Author: Grand Street CSA

Our first distribution is just a few weeks away, so it’s time to start getting ready. First thing to take care of is scheduling members for distribution shifts, which is almost completely done and can be viewed on our calendar page. To find your shifts, you’ll need to scroll through the whole calendar to pick out your name (which will be the first name and last initial with which you signed up for the CSA). You’ll get a reminder email a week before your shift, but we’d prefer you stick it in your calendar now so you don’t forget.

We’ve split distribution into three shifts this year, which we hope will be more convenient for more people: Set Up is 4:30-5:45; the Bridge is 5:30-7:00; and Closing is 6:45-8:15.

Our first distribution on June 1 will be staffed entirely by the core group, so we should be able to answer any questions from new members. Though if you have any questions before then, don’t hesitate to send us a note.

The next general meeting of the LES Food Coop will be held on May 4 from 7:30 to 9:00 at the Educational Alliance (197 East Broadway). They’ll present preliminary results from their survey, and give updates on their progress so far. There will also be food to share, so feel free to bring something from your own kitchen. (You’re welcome without food, too.)

And do be sure to fill out that survey — they’re counting on feedback from everyone in the community to learn what food choices are important to you.

Those of you who came to our Meet the Farmers event last month got to meet David Garza, Chief Administrator of the Henry Street Settlement Workforce Development Center. This year, WDC will be supporting Grand Street CSA by purchasing two full shares for participants in their job training program.

The CSA is helping this partnership by contributing half the cost of those shares, made possible by the $15 admin fee charged to each member, the contributions many of you have added to your share price this year, and the canvas bags we’ll be selling again this year.

But, if you can, you may also contribute directly to the WDC to support the outstanding work they do in our neighborhood.

I’ve posted before about the Food Coop initiative that’s been started by some neighbors with the institutional support of the Educational Alliance. Well, one thing that’s come from those meetings is that a brand new CSA — the LES CSA — is trying to get on its feet. Just Food (the same great group that got us started in 2008) has hooked them up with Monkshood Nursery in upstate NY for their own weekly distribution of fresh, organic vegetables.

Since the Grand Street CSA is booked for 2010, if you know anyone still looking to join, please make sure they know about the LES CSA — and soon! Monkshood Nursery has given them an April 1 deadline to fill 50 shares. And while they are already halfway there, it would be a shame for everybody if they couldn’t quite make their quota.

Their program is basically the same as ours, though distribution will be on Thursdays instead of Tuesdays, from the corner of East Broadway and Jefferson (at the Educational Alliance or the Public Library). And they may not have any extras at the LES CSA for their first year.

(Meanwhile, don’t forget we have our own wait list over here. And no one should feel shy about signing up for the new CSA for 2010 and our wait list for 2011.)

LES CSA registration is available online.