Turfnews

Garlic Scapes: One of Our First Veggies of the Season!

2011-06-18T16:46:00.000-07:00

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/mighty-appetite/2006/06/my_friend_the_garlic_scape_1.html Garlic Scape PestoIngredients: 1 cup garlic scapes (about 8 or 9 scapes), top flowery part removed, cut into ¼-inch slices 1/3 cup walnuts ¾ cup olive oil ¼-1/2 cup grated parmigiano ½ teaspoon salt black pepper to tasteMethod: Place scapes and walnuts in the bowl of a food processor and whiz until well

Only 8 more days to join our CSA!

2011-05-23T12:38:00.000-07:00

Don't miss out on the amazing opportunity to join Parkchester CSA!Membership includes a weekly distribution of a share of seven to eight kinds of vegetables from W. Rogowski Farm, a black dirt farm an hour away in Upstate New York, from June 18th until November 19th of 2011.Distribution days are every Saturday from 10am to 12 pm at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1891 Mcgraw Avenue in

CSA member looking for a buddy to share

2011-04-30T14:32:00.000-07:00

We have a csa member that wants to join but will be out of the country from mid-August to November. They would like to split a share with someone that wants veggies during this period. It is a little more than a half share and would cost 275 dollars. Please contact contactturf@yahoo.com if you are interested or have any questions!

TURF CSA INFORMATION SESSION!

2011-03-18T16:54:00.000-07:00

Tuesday March 29thParkchester Public Library 1985 Westchester Avenue6:00 pm -7:30 pmGet your questions answered about the CSA! Opportunity to fill out an application! See pictures of the farm! Get more information on why CSAs are a way to eat healthier and support food justice!

Call for Vegetable Recipe Submissions!

2011-02-27T11:44:00.000-08:00

We are currently in the process of compiling a cookbook that will be made available for our members for the 2011 CSA season, and we are calling for more recipe submissions! Recipes with meat are okay, as long as vegetables are also featured, but we also want to include vegetarian, vegan, and raw submissions as well. We are especially looking for recipes that utilize roughage (lettuces, collards,

Information about the 2011 Turf CSA season!

2011-02-13T13:35:00.000-08:00

Our 2010 csa will run from June 18th, 2011—November 19th, 2011 and it is a vegetable CSAOur csa farm is W. Rogowski farm located in the town of Warwick. Their website ishttp://www.rogowskifarm.com. CSA members get to attend an annual farm trip, and participate in cooking activities and other Turf’s activities.Our csa distribution site is a St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church located at 1891

Discussion: Results of the CSA survey

2011-02-13T09:01:00.000-08:00

CSA Share Members, on the whole, were satisfied with the qualities of the share itself, with some "neutral" responses expressed as to the variety, amount, and cost of the share, the majority of "neutral" responses being given in regards to the variety. Whether this is a question of a lack of variety or, perhaps, a feeling of being overwhelmed by the variety, is a question perhaps to be raised

Results of the 2010 Turf CSA Survey

2011-01-26T10:16:00.000-08:00

Turf 2010 CSA Survey CSA Share The variety of the produce met my expectations. Strongly Disagree: 0 Disagree: 0 Neutral: 3 Agree: 9 Strongly Agree: 6 The quality of the produce met my expectations.Strongly Disagree: 0 Disagree: 0 Neutral: 0 Agree: 7 Strongly Agree: 11 I felt satisfied with the amount of vegetables I received each week. Strongly Disagree: 0 Disagree: 0 Neutral: 1

In Hibernation: Roasted Winter Vegetable Enchiladas with Creamy Tomatillo Sauce

2011-01-23T15:51:00.000-08:00

Photo courtesy of Reader's Digest Turf has been pretty quiet since the 2010 season ended, but we are already revving up our engines in anticipation of a new CSA season. Keep watching this space for updates on recruitment meetings, orientations, and other events as we start getting ready for another farm-to-table year! This is a recipe that I recently made during the Thanksgiving

Rhonda's Beet Soup from CSA Potluck

2010-11-21T11:45:00.001-08:00

Rhonda was kind enough to give me her recipe for raw beet soup, which many of us enjoyed at the CSA potluck.2 cups of beets (chopped)1 1/2 cups orange juice1/4 cup red onion1 tbsp orange zest1 tbsp olive oil1/2 tbsp apple cider vinegarProcess until smooth. A garnish of an orange wedge and perhaps some fresh herbs on top would add for a fine decoration when presented.

