How to Deal with Too Many Fruits and Vegetables from the Garden

When it comes to vegetable gardening, there can be too much of a good thing. Whether it is a bumper crop of turnips or a backyard garden taken over by squash plants, there comes a time in every vegetable gardener’s life when she has more garden vegetables than she can find ways to eat. When growing vegetables exceed expectations, look to the following suggestions for what to do with too many garden vegetables.

Share Food from the Kitchen Garden

The easiest thing to do when there are too many garden vegetables, fruits or herbs is to give them away. One option is to bring the extras to work or church. When everyone there has had their fill, consider brightening the days of public servants and strangers.

Make gift baskets to share food with the local police station or fire house. When school is in session, drop off a bumper crop of vegetables to the main office and ask that they be placed in the teacher’s workroom. If all else fails, offer the backyard garden’s bounty on the free section of Craigslist or through a local FreeCycle network.

Rent a Market Stall at the Farmer’s Market

Getting rid of extra home-grown food does not have to mean giving it away for free. Many local communities have a farmer’s market where the market stalls are free or low cost. Ask neighbors or friends who have a similar problem if they would like to share a table at the farmer’s market. Each person can take one weekend at the produce market to reduce the time commitment and the profits can be divided. If there isn’t a steady enough supply to man a table at the market, try bartering the extras with a farmer at the market for a more desirable or less prolific kitchen garden item.

Home Food Storage to Preserve the Harvest

Home food storage may seem like it would be time consuming, but there are several different methods to try. Canning is the oldest method and can be very time consuming. The initial cost of canning supplies and the learning curve can be intimidating. However, many people enjoy canning and the ability to eat home-grown food in the wintertime. After the initial investment, canning supplies can be reused each year helping to save more money on food costs.

Vacuum sealing and freezing are two other methods of home food storage. Vacuum sealing systems have come down in cost in recent years and can be a great way to preserve food for a large family or for individuals. Using freezer bags and specially designed, reusable freezer containers is the lowest cost and easiest option. With all three options the food is preserved for future use instead of spoiling. A good resource for safe canning and freezing is the Ball Blue Book® Guide to Preserving (Jardin Home Brands, 2009).

Donate Food to End Hunger

A final option to consider when dealing with an overabundance of perishable fruits and vegetables is to donate food to local food banks or food pantries. Not every food bank accepts home-grown food donations so it is important to find one that does. One resource for finding a food pantry that accept home-grown food is AmpleHarvest.org. This organization compiles a list of food banks across the United States that accept donations of fresh food.

When a bumper crop fills the backyard garden, there is no need for the extra food to go to waste. The fruits and garden vegetables can be given away at work or to public servants. Share food with others on Craigslist or FreeCycle. To make money or exchange the food for something more useful it can be sold at the farmer’s market or bartered. Learning easy methods of home food storage can preserve the harvest for use at a later time. Donating extra food to a food pantry can feed the hungry while ensuring that no food goes to waste.