Finally, fresh, locally-grown, organic produce via our membership in the Greenpoint-Williamsburg CSA. Yeah, we have to go down the road apiece to Brooklyn, which is a nice trip on a Saturday morn. We've learned about some neat neighborhoods as we pass through that borough, such as the area around McCarren Park, where we pick up our food. Our distribution site is in one corner of the park, sandwiched between the Greendome, a terrific neighborhood garden, and a composting station, where people drop off small bags of tables scraps, etc. for the volunteer master composters. For us, that's fun. This week's CSA share included pea shoots, cilantro, garlic scapes, snow peas, and several kinds of lettuce; we also got a nice bouquet of flowers. All this from the Garden of Eve farm way out on the North Fork of Long Island. Since contributing your time is part of membership, we shuttled some of the leftovers to a church on Milton St. that has a soup kitchen. Today our fridge is well-stocked with greens, and we just have to figure out how to cook some of those less common items--always a fun challenge.
Regrettably, our trips through Brooklyn also let us see many case studies of the rampant, runaway, over-development of the Bloomberg era. Rising on all sides of McCarren Park are newly-built, tickey-tackey little condos with tickey tackey little terraces. All around, you see big holes in the ground--huge digs where last week there was a warehouse or a factory. There's big money to be made, as this community moves from hipster/artistic to money/money. What is happening to Brooklyn, a borough with lots of history, color, and charm, which even the ugly old commercial sites contribute to?
2 comments:
There was an article in the NY Times Food & Dining section recently that talked about using garlic scapes and green garlic. There are some recipes included. The white bean and garlic scapes dip sounds like something you would like and it's easy, too. You may have to register with the NY Times site to access the article.
As for Brooklyn, it's practically the new Manhattan. Overdevelopment and exorbitant prices are in full swing. It's hot, hot, hot -- so goodbye Brooklyn flava, hello yuppie (or whatever they're calling yuppies these days) slick soulessness. What used to be the no-man's land in Fort Greene out by the Manhattan Bridge now houses some luxury co-op buildings with pools and concierge service, with more in progress, I'm sure. Growing up in the neighborhood, if you had used the words "Fort Greene" and "concierge service" together in a sentence I would have laughed. Now the developers are laughing their a$$e$ all the way to the bank.
There was an article recently, last week maybe in the Post or the Daily News real estate section about Greenpoint, and about how it's becoming the place to be. As the Village and Williamsburg grow too pricey for many, there are still 1-bedrooms in Greenpoint to be found for $1300. I say, find me that apartment. I work in Greenpoint, and I look in the windows of the real estate offices on a daily basis. If for some reason we had to find an apartment, I'm quite sure we wouldn't be able to afford Greenpoint rents, not even close. Which honestly, is fine with me because for the most part, I find this to be an unfriendly neighborhood.
Post a Comment