Pickling

2010-10-26T08:41:00.000-07:00

A lot of people were and are curious about pickling vegetables, especially as our CSA season comes to a close. Thanks to IJ for the idea, the basic procedure, and the realization that you don't need canning equipment to pickle veggies. I'm not sure how shelf-stable these veggies will be, but they do taste great and will last a long time in the fridge! Serve on top of tacos, in a sandwich, or on

Amaranth and Lentils Recipe

2010-10-11T11:50:00.000-07:00

A recipe from CSA Member Melissa: Amaranth and Lentils RecipeIngredients1 cup dry couscous1 ¼ cup water1 tsp granulated chicken bouillon½ cup dried currants1 cup water2 bunches amaranth, deveined and chopped1 tablespoon oil (vegetable, canola, olive, any kind will work)3 cloves garlic, minced2 medium onions, halved and sliced into thin rings1 cup dry lentils2 ½ cups water2 ½ tsp granulated

Pasta with fresh tomatoes and thai basil

2010-09-12T12:12:00.000-07:00

This easy recipe makes use of fresh, ripe heirloom tomatoes like those we have been receiving in our share in the last couple of weeks. Serves two but is very easily doubled or tripled Ingredients:1 cup of whole wheat spaghetti (eyeball to your taste)1 large heirloom tomato, diced and tough parts removed4-5 Thai Basil leaves (the flowers are okay to use too), cut into thin strips1/4 cup cheese of

Pasta With Swiss Chard And Pesto

2010-08-31T07:51:00.000-07:00

A great vegetarian meal that you can make with your latest CSA share. (modified from Lidia Bastianich's "Pasta with Swiss Chard and Almond Pesto")Serves 21/2 pound dry long whole-wheat pasta, such as linguine or spaghetti1 lb. Swiss chard2 tbsps olive oil1 tsp. kosher salt1/2 t. red pepper flakes, or to taste2 cloves garlic, peeled and sliced1/2 a cup of your favorite pesto recipeGrated parmesan

Bamboo Moves

2010-08-15T10:54:00.000-07:00

Besides eating healthy, I try and incorporate physical activities and meditation in my life. It helps me address the stress of daily life in an urban city. This weekend I had a chance to visit Bamboo Moves with, Jessica, a csa member who recommended this yoga spot to me.Not having participated in a yoga class for over a year, I was a bit nervous. I wasn’t sure if I would fit in and be able to

Meet Sam and Romy, Turf CSA members

2010-08-08T15:17:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, we met new csa members, Romy and Sam.-Where they grew up: Sam grew up in Iowa and lived in New York for ten years. He previously lived in Brooklyn before moving to Parkchester. Romy grew up in New Jersey but says that she’s lived in Los Angeles and even spent some time in London during college before moving to New York. Romy also told us stories from her high school years and going

Green Pizza Recipe

2010-08-04T20:42:00.000-07:00

This pizza uses a pesto instead of a tomato base but uses some of those lovely green tomatoes we got in our share last week. I used a premade crust but feel free to substitute your favorite homemade pizza crust recipe if you have one. 1 premade whole wheat pizza crust, thawed or 1 homemade pizza crust recipe 1/2 cup pesto (recipe below) 1 onion (white is sharper, red is

Healthy Junk Food: Carrot Fries and Kale Chips

2010-07-29T15:59:00.000-07:00

Here are two great recipes for satisfying junk food cravings using vegetables in our CSA share! Carrot Fries You can use any root vegetable to make these delicious, nutritious "fries"--beets, parsnips, sweet potatoes, etc! serves 26 medium carrots or 3 large carrots2 tbsps olive oil or to taste1 tsp salt or to tasteSpices to taste (I like paprika, cumin, and black pepper) Cooking spray Preheat

