www.qns.com I LIC COURIER I MAY 2018 25
It’s important for people to have a source
of food they can feel connected to.
DENISE BOLOGNINO
Coordinator
Community News
“It’s important for people to have a
source of food they can feel connected
to,” Bolognino said.
Hepworth Farms, which was estab-lished
in 1818 in Milton, New York, sup-plies
the CSA with fruits. According to
Bolognino, farmer Amy Hepworth is a
“pioneer in the sustainable agriculture
movement.”
In addition to fruit and vegetable
shares, members can opt in for an herb
share, flower share, plum tomato share
and more.
Those looking for meat, poultry and
dairy items can sign up to receive them
from Lewis Waite Farm. The farm, which
is located in Jackson, New York, raises
cattle and pigs but also acts as a re-tailer
to help other local farms sell their
products.
Members will receive pasture-raised
meat and poultry, fresh eggs and bread,
grass-fed butter, yogurt and ice cream,
artisan cheese from sheep, goat or cow’s
milk, organic flour, natural jams and chut-neys
and more. Non-members can place
orders for a la carte items from the farm.
“People join because they want the
food. It tastes good. It’s healthy,” she said.
“But you are also directly supporting
the family farm staying on the farm. This
land is not being developed. You’re get-ting
to be part of the community and you
are making a real contribution.”
Tortilleria Nix Tamal, a
restaurant at 104-05
47th Ave. in Corona,
provides a tortilla
and salsa share.
They make tor-tillas
in the tra-ditional
method
using ground
corn soaked in
lime. Members
also receive a salsa
roja or salsa verde with
their tortillas each week.
Members must volunteer to work
at the CSA for one or two shifts. Bo-lognino
said the organization could not
survive without the volunteers, who help
set up when the deliveries come in on
Tuesdays.
“These are
all people in your
community, possi-bly
your neighbor,”
she said. “You’re spending
three hours with your neighbors
helping to make this happen and you’re
getting to know people.”
Hellgate CSA offers subsidized shares
and a payment plan for members in
an effort to make sure their system is
equitable, she said. Any leftover shares
are donated to Hour Children, a food
pantry in Long Island City.
The deadline to apply for a mem-bership
is mid-May and those who are
interested can sign up on the waitlist at
hellgatecsa.net/join. Once chosen, you
will receive an email confirming your
membership. Shares can be picked up
every Tuesday at Astoria First Presby-terian
Church.
Green Thumb Farm
/www.qns.com
