I have recently become more firm in my opinion about
how to handle my extra produce, and thought I would
pass my humble rantings on.......

Recently I have been feeling very much like the ant in the
"Ant & the Grasshopper" story. In the past, I have picked loads
of Bell Peppers, hot peppers, cherry tomatoes, & salad tomatoes
out of the garden and gave it away in plastic grocery bags.
It always irritated me that when i gave away my extra produce
to friends& others, that it wasn't valued as much as it probably
should have been, but they hadn't done hard labor
to produce it so how could i expect them to fully empathize.

I have worked through years of summers, even when the heat index is
over 110deg. loaded 100's of full pickups of gravel/ mulch/ compost
weeds etc/etc/etc/ plus all the other labor & monies for organic amendments
it takes to keep it managed, {& I don't have a working back/ feet/ or
knees
anymore} while the Grasshoppers were inside reading books in 65deg
air-cond.

When I ask why they don't just want to plant a tomato, some will honestly
say they don't want to go to the trouble.

So here is my solution........

It's all in the packaging !!! I no longer will throw stuff in a plastic bag
& hand
it to anyone like they are doing Me! a Favor.

Instead I will now give it away Only as my Thanks You's to people.
It will have a proper presentation, in wicker baskets with raffita,
ribbons & bows & lovely custom printed "Thank You" labels, & maybe special
recipes;
essentially it will now be given as if it is a $40-$60 mail order gift
basket
whenever I have a need to give someone a Thank You.

I bought a tall wicker laundry basket at Wal-M. that I will keep in my
mudroom,
I also went to the local Thrift Stores & bought bunches of baskets that
have been
sitting there for years for about 50cents ea. The Laundry basket is a
perfect place
to store the assortment of small baskets, & whenever I need to make a
basket;
I just choose the size I need, go to the garden and pick whatever is
harvestable.

since I have flowers in the garden, I also bought a collection of the glass
vases
that the thrift store has for 25cents, and use them for my Flower-vase
Thank-Yous.

anyway, I like this new approach, it make me feel less resentful of all the
hard work,
and I enjoy being able to give something nice as a Thank You.

well, thanks for listening!

What a good idea! I shall remember this next year when I'm living in
studentville (if we actually get a garden).

Charlie.

"jfrost" wrote in message
...
I have recently become more firm in my opinion about
how to handle my extra produce, and thought I would
pass my humble rantings on.......

Recently I have been feeling very much like the ant in the
"Ant & the Grasshopper" story. In the past, I have picked loads
of Bell Peppers, hot peppers, cherry tomatoes, & salad tomatoes
out of the garden and gave it away in plastic grocery bags.
It always irritated me that when i gave away my extra produce
to friends& others, that it wasn't valued as much as it probably
should have been, but they hadn't done hard labor
to produce it so how could i expect them to fully empathize.

I have worked through years of summers, even when the heat index is
over 110deg. loaded 100's of full pickups of gravel/ mulch/ compost
weeds etc/etc/etc/ plus all the other labor & monies for organic
amendments
it takes to keep it managed, {& I don't have a working back/ feet/ or
knees
anymore} while the Grasshoppers were inside reading books in 65deg
air-cond.

When I ask why they don't just want to plant a tomato, some will honestly
say they don't want to go to the trouble.

So here is my solution........

It's all in the packaging !!! I no longer will throw stuff in a plastic
bag
& hand
it to anyone like they are doing Me! a Favor.

Instead I will now give it away Only as my Thanks You's to people.
It will have a proper presentation, in wicker baskets with raffita,
ribbons & bows & lovely custom printed "Thank You" labels, & maybe
special
recipes;
essentially it will now be given as if it is a $40-$60 mail order gift
basket
whenever I have a need to give someone a Thank You.

I bought a tall wicker laundry basket at Wal-M. that I will keep in my
mudroom,
I also went to the local Thrift Stores & bought bunches of baskets that
have been
sitting there for years for about 50cents ea. The Laundry basket is a
perfect place
to store the assortment of small baskets, & whenever I need to make a
basket;
I just choose the size I need, go to the garden and pick whatever is
harvestable.

since I have flowers in the garden, I also bought a collection of the
glass
vases
that the thrift store has for 25cents, and use them for my Flower-vase
Thank-Yous.

anyway, I like this new approach, it make me feel less resentful of all
the
hard work,
and I enjoy being able to give something nice as a Thank You.

well, thanks for listening!

