Posted by Dan L. on March 1, 2010, 9:53 pm
> "Dan L." wrote
> kate wrote:
>
> >> >Another option is to donate to your local food bank.
>
> > Food banks in my area only accept food that has a USDA stamp of
> > approval. Starving neighbors won't complain if you give to them.
>
> Seems like that here. Grocery stores and such can do that and big time
> suppliers to local ones as well, but not us little guys with 15 extra
> tomatoes from our yard.
>
> The 'out from the rules' is a local church may be happy to have such for an
> exchange. We do that too. A local one here has a sort of 'soup kitchen'
> run by the church but not listed as a non-profit (though they make none).
> They take fresh veggies from local small gardens happily. We donated our
> old commercial sized behemoth freezer to them as we had replaced it with a
> smaller unit when away several years (it was with the renters of our house).
>
> The local church is feeding mostly local folks who are elderly and on fixed
> incomes, and young single parents. It operates more like a huge potluck
> with a kitchen attached. I dropped off an excess bag of onions yesterday
> (still fresh, just didnt realize Don had gotten a bag 2 days earlier).
Same here, churches seem to be exempt as well. Churches might use the
"Pot Luck" dinners as a way out of the "Charity Organization" group.
Charities may have to operate under different government regulations.
Many Charities also receive government funding where churches don't.
Enjoy Life... Dan
--
Garden in Zone 5 South East Michigan.
Posted by Dan L. on February 28, 2010, 12:56 am
> On Sat, 27 Feb 2010 09:13:33 -0600, kate@notme.com wrote:
>
> >
> >>"brooklyn1" wrote
> >>> (EVP MAN) wrote:
> >>
> >>>>time of need. I plan to put a folding table near the curb on my front
> >>>>lawn and fill it with fresh veggies each day. I'll also have some saved
> >>>>grocery bags on the table and a sign that says FREE ......PLEASE TAKE
> >>>>WHAT YOU NEED BUT REMEMBER OTHERS MAY BE IN NEED TOO!
> >>>
> >>> You already figured out that there are greedy bastards.
> >>>
> >>> I found a much better system for sharing with neighbors is to trade
> >>> produce with those who also have gardens... everyone grows a different
> >>> mix of crops so the barter system works well, and it needn't be
> >>> anything formal... whenever I have extras I leave a bagful at my
> >>> neighbor's doors and they in turn do likewise.
> >>
> >>Same here. Oh, I havent the spread you do, but I still grow enough excess
> >>in my containers that I bring some over to neighbors. Last year it was a
> >>bumper crop of tomatoes and heritage bell peppers that I mostly had too
> >>much
> >>of.
> >
> >Another option is to donate to your local food bank.
>
> Food banks don't usually want fresh produce, they have no refrigerated
> storage facilities. Occasionally I have a glut of lettuce that's too
> much to pawn off on neighbors because they do likewise, so rather than
> place it in the composter I bring it to a local golf course restaurant
> where I know the cooks... they serve it as salads and in turn invite
> me to many of their events. Many of the local folks who garden gift
> the local golf course because many of their family members are
> employed there... college students need seasonal jobs. And golf
> courses are always looking to employ seniors to drive mowing
> tractors... I'm asked everytime they see me. Peronally I don't think
> anyone in the US should be out of a job, there are plenty of jobs that
> go begging because folks are too ascared to change occupations and/or
> get their hands soiled or sweat. Getting laid off should be seen as a
> gift to encourage a career change, usually for the better, instead of
> a lame alibi to collect unemployment insurance, and for years...
> shoulld be embarrassed to admit it, especially so publicly.
Also, check out the local garden associations. Many of them have or know
where there are local community gardens. Free food for the taking, just
help them pull a weed or two.
Enjoy Life... Dan
--
Garden in Zone 5 South East Michigan.
Posted by Bill who putters on February 27, 2010, 10:49 am
White_Noise_1@webtv.net (EVP MAN) wrote:
> I have been out of work for over two years now when my company downsized
> in this poor economy. Times are tough and going to get a whole lot
> tougher for sure! I'm very lucky in the respect that I'm 61 years old
> and only have one more year to go till I can retire on social security.
> That is if that program is still in existence a year from now. Guess
> what I'm really trying to say is: help your neighbor out a little if
> you can. I'm planting way more vegetables in the garden this spring
> than my wife and I could ever use. The reason being, I want to be able
> to do what I can to help out other less fortunate people in this dire
> time of need. I plan to put a folding table near the curb on my front
> lawn and fill it with fresh veggies each day. I'll also have some saved
> grocery bags on the table and a sign that says FREE ......PLEASE TAKE
> WHAT YOU NEED BUT REMEMBER OTHERS MAY BE IN NEED TOO! With unemployment
> being as it is, I would imagine the veggie table will be quite a hit in
> the neighborhood. It may be truly appreciated by some, others will
> take advantage and some will won't care either way. This won't deter
> me one bit. Why? Because I know In my heart that I'm doing the right
> thing. We all need to help each other right now if we can because the
> government sure don't give a shit about any of the once middle class
> population!!!
> May sound like a crazy idea to some but I was just brought up that way
> when neighbors still helped neighbors :)
>
> Rich From PA......... Zone 6
Some times a little info can provide food for the table.
http://www.culinate.com/articles/our_table/the_ultimate_budget_meal
If you have a blood sugar concern and favor less carbs and starches
you may be able to tweak some of this your way.
