The Gift of Fruit from Your Backyard

by Dorothy Reinhold on February 27, 2011


Print This Post Print This Post Share fruit from your backyard on Shockingly Delicious

If you have a fruit tree in your backyard and you know you are not going to use all of it up, share your bounty!

It can be as simple as dropping a bag of something off at the next door neighbor’s house (and who among us zucchini growers has not done that in August?).

Since my immediate neighbors can’t possibly use all the lemons my tree supplies, I go one step further and put a box out front on the driveway, with a sign inviting passersby to take them. People on their daily walks, neighbors driving by, and workers and vendors doing jobs in the neighborhood have all stopped by for lemons. One person even left a thank-you note scrawled on a scrap of paper!

Share fruit from your backyard from Shockinglydelicious.comI put lemons out the other day and I saw the mailman snatch a few and tuck them into his sack (hi Barry!), and then a nice woman walking her dog stopped for an armful. Although she didn’t speak much English, she allowed me to take her picture (the sun was very bright so her eyes are closed). I told her I wanted to prove that this strategy works!

Within a few hours, all the lemons were gone.

I’ll put another box out tomorrow. It would be a shame to waste them.

Resources needed:

  • 1 old chair or stool
  • 1 sign (I designed and printed mine from Vistaprint.com; they call it a lawn sign; you don’t have to order the metal stand)
  • 1 hand-lettered card that says “don’t take my box, chair or sign!” (highly recommended; you don’t want someone thinking the chair is there for the taking, or that they can just take your whole box)
  • Fruit from your backyard tree

Join the club and share your wealth!

There are websites that have sprung up to encourage this, including:

Once you get your lemons, what can you make?

How about Meyer Lemon Curd?

How about Strawberry Basil Lemonade? Strawberries are starting to flood the markets!

Or the stunningly simple Lemon Whip!


Share fruit from your backyard from Shockinglydelicious.com

{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }

kristy @ gastronomical sovereignty July 17, 2012 at 2:52 pm

i’m so proud of you. thank you for sharing your bounty! food like this should be free and/or bartered for and shared. it’s ridiculous how much goes to waste just sitting in people’s yards. love it! we also have a woman down the street from us who does this with her eggs and you know what?….best eggs I’ve ever had. ever.

thank you for sharing with us at the Fresh Foods Blog Hop – we hope to see you again this week!

Reply

yvette March 5, 2011 at 10:31 pm

A wonderful kind and generous gesture! I’m sure you received genuine smiles back! It’s a keeper!
http://yvettesblogs.com/2011/03/02/spiced-peach-muffins/

Reply

Kate February 28, 2011 at 11:01 pm

Due to my tomato glut I took a bag of freshly picked tomatoes to the gym today to offer up to my buddies. it is great especially for apartment dwellers who don’t have gardens !!

Reply

Dorothy March 1, 2011 at 3:03 pm

Kate,
Fresh homegrown tomatoes in Feb/March! Amazing!

Reply

Lamb February 28, 2011 at 7:39 pm

I’m happy to see that you were able to get your post linked! Sadly, this would never work out in my neighborhood. I just finished posting about my experience with donating to charity today – and having my donations stolen from in front of my house! Terrible.

Reply

Dorothy March 1, 2011 at 3:03 pm

Lamb,
So sorry your neighbors won’t play nicely.

Reply

Val February 28, 2011 at 1:03 pm

Give generously and expect nothing in return but, if you receive from another’s bounty, a return gift from your kitchen proves your appreciation and helps to keep the donations comng.

Reply

Dorothy February 28, 2011 at 1:05 pm

Val,
Very wise words!

Reply

Lamb February 27, 2011 at 1:46 pm

Someone is in for a shockinglyfun surprise if she visits my blog today 🙂

Reply

Erika February 27, 2011 at 10:54 am

Another good way is to bring them to meetings where all your foodie friends are congregating…hint hint hint.

Reply

Dorothy February 27, 2011 at 11:06 am

Erika,
You are RIGHT!

Reply

nancy@skinnykitchen.com February 27, 2011 at 9:01 am

Great tips! Thanks for sharing…

Reply

Leave a Comment

Previous post:

Next post: