|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All your hard work has paid off, and now you are presented with a dilemma, too many vegetables! After sharing your wealth with friends, family, co-workers, neighbors and anyone that happens to come to visit, there are alternative options of what you can do with your extensive supply of tomatoes, zucchini and other bountiful crops that will bring great joy to the community around you.
There are many different ways to approach this, the easiest would be to look up in your local phone book for organizations that you could donate your vegetables to. A good place to start would be food banks, women's shelters and half-way houses. Don't be discouraged if at first you are turned down, some community resources have to follow guidelines that will not allow them to accept fresh fruit or vegetables. You can also look up on the internet for locations near you that would find great joy in being the recipient of your sharing.
Another great idea is to do a "vegetable exchange" with other gardeners, you neighbor could have a bumper crop of beans or corn and not a great harvest on tomatoes, exchanging them will give you the best of both vegetables! The only thing of caution here is that it's a good idea to exchange with people that have the same basic gardening ethics, if you grow organic vegetables then you may not want to exchange with someone else that prefers to use chemicals or pesticides in their garden.
Preserving your vegetables for the rest of the year is also a great option. There are many sources online that can walk you through step by step on how to preserve your vegetables, either by canning, freezing or making something more specific like salsa sauce with your tomatoes. You can use the same approach to this as the idea above as well, have a variety of vegetables gathered from people around you and have a harvesting party. Get each person to bring enough of something from their vegetable garden that each person that attends will have an item to go home with. (For example if you have zucchini, another has tomatoes, and yet another has beans, you would walk away with at least two other types of vegetables)
The first hint that you need to find alternative options is to realize that when your friends, family, and neighbors start running in the other direction and turning off all the lights and pretending they are not home when they see you walking towards them with more of your delicious vegetables, that there are alternatives that will not only help others in your community but make all your hard work in your vegetable garden go a little bit further in spreading the joy to others.
For more gardening tips you can go to www.gardening-tips-n-tools.com




Some of the best gifts you can give to a bird lover are those that have to do with birds! :)Here are a few favorites of all... Read More
Slugs are one of the most hated of garden pests. You may have spent time carefully planting out your seedlings into the bed, but when you return... Read More
Whether you are an avid vegetable gardener, a beginning herb gardener or just like to have a pretty yard, these frugal tips may help you save a... Read More
You might be tempted to let Mother Nature, tend to your backyard pond, and who could blame you? After all, she does a pretty good job of... Read More
It is not difficult to grow bedding plants from seeds, and you may be surprised to know you do not need to have a greenhouse or some... Read More
Is your concrete or asphalt driveway an eyesore? Do you need to create an attractive retaining wall? Although most people use garden pavers to create patios, driveways... Read More
A beautiful flower arrangement piece can become the focal point of the room you choose to decorate. It's truly fascinating how we can combine different flowers to... Read More
There are thousands of species of Palm Trees. They are considered to be tropical in nature, but most people are not aware that cold hardy palms may... Read More
Whether you have a preformed or a liner pond, a pond pump is a paramount component of any water feature. Stagnant bodies of water attract mosquito infestations,... Read More
Along with lip-smacking sweetness, flower and foliage are also worthy reasons to grow blueberries. White, bell-shaped blossoms make a lovely addition to a spring garden and fiery... Read More
Patio accessories can range from small to large and of all types of materials and styles depending on your garden dcor. Outdoor entertaining on the patio or... Read More
These days, it's easy to get lost in the wealth of knowledge available on hydroponics cultivation. The dizzying collection of fertilizers, additives and supplement doesn't necessarily help... Read More
Like any job you tackle, it's always easier if you have the right tools. Before heading out to your rose garden, make sure you arm yourself with... Read More
A beautiful wooden deck, properly maintained, can add greatly to the aesthetic and resale values of a home.Just look around, decks are almost everywhere. Not just houses... Read More
Pruning your roses is one of the most needed and the most annoyingly difficult tasks that goes with proper rose care. It takes a steady hand the... Read More
Copy-write 2005 Jan Money.Hydroponics gardening offers many advantages to the cannabis grower. In fact hydroponics gardening is probably the number one source all cannabis that is cultivated... Read More
Camellias Named by Linnaeus in 1735 in honour of the Jesuit priest and naturalist Georg Josef Kamel, Camellia is a genus originating mainly from China but... Read More
First, this bug has many names. Some of it's names are:lady bugs ladybugs lady beetle asiatic lady beetle Asian Lady Beetle Asian... Read More
