split. Astoria CSA is not responsible for splitting shares.

RECIPES:
Part of the fun of a CSA is that you receive whatever is in season. It’s like Iron Chef– you don’t pick what you want! We encourage all our members to try everything– even if you didn’t like it once, try a new recipe! Talk to people on site to find out what they do with it. We have a vegetable bible on site with lots of great recipes and the farm (www.goldenearthworm.com/recipes/) has recipes posted.

VEGGIE EXCHANGE:
Take One/Leave One- If you really don’t like a vegetable in the Vegetable Share we have ONE “Take One/Leave One” Box on-site. Meaning, if you don’t like an item in your box you may exchange it out for an equal item (example: you may exchange all your tomatoes for the same amount of beets received in the share– For example: If you receive 5 tomatoes that’s ONE item, not 5 to exchange. Please be considerate of those that pick up after you!!!)

BEER FROM BIERKRAFT:
Beer deliveries from Bierkraft begin Thursday, June 10. Beer is delivered every other week. More beer? We have our regular beer share but if you need a few extra growlers for a party, some cheese, or other item, please give Bierkraft a call and let them know you’re with Astoria CSA. There is NO MONEY exchange on site, but you may place a phone order and charge it to your credit card: www.bierkraft.com or (718) 230-7600

CSA PASTURE:
CSA Pasture is our meat and dairy provider. Please get the dates on your calendar. During the season, drop off is Thursdays at ARROW. To order your meat and produce, visit this link: www.csapasturedmeatandpoultry.com
Please email info(at)astoriacsa(dot)com for info on how to create an account. Only members of Astoria CSA may order.  Payment is by weight, confirmed when the order is packed the day before delivery. Your final invoice will be E-mailed to you the day before your order arrives. Included will be instructions for paying by check or PayPal. There are many pages of items to order; make sure you browse the site fully!

Delivery                        Order Deadline
June 24, 2010             June 18, 2010
July 8, 2010                 July 2, 2010
July 22, 2010               July 16, 2010
August 5, 2010           July 30, 2010
August 19, 2010         August 13, 2010
September 2, 2010    August 27, 2010
September 23, 2010  September 17, 2010
October 7, 2010         October 1, 2010
October 21, 2010       October 15, 2010
November 4, 2010     October 29, 2010

http://www.astoria-csa.com

to register. The site will be available Thursday, March 18 around 6:00 PM. Don’t forget to join us for our New Member Q&A and opportunity to meet the farmers! Thursday, March 18, 6:15-7:45 PM
@ ARROW Community Center, 35-30 35th Street, Astoria.

Fruit Share- $150.00
Approximately 20 weeks. This provides around 7 pounds of mixed fruit depending on the season per week (peaches, berries, apples, pears). More delicate fruits (raspberries, strawberries, blueberries) weekly amounts are not weighted by pounds, but pints/ half pints. From Brieremere Farm, Long Island.

Tomato Share- $30
Canning tomatoes (same as last year) and we’ll arrange the delivery in August or early September on a date that’s convenient for the share members. (Deadline for letting us know your sign-up totals: April 15th 2010) From Golden Earthworm Farm, Long Island. Note: You will receive regular (non-canning) tomatoes in your regular share.

Herb Share- $48.00
12 weeks during the months of July, August and September. There will be a wide variety of herbs, including basil (thai and purple), parsley, dill, cilantro, mint, rosemary, thyme, oregano, sage, chives, garlic chives, tarragon and lavender. Possibly even more… We’ll include 2 types of herbs per delivery except for a few deliveries where we’ll only include green basil for making pesto. The approximate value of herbs for each delivery will be $4. (Deadline for letting us know your sign-up totals: May 15th 2010). From Golden Earthworm Farm, Long Island.

Garlic Share- $24.00
3 separate deliveries of 1 lb. each. (1 lb. is approximately 6-8 heads) The delivery of the garlic share will take place the first week of August, September and October. This works out to $8/lb. for the garlic. Garlic stores very well as long as it is kept relatively cool and dry. (Deadline for letting us know your sign-up totals: June 15th 2010) From Golden Earthworm Farm, Long Island.

Wine Share- 3 Options
Local Wine Share (optional) from Shinn Estate Vineyards in Mattituck, Long Island: 13 bottles total, divided into three deliveries.
Option 1: Wine Share 1: Red, White, Rose- $150.00
2 bottles of Chardonnay; Rose; Estate Merlot; 3 bottles of Coalescence; 4 of Non Vintage Red. From Shinn Vineyard, Long Island.
Option 2: Wine Share 2: White, Rose- $150.00
4 bottles of Chardonnay; 4 bottles of Coalescence; 2 bottles of First Fruit Sauvignon Blanc-Semillon; 3 bottles Rose. From Shinn Vineyard, Long Island.
Option 3: Wine Share 3: Red- $225
5 bottles Non-Vintage Red; 4 bottles Estate Merlot; 3 bottles Wild Boar Doe; 1 bottle Cabernet Franc. From Shinn Vineyard, Long Island.

