Coop Scoop Connections and Corridors - March 2022

Connections and Corridors March 2022

Coop Scoop

Nurturing Your Nature Connection Hudson Valley Seed Company Gardening as a Superpower

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Connections and Corridors March 2022 Features

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Animal, Vegetable, Junk: A History of Food, from Sustainable to Suicidal

Up ks!

mates a 67% Yorkt we’re emp-

Double Up Food Bucks is a nationwide fruit and vegetable incentive program, servicing millions of SNAP users, active in 20+ states at over 800 farmers markets, CSAs, farm stands, mobile markets, and grocery stores.

The program gives shoppers $1 for every $1 spent with SNAP, so you can purchase even more produce.

A match of up to $20 a day could mean $40 for healthy foods. Why is this important? Because too many people don’t have access, even with government aid, to the amount of healthy food needed to support families. Sign up is free and the dollars never expire.

In New York State, Double Up has contributed to 1.1 million pounds of healthy food sales to over 24,000 customers, at more than 130 sites spanning 23 counties.

Visit our Service Desk to sign up and go to honestweight.coop for more information on the program.

Book review

By Ben Goldberg

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tion of SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits that Gardening as we’ve seen in a single year. Which is a Superpower Thewe’re collectiveso power of why excited to participate in individual small gardens adds Double Up Food Bucks! up to a large-scale solution to climate change and biodiversity.

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By Catherine Jura

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Community Supported Agriculture and the Evolution of Small-Scale Farming

Nurturing Your Nature Connection

How one family’s discovery of local trails changed them from “walking in the woods is something we do sometimes” to “we are people who walk in the woods.”

By Ruth Ann Smalley

What if there was a movement to connect farmers with their community, to ensure the continuation of healthy, local food? There is. Community Supported Agriculture.

By Dick Shirey

Happenings at the Co-op

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Double Up Food Bucks Officially Launches!

Honest to Goodness

By Deanna Beyer

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Thunder Island Coffee Roasters

Fresh News

By Alex Mytelka

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Chickpea Lentil Sweet Potato Coconut Curry

15

Recipe Corner

By Tammy Diaz

Cardamom Turmeric Pomegranate Pitta-Friendly Tea

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Horseradish

Poetry

By Ann Lapinski

Recipe Corner

By Melanie Pores

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Becoming an Owner at Honest Weight

Co-op 101

By Deanna Beyer

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Hudson Valley Seed Company

Producer Profile

By Pat Sahr

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Recipe Corner

By Deanna Beyer

Cover Photo: Edgar Castrejon Illustrations: Jane Welch ISSN 2473-6155 (print) • ISSN 2473-6163 (online) The Coop Scoop is for informational purposes only, and not intended as medical or health advice. Always consult your physician or other qualified healthcare provider. The views of our guest writers do not necessarily reflect those of Honest Weight, and we do not take responsibility for them.

Coop Scoop

Heal

What’s Fresh?

17

Eight Varieties, One Garden

Poetry

By Ann Lapinski

Links to informational sources can be found in the online version of The Coop Scoop at

https://www.honestweight.coop/page/coop-scoop-magazine-90.html

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Honest Editors ty and doctor visits and various new health regimens I’ve had to adopt due to these sudden revelations has greatly intensified my personal yearlong ordeal.

Rebecca Angel has been a part of Honest Weight for years, and Coop Scoopiseighteen Managing Editor of the Coop Editors When not atScoop. the co-op, Rebecca is a teacher, musician, and writer, currently working on a memoir about her experience with Cushing’s syndrome. www.RebeccaAngel.com Deanna Beyer is the Education & Engagement Coordinator at Honest Weight.

A long-time teacher Rebecca Angel and practitioner of yoga, meditation, and mindfulness, she focuses on helping to make these practices accessible to people in all kinds of situations. You can reach her at deannab@honestweight.coop Carol Reid, our Assistant Editor, is a retired cataloger at the New York State Library, where she Carol Reidworked for over 35 years. She wrote a 10-year blog called “Typo of the Day for Librarians” and has been a Co-op member since the 1980s.

Ruth Ann Smalley PhD, is our Content Editor. An educator and writer, with a 4-digit Co-op member number from the early 90s, Ruth Ann offers wellness, writing, Ruth Ann Smalley and creativity coaching through her practice at www.vibrant-energies.com or www.ruthannsmalley.com.

Mathew Bradley is our Layout Editor.

He has been the Lead Designer at Honest Weight since the new store.

Outside the co-op, he enjoys writing music with his band, tending to his Deanna Beyer garden, and training his English Cocker Spaniel, Cricket, for field work.

Letter from an Letter Editor from an Editor T

By Carol Reid

his has been a rather fraught year for me and not just for the obvious Covid-related reasons. I’ve also

By Carol Reid learned that I have two different physical disorders, one fairly common for people my age andarch the other common. comesone in far likeless a lion and goes I made theoutfirst discovery right like a lamb, or so theyatsay.the And beginning of theit’s pandemic andtothe while still too soon sayother for sure what happen with coronavirus, one justwill after getting mythe second vaccineit’s looking as if of it might be becoming a little less dose.

On top the anxiety and isolation fierce and like the something may make and fears ofmore leaving house we in general a sort of peace with. It’s been a long and wind(just like everybody else), attempting to ing road so far and we still need to be aware of simultaneously with all the uncertainthe guide rails deal and watch where we’re going.

M

Fresh News!

Honest to Goodness!

But obviously, I’m not the only one who’s been struggling with such issues—whether for oneself one’s theme family for members, The Coop or Scoop’s March is friends, or colleagues; whether “Connections and Corridors. ” As Covid-rewe gingerly lated or not; serious or routine. emerge fromwhether our longer-than-usual hibernathis spring, perhaps startingsick, to see It’stion enough to make you we’re downright some light at the end of the tunnel, and feel and often quite desperate and depressed way towards a new pandemic to our boot.

People have beenreality. afraidThe to make or has caused us to reconsider our connection keep their medical appointments, to go in with the global community, along with the forgood testing, or to even be around other and bad aspects of nature itself. afflicted people.

Mental and how emotional Ruth Ann Smalley describes her family illnesses have been exacerbated and nature are used COVID time to “nurture their connection, ” encouraging us to explore sadly on the rise.

But there are also a lot ofthe woods and our localonline trail networks, while Ben resources available right now, and Goldberg offers us reference points there’s hope that we can finally beat thefor connecting to the food we eat (or choose not Virus and deal with whatever else might be to eat) in his review of Mark Bittman’s new currently ailingVegetable, us. book Animal, Junk: A History of Food, from Sustainable to Suicidal.

In this issueis ofthethetime Coop entitled Spring to Scoop, begin connecting winter to summer by planting seeds and “Heal, ” Rebecca Angel writes our about her planning our gardens.

Pat Sahr profiles the own experience with healing heartburn; HudsonPores Valley Seed what’s Company—those local Melanie makes good for you library heirlooms with the lovely artwork on also taste good with her delicious the packets; Catherine Jura offers tips on how Date-Sweetened Smoothie us recipe; gardening can empower in the Ruth face of Ann Smalleyclimate gets to change; the root and of things daunting Dick with Shirey anprovides article usonwith Regenerative a fascinating Agriculture; history of CSAs and[etc.]. their connection to cooperative and We’re hoping that all principles. of the Check our yummy recipes for tea and articles andout information contained herein curry to warm you up—and enjoy them along will contribute to helping all of us on our with a pair of Ann Lapinski’s contemplative personal journeys toward renewed health poems about tomatoes and horseradish. and healing.

So welcome back and let’s all Connect at the Co-op!

