One of our neighbors jokingly referred to us as "the grocery on St. Paul Road". We love to share whatever is going in the garden. Anyone want some lettuce/squash/new potatoes/broccoli? Of course, if they have a bit extra, everyone gets a phone call, and first come--first served! Do you get to share with neighbors, or does everyone around you have vegetable gardens with excess, too?
I sell mine. I started doing this to make a few extra dollars to save so I could eventually remodel the kitchen. But as fast as Kevin spends it on equipment I am not sure I will ever get it remodeled. , But I will have a nice selection of equipment for the neighbors who want to garden, to borrow. I am the proud owner of a plastic layer , now (which I will admit it is an excellent investment). New tines for the rototiller (much needed and cheaper than a new rototiller), a new weed eater, a new engine for the lawn mower (cheaper than replacing the mower), another new rototiller for the small tractor... a backpack mist blower for spraying ... It takes so much equipment to actually grow in volume. what is left over from my market on Saturdays I plan on donating to the church where our markets are held, on the weekends they open their food pantry if they can refrigerate it until Monday.
CM, The plastic layer is an implement for the tractor that holds a roll of plastic mulch and the drip tape. In order to eliminate weeding, warm up the soil, and avoid dirt splashing on the plants (which eliminates or reduces the amount of disease from inoculating the plants) we plant in black plastic. It has 'wings" that make furrows to lay the edge of the plastic in, another set to throw the dirt back over the edge and wheels to compact the soil on the edge of the plastic to keep it from lofting or blowing away, and a big heavy roller to make the row flat and fairly compacted. Sounds very complicated, but it is actually very simple. and it saves HOURS of kneeling and hoeing to get it done. The back pack sprayer has a gas engine that you wear on your back. it holds 4 gallons of liquid for spraying the trees or what ever you need to spray. it blows a mist droplet instead of a stream or large droplet of liquid. While wearing this it is a very good idea to refrain from stumbling, tripping or falling. It isn't a pretty experience.
If you visit my house when something is in season, you WILL leave with some. Usually, both inside and in a sack.
I, too, share with friends and family. If they won't take them straight from the garden then they get them in pies, jams, sorbets - whatever they fancy.
