Food: Getting Back to Basics
Posted on 09. Aug, 2009 by Selma Jackson in Body and Mind
IT NO LONGER MATTERS what your income bracket is, the price of food has escalated so significantly that everyone is looking for ways to reduce costs: changing eating habits; finding alternative food sources and even starting food programs.
There are two new programs and one existing program that are right in our midst; all we need do is register to participate.
On a Thursday afternoon you may have seen a line of people waiting along the side of MOCADA museum and wondered what was going on. Every Thursday from 3-5pm the Hanson Place Seven Day Adventist center distributes food to those who come to 150 South Portland Ave. On Sundays there is a soup kitchen where cooked meals are served from 1-2pm. Mr. Clive Semper, the director of the center, says there are no income guidelines, but you must show identification. Hanson Place Seven Day Adventist Church sees this work as part of their community outreach, their ministry. They have been doing this for the past 28 years! Since September 2008 the church has seen a growth on Thursdays from 100 to 160 participants, indicating that the need is increasing. Recently the food has run out before the line has ended, but the center continues to get donations for distribution every Thursday.
One request: if you are a retailer of food and want to donate any excess or if you would like to support the work of the church and make a donation, please contact Mr. Semper at 718-399-7513. We want to salute Hanson Place Seven Day Adventist Church for making a difference in Fort Greene.
The Greene Hill Food Co-op was an idea that started January 2008 out of a need for fresh local food, buying food in season and supporting local farmers. It also developed because the oldest co-op, The Park Slope Co-op, is nearing its capacity of 15,000 members. The initial outreach garnered 35 members and that number has grown to a current membership of 900! The Greene Hill Food Co-op is looking to open by Fall 2009 and with their monthly committee meetings (Outreach; Location; Branding; Merchandising; Finance; Governance and IT) the Co-op expects to reach its goal. The physical site, which has not been selected as yet, will be in the area bounded by Atlantic Ave to Park Ave, and Classon Ave to Flatbush Ave. If you know of space that can accommodate a co-op market in that area please send a message to the Greene Hill Food Co-op. What does membership include? As a member you get to shop for quality food that is priced no more than 20-25% over cost, which is the co-op mandate and certainly helps in these economic times. What are your responsibilities as a member? Pay a membership fee, volunteer so many hours per month to defray staff costs, participate in one of the committees to get the co-op open and keep it running. Want to join? Visit www.greenehillfoodcoop.com or stop by Fort Greene Farmer’s Market Saturdays to sign-up. Greene Hill Food Co-op is a community effort that is available to all and we applaud those who put the idea out for the community to embrace.
Greene Hill Food Co-op general meeting
If the food pantry or food co-op is not for you then may we suggest the Fort Greene Community Supported Agriculture or Greene Harvest CSA? Community supported agriculture is cropping up all around the city in various communities. The program effectively supports a farmer and the CSA sells so many shares or half-shares based on the ability of the farmer to grow a certain amount of crops. The members or shareholders buy their share in March or April each year at an agreed upon price and this gives the farmer the finances to buy his seed, plant and harvest his crop. In June the produce starts to be delivered and this continues until October about 20 weeks for a full share and 8-10 weeks for a half share. Each delivery contains 8-10 assorted vegetables. The vegetable program went so well that some CSA’s are adding additional options – eggs, meat and fruit, at an additional cost. The Greene Harvest CSA will begin sign-up at Habana Outpost on Earth Day April 18 and they have the capacity to take 75-100 shares. A full share will cost approximately $500 and a half share is estimated to be $265 with an administrative fee of $15-20. The fee will help in providing scholarships to families that cannot afford to pay the full cost of either full or half share. Think about this: where will you be able to buy 8-10 assorted fresh vegetables for approximately $25 per delivery? To further assist in helping families in need, Greene Harvest CSA is asking those who can afford a full share price to share that with another family, so you pay for a full 20 weeks and donate 10 weeks to a family that can’t afford to participate. Greene Harvest CSA is also asking the farmer to donate a share to a family in need. For more information contact Greene Harvest CSA at www.greeneharvestcsa.com
In all of the food programs we are seeing the ways that community organizations are looking to care for those in need and also help to reduce costs for all of us. Please support the organizations by donating, joining or volunteering. We are excited that Fort Greene cares about its community.
