Dearest Customers,
It is that time of year where the leaves are changing and the air is colder at night and tomatoes and peaches and corn and all of the miracles of summer have come and gone. But then comes the magic of fall in the form of apples and squash and fresh ginger, and for us, that softens the transition. As we say goodbye to the bounty of summer, we welcome in the crops that emerge at the change of seasons.
Along with changing produce, we're excited to announce Fall Hours! Starting Wednesday, October 16th we will be open 10am - 6pm Sunday to Tuesday, 10am - 8pm Thursday to Saturday, and closed Wednesdays. We hope these changes work better your flow and your schedules.
This month we’re excited to turn our Farmer Spotlight on Grimaldi Farm and tell you about our Product of the Month from Little Apple Cidery and announce new community events!
End of Summer Goodness
Dearest Customers,
We hope you have enjoyed the bounty of summer as much as we have! As the change of the season is in the air, we're grateful to get to soak up the final weeks of summer magic with all of the fresh veggies that continue to come through the door. We're also grateful to you - all of our customers - who come back again and again to fill your baskets, grab a snack, and satisfy your bellies. We couldn't do it without you!
This month we’re excited to turn our Farmer Spotlight on Woven Stars Farm, tell you about our Products of the Month from Happy Belly and announce new community events!
Eat, Dance, Sing & Dream this Month at Random Harvest!
Dear Community,
We hope you are enjoying the heat of summer while also staying cool! It's been so fun for us to see the shelves overflowing with fresh produce and fruits, from zucchni and lettuce to currants and blueberries and so much more.
This month we’re excited to turn our Farmer Spotlight on Rock City Mushrooms / Dog Wood Farm, tell you about our paired Products of the Month from Mandana Boushee and Good Fight Herb Co. and announce new community events!
With gratitude,
The Random Harvest Team
Summer Abundance is Here!
Dear Community,
Summer is here and our shelves are practically overflowing with farm fresh produce from local producers. We are so grateful for the bounty and for the hard work done by farmers rain or shine to get food on the shelves.
This month we’re excited to turn our Farmer Spotlight on Rock Steady Farm, tell you about our Product of the Month from Happy Pits and announce new community events!
With gratitude,
The Random Harvest Team
June is Here!
Dear Community,
As spring transitions to summer we are brimming with so much delicious new produce and are enjoying spending time out on the porch next to all the beautiful plant starts from Hawk Dance and Markristo Farm.
This month we’re excited to turn our Farmer Spotlight on Hawk Dance Farm, tell you about our Product of the Month from Philmont Commnity Bakery, and announce new community events!
With gratitude,
The Random Harvest Team
FARMER SPOTLIGHT
Diane & Damon, Hawk Dance Farm
Diane and Damon were two of the first local farmers we met before we opened our doors! Hawk Dance started in 2009 and is located just down the road in Hillsdale. They utilize no chemicals, pesticides or herbicides in their farming practices, do everything sustainably by hand and use low till methods to preserve the health of the soil. We love getting a variety of products from them, from veggie plant starts and fresh produce to handmade candles and jams.
PRODUCT OF THE MONTH
Philmont Community Bakery Bread
Philmont Community Bakery bread is made from scratch with NY grown grains by the one and only Koen. His breads are uniquely made with malted barley leaven. These dense loaves are incredible fresh and even better when toasted. Love Koen's bread? Support him in getting a new mill!
UPCOMING ONE-TIME EVENTS
CHECK OUT THE COMMUNITY CALENDAR FOR DETAILS AND UP-TO-DATE SCHEDULE!
A NIGHT OF DEEP HOUSE
SATURDAY, JUNE 29TH 8PM - 12AM
Let's Dance!
"If the road to Hell is paved with good intentions, perhaps the road to Heaven is paved with Dancing!"
Come for a hefty dose of Dance Liberation: Master DJ Edgar Lebron will take us there!
