Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) spots open in Long Island City
Greenmarket, Union Sq
Since the Greenmarket isn’t starting until July this year, we thought it might be a good idea to alert LIC dwellers about the CSA program starting next month. This when you purchase a “share” of a local farm’s harvest, and then once a week during the season, you go and pick up a huge box full of their bounty.
Now is the time to sign up.
What is CSA? CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) is a way to create a relationship with a local NY farm and to receive a weekly basket of produce. By making a financial commitment to a farm, people become “members” (or “shareholders,” or “subscribers”) of the CSA. Then, each week during the growing season (June-Nov) our farmer (Chris and Kate from The Farm at Miller’s Crossing) will deliver your week’s share of produce (a portion of their harvest) to our distribution site. You will come to the site every Monday from June - November and pick up your CSA share.
Download the docs below (MS Word format):
- Community Supported Agriculture
- [CSA Farmer Meet & Greet]( http://www.liqcity.com/downloads/csa/farmermeetandgreetinvitation.doc)
- CSA Seasonal List
- LIC Pick up site
- [CSA Member Agreement 1]( http://www.liqcity.com/downloads/csa/memberagreement1.doc)
- CSA Member Agreement 2
- [CSA General Flyer]( http://www.liqcity.com/downloads/csa/flyer.jpg)
- CSA - How LIC can benefit.
Those are pretty inconvenient hours… heck, I’m rarely home from work by then. And you’d think they could put it closer to the train? I guess their market is more Queensbridge folks, though, which makes sense due to the population density there and the fact that they could probably use the access to good food more than, say, condo yuppies who have their own personal farmer’s market.
Farmer’s markets have helped educate countless yuppies about fiddleheads, gold chard, heritage tomatoes, and all those other trendy “gotta have” vegetables they never heard of and never dared to eat before they landed in NYC.
Condo yuppies have their own personal farmer’s market? How so hipster rust belt refugee?
I dunno, is it coincidental that they put the one Greenmarket in LIC (and one of the few in Queens) right down the street from Queens West rather than somwhere more centrally-located like Court Square or Queens Plaza?
I think this is pretty brilliant, I would love to take advantage. It’s a shame that it is so inconvenient
Oh yeah, QP would be great with all the car fumes and brake dust from the trains coating the fruit. And double parking would help that area a lot. Like there’s no congestion there or anything.
And Court Square has barely any residential development right now. It’s the commercial zone of LIC! But it’d be good for you though right b/c the world revolves around hipsters.
QW has the population density to support a greenmarket. Common sense.
#7 - you have some serious issues.
The Greenmarket makes their decision as to where to place a market after researching the demographics of the area. They need a nearby population large enough to generate foot traffic as a starting point. When a market becomes established, people from outside the immediate area will travel to the location. Court Square is a 10-15 minute walk, a short subway stop or easy bike ride away from Vernon Blvd….not nearly as far as traveling from upper Manhattan to Union Square as hordes of people do every weekend.
The green market is where it is because a local business own took the time and trouble to collect signatures from all the residents in Hunters Point.
No. 10, are you referring to the owner of the army and navy store? Yes, I’ve heard many times of that businesswoman’s selfless actions. Maybe you can also tell us what else she has been doing for decades in that city-funded neighborhood group she’s involved in that seems answerable to no one.
The Greenmarket is here because of that woman’s tireless efforts along with “that” group (The Hunters Point Community Development Corp.) of which she is President.
The group has been in existence since the 1950’s and accompishes a lot of “behind the scenes” work involving neighborhood issues. They work with very little funding. They initiated the food fest at the 108’s National Night Out to celebrate our local restaurants.The 3rd annual feast will be held this August.
Re: the Greenmarket - They make the final decision as to where they will set up once they have decided to enter a community. They also control the number of farmers they will send to a given location.
Ah yes! The Hunters Point Community Development Corp. The kind folks who brought us the opposition to the CUNY dorms on 5th Avenue…
No thanks. You can keep your “behind the scenes” work.
#13 can you tell us the positive side of having the dorms on 5th? Just want your point of view….
