FREE Produce

Produce Deals

I recently had a neighbor friend of mine call me and tell me to come down 

and get some produce he grew in his garden.  

I was so THRILLED to get FREE Produce. 

I always jokingly say I have a "Black" Thumb

because I am not so good at remembering to water my plants. 

I actually killed a plant called "Never Die" -hee hee.

How sad is that- I ask you. 

I am able to grow Basil and Thyme. 

I use a lot of both herbs. 

My point is that there are ways to get produce FREE during 

growing season. You just have to be creative and no where to look.

Grow you own Produce: ( seeds are so cheap) even with a small area you can grow fruits and vegetables. Here is a book about vertical gardening and planter gardening .  OR even join a community garden. 

Share your bounty: Coordinate with family, friends or neighbors and each grow an item and share with one another. (example: Mom grows tomatoes, cucumbers and spinach.-  Sister grows peas, broccoli, and leafy lettuce. -  You grow carrots, zucchini and cabbage -and so on)

Pick Public Fruit: Take a walk around your neighborhood and look at the "PUBLIC" trees.  Whether they are in the park or on your city streets. I bet you will find some fruit trees.  If these fruit trees are on public areas you are allowed to harvest the fruit.  Here is a website called Neighborhood Fruit that will help you find free fruit bushes and trees if people have posted them. If you find some post them on there so people can share. 

Gleaning for thy Neighbor: Have you ever heard of "Gleaning".  This is the act of collecting leftover crops after a farmer has harvested their fields.  This dates back to biblical times. The idea is that it cost the farmer more to pay someone to do this and if they allow the poor or needy to do this they get free food from crops that would go to waste. There are two ways you can attempt  use the concept of "Gleaning".
1)-Once again take a walk around your neighborhood and look at the types of trees your neighbors may have. If they have a fruit or nut tree or bush that looks as if it is bursting at the seams take a minute to knock on their door and ask if they would mind you harvesting the fruit or nuts.  You will be surprised at how many people find these trees a nuisance and hate all off the rotting fruit that falls all over.  Offer to take care of it in return you will get to keep what you harvest. Be courteous and make sure to clean up your mess. A great gesture would be to deliver them a jar of jam  or a baked good you made out of some of what you harvested.  

2)- Several Gleaning groups are popping up all over the nations. Look for a Gleaning Group in your area by searching for "Urban Harvesting Groups (with the name of your city)" or  "Gleaning Groups (and the name of your city)"or look on MeetUp Groups and see if there is a Gleaning group in your area.

This post may contain an affiliate link. Using this link helps support this site. Thank you