News & Events
Food Safety Hits the Ground Running
In HR 2749 hits the ground running,
Steve Gilman, Policy Coordinator of the NOFA Interstate Council, considers
the Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009 now evolving in the legislature.
This story follows up a previous article,
Regulatory Action, Inaction and Over-reaction and the Effects
on Small Scale Growers which discusses food contamination, the government, and
agribusiness.
New Website Lists Foods and Pesticides
Pesticide Action Network North America (PANNA) has launched the
'What's on My Food?'
website which offers data about 89 foods and associated pesticides. The data
was produced by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) from 1999 to 2007.
PANNA links "pesticide food residue data with the toxicology for each chemical,
making this information easily searchable for the first time."
Organic Food Safety—Regulatory Requirements
Elizabeth Henderson recommends reading Organic Food Safety—Regulatory
Requirements for the contextual background regarding pending legislation
(HR 875, the Food Safety Modernization Act of 2009). "There has
been so much fuss about HR 875, I think it is important to provide solid
information," she says. "This is a very thorough article by James Riddle,
explaining the additional requirements involved in organic certification."
Peacework Farm receives Local Hero Award
Finger Lakes Edibles, which is the local edition of Edible
Communities, a publication for community-based local-foods, recently
conferred a Local Hero Award on Peacework Farm for its "significant
contributions to the local foods movement." Peacework Farm received the most
votes cast by readers in the Farm/Farmer category. On behalf of the farm
and farmers, Elizabeth Henderson accepted the award, a plaque with the
inscription: "For Your Outstanding Contribution to the Local Foods Movement in
the edible Finger Lakes Community."
Other recommended articles:
Important Dates
February 11 and March 7 GVOCSA Sign-up
Meetings (see above)
Saturday, May 2: May Day Party, 2 to 6 PM at Peacework
Farm
Thursday, May 21: CSA season begins, farmwork 8 AM to noon,
pick-up at Abundance 6:30 to 8 PM.
Sunday, May 24: CSA season first Sunday farmwork 8 AM to
noon, pick-up at Abundance, 5:30 to 7 PM.
Children's Days: Children are welcome at the farm on all
work mornings, but on Children's Days we have extra adults and often Roland
Micklem leads them on a nature walk. These are the Children's Days for the 2009
season:
- June 14, 18, 28
- July 2, 12, 16, 26, 30
- August 13, 16, 27, 30
- September 10, 13, 24, 27
- October 4, 18
Thursday, November 12: Season Ends.
Sunday, November 15: Season Ends.
Sunday, November 15: End of Season dinner, 5 to 8 PM.
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What is Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)?
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a partnership of consumers and
farmers that is open to anyone in the greater Rochester, NY, and Wayne County
areas. The member shareholders provide a guaranteed market and income, as well
as labor to produce and distribute the food for a growing season. The farmers
provide weekly shares of fresh, seasonal, certified organically grown vegetables
and herbs. Bulk quantities of whatever is plentiful at the farm are also
available for canning, freezing, and storage. Both partners share in the risks
and rewards of small-scale farming: weather, insect damage, and bumper crops.
Read more ...
How
your downpayment helps
Farm
Economics
GVOCSA Brochure (tri-fold)
Who Is GVOCSA?
The Genesee Valley Organic Community Supported Agriculture group  (GVOCSA) began in 1989, and has expanded
yearly. Elizabeth Henderson,Greg Palmer, and Ammie Chickering grow the food at Peacework
Organic Farm near Newark, New York. Members pick up their food weekly in
Rochester or Newark. GVOCSA also holds social events to celebrate community and
the harvest. See
Farm Photos.
Who can join?
Membership is open to anyone in the Greater Rochester area or the Wayne
County/Newark area. (If you are from Wayne or Ontario County, see details here). Families with children are especially
welcome, and we will arrange the farm work schedule to include children to the
greatest extent possible. People who live within half an hour's drive of
Peacework Organic Farm may prefer to pick up their vegetables at the farm. To
arrange for on-farm pick-up, contact the farm directly. Call Elizabeth at
315-331-9029 or email her at .
