Edition 45

September 11, 2009

• Local Box Contents
• News & Updates
• Recipe Corner
• Greenling Tidbits

• New -Bakery Items, from Texas French Bread
• New -Sirloin Steaks, from Betsy Ross, and they're on special too
• Back - US Apples
• Back -Watermelon & Galia Melon - from Local and non-local sources
• New - More Local Artisan Cheeses
• Change - Summermoon Coffee - all varieties are now available ground or whole bean

Get a Grant to Teach Your Kids About Vegetables!

Check out the 'Love your Veggies' grant program. The purpose is to help schools execute innovative programs that will increase the access to, and consumption of, fresh fruits and vegetables. The grant is $10,000 of direct funding so get with your teachers and apply today -

See More Here

Website Tip - Want to search for a product? Just click on 'All Products' in categories and hit Ctrl (Command on mac) + F. That's Ctrl-F. Then type away.

Austin Java Fires Up Their Green Roaster

Emission-free coffee-roasting? Sounds like a cruel joke to addicts who start to wake up with the smell of coffee, but it's great for the planet and Austin Java is the only group to do it in Austin. These guys are committed to Fair Trade, Organic coffee, and now environmentally-friendly roasting.

And did you know every morning they roast our beans to order and bring it over right before we send it out to you? Yep, you don't have to go straight to the roaster to get same-day roasted beans. Just add it to your basket.

Add Austin Java Coffee to your order here.

Exciting Times for Local & Organic Food

I'm writing from Santa Fe where I'm attending the first ever Slow Money conference. The Slow Money alliance has been formed to garner financial support for local food systems. Let's face it - local food systems don't scale. That's the point. But, that means it's hard to raise money from investors and banks. Slow Money hopes to change that and develop not only private equity funds with lower return expectations, but also crowd-source support for local food systems. One of their goals is to get 1 million people to donate $25-$50. This money will be invested in local and organic food production. Rebuilding food communities at the center of Sustainability. There are some exciting projects going on around the country. Check out Slow Money and stay tuned for more updates on how this can impact Central Texas.

We're Giving Away Free Local Food for a Year!

Buy Local Food from a Local Company! We're bringing back the 'Share The Love' competition to give you some free food. We're doing our best to live the word, here, folks. The Sustainability word. We're creating real value for you and for local farms and we're doing it with as little impact on the environment and as much positive impact in the community as we can. So, help us spread the love! And we'll thank you with free food. As a special treat - to celebrate our 3rd year of winning 'Best of' just tell 3 people about Greenling and when they sign up you get a whole month of Local Boxes (or equivalent basket value) for free! And you'll help your friends eat healthier and help local farms thrive.

Tell the most people about us between now and November and win Free Local Boxes for a Year! It's the easiest free food we've ever offered.

See Details on how to do it here

Download the flyer to give people with YOUR coupon code here (read details page to see what your coupon code is)

Celebrate With Us Our 3rd Year of Winning 'Best Local Food Company' in the Austin Chronicle Reader's Poll

Tasting Soiree/Best of Austin Bash

-Saturday, Sept 26, 7:07pm

-Brazos Loft Penthouse (map)

-FREE

We're combining our Monthly Tasting Soiree with our a Best of Austin Bash! We'll get a local chef to prepare some dishes with in-season Greenling Organic products and invite Greenlings (that's you) to prepare their own, too. The group will decide which ones get to go in the Greenling Central Texas Seasonal cookbook (name to be improved later) and the creator will get featured in the book.

So bring your best recipes and let Greenling make you famous. Or not...it is Austin, after all so there's no pressure or dress code or any of that. All you really need to bring is yourself. We'll also have some Greenling beverages, desserts, and some great company! We'll have some special music and dancing treats for you too.

See the Venue Here and Event Details Here

This Week's Box Contents & Local Items

Here's what's available from local farms on our website this week (the best selection of local produce in the state - guaranteed):

In Local Boxes ($34.99) this week (September 14-18):

• Okra - Naegelin
• Summer Squash - Bradshaw
• Meyer Lemons - G&S Groves
• Pickling Cucumbers - Naegelin
• Sweet Corn - Lightsey Farm
• Yellow Onion - Naegelin
• Asst Sweet Peppers - Tecolote
• Bibb Lettuce - Bluebonnet
• Pears! - Lightsey Farms
• Basil or Herb - Pure Luck
• Radish
• Portabella Mushrooms - Kitchen Pride

Last Week's (Sept 7-11) Local Box Video

In Farmstead & Local Produce Boxes ($49.99) this week (September 14-18):

• Tortilla Chips - Brazos Valley
• Tabouleh - The Med. Chef
• Dip Mix - Brazos Valley
• Sourdough Bread - Texas French Bread

