How do you dispose of surplus homegrown vegetables?

1. 93

   Imogen Frenchposted 13 years ago

   How do you dispose of surplus homegrown vegetables?
   
   I have made soups, sauces, preserved and frozen veg until the freezer is bursting, and still have a glut of vegetables in my garden - mainly green beans, tomatoes and cucumbers at the moment. I hate them to get wasted, does anyone have any novel ideas on how to use them up?
   
   

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2. 76

   LearnFromMeposted 13 years ago

   Pass them on to family or neighbors! How about a soup kitchen (where they feed the homeless)?

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3. 98

   punacoastposted 13 years ago

   I agree with LearnFromMe, donate your surplus vegetables to a local soup kitchen is a very good thing.  I used to work at a soup kitchen and remember fresh veggies were always much appreciated!  You can also swap with your neighbors for other veggies you don't have or set up a little roadside veg/fruit stand in your front yard and sell them!  Bring them to your office and leave them in the lunch room with a note like "Free homegrown tomatoes", I guarantee your coworkers will love you and do anything for you! : )

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4. 60

   PixChicposted 13 years ago

   I agree! Share them before you get burned out and just let everything rot.. Invite people you know and trust to come pick veggies from your garden to save yourself a little work too Not everyone will repay the gesture, but you may be surprised what "fruits of their labor" others will share with you!

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5. 84

   Danette Wattposted 13 years ago

   Ditto, give it to a crisis food center, salvation army, soup kitchen, women's shelter...there are lots of organizations who would love to be able to serve up some fresh veggies to their clients

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6. 93

   Imogen Frenchposted 13 years ago

   Thanks for all your suggestions. I agree it is always good to share with people less fortunate, and my surplus will be distributed amongst elderly relatives and neighbours who can't grow their own.
   
   Unfortunately there is no soup kitchen or anything similar in my area, as it is quite rural here, but that is a great idea.

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7. 60

   Honest Realityposted 13 years ago

   That's awesome!
   And whatever goes bad before it can be given away or canned, I put into a compost bin.

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8. 0

   A.CreativeThinkerposted 13 years ago

   You could make a casserole with the green beans and tomatoes, by adding some
   onions and potatoes to that and baking them in the oven.  Cucumbers make great additions to pasta salads and cucumber and tomato sandwiches as well.
   Hope this helps. 
   Regards,
   A.CreativeThinker

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