What does it cost?
The cost of the food varies according to the
type of share you purchase. There are three types of shares available for
purchase:
Full Share: Approximately 7-11 items
Sliding Scale: $400 - $480 - $540 - $680 for the season (about $15.40 - $18.50 -
$20.75 - $26.15 per week).
A one-time membership fee of $15 is also required.
Shared: Same size as full share. Cost, work,
and produce divided between two or more households.
Sliding Scale: Same as full share.
Partial Share: Approximately 4-5 items
depending on time of season.
Set cost: $300 for the season (about $11.50 per week) plus one-time membership
fee of $15.
Every member makes a commitment, on a sliding scale, for the season. An
initial partial payment is required to join. The remainder may be paid in
increments. Food stamps are accepted. Bulk and special orders are paid for
separately when ordered.
GVOCSA Vision
We envision the creation of a land-based community of
people of diverse ages, backgrounds, and incomes, farmers and non-farmers, who
are committed to love, justice, equality, democracy and cooperation, and who
honor the intrinsic value of nature and food, and the dignity of labor. The
members of this community will work gently together to learn and teach others to
live sustainably, in the broadest sense, for the health of all living creatures
and the planet. We will practice an agriculture that supports a whole, healthy,
sustainable, and loving community.
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Work Requirements
Full or Shared Share:
3 Farm Shifts of 4 hours each (8 AM - Noon) plus
2 Distribution Shifts of 2.5 hours each (Starting one hour before food
pick up begins)
Total of 17 hours
Partial Share:
2 Farm Shifts of 4 hours each (8 AM - Noon) plus
1 Distribution Shift of 2.5 hours (Starting one hour before food pick up
begins)
Total of 10.5 hours
CORE Members work exemption:
A CORE group of members administers the group. Voluntary participation
in the CORE group is open to any member. Membership in the CORE relieves the
member of farm and distribution work. However, additional voluntary work is
always welcomed.
How long does the season last?
Produce is typically distributed for 26 weeks: from mid-May through the middle
of November.
The annual Winter Shares program is not part of the regular
membership season. Participating members may receive regular supplies of
organically grown beets, carrots, celeriac, cabbage, daikon, garlic, kohlrabi,
leeks, onions, parsnips, potatoes, rutabagas, turnips, winter squash and more.
Detailed information is announced in the fall.
A typical Winter Share program might include both Full and Half shares.
For example, a Full Share might provide approximately 16 pounds of vegetables
per distribution; and a Half Share nets about 8 pounds per distribution.
Distributions usually take place every other week beginning January 9th through
March 20th.
Each share is only required to work a single 1.5 hour distribution
shift. There is NO FARM SHIFT.
Plan to attend one of two annual sign-up meetings announced under
News and Events (above left) in early February or March to
learn more about the program and meet the farmers and many of the core members.
If you miss the sign-up meetings, contact one of the membership core members by phone or e-mail.
Sharing the Harvest
The latest edition of Elizabeth Henderson's book, Sharing the Harvest: A
Citizen's Guide to Community Supported Agriculture (Chelsea Green, 2007) is
now available. According to Howard Zinn, a historian, author, and playwright,
Sharing the Harvest is "an extraordinary book, an opening to a new world
in which growing and eating food will be a sharing among humans, between farmers
and surrounding communities, not a commercial venture for profit. It is both
utopian and practical, inspiring and down-to-earth. It is a treasure, rich with
suggestions, exciting for what possibilities it foresees for the human race."
To purchase the book directly from the author, send a $35 check plus $4 postage
and handling to Elizabeth Henderson, 2218 Welcher Road, Newark, NY 14513.
Find what you need? How is our Web site working for you? Questions,
comments, suggestions, or even problems regarding the GVOCSA web site? Please
send mail to .
Our primary provider, Peacework Organic Farm, is proud
to
be an important part of Sanctuary
at Crowfield Farm. Special thanks to The
Genesee Gateway for generously hosting this web site.
Copyright © GVOCSA 2002-2009. All rights
reserved.
About GVOCSA |
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