1) Increased tax revenues for the city
2) Environmental remediation of a contaminated site
3) Conversion of a vacant lot to a facility making a contribution to community
4) Exhibition space for QCA
5) The building will house doctoral candidates (our future doctors, astronauts, scientist, chemists, executives, etc.) making a fine addition to the neighborhood.
#13 - I believe that was an individual opposition - not the group. BTW - Do you instantly hate on someone whose opinion differs from yours on a particular issue?
I am very much in favor of the CUNY dorms, but I certainly respect the opinions of those who are not.
I dont know if the group opposed it, but its memebers were certainly out in the press throwing the organizations name around, so I assume the organization is also against it - otherwise they should instruct their members not to reference them when stating personal opinions to the media:
“We don’t need a dorm here,” said of the Hunters Point Community Development Corp. “We need people who want to build a future here.”
That was one person who spoke to the press. That group has supported development here from the beginning of the QW project. Several of its members are residents of Citylights. Even some members of the arts community spoke out against the dorms mainly because they were seeking a variance to allow additional heighth to the building on a street that is zoned for low rise.
As I stated before, I do not think it fair to condemn a group because one or more of its members may oppose a cause that you support. BTW I am a member of that group and as I also stated before I am very much in favor of the CUNY project - mainly because of the cultural impact that it will bring to the community.
Where does the HPCD publish details of what it does, where it gets its funding, etc.? I’ve looked on the Web and can’t find anything. Who annointed them as decision-makers for the neighborhood? LIC has long been plagued by insiders making deals under the table. It’s time for a little daylight.
“LIC plagued by insiders making deals”?????? Please clarify.
Oops - I forgot - these alleged deals are “under the table”????? Again - please clarify.
#17 here, I agree with 19. If they truly are a community group why not let people in the community know who they are and what they are doing. If the organization was not against the dorms, then why was its president allowed to invoke the name of the organization in the press? I don’t know the answers to this, but I do know I can’t can get behind the activities of this Hunters Point Community Development Corp. unless there is more transparancy about who they are and what they do. Not sure I like what I see based off what is publically availible.
It is weird if they don’t have a website… I once worked for a CDC in Detroit and they were certainly doing everything they could to publicize their activities and try to get more folks involved. They also had a monthly newsletter (and now e-newsletter). For those not familiar with community development corporations, this wikipedia article is a general overview.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community_development_corporation
It’s important to remember that the local CDC is a nonprofit, where as there is also a local community board, which is a whole other thing… an actual decision-making body with some power (kinda) granted it from the city. Presumably the Hunters Point CDC is involved with issues like affordable housing, neighborhood economic development, parks/vacant lot cleanup, that sort of thing(?). It doesn’t sound like a very effective CDC… yeah, like 2 pages of Google results and nothing substantive. I wonder what their core activities are. No conspiracy theories, just curiosity.
Thanks Brandon for confirming that there is no information out there regarding this entity. Its in this environment where there is a lack of basic information where rumors and speculation start.
Also curious that a Community Development Corporation who by definition should be engaged in activities that promote and support economic development is headed up by a president who by her quotes in the media is openly against development.
Again I have no idea what the HPCDC is about, who they are or what they are up to. They could be doing some real positive things in the area, but I’m not about to blindly throw my full support behind some shadowy organization on the basis of obtaining a greenmarket.
I am #18
1. I previously stated that HPCDC has been supportive of development from the beginning. Several members are residents of Citylights.
2. There is nothing “shadowy” about the org. They are a legitimate not-for-profit group operating openly in the community.
3. Her stance on the CUNY Dorms was echoed by members of other groups as well as CB2. -
But I repeat -the fact that she gave her title to the press does not mean that she was speaking for her group.
4. HPCDC has never presented itself as a “decision making group”.
5. I suggest that you stop by the Army/Navy store and meet her. She is usually there Mon thru Fri from 11AM - 6PM.
25, then why doesn’t the group report on what it does, either through public meetings, a newsletter, or on the Web? This is common practice for any legitimate not-for-profit. It’s great that the owner of the shop is available for chats, but perhaps more effective communication is necessary.
