June 9 and 10, Farm Visit, 11:00 AM. This will be a potluck picnic with grills available for folks to bring hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken, etc. to cook. There will be tours of the fields in the afternoon. Saturday the 9th will be the primary day for the CSA groups with Sunday the 10th as a rain date and for those who would like to visit but cannot make it on Saturday. I will be inviting customers from my markets on Sunday as well.
There is a u-pick strawberry farm nearby if folks would like to come early to pick strawberries for themselves. We will also try to recruit some volunteers to pick some for a shortcake dessert. More details will be provided as the date approaches.
Work parties and volunteer days. I know there are many people who would like to come out to lend a hand and I certainly can use the help. We will have 2 work parties in the spring, before deliveries begin. These will be major events when we will need as many hands as possible to assist in covering my 2 high tunnel greenhouses.
On weekends both before and during the delivery season we will have volunteer days. These will be to help with transplanting, cutting up seed potatoes, and harvesting labor intensive crops like peas, and beans. For these volunteer days members should notify me directly by e-mail of their intention to attend. Please send me an e-mail during the week prior to the event and not weeks or months ahead. kruegerjohn@earthlink.net
Saturday, May 12, 10:00 AM. Work Party at Good Hand Farm to cover the greenhouse. Members should meet at my house, 141 Brighton Rd. Andover, NJ 07821.
If you arrive late, we will be working down the street at 110 Brighton Rd. You will see the greenhouse inside the deer fence, on the north side of the barn. Please do not enter the paved driveway between the house and the barn. Bring gloves!
Saturday, May 26, 10:00 AM. 2nd Work party at Good Hand Farm to cover a high tunnel greenhouse that we have moved from it’s original location in Hardwick Twp. See info above for May 12. Bring gloves!
Volunteer days. These will be on Sundays at 10 AM (except 4/29). Meet at 141 Brighton Rd., Andover.
Sunday April 29, 1 PM. Help cut up seed potatoes and help with greenhouse transplanting.
Sunday May 6 and May 20, 10 AM. Help with transplanting or greenhouse construction.
Sunday, June 24 and July 1, 10 AM. Help with pea picking.
Sunday, July 8, 10 AM. Help with the garlic harvest.
Sunday, July 22 and 29, 10 AM. Help with bean picking.
Sunday, August 5. Help with onion harvest.
How to Make a Water Pump from a Bicycle
Designed for a rainwater harvesting system, a bicycle powered pump from Lenny Librizzi:
Fran Cackowski Shows Us How to Make Cabbage Slaw
On Sept. 28, member Fran Cackowski demonstrated how to make a cabbage slaw. Click here for the recipe.
Photo by Tim Moran.
About the SICSA Composting Project
We are continuing our compost project this year with much thanks to Christ Church. Our bins are located behind the shed at the distribution site, and you are welcome to deposit your compostables in the far left bin. Large, lidded "paint" buckets available at Home Depot and Lowes are perfect for collecting and transporting materials.
Thanks to all those who participated last year, we have ready-to-use compost in the far right bin! Please, feel free to take some home. Turn it into your beds to dramatically increase the production of vegetable and flowers. You can even sprinkle it on your grass.
If you are composting with us, please remember these few guidelines:
Wanted:
all uneaten plant materials (pits, rinds, skins, leaves, flesh)
stale or molded bread products
coffee grounds and filters, tea leaves (loose or in bags)
yard trimmings and leaves
Not compostable at our bins:
animals products
oils or fats
plate scrapings or remains of prepared foods
Special notes:
Please do not deposit "compostable" plates, containers, flatware - these items do not break down in our bins.
If you are depositing bunches of herbs or other vegetables, please remove all twist ties. Items break down faster when not in a bunch.
Please cut open whole hard squashes, gourds, and pumpkins.
Our website has a recipes section, http://www.statenislandcsa.org/recipes.htm, in case you need a recipe for an item that you may not be familiar with or if you would like to try something new.
Also, if you would like to send us a recipe, email it in! Send your recipe, tip, link, or helpful hint to recipes -at- statenislandcsa.org.
What is Staten Island Community
Supported Agriculture?
Staten Island Community Supported Agriculture is a group of Staten Islanders who buy shares in a farmer's vegetable and fruit crop for the growing season. We support Starbrite Farm and John Krueger, the farmer, and share the risks and benefits of food
production with him.
There are dozens of other community-supported agriculture (CSA) groups in the New York metropolitan area, all coordinated by Just Food. Typically, members or "share-holders" of
the farm or garden pay for a share in advance to
cover the anticipated costs of the farm
operation and farmer's salary. In return,
they receive shares in the farm's bounty
throughout the growing season, as well
as satisfaction gained from reconnecting
to the land and participating directly
in food production.
Members also share
in the risks of farming, including poor
harvests due to unfavorable weather or
pests. However, by direct sales to community members
who have provided the farmer with working
capital in advance, growers receive better
prices for their crops, gain some financial
security, and are relieved of much of the
burden of marketing.
Another benefit of the program is that farmers can continue to make a living on their land and pass their farms to their chilcren rather than be forced to sell to developers to pay for retirement. CSAs, therefore, help maintain open land near metropolitan areas. They also reduce members' reliance on vegetables and fruit trucked across the U.S. and from other countries.
Photo by Tim Moran. 