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We’ve begin startedearning with a modest plan “What exactly IS an “edible garden?” immediately. n January 19, Honest are, too!), starting in January you’ll be that includes some of the “easier” Whenever I try to explainI’m explain Administered by Field and We i greally h t Ffun, o o dfree Co-op able to join us for some plants toFork grow (including: this to someone, I inevitably hear Network, lettuces, Double Up officially launched monthly classes including: AdultDouble Art, Up tomatoes, zucchini squash, pole Gene Wilder in Willie Wonka and the allows shoppers experiencBucks for SNAP (SupChair Yoga, Food Body-Mind Centering beans, peppers, and various herbs) Chocolate Factory saying, “Everying food insecurity to access Nutrition (this needs plemental an R), Kids’ Yoga,Assisand hope to expand thing inside is eatable, mean edible, I fresh, organic,our andplanting locally tance IProgram) Wellness/Self-Care, and more.shoppers.

We will We mean you can eatinvited everything.” based ongrown what works (or doesn’t) this produce while maxilocal partners and the also be co-hosting a Veganuary InforBasically, it’s amedia, garden that everyyear. Anymizing surplustheir harvest will be used SNAP benefits. who helped us spread mation event with Capital Region one is invited the to harvest If to supplement our on-going fills at wordtoinour afrom. big way!

By Deanna Beyer Vegan Network prior LoV (Love you’re hungry andWe’re you want to trygrocery Free Food Fridge’s Albany locations. the first of Vegan) Potluck on Sunday, January the Capital Region to something, go store aheadinand pick it!

Look for the Edible Gardens in the 9th. Things get started at 11am with offer urban this program, Inspired by various gardens which beautiful raised wooden beds created the Potluck starting at 1pm. It’s a $1 for the every $1 spent that are poppinggives up around world byon our friends at ADK Rustica and the

By Deanna Beyer good, old-fashioned potluck fresh food fruits and where vegetables, in an effort to address insecurity, stainless trough tubs on the exterior you bring a dish and getper to share all easy of to Human nBycase youSoandso haven’t noticed, our Honest to $20 day. It’s wall of the patio. And if you’re interWeight isup working on cultivatthe other great dishes brought by Educational Programming sign up that and anyone there areested no in being a part of this project in ing an edible landscape With the help of a new team of The Double other attendees.

Register at: has slowly been starting back strings attached—just stop can harvest, share, and enjoy for free. the future, please reach out to Up meFood at member-owners, we’ve officially up again,our which makes happy It’s part by the Service Desk your ov-lovete.com/e/l w.eventbri https://ww Bucks Team of our ongoing mission towith deannab@honestweight.coop. launched first everus so Edible ht-food

By Deanna Beyer onest-weig otluck-at-h after anYou almost two-year hiatus! While makeof-vegan-p SNAP card and at Honest good, fresh food accessible tophoto all. ID to Gardens! might be wondering, 589047 -co-op-tick Weight! fill ets-220071 out the application and the schedule is still limited (class sizes

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Food Bucks Educational Officially Launches!

Programming at Honest Incredible Weight is back!

Edible Gardens!

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Double Up Food Bucks!

PHOTOGRAPH BY LIZA MOLLOY CONNECTIONS AND CORRIDORS

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By Deanna Beyer

What is a Co-op?By Deanna Beyer

If you’re new to Honest Weight, you might be wondering what makes us different from any other grocery store. There are lots of things, but probably the biggest is that we’re a community-owned co-op!

Becoming an Owner at

Salad, Hot Bar, and Cafe are Member-owner, Bob, Back, with stocking shelves on a New Option! his earl morning GroceryAfter shift what has seemed

like forever, the Honest Weight Kitchen is excited to have re-opened both the SSalad Bar and&a 2% HHot Bar, including daily soup As an Owner, you’ll receive discount AndAlso in5% other news: they have also on purchasesofferings. and an additional off big select local launched brand-new products (marked withthe a green “Local”Build-Your-Own sign) throughoutBurger the & Friesyou Bar, available from from 11amtake to -7pm dailyeach store every time shop.

All Owners can also advantage Take local it from those of through us who’veourbeen lucky of discountsday. at other businesses Co-op enough to sample them, (including meat, vegetarian, Community Connections. and vegan options), this is a MUST TRY for all! After Owners have the option to invest time in the store as grabbing your food, you are welcome to enjoy your Member-Owners an additional discount. Those who mealfor in our newly reopenedre-opened Caféinvest space, or 3 hours per month receive an 8% discount, whilelots those who hat exactly does it mean to become an “owner” of Honest out on our beautiful, sunny patio with of comfortinvest 3 hoursable perseating. week get 24%. There are plenty of opportuniWeight? The support and involvement of our Owners make ties in different departments, with flexible hours. the Co-op a strong, participatory, and responsive community. As Member-Owners who are up-to-date with investment hours Owners of a cooperative, we collectively make a remarkable and Recycling have the ability to help shape the futureGlass of the Co-op by voting demonstrable impact on our local community and the sustainabiliat Membership Meetings, participating Piolt in committees, and ty of our local economy. And, you actually own a piece of the store!

Project even running for a seat on the Board.

Joining our community is simple: attend an orientation, fill out an Z e r o Wa s t e C a p i t a l If any of this sounds interesting to you, please consider an application, make your payment and you’re in! A Certificate of District has launched becoming an Owner! Email Memberservices@honestOwnership is a one-time, $100 cost that can be paid in full or in ambitious Glass Recycling weight.coop to sign up for an online orientation. increments via a payment plan.

Pilot Project here at the Co-op, to ensure that the glass is truly being recycled rather than heading to the landfill. To make The beans areitthen roastedwedirectly on state of New York, upon native Shinnesuccessful, need your the reservationhelp! and Instead sold only at the cock land. Elizabeth Thunder Bird Haile, of throwing trading post onclear Shinnecock to Chief Thunder Bird's daughter, stated in glass inland yourand single select retailers.

Thunder Island Coffee is stream bin at home, bring an interview: "Our people did not underalways mountain-grown at elevations of it to the Co-op. stand that people who purchased land, at least 4,000 feet, and USDA Organic and keep it . . . forever. We thought we were Just followCertified. these simple steps: Fair Trade just giving them a nice place to stay for a • Locate the collection bins near our bike lockers few years." The symbol of the Thunder • Only place clear, We now clean glass in the bins Bird, her family name, has served as a• Make sure proudly to removeoffer both the lids and little symbol of pride for the Shinnecock for Thunder Island's: plastic rings (labels are ok)

By Alex Mytelka centuries and is the namesake of • Canarsie Blend Find them all at Thunder Island Coffee Roasters.

• Montauk Blend the back left of Thunder Island Coffee Roasters is a t's a big deal when we welcome • Smoke Signals Aisle 3, wholly Native American owned & operatnew coffee, as that’s perhaps the across from Blend LenKu Nauta has worked for the co-op's Meat dep't fored overcoffee eight years and lovescompany, located on roasting the tofu and most coveted shelf space at Honest • Shinnecock alternative meats. the organization’s commitment to fresh, local, sustainable high-quality ingredients. the Shinnecock Indian Reservation on Seasonal Weight.

Ourtime, long-time grocery Hills Decaf Blend In his spare LenKu enjoys the piano,buyer hiking, and horticulture.

Long Island, New York. Thunder Island Local Produce David has a seemingly never-ending list sources coffee beans through a of awesome coffee brands he would love What could be fresher than all of your favorite Native-to-Native Exchange Cooperative: to work with, but there’s not enough room! produce arriving daily from local farms? (could we their beans come directly from IndigeIn 1640, Puritans from Massachusetts include a couple of relevant farm names here?It’s nous people in Guatemala and Peru, and landed on the banks of what is now growing season and we’ve got farm-fresh fruits and aren't touched by anyone else until veggies they known as Long Island. There they estabfrom all over the area. So, whether you’re reach the Shinnecock Indian Reservation. lished the first English settlement in the looking for nNon-GMO sweet corn, crisp cucumbers, or super juicy, tiny strawberries, we’ve got you covered! Be sure to check out all the beautiful new arrivals next time you’re here.

