Since then, John and Jason, Borough Furnace founders, have been tromping all over the place trying to make stuff and make stuff happen:

The original plan was to design and prototype our cookware in our own studio using our recycled iron method and work with other craftsmen to produce the bulk of the products. We were disheartened to find out, after calling almost every foundry in the US, that no one was interested in either our product or our process. Repeatedly, we were told that iron work of that scale is only done in China and India… Well, that is unacceptable to us.

So, these crafty fellows have decided to do it themselves… They’re starting a remodel in Syracuse to build a micro-foundry and pro-toyping studio so they can get down to business. Which means, we should finally be able to get some awesome Borough Skillets here at Green in BKLYN!

Now, if you want to move the process along, the fellas have launched a Kickstarter.com campaign to try and get funding for their new foundry. That will allow them to start producing their cast iron cookware within the year, which would be awesome! For them,for us (you, me) and Green in BKLYN!

They’re so hot, they’re cool!

What is a CSA? It’s a partnership between a farm and the consumer. Members pay in advance for high quality, farm fresh products that the farmer delivers directly to the community. Small to mid-sized farms benefit by being paid in advance, ensuring a consistent market at a fair price and consumers benefit by receiving a safe, fresh product and the opportunity to know the farmer who produced their food!

High Point Farms will be delivering to Myrtle Avenue this summer. To sign up, do so before the newly extended deadline – TUESDAY, MAY 31st.

For $350, which includes delivery costs, you’ll receive a total of 26-30 lbs. of meat.  Pick up is twice a month on Mondays (June 13, 27, July 11, 25, August 8, 22) from 4:30-6:30PM at Five Spot Soul Food (459 Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn 11205).

For more information or to pay with an EBT card, contact Kassy Nystrom at 718.230.1689 or kassy@myrtleavenue.org or check out Myrtle Avenue’s post.

Cheers to local, healthy meat!

Wishing everyone all things wonderful in this holiday season & in the new year – peace, joy, laughter & love!

PS – We’ll be closing Friday, December 31st at 4pm & will be closed Saturday, January 1st – Monday, January 3rd after which time we’ll return to Winter Store Hours: Tues-Fri 12pm-7pm, Sat 10am-7pm & Sun 11am-6pm.

Green in BKLYN friends, Jahn & Kurt, are hosting their first ever pop-up shop in Williamsburg this weekend with their local line – bklyn dry goods – a beautiful collection of vintage one-of-a-kind treasures with treats from their travels & adventures.

You can catch a peek at Artists & Fleas at 70 North 7th (between Wythe & Kent) this Saturday & Sunday.

Want to get more info?  Check out what Jahn & Kurt have to say about bklyn dry goods:

brought to you by jahn hall & kurt uhlendorf, bklyn dry goods is born & bred by insatiable curiosity, a love of vintage & an appreciation of re-use & the environment.

with a combined 30+ years in the fashion industry traveling the globe for some of the world’s best brands & working alongside some of the world’s best vintage collections, we strive to bring the market an affordable, tightly curated, uniquely merchandised selection from around the world.

we’re always on the hunt for things that inspire us, new & old, that support the environment & sustainable living.

additionally, we’re setting up shop for the first time this coming weekend with our enviable selection of men’s vintage, home accessories, objects & curiosities, featuring tons of great vintage from l.l. bean, j. crew, ralph lauren, patagonia, eddie bauer, brooks brothers, pendleton & more.

SAVE 20% OFF your purchase if you ‘like’ us on FB or follow us on twitter & let us photograph you in our digs at the pop-up!

see more @ http://www.facebook.com/bklyndrygoods?ref=ts

come say hi & help us celebrate the launch of our new project &, most importantly, help us spread the word! – Jahn & Kurt

Deborah Krasner is a James Beard Award-winning food writer & a really lovely person.  And (drum roll, please) she’ll be here this Saturday, December 18th from 5-7pm to sign her book & talk turkey (pork, beef, lamb, etc.).

As the title states, the book is “The Complete Guide” to sustainable meat including recipes, of course, as well as raising, carving & sourcing sustainable meats.  She’s got recipes for beef, lamb, pork, rabbit, poultry & eggs (the-other-meat meat).  Heck, she’s even got a recipe for Pig Candy (a bacon peanut brittle treat that looks darn tasty) that she’ll be sharing at the shop.

So, if you like meat, sustainable food, bacon peanut brittle or enjoy comprehensive books with great photos & tons of info, stop in for the book &, on December 18th, stop in to meet the magnificent Deborah Krasner & have her sign your awesome meat book!

There are twelve entrants this year on storefronts located from Washington Park to Classon Avenue.  And you can vote for your favorite! (The catch is you’ve gotta come out to the window itself to get the code so you can vote by text message & you’ll be able to vote through December 17th.)

So meander on down the Ave.  We’d love to have you come by!  Green in BKLYN’s windows are covered in snowflakes made from recycled paper.  No two are alike, of course…  Just like our customers!

PS – If you’re lucky, when you visit the Avenue, you might even catch Santa Claus who’s been known to hang out at Gray’s Studio Cafe.

