This year I really discovered that whilst I love growing produce, what I love most is giving it away. Whether it's colleagues, new neighbours, children down the street or family and friends – they all appreciate it! So far we've given away over 25lb of tomatoes (with more to go), huge amounts of peppers, herbs, garlic and berries. We still have more than enough for us, so it's a fantastic feeling to be able to give away fresh, healthy, good tasting food.
by Nerevarelysium
7 Comments
Ditto
It’s a big part of why I love it as well. I love giving fresh food away for free for some strange reason.
The best place to store your abundance is in your neighbors’ stomachs!
Same here.
I’m think I’m at about 450-500(ish) pounds of tomatoes given away so far this year, based on the number of strawberry boxes I’ve gone through.
Tomatoes are my main deal, but basically the whole garden is geared towards giveaways; I try to give past business clients a “farm box” every year or two (and of course I give stuff to friends and neighbors as well).
Frankly I don’t even like to eat most of what I grow….I’m more of a potatoes/turnips/onions type of guy, and most of that sort of stuff isn’t really suited to my situation (lack of land, but also climate).
I guess I just enjoy growing things, but can’t stand the idea of growing “useless” plants when I could grow food instead (although I did cave in & grow some sunflowers this year for the family….I have to admit they’ve been kinda fun)
In Ontario there is a program called “Seed It” and the deal is that you agree to share whatever you grow with people in your community whether it’s friends and family, neighbours, etc and they give you a $50 gift certificate for food plants at your nursery.
[Seed It Voucher Program ](https://seedit.thecommonwell.ca/)
Over the years we have used it for standard garden veg but also berry bushes and now have a large collection of very productive berries – goosers, black currants, elderberry, blueberry and this year we added haskap.
I love growing more than we can use. I hate canning and don’t have freezer space for much. I haven’t had time this year to dehydrate veggies.
But that is okay because the local food pantry is always happy with my box of fresh food.
I grew zucchini, cucumbers (the Armenian ones did great this year), tomatoes, and peppers. My butternut and delicata are just coming in. I’ve had so many beans and recently planted more.
My adult kids are also happy when I visit bringing a bag or two to eat and share with their friends.
Sharing my garden makes me happy.
This is my goal. We have a lot of homeless people in my area and shelters can’t afford a lot of fresh vegetables. Individuals and community kitchens have been happy to get excess tomatoes.