(From the heart of the South Bronx, mentored by the originators of 'two turntables and a microphone', DJ Edgar Lebron will "Take us to Church")...
Suggested donation $10 - $20 sliding scale.
RANDOM HARVEST COMMUNITY SING
WEDNESDAY, JULY 3RD 6:00-7:00PM
Join the Random Harvest team for our inaugural Community Sing! We will share some favorite songs of ours and invite you to share as well. All are welcome!
$5 suggested donation, no one turned away for lack of funds.
RADIAL DIAMOND KINETICS
SUNDAY, JUNE 16th 1 - 5PM
Part non-denominational community ritual, part introspective/meditation practice, part body positive workout, part dance improvisation laboratory, radial diamond kinetics is a multi-dimensional body/heart/mind practice. We move within to connect with and listen to ourselves—to subconscious, intuitive, dream-scape intelligence—and move out to witness and move with one another, building non-verbal communication, trust, and cooperation potentialities. The trajectory of our time together includes a good, sweaty work out that encompasses kinesthetic awareness, stretching, strengthening, and cardio, as well as various approaches to weaving our somatic/body enjoyment, intelligence, and exploration together with our social, political, and spiritual selves and community. No dance experience necessary and the practice can be adapted to many bodies and abilities. Wear comfortable clothing. Cost: $15-$50 Sliding Scale. More at www.radialdiamondkinetics.com. Email hjvanderkolk@gmail.com to register.
COMMUNITY BARN DANCE
FRIDAY, AUGUST 2nd 6:30 - 8PM
Community Barn Dancing offers an opportunity to gather and socialize, listen to great music, and dance to those same musicians with a focus on simple traditional dances geared to all ages of participants; including singles, couples, families, teens, people with disabilities and the elderly.
Caller Paul Rosenberg has been leading dances throughout the northeastern United States since 1986. In recent years, he has been one of the busiest callers in North America, working over 200 dance engagements a year. He is known for his gentle but energetic, encouraging style, concise teaching, and offbeat sense of humor.
April Showers, May Flowers
Dear Community,
With new produce coming in every day, our magnolia tree in full bloom, and pansies from Markristo Farm at our doorstep, spring is finally here!
This month we’re excited to turn our Farmer Spotlight on women-owned Ironwood Farm in Ghent NY, tell you about our Product of the Month from Maple Leaf Sugaring, and share more about our community kitchen, healing space, and community offerings.
We'd love to get your feedback! Please fill out our first Customer Survey by May 15th and be entered to win a $25 gift certificate.
With gratitude,
The Random Harvest Team
FARMER SPOTLIGHT
Lauren & Aliyah, Ironwood Farm
Ironwood Farm is another farm that helped to keep our produce deck fresh and full all winter long! Their sweet and crisp pea shoots are delicious plain, mixed into a salad, or atop your favorite dish. Newly in from Ironwood and flying quickly off the shelves are their spicy salad mix, cilantro, dill & bok choy. Ironwood is a women-owned farm run by Lauren and Aliyah. "I look to farming as a way to bring my family and work-life closer together. Importantly, it also keeps me in touch with my basic human need for nutritious, happy and healthy food," says Lauren. "Farming gives me the opportunity to work outside and produce nutritious food that sustains both me and my community" says Aliyah.
PRODUCT OF THE MONTH
Maple Leaf Sugaring
Maple Leaf Sugaring began in the early 1990s with current co-owner Ben Madey and his two best friends. The original Random Harvest was one of the places they sold their syrup! In 2013 Ben and his wife Veronica restarted the operation, beginning by building a timber-frame sugarhouse sourced from trees felled and milled from their land. Today they produce organic maple syrup from over 5,000 taps!
Winter Wrap Up & Spring Surprises!
Hello dear community,
We can hardly believe we've been open for three months now! We're so grateful for the warm welcome we've received from the community and the abundance of food from producers that has kept us nourished all winter long.
