Are you looking for a way to simultaneously give and receive? Try a Produce Exchange.
A Produce Exchange is a volunteer based initiative that encourages local gardeners like you and me, well lots of people I know, to contribute abundant and/or leftover fruits, flowers, vegetables and herbs from their private garden to the Exchange.
These locally grown produce are then sorted (for example, “122 tangerines,” “59 grapefruit,” and “6 squash” etc.) and placed in non-plastic, recyclable bags at the hands of bagging volunteers. The bags are filled according to the number of participants in the Exchange. For example, if there are 40 participants in the Exchange donating produce and receiving a bag, the amount of donated items will need to yield 40 bags of various goods. The slight discrepancy is that the items left by local gardeners do not always consist of the same amounts of produce, in this case Walch suggests “add one special item” like a jar of homemade jam, a book, or even a extra blood oranges, in place of let’s say the missing squash.
After the bags have been filled, the volunteer delivery trucks distribute the bags to the same members of the Exchange that donated produce. Deliveries are maintained at five bags delivered per driver, within the same neighborhood.
The idea is that all members of the Exchange will receive a bag filled with locally grown, organic products that promote a sustained neighborhood community of healthy agriculture. And we all know food just seems to taste better when grown and prepared with love!
I have to say, I am not a gardener. I have lots of trouble keeping houseplants alive; but this seems to be a great idea. The notion of talking to your neighbors, creating an inclusive environment to exchange ideas and eat foods free of pesticides, is an excellent start to foster solidarity, communication, and local goodwill. So even if you don’t have a full backyard spread of your own, pair up with someone who does. If you don’t have a “green thumb” but have time that will work as well. Or simply donate your well wishes for the efforts of those trying to create cohesion. In some way or another, there’s room for everyone.
Produce Exchange chapters have started in North East Los Angeles (the original), Ventura, Merced, and both the San Fernando and San Gabriel Valleys and most recently West Los Angeles. However, if you don’t see your neighborhood, or an exchange relatively close to your area, you can start a chapter of your own. The time commitment would entail two to three hours per month.
For more information, contact Hynden Walch at hillsideproducecooperative@yahoo.com.
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