Honest Weight W

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Thunder Island Coffee Roasters

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Coop Scoop

MARCH 2022

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A Red Trillium also known as a "Wake Robin" native to the Eastern United States

A trail located in the Five Rivers Enviromental Education Center

An Eastern Red Spotted Newt Walking the Woods near Lawson Lake

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PHOTOGRAPH BY RUTH ANN SMALLEY

Nurturing Your Nature Connection

By Ruth Ann Smalley

“T

ouch grass!” I recently learned this expression from my younger family members. It is advice, jokingly offered when someone has spent too long staring at screens and needs to get grounded.

But it makes a lot of sense.

Maybe “touch grass” is the U.S. version of Japanese shinrin-yoku, or “forest bathing.” As evidence for the positive health impacts of time spent in nature, or “green exercise,” has accumulated, it has found its way into popular culture. The website of New York’s Department of Environmental Conservation even offers a whole page about “forest immersion” research. There, phytoncides–basically the tree equivalent of aromatherapy–are cited as a likely source of healing.

Many additional aspects may contribute to the immune-boosting and mood-enhancing effects being discovered as well. For a personal experience of what these studies confirm, try heading for the woods as often as you can.

I’ve always had a walking practice, but mostly in urban spaces.

Surprising amounts of emotional processing and even “mental

Coop Scoop

MARCH 2022

composing” happen while I’m pounding the pavement. Treks up to Thacher Park or walks at Five Rivers used to be merely an occasional treat. But the pandemic changed all that, in the best of ways. My family discovered an abundance of beautiful local trails. We began seeking solace on them year-round, not just in warm weather. And I developed d e e p respect for the network of care and connectedness they represent. They are the thoughtful work of many conservation organizations and hundreds of dedicated volunteers.

Thinking and Acting, Locally and Regionally The Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy is a key local organization (see Scoop, September/October 2021). Since the early 1990s, MHLC has protected thousands of acres, both farm and forest, and created 21 preserves with trails.

They’ve focused on establishing the Helderberg Conservation Corridor, which they describe as “almost 500 acres of climate resilient habitat critical to our region’s wildlife.” That’s an exciting accomplishment!

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Their Strategic Plan for 2022-26 envisions “linking lands between the Catskills and the Adirondacks,” as part of the Staying Connected Initiative. Battling habitat fragmentation, this effort “seeks to conserve, restore, and enhance landscape connectivity across the Northern Appalachian/Acadian region of the U.S. and Canada for the benefit of nature and people” (SCI website).

MHLC is also involved with the Albany County Helderberg-Hudson Rail Trail. This shared-use walking and biking path now links to the Mohawk-Hudson Bikeway, meaning it is connected into the 750-mile Empire State Trail. This is an epic connection: forming a giant capital T, the trail runs from Albany to Buffalo, and from New York City to the Canadian border.

View on the Wilson Powell Bird Sanctuary Hiking Trail

Year-Round Woods Walking In spring of 2020, my family began working and schooling exclusively from our small home in Albany. Five Rivers became our safety valve. A quick and reliable getaway, its 450 acres offer a nice Many trails are within minutes of downtown Albany, out of reach for those lacking transportation.

MHLC and Capital District Transportation Authority teamed up to help remedy that. On Saturdays, from June through September, The Nature Bus offered free rides from six Albany stops to nine local parks and nature centers.

These included Thacher, Five Rivers, Lawson Lake, and Honest Weight’s near neighbor, Tivoli Lake Preserve and Farm. With over 1,000 riders last summer, the Nature Bus is planning more summer adventures to come.

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variety. We found we could walk a large loop on service roads, and not encounter crowds.

A few weeks on, I noticed a change. Our mindset went from “walking in the woods is something we do sometimes” to “we are people who walk in the woods.” With so many other activities off-limits, woods walking moved from the periphery to the center. And I started to crave it.

We walked in all kinds of weather, and pronounced it all good. We coined a silly new motto: “It is almost never not a good time for a walk in the woods.”

That’s because, tromping along, we felt tension ebbing away.

Moving our bodies over rocks, streams, and uneven ground, we PHOTOGRAPH BY RUTH ANN SMALLEY

reconnected with our sensory systems. We shared an ancient ancestral experience of moving rhythmically on foot through field and forest, crisscrossed at times by clouds, breezes, and the songs of frogs. We began searching for new paths to explore.

Over the course of seasons, we saw trillium, trout lily, turkey tail, bittersweet, and wintergreen. We rejoiced in the changing angles of light and shade. We found blueberries, raspberries, and black raspberries. Beech, birch, alder, oak—we became more acquainted with these trees and many others. This past summer was so wet, we found fungus, ferns, and moss thriving everywhere, far into fall.

taking views of the Catskills.

Hand Hollow, also near Chatham, me a nder s a m o n g fer n-fi l l ed woods and ponds. All are Columbia Land Conservancy areas.

The Rensselaer Plateau Alliance oversees the Albert Family Community Forest. It has a hemlock

“

My family discovered an abundance of beautiful local trails…They are the thoughtful work of many conservation organizations and hundreds of dedicated volunteers.

Since that first pandemic spring, we have met countless rabbits and deer, bluebirds, herons, newts, a gigantic leopard slug, and a lumbering porcupine.

We have begun forming larger, more detailed mental maps of o u r r egi on . We a re g a ining new ap p rec iation for t he larger ecosystems in which we are nested.

I hope you’ll get out there and forest bathe! Here’s a sampling of our favorite conservancy trails: Ramshorn-Livingston Sanctuary, near Catskill village, and Long View Park, near New Baltimore, are both Scenic Hudson preserves. Mixed wetland and forest, Ramshorn-Livingston has a lovely observation tower. Long View, on the site of the historic Bronk Farm, features gorgeous Berkshire mountain vistas, and an easy trail to the Hudson River.

Greenport, near Hudson, and the Wilson Powell Bird Sanctuary in the Chatham area offer breath-

”

hardwood swamp, and hilly trails with gentle altitude gain.

Kinderhook Creek, a Rensselaer Land Trust Preserve, has impressive boulders and variable rapids, visible from streamside paths.

For those who like steep terrain, a rope railing helps with the ridge ascent.

A trio of MHLC trails in the Town of New Scotland are worth exploring. Bennett Hill and the Keleher Preserve offer great views of the Helderbergs, offering 3-4 miles of trails, with some steep areas. Keleher allows bikes and horses. Holt Preserve has a quiet pond, and some easier inclines.

MHL C a l s o ha s a c ou pl e of one-mile trails near Albany, perfect for a lunch walk. Schiffendecker Farm is a streamside gem, hidden behind the Glenmont Lowe’s. Van Dyke Preserve, near the Bethlehem high school, boasts spring trillium and cutleaf toothwort flowers.

Basics for All Seasons We like to travel light.

Here’s what we’ve found most helpful:

Warm Weather Brimmed Hat

Bandanna Essential Oils: for discouraging bugs

Cold Weather Exospikes:

these slip-on treads offer amazing traction

Wool:

Socks, base layers, and a neck gaiter that can double as a scarf, face covering, or hat

Flannel-Lined Jeans or Long Underwear

All Weather Boots

with good tread, preferably with some water and mud shedding ability

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Coop Scoop

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Fax: 518.427.7346

CONNECTIONS AND CORRIDORS

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Producer

Profile

Hudson Valley Seed Company Accord, NY

K

en Greene and Doug Muller founded Hudson Valley Seed Company (HVSC), as an organic, heirloom, and open-pollinated seed business in Accord, NY. Starting in 2009 with three acres—named Four Fold Farm after their distinctive seed package design—it evolved from Greene’s project, the Valley Educational Seed Saving Exchange and Library. In 2004, committed to preserving heirloom varieties, Greene had added seeds to the Gardiner town library catalog where he was a librarian. This became the first seed in the country: What is library a community-owned co-op?

It’sout a grocery its patrons could check seeds, store growowned them,by and members, usually the who shop return saved seed at the end of thepeople season. are theispeople who cooperaAnotherhere.

