Hamlet Organic Garden

Welcome to the Hamlet Organic Garden (HOG)
We hope you enjoy being a member of our Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). We take great pleasure in providing our members with fresh, high quality produce. We love the connections we are able to make with members, and feel good about providing an experience which lets you and your family participate in local agricultural cycles.  Healthy soil means healthy food. When no herbicides, pesticides, or artificial fertilizers are used, ground water pollution and toxic residues on food are avoided. CSA gives consumers the chance to choose how their food is grown. Eating locally grown, freshly harvested food is the basis of a healthy diet and is recommended by healthcare professionals. CSA offers the opportunity for you to reconnect with rhythms of nature by eating produce when it is in season.
Over the last 20 years, Community Supported Agriculture has become a popular way for consumers to buy local, seasonal food directly from a farmer. Here are the basics: The HOG offers a certain number of “shares” to the public. Each member purchases a share and in return receives a portion of seasonal produce each week throughout the farming season. Your share consists of vegetables and other farm products as they are in season.  There is an important concept woven into the CSA model that takes this arrangement beyond the usual commercial transaction. That is the notion of shared risk. The idea of shared risk is part of what creates a sense of community among members, and between members and the farmers. If a hailstorm takes out all the peppers, everyone is disappointed together, and together we will cheer on a bumper crop of winter squash and broccoli. The HOG Board and farmers feel a great sense of responsibility to our members, and if certain crops are scarce, we will make sure you know why.  This handbook is intended to provide you with information about the logistics of how the CSA actually works. If you have other questions please don’t hesitate to call or email us!
“The Garden is, in a sense, the cosmos in miniature, a condensation of the world that is open to your senses. It doesn’t end at the limits of your own parcel of land, or your own state or your own nation. Every cultivated plot of ground is symbolic of the surprises
and ramifications of life in all its varied forms, including the human.”
~ Stanley Kunitz
What you can expect from HOG:
• To get ultra-fresh food, with all the flavor and vitamin benefits
• To get exposed to new vegetables and new ways of cooking
• To find that kids typically favor food from “their” farm - even veggies they’ve never been known to eat
• To develop a relationship with the farmers who grow your food and learn more about how food is grown
• To have the opportunity to learn about horticulture and organic gardening, bees, and preserving food.
• To meet other members who value fresh organic produce as much as you do, and share in a new community of people devoted to preserving local farming practices
Please don’t expect all your produce to come from the HOG
The HOG will most likely not provide families with enough fruit to meet their usual intake. While we do produce strawberries and small amounts of other berries, fruit will not be a large part of your share at this time. We are looking to the future, and may expand fruit offerings in the coming years. Depending on the size of your family and how much you cook, you may find that you need to supplement some vegetables as well, especially staples like onions and potatoes, especially early in the growing season. We encourage you to still buy local organic produce!  If you are not used to eating seasonally, do some research.  If you are not accustomed to eating seasonally, you may find that it takes a while to make a transition from eating whatever is at the grocery store (pretty much everything) to whatever is in your HOG share (what’s in season). It may surprise you to find that strawberries only last a few weeks in June, and that tomatoes do not ripen until August! You should expect the season to start off lighter than it finishes. The HOG’s first crops will be salad greens, peas, green onions and the like. By the end of the season, your share will be much heavier, with things like winter squash, potatoes, tomatoes, and broccoli. Check out the weekly HOG Trough for a list of what produce to expect when. It’s worth reading!
What is the HOG Trough?
Every week we send out the HOG Trough, a weekly update that lets you know what’s going on at the farm, a list of what’s in the share this week, pick-your-own items and limits, work hour possibilities, and a calendar of events. In order to eliminate paper waste, we only send the newsletter out via email. It is also posted on our website www.hamletorganicgarden.org. If you have a recipe you would like to share, please send it to jill@hamletorganicgarden.org and we will post it on our blog in the “recipe” category.
How do we get in touch with the farmers?
Sean and Jill check phone messages at (631)286-7068 and emails at mail@hamletorganicgarden.org once per day. We usually return phone and email messages within 24 hours, however in the height of the season it may take us 2-3 days to return messages. This is our phone at home. There is no phone at the farm, so we return most messages in the evening.
When is pickup?
We harvest produce Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings and have it washed and ready for pickup from 3:30-6:30pm at the farm. On Mondays we harvest and deliver produce to our Bayshore site, and on Wednesdays we deliver to Seatuket.
How do I change my pickup day?
Members choose one day to pickup regularly, but if you need to change once in a while we can accommodate you. To change your pickup day you must call or email by Sunday evening of the week you want to make the change.  You may call (631)286-7068 or email mail@hamletorganicgarden.org. Please be specific about how long you would like to switch for, be it just one week or for the rest of the season.
What if I know in advance I am going to miss pickup?
You may send anyone in your place to pickup your share if you are unable to make it to pickup. If you know by Sunday, you may switch your pickup to a different day. Lastly, if you notify us 24 hours in advance, we can pack up your share and leave it in the barn for pickup later in the evening or the next day. Drop your bag off in advance, labeled with your name to be sure no one mistakenly takes your share.
