Supporting Food Banks? And Building Community?

So, this year we worked our tails off keeping gardens alive. This in the grips of a deep drought, no joke. This is 100% armstrong country, hauling water and asserting that "failure is not an option." Even though we can afford to buy whatever veg from whatever big retail outlet shipped in from wherever. Nope, not if I have options and strength.

My immigrant forefathers and foremothers raised and grew their own food, and lived or died based on their knowledge and effort. Since I am here -- I guess they succeeded. But they also operated within community -- neighbours, church and faith, fellow farmers, all those things that made it work.

End of history and to the point: I am sitting on a surplus of root vegetables, particularly gourmet potatoes, that I cannot possibly eat. I would like to share this -- and the massive labour invested -- with people who can use them.

It seems so simple, and yet it's not. These potatoes, for example, have not been chemically "stunned" -- they will turn green if not stored properly. And we didn't get to them in time to prevent potato bugs from perforating them with multiple "pokes" under the skin. Will people think I'm offering "rotten" food? Of course it's perfectly good food - I'm offering what I eat, and it's fine stuff.

So, if I donated these a box at a time, I think it would be wise to include a small information card. Safe handling, first. A note about the bug nibbles (trim a little, but keep as much skin as you can! that's where the nutrients are!). And could a little bit of this family history build a little bit of community? What do you think?

I think your message is reasonable.   I regularly donate surplus eggs.

The foodbank near my in-laws routinely has local produce and meat donated by local farmers/gardeners.  Hopefully the one in your area will be similar.  I think donating cirplus is a great idea!

I am very fortunate where I live that a grass-roots group started a food bank and has quickly increased its footprint to cover several rural towns. They have expanded slowly and have now found a space that will provide them refrigeration to help keep non-shelf stable food longer.

They have developed relationships with farmers in the area and will regularly glean fields for cropstuffs after the main harvest is complete. They have even partnered up with libraries so that people who need food can get some from these locations.

It's about people helping people; I am all for that.

personally, i would be thrilled if i got a box of potatoes that said on a little card "the spots mean these potatoes were not treated with chemicals, so you need to eat them sooner than later and might find some spots to cut out". if you're really going to be a superstar, include some sort of easy recipe.

on the other hand. i have a loved one who often avails herself of a food bank in a ritzy area, who often tells me about the things she gets and then tosses because she doesn't know what to do with (these conversations often involve me grinding my teeth as i hear about her tossing wild salmon or some other luxury i can't even imagine buying). i've volunteered with the food bank at my mother's church and know that raw produce can be hard for them to get rid of, because often people don't have the means to cook it or know how to do it or have the inputs needed to make something more complex.

It may involve some extra work, but if I were in your shoes I'd try to donate it all at once to some place that would appreciate these great organic potatoes for what they are and cook something that people could enjoy while feeling like they made out like a bandit getting something so good. Daycare center? Old folks home? Church that makes pierogies? VFW hall that serves meals? (i may need to go get second breakfast here thinking about those pierogies....)

Tereza Okava wrote:personally, i would be thrilled if i got a box of potatoes that said on a little card "the spots mean these potatoes were not treated with chemicals, so you need to eat them sooner than later and might find some spots to cut out". if you're really going to be a superstar, include some sort of easy recipe.

Thanks Tereza (and everyone else) for your encouraging words. I appreciate it!