If HPCDC is working for the public interest, then it would seem to me they have an obligation to respond to the community and explain how they reach their decisions and what kind of influence they have with the community board and other local government representatives.
In my sleuthing online, I saw that the group filed an application for city funding. I think HPCDC has a responsibility to tell residents in LIC what they use the money for. Do the members get any taxpayer money for being on HPCDC? How much? How were they elected? What body in NYC oversees them? These are important questions, I think.
Perhaps you will be enlightened if you stop by for a “chat” with her as I previously suggested.
In the meantime - I can assure you that members get no compensation for being on the board. It is strictly made up of volunteers.
Hi, #25, I still don’t understand what the Hunters Point Community Development Corp. does. Can you explain the mission and purpose of the group? What do they do that isn’t already being done by the CB and elected officials?
18/25 you are missing the point. They are not operating openly, or we would not be here speculating. The HPCDC may very well be pro-development, but the only public statement referencing their stance of that body’s president seems to indicate that the president is not. Much like any other organization, the tone and focus is often set from the top. While I’m willing to give you the benefit of the doubt, you insisting that they are in favor of the economic development of the community and that some members live in Citylights is not a very compelling argument.
As others have stated it seems like a major community outreach program is long overdue. It is the organizations responsibility to explain to the community what it is doing. If you are a member of the HPCDC, I suggest the following action items for discussion at your next get together:
1) Get a website up - its cheap and people would probably host/design it it for free if they knew it was for a non-profit. Do a search on the internet and you’ll see several examples of well designed informative community development group websites. If you don’t want to go the website route (which I struggly suggest that you do), I’m sure that many of the LIC Blogs would also be happy to help diseminate information. (LIQ back me up here.)
2) Put out a mission statement - what are you fighting for and fighting against?
3) Identify the leadership of the organization. Which building they live in is not so much important as their qualifications and their stand on the community issues.
4) Get a email address or phone number. There needs to be a more effective and efficient way for to the community to communicate with this organization other than stopping by the Army/Navy store between 11 and 6pm.
5) When and where do you meet? How does one get involved if so inclined? What other ways can one contribute?
6) How are you funded and what is that funding used towards?
7) How does the HPCDC interface with other public/private bodies? Where does it make decisions and what influence does it have at the decisions making process at other organizations / governmental bodies?
Again I have no ax to grind with HPCDC, but I think its unreasonable to expect blind allegiance especially in LIC where there is suspicion of these types of entities due to the history of niche organizations who work against the interests of the broader community.
The HPCDC could be a major force for good in the area. The group may have started in the 1950s, but a lot has changed since then. Heck a lot has changed in the past 12 months. The question here is will the HPCDC change its practices and the way it operates to reach out to the new residents that are increasingly the face of LIC?
No. 29, well said. You hit on all the points that occurred to me since hearing about the existence of the HPCDC on this thread. If they are unwilling or unable to answer your serious questions, then I don’t think they have any business representing themselves as a community organization or taking a dime in taxpayer money. They need to speak up.
Some of the long-time residents of LIC might recall some other groups that also tried to step into the breach in community organizing years ago. Their efforts also seemed cloaked in secrecy. It would be a shame to repeat the same errors today, when the area really does need a group that vigorously — and openly — represents the interests of this growing and changing neighborhood to those in government.
Hi #29 & #30 –At this point, we are anonymous voices conversing on a blog. I don’t know you and you don”t know me. That is why I keep suggesting that you go to the store and speak to the woman who just might have some answers for you –time to come out of hiding and reveal yourselves.
31, I don’t like the tone of your invitation and will respectfully decline. I’ll leave it up to the other posters of this board and residents to decide whether they are content to have your organization, which publishes no information about itself and its funding, to “represent” their interests.
What “tone”? It was simply a polite suggestion.
31, this is #29. I wish you would reconsider and not react so defensively. There is criticism being leveled here to be certain, but it is constructive and if the suggestions are implemented it could represent a significant opportunity for the group to get more visability, more credit, more resources, more support, etc. None of these are bad things.
