If you have a plot in a neighborhood garden, you could deal with your fellow growers to make a collective contribution, either to a food bank listed on Ample Harvest or straight to area homeowners. For example, my community garden network has contribution baskets outside every garden so passersby can sample excess produce, and absolutely nothing goes to lose.
Its about that time of year: gardens are going wild, and if youre lucky, you have more zucchini, cucumbers, and tomatoes than you can possibly prepare, protect, or freeze. If your buddies are fellow gardeners, you might not even have the ability to discover somebody ready to take your hard-earned, hand-grown fruit and vegetables.
Collect your fruit and vegetables in the early morning.
Dry and clean whatever (especially if you use pesticides).
Plan produce in a paper bag (unless directed otherwise).
Another method your garden can support your local neighborhood is through donations to a friendly fridge. Discover if theres a free-for-all fridge in your area, and consider beginning one if not.
A couple of things Ample Harvest suggests for all contributions:.
Instead of letting your veggies rot on your counter, contribute them to a local food pantry listed on Ample Harvest, a not-for-profit company that links house garden enthusiasts and small farmers with food banks that accept fresh produce.
We normally anticipate food banks to accept just canned or dry goods– and due to the fact that nonperishables are simpler to arrange, shop, and disperse, thats in some cases real. However, numerous kitchens are more than happy to take produce to enhance access for neighborhoods that experience food insecurity and are especially lacking in fresh fruits and veggies.
Kitchens noted on Ample Harvest have actually registered themselves and verified that they will take produce donations. Use the site to discover your local food banks drop-off hours and donation requirements before you reveal up. And ensure the produce youre donating is clean, near ripe, and high in quality (as in, something you d actually consume).
No contribution is too little, so you can make drop-offs as often as you need throughout the growing season as your plants ripen. And if you have additional space in your garden, think about signing up with the Plant-A-Row project, which motivates individuals to intentionally plant a surplus for donation.
Pantries noted on Ample Harvest have registered themselves and validated that they will take produce donations. Utilize the website to find your regional food banks drop-off hours and contribution requirements prior to you reveal up. And make sure the fruit and vegetables youre contributing is clean, close to ripe, and high in quality (as in, something you d in fact eat).
Photo: Sara Carpenter (Shutterstock).
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