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 Newsletter from New Hampshire CSA  |
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The NHCSA is a multi farm CSA. We have created an alliance with accomplished growers who are either certified organic or growing organically. By supporting us, you're helping to sustain multiple small farm growers in their quest to provide quality produce.Together, we'll provide you with a colorful array of vegetables, fruit, herbs and flowers that are fresh-picked and organically grown.
The 2012 planning has begun and we are psyched up over our co-operative arrangement with area farms. Two big changes this year. Erin at New Harmony Farm will be co-growing with us. Her farm sits on a riverbank and has alluvial soils where as NHCSA has sandy soils, both great to grow in but for growing different products. Together we can do so much more that the goal will be to greatly expand choices and quantities. We just had some of Erin's Jerusalem Artichokes last night and they where so sweet, thumbs up! here's the recipe
The other big change for 2012
We are moving the distribution to Thursdays 3-6 (suggestions). No more missing out if you want to run off to the lake on a nice weekend (works for us too!).
In discussions with members so far it has been a unanimous GREAT!
We hope it works for you too.
We will be growing onions, potatoes, string beans, snap peas, broccoli, many summer and winter squashes, tomatoes, cucumbers, melons, raspberries, eggplant, kale, pumpkins and more.  Field to Fork will be back with Certified Organic Eggs, franola with granola, and we plan to add more.
The share donation we have pledged to the Spring Hill Farm Trust. Currently we donate 5% of your share cost to the trust. Read about Miss Church's wish for her farm here.
Share prices are $580 full and $335 half.
Also since there will be a limited amount of room for new members we recommend contacting us now. Of course current members get first choice to renew. Just a 1/2 deposit now and then the balance will be invoiced in April for your 2012 membership. We also can take paypal or arrange payment plans.
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CSA is not about food
Supporting a CSA is a movement, it is a culture statement that goes way beyond your table. Today we are having resurgence in the availability of local food. Local food that you are not so removed from its source that it is a blind item. You can actually meet the farmer that grew or raised it. It is trustworthy.
Not long ago, say pre 2005 this was not at all a main stream concept. It had been coming to the surface for many years and gaining strength each time meat or vegetables were recalled from the monster farms.
The CSA movement is bigger than you, but you are part of it. Supporting a CSA has given the opportunity for farmers to grow. The concept has provided the respectable income that farm families need to survive and helping to remove the stereotype of "poor farmer". You can currently see the resurgence of farmers markets across the region and in my area there are several new super markets being built with large organic produce departments. It may not be someone you know but it shows somebody is listening to you and paying attention to your needs.
I don't think this would have happened; or at least not as fast if the CSA concept didn't re-introduce a viable farming model that made organic and local foods an option again. Maybe the CSA has run its course but if it has than it accomplished a great feat thanks to the support of our communities.
Vote with your wallet!
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by Fran Van Geyte, RD CSP IBCLC
Attention-Deficits Linked to Pesticides
In the May 2010 AAP Pediatrics Journal, Bouchard et al published a study examining the correlation between pesticide exposures to the odds of developing attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Representative of the US population using cross-sectional data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1139 children age 8-15 were included in this study. Of these children, 119 children met the diagnostic criteria for ADHD. Children with elevated urinary dialkyl phosphate concentrations (a marker for particular orgnaophosphate pesticides) were more likely to be afflicted with ADHD. A 10-fold increase in dimethyl alkylphosphate (DHAP) concentration was associated with a 55-72% increased chance of having ADHD. Compared to children without detectable levels of a DHAP metabolite, children with higher than median concentration levels had twice the odds of carrying the diagnosis of ADHD.
Exposure to organophosphate pesticides has long been associated with neurodevelopment dysfunction however studies have been limited to populations with high exposure levels. This study set out to make the distinction that the general pediatric population exposed to average levels of these pesticides may also be at risk for serious adverse developmental outcomes.
Over 3 dozen organophosphate pesticides are approved for use in the US. In 2001, 73 million pounds of them were used. In 2008, foods such as frozen blueberries strawberries and celery contained detectable amounts of organophosphates in ~20-30% of the samples tested. Children because of the vulnerability of the developing brain are believed to be at highest risk of toxicity from these pesticides. Children also have a reduced expression of detoxifying enzymes and the pesticide exposure dose per body weight is generally larger for children which further heightens this risk. This study adds to the growing body of evidence that associates pesticide exposure to adverse developmental outcomes and may contribute to ADHD in our children.
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Ever get home and forget what that new vegetable is,
check out our veggie ID chart here.
Thank you to all the membership, we look forward to seeing our returning members and meeting all the new ones.
Enjoy and Eat Well.
Best Wishes,
Gary and the crew
NHCSA
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