Bill
--
Garden in shade zone 5 S Jersey USA
Posted by David Hare-Scott on February 27, 2010, 11:01 pm
EVP MAN wrote:
> I have been out of work for over two years now when my company
> downsized in this poor economy. Times are tough and going to get a
> whole lot tougher for sure! I'm very lucky in the respect that I'm
> 61 years old and only have one more year to go till I can retire on
> social security. That is if that program is still in existence a year
> from now. Guess what I'm really trying to say is: help your
> neighbor out a little if you can. I'm planting way more vegetables
> in the garden this spring than my wife and I could ever use. The
> reason being, I want to be able to do what I can to help out other
> less fortunate people in this dire time of need. I plan to put a
> folding table near the curb on my front lawn and fill it with fresh
> veggies each day. I'll also have some saved grocery bags on the
> table and a sign that says FREE ......PLEASE TAKE WHAT YOU NEED BUT
> REMEMBER OTHERS MAY BE IN NEED TOO! With unemployment being as it
> is, I would imagine the veggie table will be quite a hit in the
> neighborhood. It may be truly appreciated by some, others will take
> advantage and some will won't care either way. This won't deter me
> one bit. Why? Because I know In my heart that I'm doing the right
> thing. We all need to help each other right now if we can because
> the government sure don't give a shit about any of the once middle
> class population!!!
> May sound like a crazy idea to some but I was just brought up that way
> when neighbors still helped neighbors :)
> Rich From PA......... Zone 6
I always give away excess to neighbours every year and ask nothing in
return. But it comes back anyway.
David
Posted by Coffee's For Closers on March 3, 2010, 10:47 pm
White_Noise_1@webtv.net says...
> I have been out of work for over two years now when my company downsized
> in this poor economy. Times are tough and going to get a whole lot
> tougher for sure! I'm very lucky in the respect that I'm 61 years old
> and only have one more year to go till I can retire on social security.
> That is if that program is still in existence a year from now. Guess
> what I'm really trying to say is: help your neighbor out a little if
> you can. I'm planting way more vegetables in the garden this spring
> than my wife and I could ever use. The reason being, I want to be able
> to do what I can to help out other less fortunate people in this dire
> time of need. I plan to put a folding table near the curb on my front
> lawn and fill it with fresh veggies each day. I'll also have some saved
> grocery bags on the table and a sign that says FREE ......PLEASE TAKE
> WHAT YOU NEED BUT REMEMBER OTHERS MAY BE IN NEED TOO! With unemployment
> being as it is, I would imagine the veggie table will be quite a hit in
> the neighborhood. It may be truly appreciated by some, others will
> take advantage and some will won't care either way. This won't deter
> me one bit. Why? Because I know In my heart that I'm doing the right
> thing. We all need to help each other right now if we can because the
> government sure don't give a shit about any of the once middle class
> population!!!
> May sound like a crazy idea to some but I was just brought up that way
> when neighbors still helped neighbors :)
I would never do something like that. It would lead to being
personally marked as "always" having a surplus, which I would
"owe" to people, with zero understanding that I had worked for
the extra food. Many people blow things out of proportion, and
have an amazing sense of entitlement.
If I wanted to donate food, I would do so via a food bank, soup
kitchen, shelter, etc.
This isn't about being "selfish." It's about having healthy
boundaries. I have learned to sort of depersonalise any
generosity, because so many prospective recipients just have no
limits to what they expect, demand, and feel entitled to from me.
Several years ago, I had a next-door neighbour who repeatedly
started conversations by pointing out the alleged surplus of food
in the very small container garden I had at the time. She was
directly trying to get me to "admit" to having far more than I
could possibly eat before it spoiled. So of course it wouldn't
be any sacrifice for me to hand it over. This was the only
subject she seemed interested in bringing up, except for
mentioning her overall self-pity about her financial/housing
situation, having just entered the adult world of jobs and bills
and responsibility (poor baby.)
That was part of a more general problem with her and another
neighbour (an obnoxious divorced housewife) in that building who
perceived me as generally having more resources than them.
Including the fact that I actually get off the couch and do stuff
on the weekends, rather than sit around whining like them. They
both eventually became openly hostile about my refusal to be used
as a personal servant and sugar-mommy. The above-described
individual actually told other neighbours that she had considered
physically damaging my plants as revenge for refusing to be
personal "friends" with her.
And, no, there wasn't really any surplus. And no, I didn't
really have more resources than them, except for more willingness
to work at something.
--
Get Credit Where Credit Is Due
http://www.cardreport.com/
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> kate wrote:
>
> >> >Another option is to donate to your local food bank.
>
> > Food banks in my area only accept food that has a USDA stamp of
> > approval. Starving neighbors won't complain if you give to them.
>
> Seems like that here. Grocery stores and such can do that and big time
> suppliers to local ones as well, but not us little guys with 15 extra
> tomatoes from our yard.
>
> The 'out from the rules' is a local church may be happy to have such for an
> exchange. We do that too. A local one here has a sort of 'soup kitchen'
> run by the church but not listed as a non-profit (though they make none).
> They take fresh veggies from local small gardens happily. We donated our
> old commercial sized behemoth freezer to them as we had replaced it with a
> smaller unit when away several years (it was with the renters of our house).
>
> The local church is feeding mostly local folks who are elderly and on fixed
> incomes, and young single parents. It operates more like a huge potluck
> with a kitchen attached. I dropped off an excess bag of onions yesterday
> (still fresh, just didnt realize Don had gotten a bag 2 days earlier).