HVSCThese innovation the commissioning tively manage and control the packs. business. of diverse works of art for their seed An The membership makes all kinds of annual public call for art is issued, with about twenty decisions, including what foods and applicants products chosen toare design and shelf, produce unique on the anda what work for a new variety.

Artists come mainly from standards those products and theirthe Northeast;producers many are avid havegardeners. to meet (think growing Having practices, introduced 40 ingredients, new varieties, clean etc.). HVSC At Weight, we’ve got about 14,000 researchesHonest and undertakes breeding projects using traditionalmembers. methods. Notably, they have partnered with seed keeper Rowan White and the Hudson Valley can shop here? seeds Everyone is in Farm Hub,Who to rematriate indigenous grown welcome: anyone can shop at the co-op. If the Native American Seed Sanctuary in Kingston. you decide to become a member, you’ll Member ofpurchase the OpenaSource Initiative, HVSC has “share”Seed of the co-op, become signed theeligible Safe Seed Pledge, adhering to Vandana for lots of additional discounts on Shiva's Declaration Seedhave Freedom. products,ofand voting rights on The pandemic surge gardening and homesteaddecisions thatin affect the store.

Honest Weight member-owners choose ing resulted in exponential growth.can HVSC now to has a their time at to theinclude store, more serve seeds, on retail shop,invest and has expanded of our committees, or work tubers, andone bulbs, as well as fruit trees.

Soonwith theyawill program, in order to receive a bigger begin stewardship of a 300-year-old farm and wooddiscount (up to 24%) on their groceries. land in the Rondout Valley, protected by a conservation easement. and Muller worked closely WhatGreene is on offer?

We believe everyone with Rondout-Esopus Land Conservancy and the in our community should have access to

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Specials. We also accept SNAP benefits.

How is Honest Weight part of the local food system? If buying local is important to you, we’re one of the best places around to shop. Co-ops form strong relationships with local, small-scale producers, which means you can find products that aren’t typically available at traditional supermarkets. At Honest Weight, we work with over 285 local farms and 319 local producers; that list is always growing. And because we get daily deliveries, it means fresher, lower-impact food that hasn’t travelled across the country for days.

Shopping for special dietary needs? We get it. It’s easy to find tasty food alternatives in every department at the co-op. Our friendly staff can also make suggestions if you’re feeling overwhelmed by the choices, as many of them are on special diets, too!

How does Honest Weight support the local community?

Most co-ops devote significant time and resources to educational programming, community development, and outreach initiatives. We donate 5% of our net profits to local not-for-profit organizations, run free and low-cost educational programs that are open to all, and are always looking forSpace waysInstitute to collaborate Open on this with transpartners in the community.

We offer fer (see Coop Scoop September/Octomany opportunities for member 2021).

The property enlarges their ber-owners to help with this commugrowing capacity by 30 acres, providnity engagement. ing more trial and demonstration gardens, and room for an art gallery.

What other co-ops are in the area? You can find co-opsExp everylore the utiful HVSC beaWeight, where! In addition to Honest lay near seed there are several others youdisp can rance! ent op Cothe check out: Niskayuna Consumers Co-op, Chatham Real Food Market For more information Co-op, Mohawk Harvest Cooperative about this Market, and Cambridge Food Co-op.

producer, visit:

HudsonValleySeed.com

While every co-op has its own distinctive vibe, we are all founded on Sahr has been a member of the Co-op since 2005. She contributes to the the Pat same basic principles: Coop Scoop as the writer of the Producer Profiles. Sahr says, "It’s a pleasure being · voluntary and openfamily, membership part of the Honest Weight and I've especially enjoyed communicating with the various producers products are sold at the Co-op!" democratic memberwhose control affordable, high-quality, natural foods · member economic participation and products for healthy living. So we · autonomy and independence offer things like Co+op Basics (a line of · education, training, and informaCONNECTIONS AND CORRIDORS over 450 high-quality foods and housetion

Co-op Book Joy Review

is

During Animal, A COVID Vegetable, Junk

By Ben Goldberg

and

Meet Stephanie, Caleb, and

their new babyFood, Nora!

A History of from committed to providing our Sustainable

By Rebeccato AngelSuicidal

with

By Mark Bittman Mifflinhave Harcourt aleb Houghton and his family been2021 with the Honest

C M

Rebecca: When was Nora born? Were there unexpected challenges and/or gifts?

foods and products for healthy Steph: Nora was born on November 27th. To Duringpromote labor we had a slight birth complication called shoulder dystocia which was quickly remedied. We had so many people offerBittman’s Animal, Vegetable, ing to help us Junk after we her home.

From watching isbrought a valuable contribution her so we couldto sleep forlist a few to dropping off home the ofhours books that raise cooked meals. our collective consciousness

(and collective righteous ire)

Caleb: All three of us caught coronavirus when Nora was a about food.

Here are few other month old. [They all came through fine.]

recommended titles:

• Frances Moore Lappé a Small Planet (a a1971 classic, Steph: Our focusDiet nowfor is working towards balance of work revised and updated in 1991) and home life, and soaking in every second with our daugh-

who choose to partici a community that em cooperative principles Caleb: My advice is to be reasonably careful, but not allow • Rajdoing Patelwhat’s best for your family. Enjoy fear to stop you from in Stuffed an atmosphere of and Starved: The Hidden every moment that you can.

Battle for the World Food System and Steph: My advice would be to try not to compare your child ter as we watch her grow.

• Michael Pollan The Omnivore’s Dilemma: Rebecca: Any advice for expecting parents?

A Natural History of Four Meals

for

to anyone else’s. Being a parent humbles you and gives you a • Raj Patel and Rupa Marya strong desire to be the best version of yourself Inflamed: Deep Medicine and that you can be. Practice patience.

This is easier when you make time for the Anatomy of Injustice yourself. Remember when they’re fussy that they aren’t giving you a hard• Tom time,Philpott they are having a hard time. You’ll make mistakes along the Forgive Perilousway.

Bounty: Theyourself Loomingas well.

Collapse of American Farming

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Thank you, Caleb and Stephanie for sharing your story. and How We Can Prevent It Hugs and best wishes to baby Nora from the Honest INDUST RIAL PARK RD family!

Weight N E W S MARCH 2022 BY JANE WELSH ILLUSTRATION 1010 LI

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Coop CoopScoop Scoop

ways to

Rebecca: What is your focus now? What are you looking forward to in the future?

D

Weight family for many years; his grandmother ark Bittman’s subtitle saysalong it all: “A his History joined in 1990! Caleb tagged with grand-of Food, from Sustainable to Suicidal.”

This book, one mother for member work as a toddler, and was hired in 2015. of Bittman’s 30 published works as a food journalHe is currently the buyer for the wellness department and is ist,fitness columnist, cookbook author, traces for the a personal trainerand as well.

Stephanie is a nanny relationship between humans and food. It covers the breadth small children and has worked with kids for as long as oftwo human history from the hunter-gatherer stage to the she can remember.

In her freestage, time ashe loves hiking and present “industrial agriculture” stage that is characwriting. terized by a less nutritious and probably unhealthy, I have known since he was adiet littleoverdosed boy and met meat-centric, andCaleb highly processed with Stephanieadditives, when theysugar, were dating teenagers.

What aAnimal, joy to chemical and as salt.

Throughout see them Junk, grow stated into adults, and nowcore parents!

Duringarch COVID, Vegetable, and implied questions over the narrative, What do we food for? What Stephanie andincluding: Caleb shared photos of grow their pregnancy and should we on besocial able media, to expect from our joy food and from its new baby which brought to many people production?

How does industrial agriculture affect our in their community. They kindly agreed to answer some farmland climate? perhaps important: How questionsand about what And, it was like tomost go through such a does the modern diet affect our health and well-being? momentous life event during a pandemic.