Beer Share- 3 Options
From Bierkraft in Brooklyn, multiple local breweries from the Northeast. Delivered in 64 oz jugs called growlers (about five 12 oz bottles). Beer lasts approximately 4 months unopened; 3 days opened.
Option 1: 1 Growler Share- $150.52
ONE growler every other week (13 growlers total).
Option 2: 2 Growler Share- $294.85
TWO growlers every other week (26 growlers total).
Option 3: 3 Growler Share- $428.75
THREE growlers every other week (39 growlers total)

Farmers will be present (and might even bring their newest farm addition, Galen, born January 1st!).
Registration will open at this time for new members.
We’ll discuss an overview of our season, information about low-income and extended payment options, what to expect in 2010, new members can ask questions, find a share partner, have a wine tasting of our wine add-on and more.

*Note: You do not have to attend this Q&A to register for the season. This is an information meeting, encouraged for all new members, especially those who have never been a CSA member before.

Citrus arrives DIRECT to your home. The Orange Shop is part of citrus co-op that uses consolidated zone shipping to achieve the smallest-possible eco-footprint. One truck is sent to NJ where fruit is then sent by USPS direct to your door.

Each box includes 20 lbs. of fruit. Choose between varieties of oranges, tangerines, grapefruit, or any combination. Shipping through April.

Super fresh! Owners Pete and Cindy Spyke say their fruit tastes so good because it’s so fresh (and all-but organic). It’s only 4 days off the tree by the time you get it.

GROWING METHODS
The Orange Shop uses predominantly organic methods. His fruit is NOT certified organic, but he’s won conservation awards for his farming practices. To protect Florida’s fragile wetlands, he uses 40 percent less fertilizer and 600 percent less phosphorous. At least one-third of acreage is never sprayed. In the groves that are sprayed, only 8 oz. to the acre of a new, non-toxic pesticide is used.

HOW TO ORDER (& GIVE BACK TO ASTORIA CSA)
1- Go to healthycitrus.com
2- Choose either: “Subscribe Monthly,” minimum TWO box order (e.g., a box in February and a box in April), $29.95 a box, OR “Single Box,” $34.95
3- Make your selections for the MONTH and KIND of citrus you want to order, click “ORDER NOW”
4- Confirm your order in the Shopping Cart, click “CHECK OUT”
5- On the Shipping Information Page, complete your shipping information and type “ASTORIA CSA” in the Company section
6- On the Shipping Information Page, check “ASTORIA CSA- FREE SHIPPING” under Shipping Options

Our next CSA Pasture delivery is June 25th. Below is “News From the Farms” from Nancy of Lewis Waite Farm. Remember, sign on to the membership page at astoriacsa.com to find out how to create a personal account. Also, Nancy’s contact info is below. You can call, fax or email your order in too. (Online is best as the products are up-to-the-minute. Remember, we cannot accept cash on-site. Payment is by PayPal (through CSA Pasture) or by check at pick up.

2) THIS WEEK’S SHARE
Remember: Everyone receives the vegetable share, but if you are splitting a share you need to split your own share– just make sure you’ve worked the details out with your share partner.
VEGETABLE SHARE: (Items can change last minute depending on what is fresh/available on the farm)
1 bunch Baby Bok Choi
1 bunch Beets
1 bunch French Breakfast Radishes
1 bunch Rhubarb
1 bunch Japanese White Salad Turnips
1 bag Arugula -or- Spinach
2 heads of Lettuce
FRUIT SHARE: Strawberries *might* start this week
BEER SHARE: Starts June 4 and is every other week (June 4, 18, July 2, 16, 30, Aug 13, 27, Sept 10, 24, Oct 8, 22, Nov 5, 19)
WINE SHARE: Starts June 11 and is every other week (June 11, 25, July 9, 23, Aug 6, 20, Sept 3, 17, Oct 1, 15, 29, Nov 12*) *Nov 12 will be a double share

3) NEXT CSA PASTURE DELIVERY- JUNE 25
CSA Pasture now delivers during our regular Thursday deliveries. Next delivery Thursday, June 25, 4:30 to 7:30 PM. Order confirmation and final payment due is sent a few days before the delivery date. Remember: NO CASH on site. Please bring a check to pick up your order. Orders not picked up will be lost; payments still required. CSA Pastures (our grass-fed/free range meat, organic bread, raw milk cheeses, etc) from upstate NY. Never ordered? Head to the membership page online (enter the main shareholder’s email) and pick up the sign-in information for CSA Pastures. Go to their website, or phone or fax and order in (www.csalewiswaitefarm.com). If you have problems with ordering please contact CSA Pasture NOT Astoria CSA.

4) U-PICK STRAWBERRIES AT GOLDEN EARTHWORM
Missing out on the fruit share? Can’t get enough organic strawberries? Head to Golden Earthworm for Pick-Your-Own!
OPEN HOURS | 9am - 5pm- Weather permitting. Dates may change at any time without notice. FRIDAY, SATURDAY & SUNDAY: June 5th, 6th & 7th; June 12th, 13th & 14th; June 19th, 20th & 21st; possibly June 26th, 27th & 28th. PRICE | TBD (it’s usually about $4-5 a quart). Please wear appropriate footwear and sun protection. There are no bathroom facilities at the farm.

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