The pickin’s were a little slim this week. But I’m not complaining. With the kids getting ready to head back to school, the garden, the chickens, and having to get ready for a quick trip to Boise, I was a bit relieved to see only 3 boxes when I picked up our “chicken scraps” this week at the local produce stand.
Some weeks I love having a bunch of free produce to sift through, and some weeks it’s a chore. But I’m in it to win it, and I just have to remind myself that I am getting FREE FOOD, and no one should ever complain about free food. Ever.
This week I was able to reclaim-
- 7 Ears of corn – I made grilled corn salad again
- 1 Head of lettuce
- 1 Bell pepper
- Spinach – enough for a strawberry and spinach salad
- 2+ Pounds of strawberries – perfect for strawberry bruschetta
- Bulk carrots, shredded carrots and bagged baby carrots
- 2 Asparagus
- 1 Bunch of radishes
- 1 Head of cauliflower – I’m planning on making cauliflower hummus later today
- 1 Jalapeno pepper and a cucumber {The Girl started eating it before I could get a picture}
Over the past few months I received emails from people who have been both successful and unsuccessful in getting their local grocers to allow them to pick up free “scraps” from stores.
In the end, I think it boils down to what the individual store policy is. Some are afraid of giving away produce because of lawsuits, some stores already have a program in place for local charities to pick up the “old” fruits and veggies, and others are just happy to give it to someone so it doesn’t go to waste.
So if you’ve already asked all your local grocery stores for their seconds and have been turned down, maybe try a local farm, fruit stand or CSA and see if they are willing to give your their blemished produce {or let you purchase it for ultra cheap}. The worst thing anyone can ever tell you is no. And if you don’t ask, you won’t know for sure.
Peace Out Girl Scouts, I’m headed out to the garden to pick some veggies!
♥ Mavis
Would you like to see what else we have brought home over the past 4 1/2 months?
Head on over HERE to read all the past stories and to see all the pictures.
Have you read the The Complete Tightwad Gazette
Helen in Meridian says
The Tightwad Gazette was the first frugal book I read too…before the other 2 editions were made. I couldn’t get into not ever using a dryer and having my clothes drying in the attic in winter, or using my dryer lint for craft projects, but you are right. It is an eye opener, and you get lots of ideas on how to save. I loved the part about when she went to the bank or driver license bureau to change her name before the wedding. She spelled her new name, wrote it down for them, said it, and spelled it again…and they suggested she re-think marrying him and changing her name. That was a hoot.
Mavis says
She has a ton of great ideas. I love that book. Although I would never by a used mattress at a yard sale though.
D'Anna says
Amy Dacyczyn is awesome! I’ve often wondered where she ended up after the 90’s when she was on Donahue & Oprah having people tell her she was a horrible parent for using powdered milk and buying clothes at yard sales and thrift stores.
Thanks to Amy, I have been scraping out the very last bit of free deodorant, nuking and putting back into an empty container for probably 15 years now. Sounds weird to some people, but once you pop that plastic thing out and see there is a good weeks worth of pit stick hiding in there, how can you not get every last free bit of it?
Mavis says
I think she’s a rock star too. I remember seeing her on the Donahue show way back when and thinking she was a little out there. Ha Ha Ha. Then I read her book years later and was like, ya know, this lady is one smart cookie. 🙂
Lissa says
Week #18 here was an average week. Fine with me!! Picked up some other great deals at Safeway on produce with my J4U prices & J4U 20% off any produce coupon. I have family in town next week and out of town the week after that so I have to warn my produce guy I won’t be in for 2 weeks. Eek!
1.5lb strawberries
1 mango
1 bunch tiny grapes (fancy fancy)
4 tomatoes
6 ears corn
2 heads romaine
4 heads green leaf lettuce
Mavis says
Must be nice to get fancy fancy grapes. 🙂
Penelope says
I went again today (my second time, I’m still a newbie), but earlier and they hadn’t culled anything. So I went back after my littles were dropped off at school and got started. The way it works is, I go in the back, put my gloves on, and dig through the produce trash cans. So I pick and choose what I want. But since I am doing this for “compost” I feel I should take from the top. After I’ve gotten past the lettuce/cabbage leaves, the good stuff is under that. There were lots of greens today, and lots of cucumbers, a couple peppers, couple tomatoes, more ears of corn. The fruit culling bin was left out in the produce section. I can’t wait til I can get my hands on that one!
The older gentlemen look at me with suspicion or shake their heads, the younger guys just smile or try to be helpful.
Tanya Peila says
I did it! I emailed my local produce stand which we frequent. Last time they gave us a box of greens for our chickens. I asked if I could do it weekly. Cross your fingers!
Mavis says
Crossing my fingers. Yay! Great job Tanya, keep us posted on your future pick ups!