Bittman argues that our food production and priorities are directly related to the dark sides of politics, economics, Rebecca: When did you find out about your pregnancy? wealth disparities, human rights and (in)justice. He traces What were somebetween expectations thesehistorical impactthe relationships foodyou andhad? suchWere shameful ed by the pandemic? events as the theft of land from, and the genocide of, indigenous peoples; multi-generational slavery that dehumanized Steph: found and out Ithe wasslave pregnant in March of 2020.

I both the We enslaved owners; negligent worker didn’t have too many specific expectations, but I assumed I’d safety and exploitation; and the radical wealth gap that even be surrounded bythese familyphenomena. and Caleb would be able to beasserts there now results from Bittman bluntly that ourprenatal so-calledappointments. food system is “chemical laced and profit for my crazed” and primarily benefits Big Food rather than people and public health.

Caleb: Unfortunately I missed the first ultrasound because however,After this that, painstakingly researched analysis ofFinally, the restrictions. we called different offices until does lead the reader to multifaceted courses of action that we found one that at least let me in for the ultrasounds. We could, hopefully, reset/reinvent the current broken, unsusended up going with Albany Obstetrics and Gynecology at tainable global food system. Food, he contends, is directly St. Peter’s. connected to existential 21st-century issues. Bittman writes, “Every solution in the realm of food is interconnected.”

Rebecca:“You Do you mind whoconversation you trusted with Therefore: can’t havesharing a serious aboutyour food pregnancy and birth care? (doctor, midwife, doula?) without talking about human rights, climate change, and WA T RV LIE justice. Food not only affects everything, it represents Eeverything. ” TA Steph: I lives sawandseveral midwives during theVE EpregXT Ben Goldberg, eats in thedifferent Capital District. nancy. I had a great experience with a midwife named Sarah CE NT RA Prior who delivered Nora.

LA V

www.HonestWeight.coop

Gardening as a Superpower

By Catherine Jura

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PHOTOGRAPHY BY FILIP URBAN

How to create the healthiest and most helpful garden

By shifting our plantings toward natives, we can dramatically increase the diversity of bees, butterflies, birds, and other animals.

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Seeds and plants bred in your region When you use seeds and plants from people breeding them in your region, they'll be better adapted for your growing conditions.

”

id you know that as a home gardener you can impact climate change?

While it may not be large in our immediate environment, collectively it can be quite substantial. Each decision has an impact on the greater ecological system of our planet. Fortunately, there are a number of things we can do as gardeners to aid the effort to slow climate change.

Climate change lOl NASA defines climate change as “a long-term change in the average weather patterns that have come to define Earth's local, regional and global climates.” In the Northeast, these changes include warmer winters, hotter summers, flooding, and changes in the length of growing seasons.

These changes are caused by greenhouse gasses such as carbon dioxide.

How your garden can help One of your garden's biggest superpowers in fighting climate change is carbon sequestration. As plants and trees grow, they take carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Carbon is stored in the tissues of plants as well as in the soil, where microbes use it and it is stored (or sequestered) over time. So the more plants and trees we grow the more we can support sequestration.

Coop Scoop

Native plants and perennials The University of Massachusetts ScholarWorks estimates that 80% of ornamental plants for sale are non-native. By shifting our plantings toward natives, we can dramatically increase the diversity of bees, butterflies, birds, and other animals.

Native plants reduce risks associated with invasive species, and often need fewer inputs and less watering. Perennials decrease soil disruption, and their more established root systems help hold soil and water.

Want to learn more?

Argyle, NY The best way to adapt to climate change in your garden is to dig in and reach out.

“Gardening in a Warming World” is a course created by Ashley Helmholdt of Cornell Cooperative Extension. To learn more, contact Ashley at alm443@cornell.edu. The Co-op’s Plants Department is not only a source of seeds, plantings, and garden supplies, but also a group of very knowledgeable folks who can talk with you about your particular garden. Come on in!

Catherine Jura Teaching, writing, creating, promoting, and talking about food is what Catherine has loved doing for the last 40 years. She also enjoys walking in the woods and being by water; reading for hours on end; being with the people she loves; and hugging and laughing. She has been a working Co-op member-owner for seven years—primarily in Outreach.

Biodiversity Landscapes with more plant diversity are more resilient when it comes to facing new pest and disease pressures in a changing climate. Check your garden weekly to make sure something is always in bloom. Add never-tried-before plants to fill any gaps you notice.

Managing increased rainfall The University of Maryland Extension notes that the three principles to managing stormwater are "slow it down, spread it out, and soak it in." Create a rain garden, swale, or vegetated buffer. Use rain barrels to store water for later use. ` Garden journal Learn from the past to plan for the future: keep track of plant lists, temperature and rainfall changes, and whatever has been successful (or not).

Seed exchange and plant swaps You can learn what’s working locally in an exchange/swap group. While sharing extras of what you’re growing, you can trade success stories with gardeners in your area who are dealing with the same climate-related growing challenges you are.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY MAARTEN VAN DEN HEUVEL

DID YOU KNOW?

Out of every dollar you spend at HWFC, 61 cents goes straight to covering the cost of goods sold. Because so many of our goods come from local producers, that means you have a big ripple effect!

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3 garlic cloves

Corner Corner

ChickpeaFavorite Lentil Melanie’s Sweet Potato Date-Sweetened Coconut Curry Fruit Smoothie Prep time: 5-10 minutes • Cook time: 40 minutes

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ByMelanie Tammy Diaz By Pores

y favorite one-pot vegan dish is a warm bowl of Chickpea nLentil Ayurveda, 5000Sweetthe Potato Coconut yearold “science of and Curry. Perfect for frigid winter life,”, one thewarm emerging spring days, bowl of white stickyand rice, topped with this curry and heat humidity of the early red onionscan is anbe ideal dish to share with summer challenging, loved ones.to individuals with a especially The constitution past couple of years have been “Pitta” like myself, difficult for us all. Sitting down for a who tend to overheat and dehymeal with people we love has become drate easily. I’ve made this to deliver less common.

As the having temperature andIt works to friends a hard time. humidity rise in the surrounding environment, the body is also experiencesing a surge in temperature and beginsning to accumulate moisture internally. People of all constitutions in this season need to be mindful of fluid intake and electrolyte balance.

To this end, I thought you might enjoy here is a healthy blended fruit recipe, that you can either enjoy as a yummy drink or easily pour it into an ice pop tray and place in your freezer to help keep you hydrated. It’s a healthy, and delicious way to attend to your body's thirst, as soon as it arises, and to restore your body’s electrolyte balance.

I hope you will enjoy my simple recipe for a date sweetened fruit smoothie.

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great as meal prep for the week’s lunches. And I love using beautiful veggies from the co-op!

I just estimate spices, and use whatever veggies I have. It's a very flexible creation: add more spice and make it your own. Listen to music, drink your favorite beverage, and start chopping!

Tammy Diaz is a Veterinary Tech, with two rescue dogs and a cat. She is vegetarian, loves music, reading and hiking; completed the Lake George 12 and is working on the Catskills.

2 cups fresh greens 1 large yellow onion (e.g, kale, spinach, or a mixture 2 medium-large of greens) sweet potatoes

1 1/21cups head coconut of broccoliwater OR or coconut othermilk veggies freshmilk ginger 1 cup1 inch almond oz. canchopped diced tomatoes 1 cup15 pitted, dates, OR 2 large tomatoes soaked overnight 2 Tbsp tomato paste

1 cup1 Tbsp freshcurry or frozen cooling powder summer fruit ½ tsp ground cumin (e.g, blueberries, blackberries, ¼ tsp turmeric chunks of mango) ¼ tsp cayenne or 1 Tbsp flaxseed hotground chili powder 15 oz. fat-free coconut milk 1-2 scoops protein powder cups vegetable (pea 3protein powder broth for vegans) 15 oz. can of cardamom chickpeas OR 1/4 tsp ground ¾ cup of dry chickpeas from 1 tspthe cinnamon bulk section (note: chickpeas should be soaked 1 tspovernight vanilla before extract use in recipe.)