Oops! I missed a pickup!
If you did not call or email us in advance, your share will be donated to our local food pantries and community centers, where all our leftover produce goes.
Where are the pickups and how do I get there?
The Farm
The entrance is an unimproved driveway (aka dirt road) at 319 Beaver Dam Rd. Please note, this driveway is only wide enough for one car at a time, please be courteous to other members trying to get in or out!
Bayshore
The Bayshore pickup is located at 425 Pine Drive in Bayshore, NY. Pine Drive is just south of the Manor Lane exit
of Sunrise Highway, behind the shopping complex. Your hosts are Rich and Lisa Richards at (631)206-3047.
Setauket
The Setauket pickup is located at 15 Balin Avenue, South Setauket, NY. Balin is just off Nichols Road, at Hawkins Road. Your hosts are Stephanie and Kevin Regan at (631)648-8354.
Where can I park at the farm?
When you drive into the farm you will park on the right side of the farm facing the fence. PLEASE do not park on the left under the large pine tree - we are working to protect this beautiful old tree’s roots! To go down to the farm fields, park, and walk to the fields. If you have a mobility or health issue preventing you from walking down, please speak to the pick-up coordinator on duty. It is a short 5 minute trip to the back fields. Walking makes the road safer for other walkers and their children, and it’s difficult to turn a car around down at the fields!
How does the pickup work?
Remember to bring your own bags to contain your share-we are a plastic-bag-free farm. Please do not drop off plastic grocery bags at the farm for later use-take them to the grocery store to be recycled! Bring reusable bags, or baskets. If you would like to pick your own, or just visit the fields, please remember to WALK from the pickup site. When you arrive at the farm, you’ll see the pickup coordinator first-he or she will check off your name, inform you of any balance you may owe, and direct you to the blackboard which lists what and how much is in the share this week. All items on the blackboard are listed in the order they are placed on the tables. Simply go around the tables, taking the items listed in the correct amounts. There are scales available for items that need to be weighed. Please remember, to reduce waste, we harvest only as much produce as we need for that day-if there are 80 members, we pick 80 lettuces, and 80 pounds of spinach. So please be accurate when weighing, and do not take extra of an item because you really like it, or it looks small! Then there won’t be enough left for people at the end.
Is the food in our share already cleaned?
We rinse most of the produce after harvesting as it helps cool the veggies off so they stay fresh longer. We recommend giving everything another wash once you get it home to take care of any residual grit. Don’t be surprised to find root vegetables like potatoes and carrots have some beautiful HOG soil still clinging to them! Due to their delicate nature, tomatoes and berries are not rinsed after harvesting.
What if I don’t like something? What is this and how do I cook it?
If you don’t like an item in the share, take it anyway! You may be surprised at how different fresh, organic produce tastes from what you buy in the store. You may n ot take more of something else instead! All our share items are picked in just the right amounts to reduce waste-if you take extra of something, you are taking it from someone who picks up later! Not sure what something is, or how to cook it? Ask your pickup coordinator, or one of your fellow members! The pickup coordinators are often seasoned members who know just what to do with the bounty of arugula, how to prepare fennel, or tell you what tatsoi is. Feel free, after having picked up your share, to try bartering with fellow members-maybe they love fennel, and hate radishes, you never know!
What if I’m splitting a share, or I only bought half a share?
If you are splitting a share, then you both can meet at the farm and pickup together, or one of you can pick up the share and split it up later. The whole share must be picked up at once - do not pick up half the share, and expect your partner to pick up the other half!  If you only bought a half share, you will pick up a whole share every other week. Early in the season you will be assigned either even or odd weeks to pickup. If you think you may miss a pickup, the same rules apply as to a full share.
How does Pick-Your-Own work?
Some of our produce and herbs, and all flowers are pick-your-own. This means that you may come down to the farm to pick any day of the week, as long as it’s not raining (disease is spread by people touching wet plants). In our newsletter each week we list the pick-your-own items, and any limits. Pick-Your-Own items include all herbs, all flowers, peas, beans, cherry tomatoes, and strawberries. Often we pick some, and invite you to pick more if you would like-for example, we may pick a pint of snap peas for each member, but you may pick-your-own up to an additional pound.  Pick-Your-Own items are usually clearly marked, and picking tools and containers are in the shed. For flowers, you may want to bring your own scissors and some water to keep them fresh. If you can’t find something, please ask!  Always put any tools away where you found them so we don’t run them over with the tractor in the field.
Can I bring my kids?
Kids are welcome at the farm, however they need to be supervised at all times! There are lots of dangers on a farm, including the tractor barn, rusty metal, tractors, trucks, gasoline, oil, and other not pleasant items. Additionally, it’s easy for kids to step on seedlings and delicate plants. We encourage you to teach your children to respect and love the farm as much as we do!  We do expect that you will be responsible for watching your own child(ren) during the duration of your visit/work at the farm. We cannot guarantee that there will “work” available that will be appropriate for children under the age of 13. Please have a plan for supervising or keeping your child(ren) occupied during your hours worked.
Can I bring my dog(s) to the Farm?