In addition, American Express is offering card members a $25 statement credit on any purchase of at least $25 on Small Business Saturday (November 27) at any locally-owned independent small businesses that accept American Express.  All you have to do is register your American Express Cards at the Small Business Saturday Facebook page.

Plus, for every person who “likes” Small Business Saturday on Facebook, American Express is donating $1 (up to $500,000) to Girls Inc. to empower young women to be entrepreneurs.

Need more reasons to shop local?  Try these…

1. Buying local creates jobs

Half of all employees in the US work for small businesses.  For being “small,” that’s a lot of employment.  Plus, small businesses create 60% of all new jobs.  Shop local & you support local jobs, as well as local businesses.

2. Small business fosters community

A community is a group of people who share some commonality.  When a neighborhood has a bustling small business district, it usually indicates there’s a strong community there, too.

By buying local & supporting your neighborhood small businesses, you’re fostering a strong sense of community right in your own neighborhood.

3. Buying local keeps the dream alive

A small business is someone’s dream. By supporting small business, you’re allowing someone to live the dream another day.  Many neighborhood stores & restaurants  are locally owned.  Their owners are invested in the success of their community as well as their business.

4. Buying local boosts your local economy & supports your community

There is an economic ripple effect that occurs when you support a small business.  Shopping locally helps support your community.

Studies show that for every $100 spent in a locally owned independent store, $68 returns to the community through taxes, payroll & other expenditures.  Your purchases at local stores keep businesses going & keep jobs in your community.  Local businesses are the ones who contribute to Chamber of Commerce festivals, fund local fundraisers & sponsor neighborhood community centers.  Buying local creates an economic cycle that helps everyone.

5. Buying local creates a ripple in society

When a small business person succeeds, it’s noticed.  It may be a child who sees that mom’s hard work & unique idea helped a dream come true.  Or it may be the entrepreneur’s neighbor, who sees success & decides that he could do it too.  Or a young adult who’s inspired to become active in her community.

And it all starts, literally, when you choose to spend money at a local small business…  For which we thank you!

*Excerpts taken from Barbara Wold International

Celebrate 2010 with Green in BKLYN by entering our second annual drawing for our Green (in BKLYN) Gift Basket with eco-friendly gifts & treats worth at least $201.00. Spend at least $20.10 before 2011 & you’re in.

You may enter throughout the year (that is, until December 31st, 2010) at which time we’ll have our second annual Green (in BKLYN) Gift Basket drawing.

Since Green in BKLYN is a great place for your holiday gift shopping, the basket might include any of our great items…

• Individual Coffee Press/Insulated Mugs
• Natural Wax Candles
• Recycled Inner Tube Bags
• Award Winning Skin Care Products
• Solar Powered Chargers
• Handcrafted Items by Local Artists
• 50-Year Calendars
• NPR Road Maps
• Vintage Treasures
• Compost Pails
• Stainless Steel Tiffins
• 7-Year Pens
• Natural Oil & Reed Diffusers
• Stainless Steel Straws
• And lots more…

Stop in, look around & celebrate 2010 by entering with a chance to win the 2010 Green (in BKLYN) Gift Basket!

In addition to reading Green in BKLYN Makes Living Greener Easy, I hope you’ll check out the rest of the paper.  It includes all kinds of information about our amazing community & the resources, events & people that make it so special including:

• The Hill is Swingin’: about Parlor Jazz – jazz in a local parlor, really
• Images of America – Fort Greene: a new book about the ‘hood
• Shaping Our Future, Right on Your Block - County Committee info

There are a whole slew of other articles & listings so grab a copy of this local, free paper or check it out on-line.  Great writing & information about a great neighborhood!

MARP’s Myrtle Eats Fresh initiative includes a number of projects that engage community members in activities to improve access to healthy, affordable food on Myrtle Avenue & in the surrounding neighborhoods of Fort Greene & Clinton Hill, Brooklyn. Projects include a community-run farm stand, a community chef program, creating & expanding community gardens on public housing grounds & the formation of a local food policy task force.

Learn more about the program, celebrate the inaugural season of the Myrtle Farm Stand & meet community members, project partners & MARP staff involved in making it all happen!  Light refreshments will be served.

• DATE: Thursday, August 12, 2010
• TIME: 4:30pm
• LOCATION: Myrtle Avenue Farm Stand @ Ingersoll Community Center (177 Myrtle Avenue @ Prince &Navy)
• RSVP: Joanna Reynolds @ 718.230.1689 or joanna@myrtleavenue.org
• KICK-OFF SPECIAL: Spend at least $8 – get an additional $2 free produce!
• EVENTS: Cooking Demo by Community Chef Jasmine Reaves, Meet gardeners from Ingersoll Garden of Eden & face painting with Dumeha Bernice of ParaLee’s Peace

The Myrtle Eats Fresh Initiative is supported by New York Community Trust & Atlantic Philanthropies as part of the New York City Community Experience Partnership (CEP), a collaboration with United Neighborhood Houses of New York (UNH), with additional support from Brooklyn Community Foundation.