Yes, we are all anonymous. I am but a humble resident of LIC. I have no specific obligations to the community at large. I do not accept government money to further my objectives. Nor am I leading any behind the scenes efforts that affect the community. As such I have a right to remain anonymous. The HPCDC does not. I’m confused as to why any community group would not *want* to disclose information about its activities. Yes, it is easy to level criticism on an internet blog, but what other forum is there to interact with your group? I’m sorry, I will not take time off work to show up at a private business and track down a member of this organization to get her views. This is not about her, it is about the entity itself. And even if I did do that, how does that help the thousands of other LIC residents who have similar questions? Should we all make an appointment with her? How about holding a community meeting where the questions I raised above can be answered in public?
Again I hope you reconsider this. Perhaps you are not in a position where you can speak on behalf of the organization. Or maybe you don’t want to be drawn into a debate on a blog. I understand that, but perhaps you can be a force of change from within. I wish you the best, however until that point where more is known about your organization I fear that I have to view the HPCDC with as much skepticism as some of the other so-called community groups which are cutting back room deals and manuvering in ways which are not in my interest.
I’m not either 29 or 30 but I have concerns about what I’m reading about HPCDC on this thread. I’d like to know what is the group’s position regarding Hunters Point South, the biggest new affordable housing development effort in the city. I went to the EDC’s website to look at the Scope document and noticed that no one from the group spoke at the public hearings on the project or submitted any written comments. So how is HPCDC working on community issues in Long Island City if you don’t weigh in on a project as enormous as Hunters Point South?
You are correct in that I do not want to get drawn into a debate on a blog; however, I can assure you that there are no “back room deals” and “manuvering” going on with this group.
With that said, I am withdrawing from any further conversation on this subject as I really do not feel qualified to speak out on behalf of the organization without conferring with the membership as a whole.
I hope you can understand my position, and I wish you a Happy Holiday.
Apparently HPCDC is Long Island City’s version of the Illuminati.
#37 I will not dignify that post with a response. I was speaking to #34 who put two very reasonable questions before me to which I responded quite honestly.
38, and we’re eagerly waiting for answers to those questions. Can you at least say how much money your group received last year and what you spent it on?
Who is the woman at HPCDC/Army Navy Store people are referring to? What’s her name?
Sounds like 36 is lawyering up. I think the woman’s name is Terry Adams.
#41 not necessary. Let’s be civil. After extensive searches on the web, this is the only shred of information that I was able to find:
http://www.queensny.org/NED_Pdf/Hunter’sPointQNAI.pdf
The document seems to be a collaboration between the HPCDC and the Queens Economic Development Corp. (QEDC). In 2007, QEDC helped HPCDC prepare an area and organizational profile. The profile in the link appears to be needed to be completed by HPCD. Contact information for the leadership of HPCDC is included at the end of the document.
As others have stated the organization goals, viability and program seem to be largely unimpressive. According the organizational profile “the HPCDC is not implementing any current programs. The HPCDC is in the process of re-establishing itself as an active and functioning neighborhood development group. QEDC is currently assisting the HPCDC with finding a site for its office. Once the group is fully operational, it will focus on developing beautification and district marketing initiatives.”
HPCDC was founded in 1984 when intense real estate speculation occurred and several major development proposals were planned for Hunter’s Point. The Hunter’s Point CDC was formed to educate local residents about development plans, encourage participation in the public review process, and facilitate consensus building among the local community. Today the Hunter’s Point CDC also seeks to stabilize and improve conditions for the residents and small businesses. One might read a slightly anti-development message embedded in their description of the neighborhood, and their history of involvement in the anti-Queens West movement are telling, but I’ll let the reader decide for themselves.
The HPCDC is a non-funded group (not sure what that means) and has applied for the Avenue NYC Program for funding.
http://www.nyc.gov/html/sbs/downloads/pdf/fy2008_avenue_nyc_information_sheet.pdf
The Avenue NYC Program provides funding for among other Personnel Expenses, Fringe Expenses, Program Expenses, and Administrative Expenses. If they got this in theory people could be pulling a salary from this organization. They have plans for receiving financial support from local government and elected officials.
While this is a start there are still many, many questions to be answered about this organization.
