Let me ask you a hypothetical question.
Let’s say you have about 25 heads of Rainbow Swiss Chard you need to harvest.
You don’t want to eat it {you’ve had your fill} you don’t want to freeze it {you’d rather save the freezer space for berries, beans and tomatoes} and you’ve already given away all that you can to friends and neighbors.
How would you share the bounty from your garden? Feeding it to the chickens seems like such a waste.
Help!
SHARE:
Andrea says
I like the food pantry idea. Also the FREE stand idea. I have never actually had Rainbow Swiss Chard. Would have no idea what to do with it. Looks pretty though.
Ashlyn says
I’m sure a local food bank would love it!
Michaela says
Foodbank? Helping the community and not feeling like you are wasting it by feeding it to the chickens.
sena c says
minestrone soup….and then freeze it!
Saralie says
I would dehydrate them and make soup mix ( in a mason jar) as a hostess gift. Of course you can share a bit with the chickens.
Lara Fara says
good one!
jessica hardin says
do you have any recipes for this idea? That sounds like a great idea!!
Sarah says
Local soup kitchen or families with kids in need.
qathy says
“FREE” painted on a sign, a small table by the side of the road. OR…local homeless shelter?
Q.
Susan says
I would go for FREE by the road, but use an upside down box to put your produce on top.
Cut a hole in the side to slip some plastic grocery bags in so they have something to put all that delicious-ness in.
Don’t use a table unless you want to get rid of the table, too! 🙂
Kim says
Find someone to trade something else for it. Maybe go back to the produce stand??
Melissa says
Food bank? I know a local one here has a fresh produce drive every now and then.
Kari says
Barter with the produce stand again for something you need. Or, homeless shelter.
darlene says
I’ve heard of dehydrating it and then adding it to soups, smoothies, anything really for a nutritional boost.
Kelly Jo says
I like the trade idea. I’d also maybe set up an arrangement for a local charity that would love the donation. Maybe you could keep a list of them to keep it ‘fair’ for when you have donations. Another idea would be to work with a friend or somebody at a lcoal farmers market to have them sell it for you. Personally, I’d juice it and drink it.
Ayrie Joyce says
There are so many people who are food insecure. Talk to the food bank, local churches or schools – they’ll be able to tell you who really needs the food.
Heidi says
I would take some of it and make popsicles for the kids. I take berries, carrot, yogurt, apple, ice cubes, 5 or 6 stalks of swiss chard, and apple juice or orange juice and blend it all up. Fill up some popsicle containers and stick in the freezer and kids can enjoy a heathly afternoon ice pop.
Kathy says
No idea. I think it’s so gorgeous, but never grow it because I’m not interested in consuming it! I’m low on space, so I save it for things we love. 🙂
Michelle says
Like a broken record at this point but I also thought of the food bank, however, not sure they would know what to do with it… the people that get it in the end. Anyway, we like to use it just like any other greens (mustard, collard) and chop it up, saute with onions, garlic, a little bacon (or bacon substitute in our case), some veggie or chicken broth, salt, pepper and a shot of hot sauce. Lower heat, simmer for an hour, great down-home greens to sop up with a biscuit! 😉 Can you tell I’m from the south? LOL! Anyway, if you decide none of the above suggestions, I’m happy to swing by and take them off your hands – I can trade some paper goods for them! 🙂
Lara Fara says
I like the dehydrating idea, local market, and food bank.
You are doing so great! It’s very inspiring. I’ve been planting and working out in my garden space so much more lately. Kudos to my hubby for sending me the link to your site!
Leanne says
Your chard looks amazing. I am really bummed my chard got attacked by leaf miner. Have you ever had problems with that in the past? If so what helps to get rid of it.
Karina says
Try maybe a local organic restaurant. I’m sure they could whip up some fancy local dish with it. Or maybe go to your local farmers market, and see if anyone would like to add it to their spread to sell, and have the proceeds go to some organization? You could do this with all your excess food. 😀
(I do agree with the food bank, but it is kind of an odd food, and I’m not sure who would actually pick it up at one… just being honest.)