1 cup brown orfat green lentils 1 -2 Tbsp healthy (e.g, coconut butter, coconut oil, 3-4 handfuls of spinach avocado or almond butter Salt and pepper to tasteor otherTop nutwith or seed butter) chopped or

sliced red onions

1. Finely dice garlic, yellow 1. Pour coconut water/ or onion,milk, and ginger. coconut and unsweet2. almond Chop tomatoes or ened milk, filling a use canned. high-speed blender to the 2 3. Chop broccoli peeled 1/2 cup mark for 2 and quarts of sweet potatoes. smoothie. Add the greens.

4. Heat 1 Tbsp of oil in a large

2. Start blending on low and, saucepan on medium.

5. Cookstart onions transluas greens tountil break down, cent. Add garlic and ginger, increase tooccasionally. medium speed stirring until completely broken down 6. Stir in spices. and smooth, approximately 7. Add tomatoes, tomato 45-60 seconds. paste, and a drizzle more of

oil, salt, and pepper.

3. Add in soaked dates and cooling fruit.

8. Stirsummer in broccoli, sweet

potatoes, or other veggies,

4. Add ground flaxseed, along with broth, lentils, and chickpeas. protein powder, and cardamom, 9. Bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, and partly covered, for 40 cinnamon, vanilla extract. minutes.

5. Add 1 toin 2 Tbsp healthy 10. Stir spinach for the fat. final 10 minutes.

Blend until smooth.

11. When cooked, stiror inpour 6. Serve immediately coconut milk. Serve over rice in an pop and freeze. orice store in tray the fridge for up to 5 days.

Enjoy!

PHOTOGRAPHY BY LAURA WRIGHT

Fresh News!

Angelic Bakehouse 7 Sprouted No Added Salt Whole Grain Bread

W e ’ v e f iDouble n a l l yUp Food Bucks is a nationfound a great-tastwide fruit and vegetable incentive ing breadprogram, withoutservicing millions of SNAP any addedusers, salt for in 20+ states at over 800 o u r c u s t o m eactive rs farmers markets, CSAs, farm stands, who are watching markets, and grocery stores. t h e i r s omobile dium intake! Find in The it program gives shoppers $1 for our bread every section. $1 spent with SNAP, so you can

purchase even more produce.

A match of up to $20 a day could mean $40 for healthy foods. Why is this important? Because too many people don’t have access, even with government aid, to the amount of Made from allulose, this healthy food needed to support famisugar substitute has zero calories and zerolies. net Sign carbs,up is free and the dollars a n d i s n o n - gnever lycem ic, expire. blood-sugar friendly, andYork State, Double Up has This Certified B Corp.

In New Lilly’s Keto plant-based. works with family farmers

By Deanna Beyer contributed million pounds of Cauliflower Hummus Use 1.25 cups to 1.1 on a state-to-state basis to healthy food sales to over 24,000 of RxSugar freeze their produce in This award-winning tionsell of SNAP Nutrition for each cup at more than 130 sites customers, Hunger Free America estimates season and it in (Supplemental local snacker tastes amazof regular23 counties.

Assistance Program) benefits that stores 365 days a spanning that this past year has seen a grocery 67% ing and has only 1 net s Visit u g a our r . Service Desk to sign up year. Youwe’ve can now seenfind in aNY single year. Which is increase in food- insecure New Yorkcarb. Vegan, G-F, and & NJ Berry Blend, NJ to participate in Aisle delicious—available why we’re so excited and go to1!honestweight.coop for more ers. And here at Honest Weight we’re Blueberries, Pennsylvania in program.

Original, Buffalo, Double Up Food Bucks! information on the on track to have the highest redempPeaches, and NY Cherries Ranch-Dill, and in our freezer aisle!

Turmeric. With all of the regular hummus.

Seal the Seasons Double UpFrozen Fruit Food Bucks!

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RxSugar

2022 MARCHHeal

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Corner Corner Cardamom Favorite Turmeric Melanie’s Pomegranate Date-Sweetened Pitta-Friendly Tea Fruit Smoothie

T I

By Melanie Pores

By Melanie Pores

his came out of trying to find a recipe to use up some extra nbaked Ayurveda, the 5000squash I had. Unfortuyearold “science of nately, I didn’t have all the ingredients life,”, the emerging for anything, so I merged several heat andmade humidity of the early recipes, replacements, adjusted, made stuffcan up be as challenging, I went along, and summer then…well, I forgot I wanted especially to individuals withtoause up some walnuts I had too.

Half-way “Pitta” constitution like myself, who tend to overheat and dehydrate easily.

As the temperature and humidity rise in the surrounding environment, the body is also experiencesing a surge in temperature and beginsning to accumulate moisture internally. People of all constitutions in this season need to be mindful of fluid intake and electrolyte balance.

To this end, I thought you might enjoy here is a healthy blended fruit recipe, that you can either enjoy as a yummy drink or easily pour it into an ice pop tray and place in your freezer to help keep you hydrated. It’s a healthy, and delicious way to attend to your body's thirst, as soon as it arises, and to restore your body’s electrolyte balance.

I hope you will enjoy my simple recipe for a date sweetened fruit smoothie.

15

through baking the “thing,” I took it out and stirred in some chopped walnuts, hoping for the best. ( It was already an experiment.) Lo! It came out great. I quickly wrote down my invention. Enjoy!

Melanie Pores a retired bilingual educator, and HWFC member since 1978, has facilitated HWFC‘s Spanish Conversation Group since 2015. September in HWFC’s Community Room/Teaching Kitchen, Mondays, 10am-noon.

2 cups fresh greens (e.g, kale, spinach, or a mixture of greens) 1 Pitta-friendly tea bag Traditional 1 1/2(Try cups coconutMedicinals water or Licorice tea or Organic India coconut milk Tulsi Sweet Rose Herbal tea) 1 cup milk ¼ almond tsp ground cardamom ¼ pitted, tsp ground turmeric 1 cup chopped dates, soaked overnight Pinch ground pippali (long pepper) 1 cup fresh or frozen cooling 2 oz. pomegranate juice summer fruit (e.g, blueberries, blackberries, chunks of mango) 1 Tbsp ground flaxseed 1-2 scoops protein powder (pea protein for vegans) 1. Bring ¾ powder cup of water (about 6 to a boil.

1/4ounces) tsp ground cardamom 2. Place the tea bag, turmeric, 1 tsp cinnamon cardamom, and pippali in a 1 tsp vanilla extract mug, add the boiling water, andhealthy cover. fat 1 -2stir, Tbsp (e.g,3.coconut butter, coconut oil, Let steep for 3 to 5 minutes. avocado or almond butter or 4. After teabutter) has steeped, other nut orthe seed remove the tea bag and discard. Pour in the pomegranate juice, mix, and enjoy this healthy, 1. anti-inflammatory Pour coconut water/ tea!or coconut milk, and unsweetened almond milk, filling a high-speed blender to the 2 1/2 cup mark for 2 quarts of smoothie. Add the greens.

2. Start blending on low and, as greens start to break down, increase to medium speed until completely broken down and smooth, approximately 45-60 seconds.

3. Add in soaked dates and cooling summer fruit.

4. Add ground flaxseed, protein powder, and cardamom, cinnamon, and vanilla extract.

5. Add 1 to 2 Tbsp healthy fat.

Blend until smooth.

6. Serve immediately or pour in an ice pop tray and freeze.

Enjoy!

CONNECTIONS AND CORRIDORS

Fresh News!

Community Supported Agriculture and the Evolution of Small-Scale Farming

Double Up Food Bucks!

By Dick Shirey

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) i s a beneficial relationship between farmers (workers of the farm) By (membership Deanna Beyer subscriband consumers ers). In effect, they pledge to support eachHunger other. The relationship between Free America isestimates many members in a community to a few that who this work past on year has seen 67% people a small farm.aCSAs increase in foodinsecure New Yorkevolved in the late 20th century to avoid ers.

