Welcome to the Chelsea Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) project.

Pastured Meat Contract for 2009-

 CHELSEA CSA PASTURED MEAT AND POULTRY
Share Agreement for 2009 Season
Chelsea CSA members who have signed up for a vegetable or fruit share may apply to participate in meat/poultry shares by completing this agreement and returning it to the meat coordinator.  Approval of each application is subject to sole discretion of the Core Group of active volunteers which is responsible for the administration of the Chelsea CSA, and the producer consortium. Chelsea CSA members who sign this contract will be contacted via e-mail or telephone when their contract is accepted. Completion of this contract does not guarantee the right to participate in the meat/poultry share.
Once the contract is accepted, approved members may pre-order meat via the consortium web site at the appropriate time. Distribution of meat is the last Tuesday of every month, and the order deadline is the Thursday prior to delivery. Once your order has been filled, you will be notified of the exact amount owed.
Approved members pay for and pick up their orders on distribution date between 4 pm and 7pm at the distribution site (Hudson Guild, 441 W 26 St. during the season). Checks are made out to Pastured Meat and Poultry   and are collected at distribution.  No order will be released without payment.  Meat is delivered frozen in insulated containers.  There is no storage of meat at the distribution site.
If you are unable to pick up your order, you are still responsible for and still owe for the meat you ordered.  If an order is not picked up before 7pm on the delivery date, the meat coordinator must remove the meat from the premises.  No meat or poultry will be left at the distribution site when distribution is over.
AGREEMENT:
I, ________________________, as a member of the Chelsea CSA, intend to pre-order meat via the producer consortium’s web site. I understand that I will be notified of the total price of my order.  I agree to honor the arrangement with these farmers by paying the agreed price at the time of delivery.  My check will be made out to Pastured Meat and Poultry, and I understand that no meat will be released without payment.  I will arrange to have my order picked up at the distribution site between 4pm and 7pm.
I do not expect to have my order saved.  I am aware that if my order is not picked up before 7pm, it will be removed from the distribution site.  If I am unable to pick up my order I realize that I still owe the agreed price to the farmer.
I further understand that this arrangement to order pastured meat and poultry is strictly between me and the Pastured Meat and Poultry consortium, who deliver a frozen product. Neither Chelsea CSA or Hudson Guild will be held responsible for any problems with these transactions.  I am solely responsible for arranging pick up of orders in an insulated bag and am aware that I must secure appropriate storage to prevent spoilage.
I also understand that the producer consortium and the core group of volunteers that is responsible for the administration of the Chelsea CSA reserve the right to modify the terms of this agreement at any time. Terms include, but are not limited to distribution dates and sites and eligibility to participate.


I hereby waive and release and agree to indemnify and hold harmless Hudson Guild, the Chelsea CSA, their management , employees, officers and directors, affiliates and members from any and all claims, damages, causes of action, demands and liabilities arising from participation in the pastured meat and poultry shares.

*Member___________________________________ (please print)

*Member signature_________________________________ * Date____________
*Home Address___________________________________ * Apt.  ____________
*Tele# ______________________________*Cell #_______________________

*E-mail_________________________________________________

* Essential information – please fill in legibly.

Filling your order:
You can add a note to your order with any special requests.  If you have a question, you can e-mail the pastured meat and poultry web site or call the farmer.  You will be notified just before delivery of the exact amount you owe after your order has been weighed and packed.
Picking up your order:
Don’t forget that the beef, chicken, lamb, pork, eggs, etc., may be delivered in separate packages.  Check to make sure you get your entire order.  Since the meats are delivered frozen, make sure you bring an insulated bag, especially during hot weather.

Dear all-

It’s springtime, and you know what that means… not too much longer until our lovely CSA greens will arrive!  We just got word from our stellar farmers Deb and Pete that the first distribution will take place on June 9 – more details on that to come, but in the meantime, please mark your calendars for a CSA membership gathering on June 3rd.  Deb will be making it all the way down all the way from Stoneledge Farm in South Cairo to join us, so we hope you can too!  Here are the details:

What: Start of Season General Membership Gathering
When: Wednesday, June 3 at 6:30 pm
Where: Hudson Guild - 441 W. 26th street (btwn 9th and 10th Ave.) - Dan Carpenter B room.

WHY:  This is a time to connect w/ fellow CSA members plus the farmer(s); learn what lies ahead for the season; learn about CSA volunteer opportunities, and more!

Some light refreshments will be served – please feel free to bring a snack or beverage to share it you can.

The success of the CSA truly lies in the hands of its members - please come help get the season off to a great start. 

Looking forward to seeing many of you there! –Christina, on behalf of the Core Group

p.s. – While it’s not mandatory to RSVP, if you know for sure you can make it and/or have any suggestions for the meeting, please drop a line to chelseacsa@yahoo.com.  Thanks!

