Sandhills Farm to Table Newsletter
"Neighbors Feeding Neighbors" March 31, 2010 |
| | | | A Wonderful Way to Eat Right, Eat Local! | Now we know how the pledge drive folks at NPR must feel! ;-)
We can't tell you how many times we've run into friends and members who have told us "Yeah, I've been meaning to join...." or, "Yeah, we just LOVE fresh vegetables, we need to send in our subscription order..."
"The time to subscribe is NOW."
We have over 600 members now, and over 200 of you have already subscribed to your box. Thank you!
We also realize some members joined just to support the Co-op and local farmers, and to participate in the classes, potlucks, parties, recipes, fellowship, etc. Thank YOU!
IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO ORDER THE PRODUCE BOX, PLEASE SUBSCRIBE NOW. Many decisions need yet to be made, and these depend on the number of boxes. Farmers are also making decisions based on the number of subscriptions.
Got the picture?
Our deadline for box subscription is April 15 - two weeks away. We will have the capability to take SNAP payments at some near-future point, so if that is an issue, let us know immediately.
We will also take box orders after April 15 - not everyone who wants local produce has heard of us yet, we realize - but there will be an extra $30 surcharge for existing members who wait until after April 15.
So, if you see a produce box in your future, let us know by clicking this link.
We hope you understand. Next year we will have more time, and will be taking subscriptions in December and January (think Christmas gift certificates!). |
SAVE THIS DATE - APRIL 24, 6PM | PARTY! POTLUCK! PARTY! Saturday, April 24
6:00 PM
West End Presbyterian Church
It is time.
Let's come together as the massive community group that we are, delicious potluck dish or dessert in hand.
Yes, we are going to break bread together as a group FOR THE FIRST TIME! The fellowship, energy and intention of this simple act is powerful, and can ripple outward. Fellowship at 6PM, invocation, dinner and meeting at 6:30PM. Neighbors feeding neighbors.
And we need YOU. At this potluck, we will take our first action as a complete Cooperative, and vote on the bylaws. (They will be sent to you electronically before this meeting). Consumer members will also elect their two Consumer representatives to the Board of Directors. This duo represents your interests and concerns in the Co-op.
| We're all "agricultural" at dinner time |
Finally, you've told us you want to meet who is growing your food. We've heard you loud and clear. We will introduce our farmers, and what they will be growing for us.
Okay, where? We are lucky to have use of the incredible and voluminous fellowship hall at West End Presbyterian Church, one block off Hwy 211. Below are links and directions.
WEST END PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH, one of our Gathering Sites for box pickup
http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103246017607&s=714&e=001guBQM_i13ujwiTJLVNRuQazplVx1YhCWNZ13RSDLBIv56yRv3v5aGb2BSDFdktySeFjmOM7PKARwlD7Bp5ucOc2VDtgfhbn-WA1Rj9uRS7uzYqw5aAjGzA==
324 Knox Lane
West End, NC 27376
(910) 673-4341 Get directions |
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| | CANNELLINI (WHITE) BEANS AND GREENS - MEMBER RECIPE | Thanks to member Bonnie Thompson, who shared her recipe for a hearty bean stew: | A similar White Bean Stew, with tomatoes |
1/3 cup olive oil 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped 5 medium garlic cloves, thinly sliced 4 15-ounce cans cannellini beans (or other light bean), drained and rinsed 1 pound Swiss chard, stems removed, halved lengthwise, and thinly sliced crosswise 1 1/2 cups chicken broth 6 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley 3 tablespoons unrefined salt 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
Heat oil in Dutch oven or large, heavy bottomed pot with tight fitting lid over medium high heat. When oil shimmers, add onion and garlic, season with freshly ground black pepper and stir to combine. Cook until onion and garlic are golden.
Reduce heat to medium low and add beans, chard and broth. Bring to simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until chard is tender and broth is thick.
Remove from heat and stir in parsley and vinegar. Season with additional freshly ground pepper as desired.
Bonnie's Note: "I only vaguely followed this. I for sure did not use that much salt. I used all the ingredients except the vinegar because I didn't have any. I eyeball the amounts, I did use 4 cans of beans, did rinse them, use one to puree which I think gives the final product a nice creamy texture.
My source for this recipe: http://www.chow.com/recipes/14157" |
| WISH BOARD
and
THANKS
Thank you to all who replied to our wish for data entry help! Your quick responses warmed our hearts. We really are "all in this together." As it turns out, our trusted bookkeeper, Pia Bennet ("The Organizer") volunteered to do that aspect, to avoid any confusion in the books. Thank you, Pia!
************ GRANT WRITER Any clever, talented person out there in Co-op Land who knows how to write a grant? We have an opportunity, but must jump on it quickly. We qualify, the amount of available cash to expand the Co-op is generous, but your management has no spare time with deliveries five weeks out. Deadline is April 15. ************
And thanks yet again to our hard-working friend Bonnie Klein. No wonder she was our "Volunteer of the Year" for 2009. She's logged countless hours drawing up our poster, exhibit and flyers, then showed up for the "Greeting of the Train" at Palustris to help man the SF2T booth, along with Deb and Doug Frye - also hard-charging volunteers.
And then there is the focused and uber-organized Paul James and the rest of your impressive Gathering Site principals, who just churned out an crackerjack set of Site policies.
And... ...it's hard to know where to stop. Thank you all who have helped or who have offered to help. We truly are all in this together.
Until next time..
Sincerely,
Jan Leitschuh
Fenton Wilkinson
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Sandhills Farm to Table Cooperative
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