Interview with Brenda and Benjamin: CSA members

2010-07-23T20:49:00.000-07:00

(pictured: Brenda)The first of a series on getting to know our fellow CSA members. Last week, we caught up with a couple from our CSA who volunteered to set up collection day at our site, Brenda and Benjamin.Living in Parkchester since: October 2009.Favorite thing about Parkchester: It’s cheap and there is a diversity of people.Favorite place to eat: The Mexican

White Beans w/ Pesto

2010-07-19T12:27:00.000-07:00

Cathy, one of our csa members, has given us another recipe. This time it is for basil. An herb we have been receiving in our csa for the past three weeks. She highly recommends this easy recipe that pairs basil with beans.Ingredients:2 cups dried white beans, picked over and soaked for four to six hours, or 3cans white beans, drained and rinsed1 onion, cut in half2 garlic cloves, minced1 bay

Swiss Chard Tacos

2010-07-17T12:31:00.000-07:00

We’ve been getting a lot of Swiss Chard the last couple of weeks, so I thought my fellow CSA members might appreciate this unusual recipe for swiss chard tacos. I made them last week and our only complaint was when we ran out of tacos! I bet some grated carrots would go well as well.I recommend making the salsa ahead if you are using it, so all the flavors are married.

Demystifying Curry: Curry Basics 101

2010-07-17T12:07:00.000-07:00

Much thanks to Ajita M for fact-checking and giving me some information on the origins of the word "curry", as well as providing the title. For many of us choosing to either limit the amount of meat we eat or eliminate it completely, learning how to make curry is a very easy way of cooking vegetables, especially vegetables the taste of which may not be to our liking since

Resources for vegetable recipes

2010-07-11T09:33:00.000-07:00

Cathy, a CSA member, shared the following link with our CSA as a resource for recipes using our fresh produce, as well as tips on storage and preparation, via the Green Earth Insitute:http://www.greenearthinstitute.org/recipes/index.html

Amaranth

2010-07-08T18:12:00.000-07:00

We are entering the fourth week of our csa and receiving vegetables that are unfamiliar to us. Last week it was a beautiful, leafy, purple vegetable called Amaranth. Our farmer told us that we can cook Amaranth like spinach, but below is more info on this plant/grain courtesy of eHow.Amaranth, meaning "unfading" in Greek, is an annual grown for food and as an ornamental.History--Amaranth is

BOOK REVIEW: Food Rules by Michael Pollan

2010-06-28T05:47:00.000-07:00

Michael Pollan has been ubiquitous as of late. With films like Food Inc, his latest article in the New York Times Review of Books in which he reviews other books about food justice, and even a PBS documentary based on his earlier book The Botany of Desire, it seems that everywhere one turns, there Pollan is with his measured tone of voice and his matter-of-fact insights on the food industry,

Black Dirt Gourmet Comes to Turf CSA!

2010-06-06T18:17:00.000-07:00

Recently, Cheryl, our csa farmer, came down from the farm to present Turf CSA members the farm's very own line of prepared food called "Black Dirt Gourmet". She wanted to give the csa members some samples of what they could order from the farm when the csa starts up. First, she explained to us how the farm started making their own food and who makes the food. Her three main chefs that specialize

A Review of In Defense of Food

2010-05-17T13:26:00.000-07:00

There isn’t a single person among us who hasn’t heard the old adage, “You are what you eat”. In the case of Michael Pollan’s book In Defense of Food, this adage is taken one step further: you are also how you think about what you eat. In this book, Pollan reconstructs the way that our thinking about food has changed, and how, instead of making us healthy, which was the initial point of

Bronx Food Summit--This Saturday!