In this newsletter we’re introducing our farmer spotlight on Yonderview Farm, our product of the month from Atina Foods, and our Spring Calendar of upcoming events. We’re excited to have community members begin using the upstairs space for so many wonderful offerings. Please come join us for a yoga class, community acupuncture, kid’s singing hour, and more! If you’re interested in offering something, please visit our community events page and fill out an application.
With gratitude,
The Random Harvest Team
FARMER SPOTLIGHT
Tom Theis, Yonderview Farm
One of our beloved farmers who has brought us produce all winter long is Tom Thies from Yonderview Farm. Tom is a small scale farmer in Hillsdale, NY who grows nutrient dense produce while rebuilding soil and encouraging healthy diversity on the land he farms. Tom has brought us garlic, fresh herbs, potatoes, shallots, lettuce, and most recently, beautiful Amaryllis stems this winter! Tom has taken the “Farmer’s Pledge” set forth by the Northeastern Organic Farmer’s Association (NOFA) to use sustainable agricultural practices. What we appreciate about Tom is his love for the soil and how he brings in produce nourished with so much care. Hang out around the market for awhile and you’ll have the opportunity to make friends with our amazing producers too!
PRODUCT OF THE MONTH
Atina Foods
Rhubarb Ginger Herbal Jam from Atina Foodshas recently captivated our taste buds. Owners Suresh Pillai and Carrie Dushow adapt traditional Ayurvedic recipes from Suresh’s upbringing in Kerala, South India to make complex, delicious condiments that help balance your diet and your health. Worker-Owner Hillary Melville recommends spreading some of this spicy jam on raisin bread from The Gluten Free Bakery. Join Carrie and Suresh in learning how to make delicious South Indian food at their upcoming cooking classes at HGS Home Chefon March 16th and April 14th.
UPCOMING EVENTS
CHECK OUT THE COMMUNITY CALENDAR FOR DETAILS AND UP-TO-DATE SCHEDULE!
YOGA WITH DWAYNE
TUESDAYS, 5:30PM
This class is for all students regardless of age or experience. It is appropriate for all levels of yoga practitioners. The class includes practicing chanting, breathing, movement and meditation. Options are given during class to address individuals physical and mental stamina. All you need to bring is a mat, a blanket and the desire to evolve!
Dwayne has been teaching yoga in the Hudson Valley for the past 10 years. He is a 500 hour Yoga Alliance registered teacher.
He has been practicing yoga for 25 years and started as an extension of an early love of dance. Dwayne follows in the “lineage” of his teachers, Sondra Loring and Raghunath.
KIDS COMMUNITY SINGING HOUR
WEDNESDAYS, 11AM
Come join local experienced children’s musician Aly Halpert for an interactive, joyful, and playful singing hour for young people and families. We’ll sing and dance to re-imagined classics, originals off Aly’s new children’s CD Nipple Confusion, and morning songs of gratitude that will start your day off just right.
YOGA WITH KING
THURSDAYS, 10AM
King Aswad is passionate about guiding yogis of all levels through a practice of breathe and alignment in a welcoming space of uplifting music, spirit, self care and skilled vinyasa flows.
COMMUNITY ACUPUNCTURE
THURSDAYS, 3 - 5PM
Low Cost, Hight Quality Healthcare for all ages and stages.
Receiving acupuncture on a regular basis can greatly enhance the quality of our physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing by decreasing pain and stress and increasing creativity and health. The sliding scale allows you to come in enough to get better and stay better! Community acupuncture offers individual treatments in a peaceful group setting.
