July in the Garden
So. Much. Zucchini.
It's that time of year. Gardeners everywhere are sneaking zucchini into every meal, baked good, and probably onto neighbors' porches as they sleep! Ever wonder if there is a better way to handle all of July's riches? Read on!
If you're a gardener then you know there is nothing worse than having the crops that you have painstakingly cared for for months, go to waste! But what to do when you have more than you can use...or if one of your crops totally fails and you don't have those peppers to go with the cilantro, onions, and tomatoes for your famous homemade salsa?
What if there was a way for your community to take care of each other and while share our gardens' wealth?
Sharing Garden Surplus
The cost of food right now is affecting us all, not to mention the concerns about its safety, nutrition, and climate impact. Growing your own food is of great interest for a lot of people as a result, but we all know it can be hard to grow the right amount of food you need! What if you end up with too much? And what if you could help those around you who don't have enough?
While it is true that many food pantries will accept homegrown food, they simply aren't a place a lot of people think about going. Food pantries are amazing community assets that have been wrongfully stigmatized, so many people think of them as a last resort rather than a wonderful resource. But what if sharing the extra from our gardens were as simple as grabbing a few onions or tomatoes from the office counter?
Think of the mom who doesn't have time (or money) to run to the store for fresh vegetables to feed her kids a last-minute meal that night. Or the dad who grew lots of eggplant and his kids ended up hating it. Or the single person who is working 3 jobs to get by and would absolutely love some homegrown vegetables to grab and take home and save a trip to the store!
Even if you aren't a gardener, chances are you know someone who is. Think about your neighborhood. Workplace? Local hangout? Wouldn't it be easy to make a spot where people can come and drop their surplus produce or pick up something they need? You could just set up a spot with a sign. Simple as that! It wouldn't require a special trip for anyone who wants to contribute or benefit, or even having to canvas the neighborhood or office (you may want to ask permission in your workplace, just to be safe).
Just put a table in your yard with a sign, or a basket on the counter in your office kitchen or front desk. And voila! Instant garden share! (more ideas below...)
Got a bountiful garden this season? Here are some easy ways to share your surplus with your community:
Local Food Banks: Many food banks accept fresh produce donations. Contact them to see what they need and how you can contribute.
Neighborhood Sharing: Set up a neighborhood sharing table or group where neighbors can exchange excess veggies and fruits.
Community Events: Consider organizing a community swap meet or potluck where people can bring and share their garden goodies.
Social Media: Use platforms like Facebook groups or Nextdoor to offer your surplus to neighbors who might be interested.
Preserve: If you have surplus that can be preserved (like jams, pickles, or dried herbs), share those too!
Let's spread the joy of homegrown goodness together!
What we are doing in the garden in July:
Harvesting: the last of the strawberries & raspberries, the first of the cherry tomatoes, rhubarb, lettuce, collards, currants, blackberries, chard, radishes, zinnias, cosmos, coneflower, roses, dill, basil
NOTES: Keep harvesting cucumbers and summer squashes regularly or they will stop producing!
Make sure you harvest your basil regularly or it will go to seed! Trim off the entire top of the plant when you harvest, and you will get twice as much basil!
Also, if you keep harvesting rhubarb, it will keep producing until the fall!
Tasks: weeding, pruning leaves on tomatoes, squashes, cucumbers, melons and checking for disease, more weeding, watering during extra hot afternoons, sowing fall crops
Read more about July gardening tasks in your zone here!
In the Finger Lakes this summer or fall?
We have so many fun (and delicious) activities in the garden this summer! Horticultural therapy, heirloom tomato tasting, pickling, garlic tasting, and more!!
