If your run to the fancy bodega for a pint of organic milk comes with a bit of sticker shock, don't be surprised: there's a huge shortage of organic milk acros the country (and particularly on the East Coast), with farmers getting screwed as customers demand more. more ›

A new study from Cornell University graduate student Jenny Wan-chen Lee [pdf] either shows that the label "organic" creates some sort of placebo effect in which people are convinced they're eating healthier, or that people can be really stupid. Maybe it's a little of both? In her study, 144 volunteers were asked to compare "organic" and "regular" samples of yogurt, cookies and potato chips, rating them on taste, estimated fat content and estimated calorie content. However, all of the samples were in fact organic. Take a wild guess what happened. more ›

When the city demolished a Coast Guard housing complex on Governors Island last October, one official promised it wouldn't "sit vacant waiting for future park funding." And believe it or not, it's true! The Brooklyn nonprofit Added Value is already using the space for a three-acre organic farm. There's a nice story on City Room today about the project, which brings teenagers to the island to teach them about sustainable and local food. The farm is expected to rake in as much as $25,000 this year through sales at a farm stand and the island's new Water Taxi Beach, which opens July 4th weekend. Squash, tomatoes, sunflowers, eggplants and groundcherries are expected by the end of July, and the proceeds could fund stipends of $1,400 for as many as 25 teens who work at the farm. Ian Marvy of Added Value says, "The average household income in Red Hook is around $14,000. You're increasing a family’s income by 9 percent by growing tomatoes." Volunteers of all ages are also welcome to get their thumbs green every day Governors Island is open to the public: Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. more ›

The organizers of the inaugural New York Craft Beer Week must have gotten started early, because their "week" of beer events actually adds up to ten days. No matter; the refined debauchery kicks off Friday with the third annual Brewfest at the South Street Seaport, stumbling all the way to a glassy-eyed climax on the 21st with the 2nd Annual Manhattan Cask Ale Festival at the Chelsea Brewing Company, which features 45 ‘firkins’ of cask-conditioned ale from noon to midnight! No, we don't know what a firkin is either, but it's what's inside that counts: cool, succulent ale that's "so good once it hits your lips," as the poet quipped. more ›

Earlier this year, vintners Paul Wegimont and Greg Sandor opened Bridge Urban Winery, an offshoot of their North Fork vineyard. Nestled by the Williamsburg Bridge in a blossoming artisanal corridor that includes Marlow & Sons and Diner, their sleek yet cozy wine bar specializes in strictly New York State wine, as well as food pairings prepared with all locally-sourced ingredients. more ›

Gowanus Lounge points out the upside-down school bus roaming the streets of Brooklyn lately, and Brooklynians are abuzz about it. The White House Organic Farm Project explains--the group just purchased the Topsy Turvy bus from Ben & Jerry's own Ben Cohen, and tonight they invite one and all to "come support our version of Community Supported Agriculture." A little late notice, but if you can't make it you could still buy a share in TheWhoFarm ("the bounty of course is an organic farm at our shared house, The White House"). Tonight they offer up local food and drink, as well as gorgeous views of Central Park, the zoo, and live entertainment. They'll be in town through the 15th before heading to other cities, festivals and of course Burning Man. more ›

For decades, residents of low-income neighborhoods under-served by supermarket chains have been getting their hands on produce the old fashioned way: By growing it in their own gardens. In recent years, outer-borough farmers have taken urban agriculture a step further by selling their mostly organic haul at well-organized community markets. more ›

At last, a gold-encrusted dessert fit for a working class budget. Unlike the $26 pancakes or the $25,000 frrrozen haute chocolate, these little sweets still have a single-digit price tag. more ›

THE JAKEWALK: This romantic Carroll Gardens wine, cocktail and cheese bar is named after a Prohibition-era malady called the “Jake Walk”: a stiff-legged gait that afflicted drinkers of Jamaica Ginger, an alcohol-based “tonic” tainted with a leg-paralyzing neurotoxin. It’s the third in a growing “Smith Street empire” run by the owners of nearby haunts Smith & Vine and Stinky Bklyn. Their new venture, which opened last night, boasts (deep breath) 50 wines by the glass, 120 kinds of whisky, a rotating specialty cocktail list and a menu bulging with 40 cheeses, 20 cured meats, caviar and a “fondue of the day.” 282 Smith Street, Brooklyn, (347) 599-0294. more ›