No gluten-free box this week, sorry

Produce from Local Farms

• Arugula, Baby - Animal Farm
• Herb, Asst - Pure Luck
• Herbs, Basil, Live - Bella Verdi
• Lentil Sprouts - Groovy Greens
• Sunflower Sprouts - Groovy Greens
• Anaheim - Arnold Organics/Lundgren
• Elephant Garlic cloves - Green Gate
• Lettuce, Baby - Animal Farm
• Lettuce, Bibb - Bella Verdi
• Purple Hull Peas - Lightsey
• Meyer Lemons - G&S Groves
• Okra - Bradshaw Farms
• Pea Shoots - Bluebonnet

Produce from Local Farms

• Limes - G&S Grove
• Microgreens, Arugula - Bella Verdi
• Microgreens, Broccoli - Bella Verdi
• Mushroom, Crimini - Kitchen Pride
• Mushroom, Portabella - Kitchen Pride
• Mushroom, Shiitake - Kitchen Pride
• Mushroom, White - Kitchen Pride
• Onion, Yellow - Naegelin
• Potatoes, Red - Naegelin
• Shallots - Lundgren Farm
• Jalapeno - Lundgren
• Serrano - Lundgren
• Eggplant - Ringger
• Pickling Cucumbers - Naegelin
• LARGE Watermelon - Lightsey
• Texas Hard Pears - Lightsey

News & Events

Local Box Workshop

-Saturday, Sept 19, 9:30am-1:30pm (3 classes)

-Faraday's Kitchen Store (map)

-$8

Join Chef Andrew Brooks (spiritedfood.com) for our Local Box Workshop, as he shows you easy recipes and storage tips for using fresh, seasonal produce. You'll leave armed with a variety of ways to use what's local and in-season right now!

We will offer three sessions of this workshop with 15-person capacity for each at 9:30 am, 11:15 am, and 1:00 pm (1-hour sessions). Call 266-5666 TODAY to reserve your spot! These classes sell out fast.

See More Here

Farm & Food Leadership Conference

-Sept 14-15th,

-San Antonio

-$85

Join us at the Farm and Food Leadership Conference on September 14-15 in San Antonio, TX, for an exciting gathering of non-profit leaders, farmers and ranchers, local foods activists, and consumers. This two-day event will feature speakers on issues critical to both farmers and consumers, including the food safety bills in Congress, genetically modified foods, National Animal ID, organic certification, and more. You will get the latest information about these issues, as well as learning the tools you need to take action effectively. For more information and to register, go to
http://farmandranchfreedom.org/content/conference-2009 or call the Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance at 512-243-9404

Citizen Gardener Classes

-Starting Sept 19, 26

-Various Locations

-$40 + 10 hr volunteer (or +$50)

The perfect compliment to receiving Greenling delivered to your door is having some foods fresh from your own garden!

Don't really know how? Get trained to be a Citizen Gardner. Here's what it is:

+ 10 hours of gardening instruction over two consecutive Saturday mornings with a Wednesday evening workshop in between

+ 10 hours of volunteering/apprenticing along-side a more seasoned gardener at a community garden or other installation

+ end-of season potluck to celebrate the harvest!

Read more about it here and register through the Eventbrite link. There is a $40 materials fee. If you opt not to volunteer you can pay an additional $50 for the class instead.

New classes starting Sept 19, and Sept 26. Register now!

http://www.austineconetwork.com/content/register-now-citizen-gardener-classes

Recipe Corner

Veggie Mini Pizzas

from Paula Dean

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons Texas Olive Ranch olive oil
• 3/4 cup halved grape tomatoes
• 3 Rudis English muffins, sliced in 1/2
• 3 cups diced Animal Farm eggplant
• 1/4 1015 onion, sliced
• 1 small yellow squash, thinly sliced
• 1 small zucchini, grated
• Salt and pepper
• 1 tablespoon Texas Olive Ranch Balsamic vinegar
• 1/2 cup grated Brazos Valley mozzarella
• 1/3 cup crumbled Full Quiver feta cheese
• 3/4 teaspoon Greek seasoning
• 1/4 cup shredded fresh basil leaves

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet and add tomatoes. Cook until tomatoes are softened. Add salt, to taste.

Spoon cooked tomatoes evenly over English muffin halves. In a skillet, saute eggplant and onions in 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Add squash and zucchini and cook until tender. Do not over cook, since they will cook some more in the oven. Add salt and pepper to taste. Spoon sauteed vegetables evenly over the tomatoes. Sprinkle each mini pizza with balsamic vinegar. Top with mozzarella and feta cheese. Sprinkle pizza with Greek seasoning and basil.

Bake 25 minutes, or until cheese is melted and crust is lightly browned.

For More Recipes Check Out The Eating Out of the Local Box Blog