Blog

Yup, that's right I live in New York City. Funny thing is I grew up on the peaceful North Fork of Long Island on an Organic Farm. I say funny because so far I am uniquely the only manhattanite/organic farmer's daughter I have yet to meet! Like Foodielink, I am passionate about engaging and compelling people towards better eating and through my blog I hope to raise interesting questions and tell you a little more about what growing up on a farm was all about!

I grew up a "farmer's daughter" my whole life jumping between our old East Moriches farm, Hobe Sound Florida winter farm and our current location in Peconic, Long Island. We were certified organic a few years ago by NOFA and prior to that we grew naturally for about seven years. We used to be strictly wholesale Asian veggie growers however, today we grow for our retail stand and local farmer's markets, featuring specialty organic vegetables. Our biggest and most recent changes over the past four years has been our growing CSA programs, our own Sang Lee Farms prepared foods line and our farm to table cooking dinners and events.

Whats new and happening on the farm? Well, we just opened for the 2010 season! Because it is not yet warm enough to plant outside we are growing lots of good stuff in the greenhouses including (Mesclun, Arugula, Spinach, Mustard, Kale, Romaine, Tatsoi, Mizuna, Snow Pea Shoots, Asian Mix, French Radishes, Red Scallions, Green Scalions, Herbs, Multicolored Beets and Carrots) The Baby Bok Choy is coming, but a bit small just yet. Once it's up to size we will start to make the Stirfry dinner packs (for the newbies, these are pre-cut, pre-washed, mixed veggies with directions and our custom made stirfry sauce all in one 5 minute dinner pack!) Plus, we are making up fresh batches of our famous and Sang Lee infused local dressings, dips, pestos and soups!

Our artisinal cheese line will be very exciting this year. Catapano award winning chevre has begun just this week. Yum!!!!! Plus we just received our first delivery of Harpersfield Tilsit style cheeses both plain and with herbs, and a new selection of Nettle Meadows goat chevre with garlic and oil, maple and walnuts, and herbs. Deleo's superb mozzarella and fresh ricotta is also available starting this week as well. For those of you interested in natural meats we have our first delivery of Aberdeen Hill Farms natural meats will be here the last week of April.

Personally I think its pretty cool you can get natural local meats! Growing up this was not a readily accessible option, even out in rural Long Island. The animals from Aberdeen Hill Farm do not eat 100% certified organic grain and therefore cannot be "organic". Instead the animals eat grain from local neighbors ( thus supporting local farmers and reducing the carbon footprint). The meats are all natural and most importantly local! Deciding to carry local meat was very important to us because we wanted to support our community farmers and offer fresh and delicious alternatives to shopping at a grocery store. For us North Fork folk eating "organic" meat you might have to fly it in from other states, such as Oregon. Food for thought * ... when you have to choose one or the other the question is - to eat Local and natural OR* organic meat that traveled about 2,895 miles? The obvious answer would be local and organic, which makes sense ecologically, economically and gastronomically however sometimes you do not have the luxury to choose both.

Although personally, I am a pescatarian (meaning I eat no meat only fish )the rest of my family including my parents and two younger brothers do eat meat and they swear by the fresh and delicious flavors of the local cuts. There is a difference you have to taste to believe! Perhaps a back yard BBQ (or rooftop electric grill) taste test is in order!

Stay tuned as as May comes in strong with our famous asparagus!!
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