When I retired in 1987, gardening was one of my favorite
activities. I soon found out how bountiful a garden can be. I did my usual canning
and freezing, but still there was lots of produce that kept growing.
When it occurred to me that there were people who didn’t
have fresh garden produce to eat and enjoy, I decided to share mine. Each Sunday, I
took a basket of fresh garden vegetables to church and placed them near the
entrance. It was amazing how quickly the produce disappeared, and it made my
day to see folks leaving church with smiles on their faces and bags of fresh
food in their hands.
My garden is much smaller now that I’m getting older, and
while I no longer have a lot of produce to share, I’m happy to say that other
gardeners have continued the tradition of giving their surplus to those who
can’t or don’t raise a garden.
While it’s not exactly what comes to mind when people think
of preservation methods, I assure you that sharing is one of the best and most
rewarding ways to preserve your garden bounty.
Jeanette
Marston, Missouri
Read more about home
canning in Stories of Food Preservation Methods.