Dogs may be brought to the farm, but MUST stay on a leash and in control by you at all times. Do NOT allow your dog to free-run at the farm at any time. Other members may not appreciate your pet as you do, and some may be frightened or unintentionally injured by them. Also make sure you are picking up after your pets - pet stools can contain parasites that can be harmful to humans, and no one appreciates stepping in what has been left behind!
Are there hazards on the farm?
YES! A farm can be a dangerous place, so we have a few rules to make it safer for everyone:
The Tractor Barn-The ground floor of the tractor barn is full of tractors, implements, and old rusty metal items that we’re sure to use someday. Please be careful if you are under there, seeking shade. The second floor is unfinished, so no one is allowed on the second floor of the barn except employees.
The Shed-We keep gasoline, oil, organic pesticides, and tools in the shed, as well as sharp knives and clippers. It’s ok to go in here to get tools or gloves, but never let kids in here unsupervised.
The Chicken Coop-Kids love chickens, but please do not open the door to the coop, or allow your child inside!
Tractors-Tractors and their implements can be tempting places to climb, but our rule is No Kids on Tractors,
whether they are running or not.
First Aid-There is a first aid kit in the Farm Shed.
How do I complete my work hours?
If you are interested, members have the opportunity to work 15 hours at the farm in exchange for a $100 refund off the share price. Work hours are due August 31st, unless you are scheduled to work as a pickup coordinator beyond the end of August. All $100 refunds are issued in September, and you can opt to have it carried over as a deposit for next season.  Always remember to record your hours on your note card, located in the work hour box next to the blackboard on the farm shed. If you work as a pickup coordinator, the eork hour box is located in the greenhouse where pickups occur. (There are blanks at the back of the boxes if it is your first time working.) Kids are welcome to help you work, however they must be watched at all times, and only children over the age of 13 can put in hours towards your refund. If you work in the fields and at pickups, fill out cards in each box. When we tally the hours we will count both. There are 2 ways to complete your work hours, either by doing field work or as a pick-up coordinator.
Field Work: To do field work, come to the fields from the end of May-August 31st on a Monday, Wednesday, Friday or Saturday from 9am-5pm. You do not have to sign up or call in advance, just show up. If you can’t find us, keep looking -we are always at the farm for these hours, though we may be off in a back field. You can work for as long or as short a time as you want. Typically during the week volunteers help with the harvest, and Saturdays are reserved for weeding, planting, or other special projects. We try to let members know of specific work opportunities in the newsletter, but please keep in mind that when you get to the farm, we may need you for something else! Field work means just that - show up with an open mind and be ready to work. We recommend you bring sun block, water to drink, bug spray, a hat and work gloves. We provide the tools. Again, always put tools back where you found them! Hoes don’t grow on trees, but they do puncture tractor tires, which are very expensive.

Pickup Coordinator: To work as a pickup coordinator, you must come be at the mandatory meeting May 22nd to learn the ropes and pick shifts. Pickup Coordinators MUST be able to lift and carry up to 30 pounds, and will be expected to keep the pickup area neat and stocked during pick up hours. You may need to walk back to the fields to restock items, and will need to carry and move baskets of produce, and the farm sign from the driveway back to the greenhouse. If you miss the meeting May 22nd, there will be another one Saturday June 5th at 10am.  Please attend one of these training sessions before signing up for coordinator work hours. Pickup coordinator hours are not due until the pickups are over-however, you must sign up for your shifts by August 31st in order for them to count as your work hours.
Is there a bathroom?
There is no bathroom at the farm at this time.
Do the Board/farmers want feedback?
Yes! Board members are available to answer your questions and listen to your comments every pickup day from 5pm-6pm. We periodically have evaluations for shareholders to give feedback that we use for planning the following year. But don’t wait for us! If there is something that you’d like us to know that would make the CSA work better for you, please let the farmers or a member of the Board know.
Potlucks/festivals/events at the farm
Each year the Board and the farmers at the farm work hard to plan a fun year of activities for farm members and the community at large. Some of these events are for members only, and some are open to the whole community. Many of these activities are free, or have costs that only cover the HOG’s expense to have the event (ie. Canning), others are designed to help the HOG raise money for improvements including adding new technology - “greener” ways of farming such as solar power and electric tractors; improving our irrigation; adding to the protection of our crops; adding more variety to the HOG offerings; and improving the farm facilities. Past fundraisers have helped us to build our tractor barn, add to our fencing, and convert a tractor to run more efficiently among other things.  All pot-lucks and food festivals will require participants to bring their own place settings and utensils. We found last year that this greatly reduced the amount of trash generated at events.  We will have cans for garbage and compostables. We appreciate your helping us reduce, reuse and recycle at the farm! On the following page are events established for the upcoming season. We may add others as the year progresses, and these will be announced in the HOG Trough and at pick-ups, and may include some fun and educational  opportunities.  We look forward to you and your family joining us at all of the year’s upcoming events!! All events open to the public will be publicized on Bellport.com, The Advance, and in flyers around the community.
Invite your friends to enjoy an event with you!
Here’s to another great season at the HOG!