MV Gardens

farming for change

by Denise A. Szarek

In all the years I’ve been writing about vegetable gardening shareholders, and when we ended our CSA program this past and cooking from the garden, I realized I’ve never really talked October we were feeding 55 share families. about our farm. While we were very successful with the CSA program,

Bernie started Szarek Greenhouses in 1996, with the bless- COVID-19 and our compromised immune system changed all ing and support of his father-in-law, Fred Atkinson, on his farm. that. We had 55 shareholders depending on us to feed them in Bernie and Fred worked side by side for many years, wholesal- 2020. But we had to re-think what that would look like. To coming bedding plants and hanging baskets and mums to many of ply with all the COVID rules, we were forced to pre-bag everythe local nurseries in the area. They started with one greenhouse one’s veggies, when they came for pick up they had to stay in and each year reinvested in the farm and their cars and we brought the food to them. added another greenhouse. Fred passed in March 2000. In 2003, Bernie and I married and I Bernie Szarek reads in the warmth of the greenhouse It took the “community” out of CSA. Not being able to have help on the farm from family, took a toll on Bernie. So we dejoined him in the greenhouse. That fall we cided that it was time, after 10 successful grew all the mums for our wedding that years, to end the CSA. we held at the Farmers Museum in Coo- In March 2020, we were now perstown. In the following years, we added faced with how to bring our veggies to two more greenhouses for a total of 8. market, when the farmer’s markets were

In 2008, with the downturn in the econ- shut down and we had a greenhouse full of omy, we realized that we needed to change greens: lettuce mix, spinach, arugula, and the direction of the farm as folks around pea shoots. us struggled with the economic downturn. I remember seeing Jose Andres, Flowers were a luxury, and by no means an of The World Kitchen, on a TV interview essential purchase. saying, “The business of feeding people is

In 2010, we sold our first shares in the most amazing business in the world.” “Three Goat Farm-CSA.” CSA stands for So we bagged up all the greens we had in Community Supported Agriculture, the model for our modern the greenhouse and delivered it all to The Country Pantry in CSA started in Japan in 1987. Basically, a person will buy a share Clark Mills. We continued to send whatever veggies we had over in our farm in the fall and winter, and then in spring and summer the summer and into fall. in return, we give them a share into our summer harvest. It gives We then decided to open up “Szarek’ Succulent Shack” at us operating capital when we need it in the spring, and they reap our farm. In May, we sold plant starts, to the many new gardenthe reward in summer through fall. In 2010 we started with 11 ers looking to learn how to garden during a pandemic. Bernie

Hard and Soft Ice Cream

Shakes, Flurries & More!

Beautiful Truffles & Chocolates for Mother’s Day!

DOOR

& HARDWARE

We Sell & Service Garage and Entry Doors

Residential & Commercial

gave out lots of sage advice with each plant purchased. He even made a couple of house calls to help folks with their garden sites. We also sold our fresh veggies and included products from many of our farmer friends who were scrambling to find other outlets for their products. It was a win-win for all of us! So many of you came and supported us!

As the holidays drew near something else Jose Andres had said in that interview kept coming back to me “Without empathy, nothing works!” It kept coming back to me, time and time again. As we were working with The Country Pantry, we knew there was more that we could do to help. Since we didn’t need or want for anything, we asked our adult children to join us and take the money they would have spent on us for Christmas and we would adopt a family from the Country Pantry and give them a Christmas. We received so much more than we gave.

While we were gathering gifts and food for our Christmas Family, I saw a Facebook post about a homeless couple in Syracuse who had just moved into an apartment and had nothing but the clothes on their back. We contacted the owner of the Facebook page who had contact with the couple and with the help of another friend loaded our van, with a refrigerator, pots, and pans, new bedding and towels, and lots of our veggies. We did a drop and run on their front porch to keep everyone anonymous.

Over the winter as more and more opportunities continued to come our way to help others, I realized we had the wherewithal to help others through the farm. We have so much to share: the ability to grow our food, the ability to share the food we grow with those who need it, and the ability to build a community of helpers through our farm. So this March, a year out from the start of the pandemic, we opened the stand with a program that hopefully will allow us to help lots of folks. We wanted to do something that would allow people in need access to the good, clean food that we grow on our farm while preserving their dignity. Our solution: Change it forward When someone makes a purchase at the “shack” they have the option to donate their change. For every $10 donated, we will give a $10 coupon to The Country Pantry, and they will be able to give the coupons to any of the families they serve. Those families will be able to redeem the coupons for any food we sell at “Szarek’ Succulent Shack.” The more change donated the more families we can help. We will also donate additional $10 coupons each month.

Without empathy, nothing works!

Since we are talking about using our “change” for the better good. I thought I would share my recipe for “Copper Pennies.”

MVL RECIPES Copper Pennies

By Denise A Szarek

1 lb carrots, sliced into ¼ inch slices 1 small onion, finely chopped 1 med green bell pepper, finely chopped ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil 8 oz canned low salt-added tomato sauce 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar ½ tsp Dijon mustard ½ tsp Worcestershire sauce 2 T brown sugar

Photo: www.heart.org

Put carrots in a medium pot. Cover with water, bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium high, cook 5-8 minutes until tender, stirring occasionally. Stir in Bell pepper and onion cook 2 minutes. Drain veggies into a colander and set aside.

In the same pot stir together the remaining ingredients and cook over medium heat for 2-3 minutes or until heated through and well combined, stirring constantly. Stir in the veggies tossing to coat. Serve warm (or for a cold salad, cover and refrigerate for 4 hours). Enjoy!

GOODSELL MUSEUM

Local Adirondack History

2993 State Route 28 Old Forge, NY 13420 315-369-3838 www.webbhistory.org

www.fallhillbeadandgem.com SHOP ONLINE OR IN-STORE 411 Canal Place • Little Falls (315) 823-0454

LITTLE FALLS