It’s no wonder New York City has so much red ink when it throws around money without any accountability to the myriad “community groups” looking for handouts. Fringe expenses? Why should they have any? CRAZY.
This is the only link I could find about HPCDC’s finances:
http://sobczaksays.org/rich_text_42.html
It says that the group had revenues of $92,000 (including $63,000 from the Dept. of Business Services) in 1992, the last year data is available. No detailed info is given on where this money went.
This excerpt explains more about their programs and the group’s personnel expenses:
“Not only our current programs are at risk of service reductions without general operating support, our 1993 goals cannot be met without general operating support. In particular, our programmatic goals of expanding youth programs, developing a child care family provider network, and increasing environmental education in Hunters Point all rely upon gaining general operating support for Hunters Point Community Development Corporation.
With monies received in 1991, HPCDC was able to hire new staff and expand our expertise and our capacity to provide community services.”
For what its worth the HPCDC has strong historical ties to the The Hunters Point Community Coalition, which was formed in 1989, to develop an alternate plan to Queens West with less density, lower buildings and less vigorous development. Leadership of both organizations were similar and to colaberated on many projects.
To me, it’s less important what position (pro or anti development) the group has. They are free to champion whatever cause they want. But I find it more troubling that the group has accepted public money on behalf of Hunters Point but next to nothing is known about what they do with the money. There might be a perfectly reasonable explanation for this, but this thread has gone on for days and no one from the group has had anything meaningful to contribute. Let’s hear from them.
How does one go about forming a CDC? If anyone can do it who not form our own CDC that is transparent, accountable to us, representative of our interests and does not come with the baggage and legacy of some the more controversial aspects of the neighborhoods past?
I’m curious to know if any of the local businesses contribute to HPCDC? If so, who are they, and how is their support elicited?
From the information online, you can see that many of the initial members of the management (at least during the 90’s) were comprised of business owners located on Vernon. During the early days of QW they were paraniod about the new residents of the condos having a 1-2 punch on their business by driving out the blue collar residents and by the the retail services that were opening in the ground floors of the new condos which would cater to the new residents. No doubt this led in part to the composition and activities of the HPCDC in its early days.
I wonder what is HPCDC view on the Blend liquor licence? This is another small business on Vernon whose existence is threatened. Are they rallying to the support of one of their collueges?
oh yeah… it all comes back to Blend.
HPCDC has been operating without city funding since 1994 when there were cuts in city funding leading to the loss of their office space and a total down sizing.
HPCDC parted company with the Coalition long before the QW issues became a reality.
The old regime of HPCDC is long gone –2008 is not 1992.
All grants allow the hiring of personnel to carry out various tasks. Those people are staff. If a board member chooses to become staff he/she has to resign as a volunteer board member. Staff has no voting priveleges. but can attend meetings to give progress reports.
The HPCDC in 1992 and in prior years had an Executive Director who was a salaried employee - that position no longer exists.
Some of your research dates back to 1993 when the org. was at risk of losing funding…..which indeed became a reality.
Today HPCDC is in the process of re-establishing it self as a viable organization working for the betterment of the community of Hunters Point.
#52, what is your affiliation with HPCDC?
I’m the same person I was at the beginning of this thread - a board member. Why did I suddenly have a flashback to that old TV show “What’s My Line”? “Will the real #52 please stand up”.
From #51: “oh yeah… it all comes back to Blend.”
Which members of HPCDC sit on CB2?
#55 - As I recall this all began with a discussion about the Greenmarket. Blend was another thread on which I ( as an individual being} spoke quite openly about the fact that they should get their clearance for beer/wine.
Some HPCDC members do attend meetings, but right now no one “sits on CB2″.
#55 None of them do. I was referring to the post above that brought Blend up. Blend was not part of this post. It was another thred.
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I’m all in favor of eating organic produce and supporting local farmers. But I doubt many people from Hunters Point will go to Queensbridge on Mondays between 1pm and 7pm to pick up a box of produce. What is so wrong with this city that it’s so difficult to conveniently buy fresh fruit and vegetables in neighborhood shops? I don’t get it.