2010-04-27T02:30:00.000-07:00

Learn how Bronx residents and community organizations are addressing the lack of affordable, fresh food in the Bronx. Attend workshops, watch cooking demos, meet people that share your interest in eating healthy. The conference is FREE. Click here for more info: http://bronxboropres.nyc.gov/foodsummit/talk.html

Parents and Youth Learn How to Grow Basil at Home

2010-04-13T09:24:00.000-07:00

On April 10th, René and Alison (Turf CSA members), led an indoor herb garden workshop for parents and youth in our community at Parkchester Public Library. Participants learned how to recycle plastic soda bottles by turning them into miniature greenhouses that will germinate basil seeds in the upcoming month. This workshop will be followed by an indoor herb potting workshop in May in which

Stop 'N' Swap

2010-04-01T12:43:00.000-07:00

Do you have items at home that you no longer use? Instead of throwing them out, try something fun that will also help the environment. Bring them to Grow NYC’s Stop ‘N” Swap. These community swaps are organized throughout the year. The next Stop ‘N’ Swap is on Sunday, April 25, 10am-2pm at the Riverdale Y Environmental Fair, 5625 Arlington Ave off 256th St. For more info go to: http://

More Films on Food!

2010-03-28T08:17:00.000-07:00

After viewing Food, Inc. and having a lively discussion on food at the library yesterday, Turf CSA members, Johanna and Jessica, wanted to share information on other films on food.FRESH, another important documentary on the production of food and the importance on supporting sustainable agriculture is being screened in NYC. Go to this link for more information: http://bit.ly/bQvMMM . Discounts

See Food, Inc. on March 27th!

2010-03-13T10:16:00.000-08:00

Join Turf for a screening of Food, Inc. This documentary explores how corporate industries influence the way our food is grown, packaged, and sold. As a program that promotes eating local and supporting local farmers, Turf believes that Food, Inc. is a critical film to see as we work towards improving the quality of food in our community.Turf will screen Food, Inc. at Parkchester Public Library (

Turf Herb Story #1

2010-02-20T07:05:00.000-08:00

This month, Sharon and I went to the Parkchester Library to try and educate the children there about herbs. To do so, I created a story on big poster boards about Mint, Oregano, Thyme, and Sage. Initially, we didn’t expect much of an audience, but when the time came to start, children filled the corners of the room and they were all looking at me and my storybook. At first I was a little nervous,

Turf CSA Seedling Workshop

2010-02-14T08:42:00.000-08:00

This month a small group of Turf CSA members came together on a cold Saturday morning to meet our farmer and choose the varieties of cucumbers and squash our farm would grow this season.Csa members looked through seed catalogs, learning about different varieties of cucumbers and squash (their taste, nutritional value, and growing characteristics), and discussed what grows best on our black dirt

Turf 2010 CSA Workshops

2010-01-09T12:26:00.000-08:00

If you live or work in the Parkchester region of the South Bronx and are interested in joining a community program that allows you to purchase fresh produce directly from a local farm and participate in educational workshops on healthy eating and sustainable agriculture, come to one of Turf's CSA Workshops this winter. Workshops will include: --Information on community supported agriculture (csa)

Turf's Potluck Fundraiser

2009-12-06T15:59:00.000-08:00

On November 14th, Turf held's it first Potluck Fundraiser at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church. CSA members, their friends and family, along with supporters of Turf attended the event. Our food was prepared by our csa members and included vegetables from their shares. Raflles and SRCO's DJ also made the evening fun. This event marked the end of our 2009 csa season and left csa members in

Cooking Workshop

2009-10-17T15:14:00.000-07:00

On October 10th, Turf hosted a cooking workshop for students from the Urban Assembly Academy of History & Citizenship for Young Men (in the South Bronx). Students learned basic cooking skills, became familiar with traditional Mexican foods, and learned the importance of eating local foods. Turf’s Chef Iris and Erika (our high school intern) guided students through the process of making

Tips for Storing Greens

2009-09-28T16:36:00.000-07:00

Turf CSA has been receiving a lot of fresh greens and csa members are practicing different ways of storing them. What works best for me is:*Washing my greens as soon as I get home*Loosely wrapping (slightly wet) greens with dry paper towels*Placing wrapped greens in a zip lock freezer bag and leaving a small opening for air*Placing zip lock bag on the bottom level of my refrigeratorWhen I follow