Solar lights are very popular for lighting yards and gardens. They are virtually maintenance free, easy to install, and cost almost nothing to run. Once you have... Read More
Roses are one of natures most beautiful and splendid gifts. Roses come in a variety of colors and scents, from deep, deep red to the brightest yellow.... Read More
Fuchsia (named after Leonhard Fuchs, a 16th century German botanist) is a genus of over 100 species of shrubs and small trees. Although there are four New... Read More
There are so many plants available for you to choose from that it's hard to know where to start. Are you looking for house plants, tropical plants... Read More
"The Ancient Art of Placement" called Feng Shui (pronounced phung schway) literally means 'wind' and 'water.' The Chinese believe this cosmic energy, called Chi or 'the green... Read More
One of the pleasurable spin-offs in organic gardening is finding alternative ways of coming up with the same, if not better, end result.....Household throwaways can be valuable... Read More
One of the long standing myths that I still hear is that orchid house plants are difficult and finicky to grow. Well, plain and simple, the answer... Read More
The tomato is the most commonly grown vegetable in the States. Here are some tips on how to grow your own bountiful crop of tomatoes.Tomatoes should be... Read More
Many people believe growing their flowers and vegetables organically is healthier for them and their environment. It is natural that you may wish to grow your roses... Read More
In an effort to introduce a shaft of sunlight into a particularly gloomy conversation, I recently asked a gardening acquaintance of mine to explain the difference between... Read More
Iris flowers always bring memories of mom to mind. Let me share with you three reasons why... Iris flowers are naturally beautiful Iris flowers posses the ability... Read More
The areas of your landscape can be divided into several sections and areas, which are also known as garden rooms. Garden rooms are spaces where you plant,... Read More
The technnology secrets will help home owners maintain lawns in drought areas using a fraction of the normal water use. Professional Landscapers know that by burying wirless... Read More
Just about right now, we start to see moss on lawns and the plaintive cry goes up, "How do we stop it?"The first thing to understand is... Read More
Think of cyclamen and the chances are that Mothers Day immediately comes to mind, which is something of a pity. Now don't misinterpret me, there's nothing wrong... Read More
We've had some well needed rain this past week, though it makes it a bit difficult to get chores done outside.We're past the last frost date for... Read More
The principal house plants which are easy to raise by sowing seeds are Aloe (succulent plant), Asparagus species, Begonia semper-florensundB. rex, cacti (many kinds), Clivia, Cyclamen, Eucalyptus,... Read More
It's early in May a beautiful fairly warm day so I've decided to enjoy it and sit on the front porch.While relaxing in a rocking chair with... Read More
The Adirondack chair is unlike any other chair every made. First designed by Thomas Lee in the early 1900s, this chair is amazingly comfortable, very affordable, and... Read More
Give the same plants to several people, you will see several arrangements. Each one distinct and different, yet, using the same plants.This is the ultimate reward of... Read More
Whether you call them Hydrangea Macrophylla, House Hydrangea, French Hydrangea,, or Mopheads, growing Hydrangeas in the home garden can be an enjoyable experience. They are lovely, whether... Read More
Gardening is one of life's pleasures whether you grow flowers, vegetables or herbs; we look forward to the planting season. But whether you are new or seasoned... Read More
One of my favorite plants is the large white-flowered Mystery Gardenia (gardenia jasminoides) that grows to about 5' tall and wide. The perfume-like scent adds an exotic... Read More
Butterfly gardening is not only a joy, it is one way that you can help restore declining butterfly populations. Simply adding a few new plants to your... Read More
Whenever you decide to look for a butterfly house for your flower garden, you first have to determine what it is you actually want. A search for... Read More
A focal point is an important design element; it is a place where the eye naturally comes to rest. In a well-designed patio there is always a... Read More
Having an ample supply of good rich compost is the gardeners dream. It has many uses, and all of those uses will result in nicer plants. However,... Read More
1. Always read the instruction manual before operating your lawnmower. I know it sounds boring but there is a very good reason you are supposed to read... Read More
An important addition to any British back garden, the greenhouse is firmly established in the British way of life. It's probably the inclement weather that drives the... Read More
Organic gardeners all know compost is fantastic stuff. But now, there's something even better and that's compost tea. If you start with a good compost you'll have... Read More
Growing grapes in the backyard or garden can be a rewarding experience. It can also be quite a failure if not done properly. Grapevines are perennial plants... Read More
When spring comes and the ground is thawed, it is time to start planting your rose garden. Roses have been a cherished aphrodisiac since biblical times. They... Read More
The growing of flowering or foliage plants on window ledges is a form of gardening in which most people can indulge. Those who live in flats, and... Read More
Landscaping is a wonderful pastime enjoyed by many. It provides a natural beauty and needs no ornaments or other attractive items to help achieve its magnificence. What... Read More