What a lovely story, and what a lovely thought. Your neighbors are lucky to have you. And yes, you have made me think about the people within a stone's throw that I nod and wave to, but don't know very well. My excess produce goes to the ones right next door who I chat with most often, but who knows?

I see you're in Oregon too. Between you and Jon Hughes, I'm thinking there are a lot of good hearts up north.

Lucky you to HAVE an excess this year! Mine were puny at best! No sauce at all, and none for the neighbors!
In the past, though, when I have a bunch of extra whatever. If the co-workers/neighbors/relatives don't want it and I'm not preserving it myself, I take it to the food kitchen. They love it!
NT

Good anecdote.

Our neighbors are happy, and also we plant extra peppers (they do best in our garden) and the 2nd grader and I go to a local food bank with them and some carrots.

Territorial is throwing in a carrot seed packet with every order now, with a stamp on it 'Plant a row for the hungry'. This will be the new normal soon, I bet.

Dan

Plant a Row for the Hungry is a national project of the Garden Writers Association.

http://www.gardenwriters.org/gwa.php?p=par/index.html

It would be wonderful if every fruit and vegetable gardener participated. Many of us have a food pantry or kitchen nearby that accepts fresh produce.

I wish people felt the same way about vegetable starts... I always end up with extra tomato and pepper plants in the spring, and I can't find many people who want them! And I just don't have space in my garden to grow extra to give away (It's about 25'x25' and not all sunny, and I'm trying to feed a family of 4--soon to be 5--with it).

Nice. When I started reading this post I was thinking it would turn into an ugly exchange of some sort. Thankfully it didn't.
I have a couple of huge Early Girls with brown vines but huge numbers of ripe fruit still hanging on them. Maybe I should offer them to someone.

IME, the majority of people do not prepare vegetables often in their day-to-day diet. Some salad stuff maybe, but it has to be certain veggies and just so. Not many would be interested in cooking greens or green onions, parsnips, beany pole beans, sweet potatoes, etc.

People might take stuff to be polite but would they use it before it wasted away?

People might take stuff to be polite but would they use it before it wasted away?

Between neighbors, family and work I give lots of veggies away. I will always offer them to someone new. However, if I offer them a second time depends on whether that person ever mentions them again. Many will tell me what they did with them, that they enjoyed them, or when next season comes around, they'll start asking about the garden. I can get a feel for who's interested and who isn't. But as for that first time, I'd prefer giving the person the benefit of the doubt, then go from there.

We live out in the country on a driveway with only 4 houses.
It's funny how each of us grows different things (not planned) and end up sharing. One has a pear tree and grows tons of corn, one has apples and blackberries, I usually have more squash than we can eat and the 4th neighbor doesn't grow much besides a couple of tomato plants for herself, BUT she provides us with bales to do winter veges in and to sit on. She makes the pear butter and the apple sauce!
What is leftover (like last year I had some mystery squash that were extremely prolific!)goes into a box at the end of the driveway for the neighbors to pick through. I noticed a neighbor who isn't very well off and has several children was often there to PU the squash, so I started dropping a few per week right at her driveway. She gives me a big friendly wave, now every time I see her.
A cheap and healthy way to make friends with your neighbors! NT

I do the same thing as loribee. If you tell me how much you enjoyed the X, I'll keep giving you extra produce. I agree that eating can be habitual for many and changing habits can be tough.

Dan

These are inspiring stories. I just met a new neighbor who lit up with enthusiasm when I offered surplus produce to her and her family. I already have a few others that I give produce to from time to time, who love it and ask for more.

There's a food pantry in town that I often donate to as well, and I know it's going to needy people, but it's hit or miss. And the people who work there were thrown completely last week when I donated some kale and collard plants with the leaves still attached to the central stem. They wanted to make small bunches from the leaves, but that would mean figuring out how to cut them off and what to do with the stem that was left. After conferring for a while, they decided it was best not to make the attempt. I found it a little frustrating after I had spent a season growing them!

I took a load of apples over to the pantry today. I was concerned they wouldn't want them because of the Sooty Blotch, but they were happy to have them. I ate one to show the black stuff wouldn't kill people and the guy ate one to make sure they were good apples.

He said they never had enough fruit.

People need to be honest when offered fruits and vegetables they don't want or don't have time to prepare, rather than accept it and then let it perish. I offer, but don't cajole. People who have produce to share shouldn't go there, either. If the intended recipient isn't eager, then find another outlet who will appreciate it.

This year I was blessed with an abundance of apples, tomatoes, bell and sweet peppers. Some years it's eggs. We eat what we want, we preserve what we will use, and then we see that our family, then our freinds have any they want. After that, they are offered at church, or taken to the local food kitchen. I was told that perishables are one of their largest food splurges but they like to offer fresh and green foods because of the health aspect.

We have, and I have seen others do it as well, put produce in boxes at the end of our lane with a sign to help yourself.

Vikingkirken, I hear what you are saying about people not wanting vegetable starter plants. I own greenhouses and one year I had an overabundance of vegetable starts and spent a day calling various charities to see if any were interested in them for a community garden, or to offer any of their participants to supplement their food supplies. It was disturbing. Nine out of ten calls were rejections, but adding they'd be glad to accept it already grown and delivered. Almost any urban situtation has room for a few tomato or pepper plants, even if there's no garden. Most organisations have a plot of dirt somewhere they could make into a tiny do-it-yourself garden. It needs to be encouraged and from a young age.

You know, folks, unemployment is running nearly as high as I remember in my lifetime. Many senior citizens only take their meds half the time because of the cost. I well remember how difficult it was when we were paying for daycare AND trying to get a start in life. The needs are everywhere. I can't always give people money, but when food is abundant, I can give that. It's true that there are some who don't appreciate it. But, I would rather be unappreciated occasionally than deny someone truly in need. I applaud each one of you for your efforts, and I pray that our ranks will swell!

You all warm the cockles of my heart! I always bring my extra veggies to work, and folks love to try new ones that they won't buy themselves, like pattypan squash, heirloom tomatoes and arugula. I just put them in the kitchen, and they disappear! Quite a few of my coworkers have started gardens of their own after listening to my enthusiastic garden babble, which thrills me. So I bring in my extra plants, too. I try not to worry too much about what happens to them and just enjoy sharing.

Here is a link that might be useful: Cowlick Cottage Farm

What a lovely story! I've never had enough extra veggies to share (we eat everything that I can manage to grow, which is sometimes a disappointingly small amount) but herbs I've shared with just about anyone I know. Oregano was particularly productive this year and I brought armfuls to work to share with coworkers. One of my bosses has asked me to start cuttings for him so he can plant some at his farm. It delights me to be able to share things I've grown.