Turf Summer Reading Recommendations

2009-08-25T20:18:00.000-07:00

Check out Turf’s recommended books at Parkchester’s Public Library!Learn more about the benefits of eating healthy and how food is grown, produced, and sold in the United States. Books currently on display (look for Turf's display in the back of the library) include:The New Vegetarian Grill by Andrea ChesmanAll About Vegetarian Cooking by Irma S. RombauerDeceptively Delicious by Jessica

Farmers' Markets Near Parkchester

2009-08-02T06:50:00.000-07:00

The New York Botanical Garden (Greenmarket)Mosholu Parkway Gate at Kazimiroff Blvd., in gardenWednesday, 10 AM to 3 PMLate June through OctoberHarvest Home Castle Hill MarketCastle Hill Avenue, between Castle Hill & Hart Ave.Saturdays, 8 AM to 4PMJuly through NovemberHunts Point Farmers' MarketMsgr. Raul del Valle Square, Southern Blvd and E 163rd St.Wednesday and Saturday, 8:30 AM to 5 PMLate

Turf's First Cooking Demo

2009-07-16T09:11:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, July 11th, Turf CSA members and friends were treated to a wonderful cooking demonstration by Iris (Turf’s Chef), Lydia (Turf’s youth volunteer) and Erika (Turf’s high school intern). The cooking team prepared two fresh salads and two salad dressings using ingredients commonly included in our weekly farm share and ingredients found in one's pantry.With culinary skill and a sense of

Turf CSA--Week Three

2009-07-08T19:11:00.000-07:00

Turf CSA has been providing residents of Parkchester farm produce for three weeks. Every Saturday, Turf’s dedicated volunteers and youth interns arrive at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church at 8am to greet our csa farmer (the Rogowski family) and arrange the produce on tables before our csa members arrive. CSA members receive a weekly portion of their share, 7—10 vegetables and one dozen eggs

Turf CSA's First Distribution Day

2009-06-24T14:14:00.000-07:00

The first day of distribution was a lot less chaotic than I thought it would be. When I got there, Sharon, Iris, Michael and Lydia, were already there setting up the tables. Getting the tables ready was the easy part. When our farmer arrived, we all scrambled to take the vegetables inside as soon as possible. From there, the real work started. First we had to take all the vegetables out and count

Turf Film Screening!

2009-06-07T11:51:00.000-07:00

The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak OilWhen: Saturday, June 13, 2009 (1pm—3pm)Where: at Parkchester Public Library (1985 Westchester Ave, Bronx)In order for the US and other countries to survive the Peak Oil period, countries will have to learn how to develop more sustainable practices in areas such as farming and agricultural. The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil tells a

Join Turf's Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Program

2009-06-01T14:35:00.000-07:00

Receive fresh, vegetables, and eggs from a local farmer!Members will receive a weekly share of produce from June—November,On Saturdays (10am—1pm) at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church (located at 1891 McGraw Avenue, Bronx, NY 10462)Weekly shares include 7--10 items (vegetables and eggs/according to your type of share).Cost of share (for the entire 6 month period):$400 (for weekly vegetables

Turf's CSA Farmer Meets Community Residents and New CSA Members

2009-05-17T14:03:00.000-07:00

On May 9th Cheryl Rogowski, Turf’s CSA farmer, came to Parkchester to talk with Turf’s new CSA members and residents interested in joining Turf’s CSA program. The discussion offered residents the opportunity to learn more about the farm that will grow our food and our farmer’s farming practices. In addition, community residents were able to: ask an array of questions addressing their concerns

May Film Screening Events on Food

2009-05-13T08:35:00.000-07:00

Food, Inc.May 20th at the NYU Cantor Film Center***FreeIn Food, Inc., filmmaker Robert Kenner lifts the veil on our nation's food industry, exposing the highly mechanized underbelly that has been hidden from the American consumer with the consent of our government's regulatory agencies, USDA and FDA. For a full film description, go to http://www.foodincmovie.com***Must RSVP, go to http://