Sarah C says
Oh, I like this idea! Maybe you could do a trade with a restaurant! Yumm! Produce for someone else cooking dinner sounds awesome.
I also like the farmer’s market idea, though the ones in your neck of the woods tend to be big and fancypants. Maybe there’s a smaller one around and you could use Karina’s idea!
Tracie says
Local food bank or soup kitchen…I adopted a community garden and every week we donate all the food to these people who need it!
Abby says
Have you thought about having a stand at a Farmer’s Market? Or know someone that does? With all the excess produce you will have this summer I am thinking you will run into this “problem” a few more times 🙂
Sarah says
I bet a local cafe would buy it from you. They would probably love to advertise that “today’s special was made with very locally grown ingredients!”
Julie Herbison says
I would give it to your local union gospel mission or shelter that prepares food for the homeless.
You could also donate it to a local culinary school or barter with a local restuarant.
Best of luck!
Genevieve says
Post on Freecycle or contact your local Meals on Wheels, I’m sure a local senior would be happy to get some chard with their lunch .
Lynda says
Waste it on the chickens? Why would that be a waste? I grow a special stand of chard just for my chickens…and they pay me back with lots of eggs, baby chicks and chicken and dumplings! Never thought of it as a waste. I donated chard, beets, tomatoes and lettuces to a homeless shelter last year (I manage a Farmers Market) and was called back the next day…they kept the tomatoes and didn’t want the rest of the “stuff”. Seems like most folks don’t know how to prepare fresh produce. So I gave a few free cooking demos…still no takers…they did want some $$$ for fast-food vouchers!
Yvette Robertson says
I’m with Lynda. The better the chickies eat, the better the eggs (and manure) they give back.
Mavis, you’ve got to stop pulling these greens up by the roots and just cut the leaves stems you need when you (or the chickies) need them. I’ve been cutting off the same kale and chard patch for a couple of years now and I live in the foothills of Mt Hood, Oregon.
SaraB says
You could sell it OR donate it to somebody in need via Craigslist. I have seen people in our area asking for fresh produce, willing to trade or who just need it because they’re going through a hard time. Love the idea of selling it to a local cafe, too!
Wendy says
Any foodbank will do. The Lynnwood Food Bank accepts produce and instructs
the clients how to prepare it. My whole family volunteers at the food bank and
enjoy it. It does an excellent job of supplying food to those in need. Try volunteering!
Challice says
OK my address is………………. 😉
Ok, seriously, Can you attend a Farmer’s Market and offer it to a vendor there in trade for some other items?
Homeblessings says
Does swiss chard cook down when you steam it like spinach? If so a boat load of it will cook down to almost nothing. Then freeze it to be used later in green smoothies. (unless the taste is too strong for smoothies-Is it?)
This way it won’t take up much of your valuable freezer space.
Kris says
You could send it to me! I live in Oregon! 🙂
Tina says
Offer it up on craigslist or freecycle?
Julie2 says
Please o please Mavis, share your decision with us.
Julie2 says
Yo Mavis, just checking but have you seen this?
http://iwouldstillplantmyappletree.blogspot.com/2012/06/hooray-hooray-for-csa.html
Those crepes look amazing.
Diana says
I dehydrate it and us it in eggs, soups, spaghetti sauce, burgers, smoothies, just about anything! I also feed it to my chickens. I trim the swiss chard down at the bottom of the stalk and let it grow a new batch. It doesn’t freeze where I live so the chard plants last two years, the root gets huge like a large beet, but it is inedible.
Patrice says
I’m thinking some Korean restaurants in Lakewood might be interested in purchasing it. I believe they use it in some special recipes.
Patricia Nutritia says
We recently learned that Chard tastes Heavenly in smoothies! It tastes like Green looks! You can pre-make some smoothies, and freeze them, or a part of them, like all the greens (I use celery and kale too) in something the size of muffin tins. Or ice cube trays. They store neatly in a freezer, and you take some out and add to the rest of the ingredients for your smoothie. I use frozen fruit part of the time, too. Glowing Green Smoothies are so good for you!
I also think that feeding your chickens chard is a blessing, not a waste, as long as you have enough for family, friends, and charity offering.
jennifer says
Blog giveaway