And here at Weight we’re the eradication of Honest small-scale farming.

And thrived despite the many on they trackhave to have the highest redemphistorical dynamics working against them.

For thousands of years, farms were community-oriented, and agriculture was local. Most people were engaged in agriculture. With the dawn of capitalism and the Industrial Revolution a few centuries ago, farm practices began to change. At first, changes in technology were small, then more rapid technological development took place in the early 20th century and beyond.

When farms were small and local, surplus farm products were bartered for household necessities or sold in a local market for a few coins. Up to the 20th century, large U.S. farms prospered only by relying on slavery or extremely low-wage labor. In 1900, the bulk of the farms in the U.S. were family-scale farms.

Major Farming Changes in the Twentieth Century But WWI, rural depression, the Dust Bowl, the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1933, and subsequent farm programs changed everything. Commercial farms driven by farm markets, monocropping, and farm loans, all encouraged by these farm programs, led to a dynamic where farms got big, went bankrupt, and sold out to developers or were swallowed upby larger farm entities. The government programs incentivized farmers to “get big or die.”

By the 1980s, the number of farms had shrunk by more than half and farm size had more than doubled. Farming was by then a commercial enterprise dependent on markets: the wholesale market, the

Coop Scoop Scoop Coop

credit market, the farm equipment market, and the pesticide and fertilizer market, among others. For agricultural products sold, the share of the dollar received by farmers had fallen consistently. tion of SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Needless to say, unlike the biggest Assistance Program) benefits farms in the U.S., small-scale farmsthat have we’ve seen in a single year. been in crisis and in a state of Which decline is for why we’re to participate in more thansoaexcited century.

Community Supported Double Up Agriculture Food Bucks! is a movement born out of the desire to reduce the impact of impersonal markets and to restore the relationship between the community and the local farmers.

Cooperative Principles at Work in Community Supported Agriculture While there are various theories about the origins of CSAs, I would argue that in the U.S., they are a subset of a broader movement of consumer and producer cooperatives, designed to avoid the harshest aspects of the market system. CSAs are local and evolve based on local conditions. They have aspects of cooperative principles that date back to the Rochdale Pioneers in England in 1844. Their principles include membership, democratic participation of members, sharing of risk, contribution of labor, and inclusiveness, as well as an element of education.

CSAs first began to appear in the northeastern U.S. in the mid-1980s and have swelled in number to over 7,000 in all parts of the U.S. today. While most are small with less than a hundred members, they are diverse and vary in structure and farm size.

CSA members share risk with the farmer, thereby ameliorating a major cause of failure. This element is more important than ever now in an era of extreme weather and temperatures.

Members subscribe for a growing season. Hence, the farm does not have to borrow money to operate for the year.

The members then share in the bounty of the farm, which will vary from year to year. The result is financial stability for

HealFARM PHOTOGRAPHY BY DENISON

the farm, which minimizes the use of credit, theBucks cost of operaDoublereduces Up Food is afarm nationtion, fruit and taps the talents of memwide andinto vegetable incentive bers who are committed to supporting program, the farm.servicing millions of SNAP users, active in 20+ states at over 800 Environmental and Social Benefits farmers markets, CSAs, farm stands, CSAmarkets, farms are mobile andenvironmentally grocery stores. friendly.

Mostgives CSAs shoppers implement$1organic The program for farming methods and animal-friendly every $1 spent with SNAP, so you can practices. Members make a conscious purchase more those produce. choice toeven support practices and CSAs provide opportunities for could member A match of up to $20 a day families visit the farm to Why see where mean $40tofor healthy foods. is theirimportant? food comes Because from. Thetoo environmenthis many tal practices of CSAs benefit the health of people don’t even withCSA the land and have healthaccess, of farmworkers. government aid, to the amount of membership provides nourishing organicfood foodneeded for members, and famiit benehealthy to support fits Sign the global reducing lies. up isenvironment free and thebydollars “food-miles” never expire. by reducing transport of farm products over long distances. In In New York State,the Double addition, because farmUpis has local, contributed to 1.1 million pounds of produce is available to members very shortly food after sales harvest, sometimes healthy to over 24,000the same day. at more than 130 sites customers, Because the pandemic, CSAs have spanning 23 of counties. had extra costs to ensure the safety of Visit our Desk to sign up as those whoService work the farm as well and go to honestweight.coop for more members at delivery sites. Cooperation and participation CSAs make the information on thewithin program. survival of small-scale farms possible, while it exposes the weakness in supply chains dependent on markets, long-distance food chains, and food processing.

The future of CSAs depends on their flexibility and the continued resolve of the wider community to support small local agriculture.

Richard L. Shirey is a Professor Emeritus of Economics at Siena College. He has been active in support of the Roxbury Community Supported Agriculture farm for the last 30 years, where he has served as worker advisor, fund-raiser, member, and consumer. His fascination with co-ops and sustainable agriculture derive from their positive attributes of enhancing the human spirit and renewing the planet.

Local Farms with CSA programs that shoppers can also support through their Honest Weight purchases include:

Denison Farm Fox Creek Farm Juniper Hill Farm Lovin’ Mama Farm Soul Fire Farm and Edible Uprising are two other local farms that offer CSAs, and generously help support the Albany Free Food Fridges. 1416

Corner

I. The first to ripen in July, The 57 day Sungold, Spheres small enough To wear acorn caps as hats.

Waiting to be popped In your mouth For their sweet flavor burst

Eight Varieties, One Garden

Melanie’s Favorite Date-Sweetened Fruit Smoothie

I

II. Striped German, Sliced crosswise, the interwoven Scarlet and gold bands of color ByInsist Melanie thatPores they be served On a plain white platter, Enhanced only by n Ayurveda, the 5000-A touch of salt and white year- old “science ofpepper

By Ann Lapinski

life,”, the emerging heat and humidity of the earlyIII. summer can be challenging,Roma, the workhorse, especially to individuals with aArrives in the kitchen in “Pitta” constitution like myself, Brimming baskets, ten pounds who tend to overheat and dehyof plum shaped fruit at a time. drate easily.

Add onions, garlic and spices As the temperature and To turn these meaty treasures humidity rise in the surrounding environment, the body isInto sauce that is frozen also experiencesing a surge inAnd re-emerges at meals temperature and beginsning toOn the deadest of winter days accumulate moisture internally. People of all constitutions inIV. this season need to be mindfulGreen zebra, tart and lemon of fluid intake and electrolyteFlavors mingled with sweet.

A lime emerald color that balance.

To this end, I thought youMakes a Christmas design might enjoy here is a healthyIn August when stacked atop blended fruit recipe, that youA Brandywine slice can either enjoy as a yummy drink or easily pour it into anV. ice pop tray and place in yourSweet 100, freezer to help keep you hydrat-Tiny balls so voluminous ed. It’s a healthy, and deliciousThat 100 of them way to attend to your body'sAre sliced into half moons thirst, as soon as it arises, andFor an afternoon of to restore your body’s electroSacrificing moisture lyte balance.

I hope you will enjoy my simple recipe for a date sweetened fruit smoothie.

17

2 cups fresh greens (e.g, kale, spinach, or a mixture of greens)

VI. Big boy, an ordinary red hybrid 1/2 cups coconut water or Whose 1mission is to coconut milk Enhance 1 cupof almond Two slices breadmilk 1 cup pitted, chopped dates, Mayonnaise soaked overnight And bacon 1 cup fresh or frozen cooling VII. summer fruit Grape, (e.g, theblueberries, teardropblackberries, that serves of mango) Salads, chunks adding the texture and Flavor contrast to flaxseed 1 Tbsp ground

Crisp greens, 1-2 scoops protein powder Sit waiting to bepowder for vegans) (pea protein Pierced1/4 with a fork tsp ground cardamom

1 tsp cinnamon IX. The last1 tsp to vanilla enter extract my kitchen, The 78 1day Brandywine -2 Tbsp healthy fat (e.g, in coconut butter, coconut oil, Weighing avocado almond butter or At one pound or each otherred nut flesh or seed butter) Pink skin, Provides an unrivaled feast when Married to basil and olive oil, 1. Pour coconut One hearty slice perwater/ guestor coconut milk, and unsweetfilling a October,ened thealmond vines milk, droop, high-speed blender to the 2 turn brown 1/2 cup mark for 2 quarts of Production ceases smoothie.