Farmers Markets in the Bronx

2009-05-12T04:16:00.000-07:00

For residents who are not quit ready to join Turf’s CSA Program, farm fresh vegetables and fruits are available at the following Greenmarkets (Farmers Markets) in the Bronx:Bronx Borough Hall GreenmarketGrand Concourse at 161st St, Bronx, 10452Subway: 4, B, or D train to 161 StBus: BX1Open Tues. 8am—6pmJune 30th—November 24thLincoln Hospital Greenmarket149th Street at Park Ave., Bronx 10451Open

2009-04-30T17:17:00.000-07:00

2nd Annual NYC Wildflower WeekMay 2th—9thThe week celebrates all things green and wild in NYC. Activities include garden tours, botanical walks, lectures, and children events designed to connect people to their local environments and support landscapes that are sustainable.For more info, visit: http://nycwildflowerweek.org/ataglance.htm

2009-04-26T05:56:00.000-07:00

Turf Community Food Survey ResultsUnderstanding community residents’ knowledge of the food available in our neighborhood is important to Turf as we develop our Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Program. We wanted to know if there is an interest, need, and demand for local food in our community, in addition to learning if residents’ are willing to develop and support sustainable agriculture

2009-04-09T06:50:00.000-07:00

YOUTH FORUM & EXPOOPPORTUNITIES IN FOOD, FARMING, AND ACTIVE LIVINGApril 16th 2009(all day event)Location: Hostos Community College, 500 Grand Concourse (149th St.), Bronx, NY ***Free for anyone between the ages of 15--24 years old,and $20 for anyone 25 years +(Registration required) Conference is organized by NYC youth leaders and organizations focused on addressing health, wellness and

2009-04-07T16:05:00.000-07:00

Dream of Natural Foods by Ms. Joseph (Parkchester resident) Several decades have passed since my arrival in the United States, yet I can still remember, and sometimes dream of the abundant of fresh fish, meats, fruits, and vegetables available daily while growing up on “the land” as we called it. The word “farm” was rarely mentioned. It was “land” or “estate.” I, like many other children, was

2009-04-03T17:12:00.000-07:00

Chang Li Supermarket by Quamay (Turf high school intern)Chang Li is an Asian supermarket in the neighborhood, located at the corner of Olmstead Avenue and Benedict Avenue in Parkchester. This market has a great variety of foods and vegetable and fruits at low prices (strawberries are $1.99 for 16 oz. verse other stores that sell them for $3.99--$4.99). Unlike the other grocery stores that we

2009-04-03T16:39:00.000-07:00

Taqueria Tlaxcalli: A Mexican Grill Restaurant in ParkchesterTurf high school interns periodically visit restaurants that serve meals made with locally grown foods, such as Angelica Kitchen (located in the lower eastside of Manhattan). However, our interns are also looking for restaurants in our own neighborhood, that even though meals may not be made with organic, locally grown produce, they are

Join Turf's Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Program!

2009-03-26T18:08:00.000-07:00

Next Meeting is on Thurs., April 2nd (6pm—7:30pm) at Parkchester Public Library (1985 Westchester Avenue, in the Community Room)Membership forms will be available and Turf will be accepting CSA payments for our farmer. There are only 55 membership slots available for this program.Membership involves: completing and signing a membership agreement form, making your CSA payment, and volunteering to

2009-03-25T06:44:00.000-07:00

The Brooklyn Food Conference May 2, 2009**Free**Discuss and learn more about: the effects of our food system on health, the environment, and labor; improving the nutritional content of school lunches; urban agriculture; farmers’ markets; community gardens; and food coops. Most workshop presenters will come from Brooklyn community organizations.Guest Speakers include: Dan Barber (executive chef

2009-03-25T05:58:00.000-07:00

2009 Food For Thought Film Festival (NYC)(presented by Naniola Productions) April 11th and 18th 2009**Free**Films focus on issues related to: access to clean food and water; human rights; local and sustainable agriculture; and the effects of policy on small American farmers. Films include: Farm to Cafeteria: A Red Hook Lunch, Asparagus: Stalking the American Life, FLOW, and more.For information,

