May 2024 eNews

May eNews

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O&E Farms, Gouverneur Farmers Market

Image courtesy of the Farm-to-Table Initiative led by Cornell Cooperative Extension of St. Lawrence County.

The Spring Farmers Market Season is Here!

The snow is gone and spring has sprung which means it's time for beginning of the Spring Farmers Market Season!

Remember, you don't only have shop at many of our county's markets with just cash! There are five markets that accept Credit/Debit, SNAP/EBT, Bonus Bucks, DUFB, and FMNP. These markets are in Canton, Potsdam, Gouverneur, Hammond, and Massena. Visit the Market Manager tent to learn more!

If you have not submitted an application for vendor membership, day vendor, or nonprofit tabling check out our Farmers Market Vendor Resources! Each market has their own Facebook pages for frequent updates on product availability and other events/news for each market. Each market Facebook page is linked below!

Akwesasne, Canton, Gouverneur, Hammond, Massena, Ogdensburg, Potsdam

The 2024/25 Local Food Guide is Here!

GardenShare's 2024/25 Local Food Guide is now available. Our Annual Local Food Guide is your gateway to the world of local food in St. Lawrence County! In addition to our printed guide our interactive Online Food Guide helps you find food close to you! Let us help you find all the excellent food our region has to offer.

If you are not on GardenShare's mailing list and would like a copy, contact us .

Spring Produce Spotlight: Spinach

Spring is truly a time for new beginnings and fresh starts. As someone who has spent many years growing vegetables, it has always been a special season for me. This year, learning about what each of the Farmers Market vendors are planting, planning, and creating has been a delight.

After those long winter months, spring vegetables are a real treat. Personally, spinach is a favorite. I admire that it overwinters so well, even in years with severe winter weather. Spinach is versatile; fitting nicely in soups, salads, as a side dish, or as a snack. While you may be able to find local spinach throughout the year, the flavor of spring spinach is the most spectacular.

Spinach is rich in iron and vitamins A, C, and K. These nutrients contribute to good vision, muscle strength, and bone health. As we all shift into spring and summer mode, Spinach is a good addition to our household meals.

- Erin Cuseo, GardenShare Program Coordinator

Spinach, Birdsfoot Farm | Image courtesy of the Farm-to-Table Initiative led by Cornell Cooperative Extension of St. Lawrence County.

Pasta with Spring Spinach & Asparagus Pesto

Basic Ingredients:

1 Bunch Fresh Asparagus

1.5 Cups Spinach Leaves

4 Peeled Garlic Cloves

1/2 Cup Grated Parmesan Cheese

1 cup Pine Nuts or Walnuts

1/4 Cup to 1/3 Cup Olive Oil

Juice from 1/2 Lemon

Salt & Pepper To Taste

3/4 Pound Dry Pasta

Shaved Parmesan, To Serve

Directions:

Bring a pot of lightly salted water to a boil
Remove the woody ends of the asparagus and cut in to 3 pieces
Lightly toast the nuts in a pan over medium heat until just browned
Reserve 1/4 cup of the toasted nuts, transfer the rest to a blender or food processor
Blanche the asparagus in the boiling water until just tender, 2-3 minutes
Remove from boiling water and transfer asparagus to ice water to cool
Once cool, drain and pat dry
Reserve the tops of the asparagus for later, rough chop the remaining asparagus and place in the blender
Add the spinach, garlic and Parmesan to the blender with the nuts and asparagus, pulse to mix
Continue to pulse the mixture while slowly pouring in the olive oil
Add the lemon juice and salt & pepper to taste
Once the pesto is seasoned to your liking transfer to a bowl and set aside
Cook your pasta in well salted water, reserve 1 cup of the pasta water and drain
Return the pasta to the pot and add the pesto and toss. Add pasta water as necessary if the sauce is too thick
Serve the pasta topped with the reserved asparagus spears, pine nuts, and shaved Parmesan cheese

GardenShare Intern Spotlight - Olivia Cook

Hometown and Current town of residence: Akwesasne

Role at GardenShare: Spring Semester Intern from SUNY Potsdam

How long?: February – May 2024

Why I do what I do (at GardenShare): I enjoy working with GardenShare because the work is aligned with my own values; promoting our local food system increases the overall health and wellness within our communities; this is what motivates me to do the work that we do.

Role outside of GardenShare: Senior in the Public Health BA program at SUNY Potsdam. Head Coach of Women’s Hockey at SUNY Potsdam.

Most recent accomplishment: Being named Head Coach of Womens Hockey at SUNY Potsdam.

What has changed the most in your time in the North Country?: Learning more about the work that is being done to provide resources and support to people.

What's the hardest thing you've done or had to learn at GardenShare? The most difficult thing that I’ve had to do with GardenShare is keeping up with all of the good work that they do. GardenShare is a well fueled machine that is always running at full speed... being able to keep up with the amount of work that they do requires passion, stamina, and discipline... its been an amazing environment to bare witness to.

If you could do or be anything else, what would it be? Why? My dream life for as long as I can remember has always revolved around sport, community work, and movement. Working within SUNY Potsdam’s athletic department checks off all of the boxes for me, so I plan on continuing to build the Womens Hockey program and coaching.

Favorite song, book, or movie?: Favorite song – anything Beyonce.

If you could trade places with anyone for a week, who would it be? Why? Dawn Staley. She is an inspiration to athletes and coaches. She is authentic, carries herself with poise, respect, positivity and has great energy!

What one word would you use to describe yourself? Passionate

What would I find in your refrigerator right now? Lots of hot sauce and salad dressings.

GardenShare is excited to announce a $20/Day cost-sharing match for all SNAP/EBT transactions through our Bonus Bucks program until June 14th!

Starting June 15th, the Double Up Food Bucks (DUFB) program will become available to offer the same $20/Day match for SNAP/EBT shoppers. Visit the GardenShare booth for more information!

Support our local farmers, environment, and economy by shopping with Farmers Markets this season.

The 2024 Bonus Bucks program is made possible by The Arconic Foundation and GardenShare Donors.

Grow and Preserve Open House at the Cornell Cooperative Extension Learning Farm

Enjoy a spring Saturday with like-minded community members at Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Grow and Preserve Open House on Saturday, May 11th, 2024 from 10am-12:30pm at the Learning Farm. People of all ages and abilities are invited to stop in anytime during the event to enjoy a diversity of activities centered around tending gardens and putting up seasonal foods.

Visitors can plant seeds in 6-packs and make “seed bombs” to bring home. Enjoy tours highlighting various parts of the Learning Farm including the pollinator garden (at 10:30 and 11:30am), the methane digester (at 11am and noon), or self-guided walk through the orchard which includes chickens in the understory.

Visit the Harvest Kitchen to sample preserved treats made by Master Food Preserver volunteers then bring home some of their favorite preservation recipes. Explore the extensive collection of preservation equipment and compare various models of water bath canners, pressure canners, dehydrators and other supplies, and ask Master Food Preservers about them in the process. If you have a dial gauge canner, the dial can be checked for accuracy at 11am or noon.

Find more information about the May 11th Open House on the Cornell Cooperative Extension event page at stlawrence.cce.cornell.edu/events. Come visit us at the GardenShare table!