Welcome back to the season of abundance!  It's time to renew the annual contract for ordering pastured meats, poultry, cheese, breads, jams, etc. (and a great variety, too) from the Lewis Waite Farm group.  You can order just what you want and pick up once a month (typically the third Tuesday) at the same time you collect your vegetables.  The 2009 contract is found in Tips/Articles section:  just download it, and bring it to the first distribution on 6/9 or mail it back to me at:

Frances Tesser

Chelsea CSA/Hudson Guild

441 W. 26 St.

NY, NY 10001

The delivery schedule for the season:  6/16;  7/21;  8/18;  9/15;  10/27 and 11/24.

You'll get a reminder a week before to give you time to browse and order.

See you in June.

Frances

EVERY Wednesday morning from 8-12
June 18th-November 28th
in front of PS 11, 320 W 21st Street, between 8th & 9th Avenue
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC - here's a flyer with more info

Chelsea CSA has teamed with Slow Foods to meet & greet Deb Kavakos, our very own Stoneledge farmer & Terra Madre delegate Sherri Brooks Vinton, real-food advocate and author of "The Real Food Revival" will also join us to offer practical advice for anyone—wherever they shop, whatever their lifestyle—who wants food that has all the flavor nature intended.

Join us for local food, drink, learning, and merriment:

Catering from Hot Bread Kitchen: a Brooklyn-based collective of immigrant women dedicated to producing excellent bread & forging career paths in the restaurant industry, featuring a buffet of finger foods:

• antipasto with organic baguettes
• local farmstead cheeses with multi-grain loaf and flat-bread
• tostadas with hand-made corn tortillas and fresh-made salsas and toppings
• dessert: seasonal fruit crumble
• apple cider from NYC's Greenmarket farmers
• fresh ale from Six Point Craft Ales in Brooklyn
• red/white wine & still/sparkling water

For tickets, visit this link or or call 1-800-838-3006 and mention "Chelsea CSA Sign-up Night and Party" - you must reserve a spot beforehand at no cost. We’d like everyone contribute something to offset catering costs. We are suggesting a $15 minimum for those who can afford the price (cheaper than Starbucks!).

September 9, 2006 is the annual outing to Stoneledge Farm. The folks at Carnegie Hill-Yorkville CSA tell us that 2006 marks the Kavakos' 10th anniversary of partnering with NYC CSAs. They are planning a peripatetic potluck for this upstate venture & that sound great to us.

We want many Chelsea CSA shareholders of all ages to participate - looking for someone to take on planning transportation to & participation in this event as their season's volunteer work. Speak with any Core Group member or drop a note to chelseacsa@yahoo.com.

Thursday October 30th
Sign-up using the sheet that is available at distribution and come to the Halloween Pot-luck scheduled for the evening of Thursday, October 30th at Hudson Guild. Bring a contribution of a main dish, salad or veggie, dessert or beverage. A donation of $1 will be requested at the event to help cover the cost of supplies. Thanks to our Pot-Luck Planner and Core Group member, Frances Tesser for organizing this event.

Please join us for an end of the summer
grillin' cookout on our roof deck!

Where: Roof top garden of Susan and Lucien Harriot at Mechanism Digital 514 West 24th Street, #3E between 11th & 10th, NYC, NY

When: Wednesday, September 17, 6:30pm to 9:00pm

Over the course of the evening, Sarah Huck will demonstrate cutting techniques to prepare vegetables for the grill. Our own Frances Tesser will demonstrate adaptations of vegetable grilling to the urban stovetop, and other members and friends will share their grilling secrets. Children are welcomed but must be supervised at all times on the deck.

Donations will be accepted at the door:
$50.00 Patron*
$15.00 non-member
$10.00 members
$5.00 low income

*Patrons will receive special recognition on the CSA website and in the next newsletter.

If you wish to contribute a dish or help out in any way please indicate when you RSVP to chelseacsa@yahoo.com. or at 212.760.9800, ext. 267 and Jessica Shea will contact you. In case of rain please call the CSA hotline at 212.760.9800, ext. 267 for further information.

"People love food, they want to come & eat - that's it!" Frances Tesser, our peripatetic potluck planner emerita, told us before departing on an Italian sojourn. She took time beforehand to clue tell us about the VOM program created by the Community Food Resource Center (CFRC) (www.cfrcnyc.org). The primary VOM goal is to promote healthy eating by teaching community residents how to prepare vegetables in season.

Chelsea CSA became an active VOM partner during the 2002 Season. CFRC provided initial training and a portable kitchen kit. Several CSA members sharpened their cookery abilities to lead workshops incorporating basic food prep and knife skills. Although Chelsea CSA members no longer coordinate this effort, VOM sessions continue to be held in Hudson Guild's main building at 441 West 26th Street or at the Guild's Fulton Center at 119 Ninth Avenue. Classes run an average of 2-3 hours once a month on a weekday evening. Participants pitch in to prepare three different recipes, and then share the fruits of their labors over a communal meal.

Want to help make upcoming workshops a success? Hudson Guild needs help to both publicize VOM events & follow-up with registered participants. If you are interested, please let us know via email to chelseacsa@yahoo.com. We will communicate your interest to the appropriate Hudson Guild contact.