2009-03-20T06:44:00.000-07:00

Vegetable Garden at the White House: First Step to Addressing Our Food System?In today’s New York Times, we learn that Michelle Obama is taking steps to plant a vegetable garden at the White House, the first since Eleanor Roosevelt’s victory garden during World War II. The Obamas have been approached by food advocates for months to grow a vegetable garden that would symbolize the importance of

2009-03-15T11:49:00.000-07:00

Restaurant Review (Dirt Candy)Last night, after taking in the extravaganza of Lola Montes at Film Forum, my foodie pal Lisa and I headed to Dirt Candy hoping for some yummy vegetarian goodness. Until stumbling upon its 5-star review in L-magazine the night before, I had never even heard of the 3-month old East Village restaurant.Although I’m an omnivore, I often order vegetarian entrées so I was

2009-03-01T06:20:00.000-08:00

Turf's High School Interns at Angelica KitchenLunch at Angelica KitchenIn February, Turf took a trip to the lower east side to continue surveying grocery stores in the city. Not to be confused with our Community Food Survey (which will help us design our CSA), the grocery store survey will be used to improve the quality of food in our neighborhood grocery stores. However, this day we also took

2009-02-28T16:40:00.000-08:00

Starbucks' staff with Turf's High School InternsTurf Conducts Community Food Surveys at StarbucksThis month Turf conducted its Community Food Survey at our neighborhood Starbucks. For an hour and a half, Turf asked Starbucks’ customers, who are residents of Parkchester, a series of questions to determine how satisfied they are with the quality of produce in the neighborhood, how much they spend

2009-02-24T17:51:00.000-08:00

What is a CSA?Though Turf uses this blog space to share information on the sustainable food movement, we also like to share what we are doing in our community. Beginning in June, Turf will be managing Parkchester’s first CSA! The idea to start a CSA arose from residents being dissatisfied with the quality, cost, and safety of fruits and vegetables sold in the neighborhood, along with residents’

2009-02-15T13:08:00.000-08:00

Join Turf’sCommunity Supported Agriculture (CSA) in Parkchester!If you want to:* Receive fresh affordable vegetables and fruits from June through November* Buy from and support a local farmers that use sustainable farming practices* Build your knowledge of food* Eat healthierWhat is a CSA?: Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a direct market relationship in which members of the CSA are

2009-02-11T16:47:00.000-08:00

Turf High School Interns checking the quality of food available at Foodtown in ParkchesterMapping Parkchester’s Food SystemTurf’s High School Interns and volunteers will be working on a on-going food systems mapping project in order to identity the food providers in Parkchester, rate the quality and cost of their food, learn how food is transported to our community, and learn where our food

2009-02-01T13:29:00.000-08:00

Breaking BreadI recently had an opportunity to meet with members of Parkchester Enchancement Program (PEP) for seniors, a NORC community. NORC stands for Naturally Occurring Retirement Community in which a large percentage of individuals 60/65 years of age and older reside. NORCs, such as PEP, help seniors that want to stay in the community, live independently.PEP currently serves approx. 345

2009-01-16T15:11:00.000-08:00

Summary of Recent Turf Meeting Our recent Turf meeting was a very productive one in regards to administrative details. We collectively prepared a delicious Tofu Stir-Fry, which we savored whilst watching videos about the global food crisis. We reexamined the substance materials and documents that will constitute Turf’s High School Internship contract and application process. As part of this

2009-01-09T03:32:00.000-08:00

Sign FOOD DEMOCRACY NOW! Petition for Under Secretary positions at USDA. People in these positions will stand up for family farms, safe food, clear air and water, animal welfare and soil preservation.Go to http://www.fooddemocracynow.org/

2009-01-06T07:22:00.000-08:00

Protect NY’s Environmental Protection Fund Governor Paterson is proposing to gut New York's EnvironmentalProtection Fund and undercut the efforts of the agencyresponsible for making sure our water is safe to drink and ourair is safe to breathe. New York State has one dedicated funding source for all thingsgreen. The Environmental Protection Fund supports projectsacross the state that run the