AddSomhain. the greens.

No need to mourn

All eight2. dance through myand, Start blending on low Memory…….

Evoke? as greens start to break down, increase to medium speed

Ann Lapinski is retired from her first career asdown a until completely broken nutritionist and her second career as an attorney for the NYS Dept.and of Environmental Conservation.

She smooth, approximately loves the new adventures that retirement brings to her.

She has been a45-60 memberseconds. of HWFC since the early 1980s.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY EDGAR CASTRE

3. Add in soaked dates and cooling summer fruit.

4. Add ground flaxseed, protein powder, and cardamom, cinnamon, and vanilla extract.

5. Add 1 to 2 Tbsp healthy fat.

Blend until smooth.

6. Serve immediately or pour in an ice pop tray and freeze.

Enjoy!

Coop Scoop

PHOTOGRAPHY BY PUCH LONG

18

By Ann Lapinski

Horseradish

Gnarly, rough, tough, Scent of the earth.

I labor to release The power Of this root.

Peel, chop, Grind, grate, gnash, The blender transforms It to pulp. I lift the lid At arm's length.

My sinuses awaken.

Coop Scoop

A porch in Brooklyn, Seated at my Mother's side, Her gnarly hands Grating the root, Liberating strength That stings our Tender eyes, Heals her Joint pain.

O Boze!

This annual Rite of Spring. (“O Boze!” is a Polish expression, similar to “Good heavens!” or “Oh my gosh!”)

PHOTOGRAPHY BY RED ROOT CO.

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References and Resources With great information comes great resources. Please check out these links to find out more from our Coop Scoop articles.

Double-Up Food Bucks

By Deanna Beyer

For more information about SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits and to see if you qualify go to: https://www.albanycounty.com/departments/social-services/su plemental-nutrition-assistance-program-snap To find out more about the Field and Fork network: https://fieldandforknetwork.com/

What’s Fresh and Fresh News

By Deanna Beyer & Alex Mytelka

For information on what it means to be gluten-free: https://sealtheseasons.com/ https://lillysfoods.com/ https://rxsugar.com/ https://www.angelicbakehouse.com/ https://thunderislandcoffee.com/

Nurturing Your Nature Connection

By Ruth Ann Smalley

Empire State Trail https://empiretrail.ny.gov/ Preserves – Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy https://mohawkhudson.org/our-preserves/ Helderberg Conservation Corridor https://mohawkhudson.org/helderberg-success/ Staying Connected Initiative http://stayingconnectedinitiative.org/about/ Forest Bathing https://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/90720.html#Research The Nature Bus: https://www.news10.com/news/albany-county/new-bus-connects-residents-with-nature-areas-in-albany-county/ Rensselaer Land Trust https://www.renstrust.org/ Rensselaer Plateau Alliance https://www.rensselaerplateau.org/

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COMMUNITY LOVE

Columbia Land Conservancy https://clctrust.org/ Five Rivers Environmental Education Center https://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1835.html Scenic Hudson https://www.scenichudson.org/ Empire State Trail | Rails-to-Trails Conservancy https://www.railstotrails.org/policy/trailstransform/projects/newyork/

Gardening as a Superpower

By Catherine Jura

https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/science/key-findings#physical-science https://extension.umd.edu/resource/sustainable-gardening-solutions-climate-change https://www.bhg.com/gardening/gardening-trends/gardening-in-a-changing-climate/ https://www.thegardencontinuum.com/blog/how-to-rethink-residential-gardening-for-climate-change https://climate.nasa.gov/resources/global-warming-vs-climate-change/ https://ag.umass.edu/news-events/highlights/umass-experts-offer-advice-0 https://eo.ucar.edu/kids/green/warming4.htm https://scholarworks.umass.edu/eco_ed_materials/8/

Animal, Vegetable, Junk: A History of Food, from Sustainable to Suicidal

By Ben Goldberg

https://www.markbittman.com/avj

Community Supported Agriculture

By Dick Shirey

Henderson, E. & Van En, R. (2007). Sharing the Harvest: A Citizen's Guide to Community Supported Agriculture.

White River Junction, Vermont: Chelsea Green Publishing Company.

Pollimeni, J., Iorgulescu, R. & Shirey, R, (2015). Traveling Back to Sustainable Agriculture in a Bioeconomic World: the Case of Roxbury Farm CSA. Nova Publishers, New York. www.Roxburyfarm.com

Hudson Valley Seed Company

By Pat Sahr

Native American Seed Sanctuary https://hudsonvalleyseed.com/blogs/blog/native-ameri can-seed-sanctuary?_pos=1&_sid=f887851da&_ss=r Open Space Institute Transfers Ownership of Historic Rondout Valley Farm to Hudson Valley Seed Company https://www.openspaceinstitute.org/news/open-space-institute-transfers-ownership-of-historic-rondout-valley-farm-to-hudson-valley-seed-company Seed Rematriation Garden - Hudson Valley Farm Hub https://hvfarmhub.org/seed-rematriation-garden/ Open Source Seed Initiative https://osseeds.org/

Coop Scoop

FEBRUARY 2022

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or decades I had read about Community Supported Agriculture (CSA); I loved the premise of sharing the benefits and risks of food production with the farmer. But I also enjoyed going to the Troy Farmers Market every week and picking out my own produce—primarily at the Denison Farm stand. Then Justine Denison phoned me: Would I be interested in being a CSA site “host”? Thus began my CSA journey: being nourished by the freshest food possible; building a relationship with the farmers who grew the food; enjoying a diverse community of like-minded folks.

Justine and Brian Denison farm 25 acres of USDA Certified Organic produce and have approximately 500 CSA members. I became one of 17 hosts for the farm; as a host I would get a box of organic produce along with the 25 members who would be picking up their box at my home. Every Wednesday—from June through October—members would pick up their box (or “share”) between 4 and 8 PM. The Freshest Food CSA boxes are full of food picked within a day or two of—often the very morning of—their delivery. I often called Justine to rave about the extraordinary flavor of the produce: fresh equals delicious.

The Farmers Every Wednesday I looked forward to the delivery truck—not only for the food—but to chat with two of the Denison farmers.

Over the months we got to be friends; I often had a frozen fruit bar for them and at the end of the season they treated me to a box of my favorite squash. Community was building.

And then there is Justine. There wasn’t a week that went by that I did not call her about “something” and we would talk and laugh together, often for an hour. Getting to know the farmer who grows your food is a

good idea, and through this frequent contact our relationship blossomed.

The Members Members were young and old and from diverse backgrounds. What fun it was to chat with folks who were so different from me! During this second year I noticed some members were more apt to chat—a little more personally—and my sense of community was deepening.

“Take and Leave Box” This past season I contacted Justine with an idea: I wanted to put out a box called the “Take and Leave Box.” Members could leave items in the box that they couldn’t use and take items from the box that they would love to have more of. I would leave fennel (which I never grew to love) and take corn, (which I couldn’t get enough of). It was fun to watch the trades, and usually the box was empty by the end of the night.

Extra Boxes Sometimes a member could not pick up their box. Justine had made arrangements with Squash Hunger and ARC to pick up any extra boxes; folks who are differently abled would pick up the boxes and deliver them to a food pantry or other agency in need of food.

I grew fond of these folks who were so excited to be participating in the feeding of communities.

Being a CSA site host is one of the best decisions I ever made: I expected to enjoy the great food, but becoming part of a community was the most nourishing surprise.