$40-60 dollar sliding scale for all treatments
Sarah Chase Natan, MAcOM has dedicated her life to making this ancient, safe, and effective medicine available to all people. Sarah has been practicing Chinese Medicine including acupuncture, herbs, nutrition, and therapeutic body work since graduating from the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine in 2005 and has treated thousands of people around the world for everything from broken heart to body pain to babesiosis wholeheartedly and without hesitation. She is the founder of the Brooklyn Acupuncture Project, a low cost sliding scale community clinic that has been thriving in Brooklyn NY since 2008. A thorough pulse diagnosis guides her approach as she hopes to encourage the highest expression of health and wellbeing in every person with whom she works. She knows that by helping individuals, families, and communities thrive; the rest of the the planet will benefit.
Sarah will also be seeing private clients from 1-3 pm on Tuesdays. In these sessions, we have much more time to focus on your case; and work with cupping, gua sha, massage, and moxa which are all essential aspects of Chinese medicine. Private sessions are recommended for people interested in receiving nutritional and herbal support, or facial rejuvenation acupuncture. These sessions are $80-120 sliding scale.
YOGA WITH RACHEL
SATURDAYS, 10AM
Drawing on a background in women's health and somatic healing, Rachel Haley combines the wisdom of the traditional yoga systems including Kundalini, Tantra, Bhakti, Ashtanga, and Iyengar schools with medicine from dance, shamanistic ritual, mysticism, mythology, and visualization. Rachel Haley will be teaching a 10 am yoga class Saturday mornings April 6th, 13th, 20th, and 27th.
RADICAL DIAMOND KINETICS
JUNE 16th , 1 - 5PM
$15-$50 Sliding Scale
Part non-denominational community ritual, part introspective/meditation practice, part body positive workout, part dance improvisation laboratory, radial diamond kinetics is a multi-dimensional body/heart/mind practice. We move within to connect with and listen to ourselves—to subconscious, intuitive, dream-scape intelligence—and move out to witness and move with one another, building non-verbal communication, trust, and cooperation potentialities. The trajectory of our time together includes a good, sweaty work out that encompasses kinesthetic awareness, stretching, strengthening, and cardio, as well as various approaches to weaving our somatic/body enjoyment, intelligence, and exploration together with our social, political, and spiritual selves and community. No dance experience necessary and the practice can be adapted to many bodies and abilities. Wear comfortable clothing. More at www.radialdiamondkinetics.com
RANDOM HARVEST IN THE NEWS
Definition of a "Relational Food Economy" is Random Harvest
Mar 2, 2019 | By: Jamie Larson
The re-opening and re-conceptualization of the Random Harvest Market in Craryville, New York, is a fabulous example of how modern economic concepts and ideas about community-focused agriculture can help revitalize and strengthen classic small-scale local farms — and the towns and people that need them. The new Random Harvest has a verdant market, a comprehensive and tasty café and deli, and a community center upstairs that takes the market’s commitment to the area to another level.
To read more....
Pre-opening Party & Old Tone Music Fest
We hope you are enjoying these cooler days as we transition into fall. This summer was a full one for us! The final touches on the building are underway, producers are confirmed to sell, we hosted our Pre-Opening party, and we filled hundreds of hungry bellies at the Oldtone Roots Music Festival, just to name a few of the things keeping us busy.
A Random Update
We’ve made some exciting progress on the market the last couple months as well as having encountered a few setbacks. The exciting news is that the construction has been moving rapidly along. All the rough-in plumbing has been installed and concrete floors were poured in the market and the basement. The interior walls are in the process of being framed and it’s beginning to look like a store again.
Why a Workers Cooperative?
There are many decisions that go into starting a new business. Some of these are based purely on financial considerations, but most are based just as much on our beliefs about how things are and our hopes for how things could be. Often, a decision that is good for the business’s bottom line is also just a good decision.
Colder Days, Layers: A Preparation
Random Harvest... a cooperative adventure
I begin my writing on a grey September day in Hillsdale NY when the first autumn wind is blowing needles off the Tamarac tree. There is a growing excitement for myself, the rest of the Random Harvest team, and our community about this moment that we’re in. We are a collective of four women who are re-opening the local Random Harvest farm store as a cooperatively owned market and community space.