Dumbo NYC

Several readers have written to us wishing that there were a green market or a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) in Dumbo. Your wishes are one step towards reality. We heard from Vinegar Hill resident Leslie Winston and we are happy to announce that she is starting a CSA program in Dumbo/Vinegar Hill beginning in June 2008. Although similar in concept with green markets, CSAs are different. In a CSA arrangement, a farmer sells “shares” in his or her farm’s upcoming harvest to individuals, families, and institutions in the city. So here’s what Leslie had to say:

Hello neighbors,

I’m starting a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program in DUMBO/Vinegar Hill beginning this season, June 2008. I am working on this project with Just Food which is the non-profit umbrella organization which helps neighborhoods start a CSA program. You can learn more about Just Food and NYC CSA at justfood.org. While I’m starting the CSA program in DUMBO/Vinegar Hill with only the help of Just Food, I hope to recruit some other community members to help spearhead the program with me.

CSA is a way for people to buy vegetables directly from a local farmer. Before the harvest season, members commit to buy fresh, locally grown organic vegetables from June to November. Each week, members pick up their “share” at a convenient location. Although sizes vary, each “share” has about 7-10 different kinds of vegetables and is enough to feed two adults and two children.

Over the next several months I will be actively recruiting members to join the DUMBO/Vinegar Hill CSA. My goal is to have 40 members for the 2008 season. Members will be expected to help distribute the vegetables and clean up after the distribution at least one time during the season.

If you would like to talk more about this please e-mail lswinston@gmail.com or call me 347.633.3547.

Thank you,
Leslie Winston

This is a step towards a more sustainable community. In a related but separate note, the Dumbo Improvement District is working hard to bring a green market to the neighborhood; Something like Community Markets that comes to the Grand Army Plaza in Park Slope. If you’re interested in helping Leslie with this program, please contact her at lswinston@gmail.com. This is an opportunity to help local farmers and a chance to meet your neighbors. (Leslie is not affiliated with the Dumbo Improvement District.)

Related: {Dumbo Turning Greener, 30Jan2008}