2008-12-27T12:24:00.000-08:00

Women in FarmingWhen I was younger, I thought farming was primarily a male profession. Fortunately as an adult, and as I educate myself about the industry, I am encountering amazing women in the field such as Cheryl Rogowski. A graduate of LEAD-New York class in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell and a recipient of the MacArthur award (she is the first farmer to received a

2008-12-19T07:24:00.000-08:00

15th Annual Bronx Parks Speak UpParks, Environment and PoliticsPresentations: Working with Community Boards, Green JobsWorkshops: Starting Seeds, Grant Writing, Building Alliances and Morrisania Tree ProjectWhen: February 28, 2009Where: Lehman College, Faculty Dining Room Time: 11:30am registration, refreshments & net-working 12:30pm – 5pmTransportation: Bx10 or Bx26 bus, D or 4 train to Bedford

2008-12-18T02:57:00.000-08:00

Tom Vilsack: The Best Pick for Secretary of Agriculture?As President-elect Obama chooses his cabinet, more specifically the Secretary of Agriculture, I have to ask myself what does his choice for one of the most important national positions mean to folks that are advocating for better food policies? Will the new Secretary of Agriculture support the efforts of local farmers, work create a fair

2008-12-11T04:49:00.000-08:00

The Cost of Food and the HolidaysDuring this holiday season, I often think about how fortunate my family and I are to be able to afford food and share a holiday dinner together. Because a lot of my research and work involves thinking about food security, it is sometimes hard for me to relax, eat, and celebrate without sharing some food facts with relatives, especially over the holiday. This

2008-11-16T15:44:00.000-08:00

Turf has a new partner and program space Beginning in January 2009, Turf will be working with St. Raymond Community Outreach (SRCO) to secure a healthier food system in Parkchester. SRCO, a community-based organization in Parkchester that helps residents build a better neighborhood, is an ideal partner for Turf. Located on Metropolitan Avenue in the hub of Parkchester, SRCO has a long history of

2008-11-16T15:35:00.000-08:00

Turf BrunchToday Turf had its first brunch! Turf Dinners and Brunches are times for Turf Volunteers to discuss upcoming projects, delegate tasks, explore fundraising ideas, and cook together. For our first brunch we made a vegetable lasagna that was packed with organic vegetables from Union Square’s Farmers Market. The lasagna took less than an hour to make and was delicious! This brunch was also

2008-11-07T06:23:00.000-08:00

On Agriculture: What will Obama presidency mean to agriculture?***From Agriculture Online (11-5-08). Go to link while active.http://www.agriculture.com/ag/story.jhtml?storyid=/templatedata/ag/story/data/1225894756076.xml#continue

2008-11-05T02:59:00.000-08:00

Yes We CanTurf’s mission is to empower and support community residents through the process of improving the health their neighborhood. In this work, there are several challenges around addressing social and economic issues affecting the community and with bringing people from various backgrounds and experiences together to make change.Last night was a victory for many people who could not imagine

2008-10-28T18:48:00.000-07:00

Farmers Markets in the Bronx (Now through November)La Familia Verde Farmers Market, East Tremont & LaFontaine Avenue, East Tremont/Crotona, Tuesdays, 8am – 2pmLearning Tree Farmers Market, Barnes Avenue just south of East Gun Hill Road,Williamsbridge, Wednesdays, 10am to 2pmThe Market at Bissel Gardens, Baychester Avenue just south of 241st Street, Wakefield, Saturdays, 9am – 4pm,Wednesdays, 8am

2008-10-28T17:56:00.000-07:00

Farming, Stewardship, and Fresh FoodsOver the past five years I have been thinking a lot about how farming is so much about stewardship, especially organic farming. The amount of time and care organic farmers invest in their land to offer us healthy foods resembles a stewardship relationship involving human beings tending to the earth, having reverence for it, and understanding that the earth

2008-10-23T19:16:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Turf News, a space designed to highlight the work of Turf, a new environmental stewardship project located in the Parkchester neigborhood of south central Bronx. Turf's mission is to provide residents tools and resources to improve the health of their communities.In many urban neighborhoods health issues are often link to the lack of fresh affordable foods and farmland that produce