"jfrost" :

Recently I have been feeling very much like the ant in the
"Ant & the Grasshopper" story. In the past, I have picked loads
of Bell Peppers, hot peppers, cherry tomatoes, & salad tomatoes
out of the garden and gave it away in plastic grocery bags.
It always irritated me that when i gave away my extra produce
to friends& others, that it wasn't valued as much as it probably
should have been, but they hadn't done hard labor
to produce it so how could i expect them to fully empathize.

So let me get this straight:

You resent the fact that no one appreciates your gifts (directly
veggies, and indirectly labor). So to fix this, you're spending money
on baskets and bows, and putting the same veggies and the same labor
in, to give the same stuff away in nice containers?

Whatever floats your boat, but that sounds pretty weird from where I'm
sittin'...


--
JackStraw
0x3D561045

And here, all these years I was thinking that the giving of the gift was
supposed to be for the pleasure of just giving a gift, huh! I must have
missed something in my notes the day that was taught in Gift Giving 101.
Sounds to me like you have Martyrdom confused with Joys of Giving.

HOWEVER, if you'd really LIKE to give your produce away to somebody who'd
really appreciate it and could honestly use it AND don't expect it to be
done up like Mad Martha handing out hostess gifts why don't you take it to a
local food bank (the people who run these things are often pleased to pick
this up at your house,btw). I had a very prolific garden in Seattle and
after keeping what my family would consume, handing out goodies to the
neighbors (not gift packed) and canning and freezing what I'd use for
winter, I dropped off at least two boxes a week at the Phinney Ridge Food
Bank. This was not only given to those who came to the food bank but also in
preparation for the Sunday afternoon drop-in dinner that was always cooked
up for the homeless by a local church. I dropped the food bank boxes off on
my way to work at 5am, just slid them into the little doorway and left and I
was too busy getting ready for Monday on Sunday afternoon so I was never
around either place to be petted and fawned over and showered with gratitude
for all my back breaking toil and magnanimous generosity so a similar plan
may not appeal to you.

Val


"jfrost" wrote in message
...
I have recently become more firm in my opinion about
how to handle my extra produce, and thought I would
pass my humble rantings on.......

Recently I have been feeling very much like the ant in the
"Ant & the Grasshopper" story. In the past, I have picked loads
of Bell Peppers, hot peppers, cherry tomatoes, & salad tomatoes
out of the garden and gave it away in plastic grocery bags.
It always irritated me that when i gave away my extra produce
to friends& others, that it wasn't valued as much as it probably
should have been, but they hadn't done hard labor
to produce it so how could i expect them to fully empathize.

I have worked through years of summers, even when the heat index is
over 110deg. loaded 100's of full pickups of gravel/ mulch/ compost
weeds etc/etc/etc/ plus all the other labor & monies for organic
amendments
it takes to keep it managed, {& I don't have a working back/ feet/ or
knees
anymore} while the Grasshoppers were inside reading books in 65deg
air-cond.

When I ask why they don't just want to plant a tomato, some will honestly
say they don't want to go to the trouble.

So here is my solution........

It's all in the packaging !!! I no longer will throw stuff in a plastic
bag
& hand
it to anyone like they are doing Me! a Favor.

Instead I will now give it away Only as my Thanks You's to people.
It will have a proper presentation, in wicker baskets with raffita,
ribbons & bows & lovely custom printed "Thank You" labels, & maybe
special
recipes;
essentially it will now be given as if it is a $40-$60 mail order gift
basket
whenever I have a need to give someone a Thank You.

I bought a tall wicker laundry basket at Wal-M. that I will keep in my
mudroom,
I also went to the local Thrift Stores & bought bunches of baskets that
have been
sitting there for years for about 50cents ea. The Laundry basket is a
perfect place
to store the assortment of small baskets, & whenever I need to make a
basket;
I just choose the size I need, go to the garden and pick whatever is
harvestable.

since I have flowers in the garden, I also bought a collection of the
glass
vases
that the thrift store has for 25cents, and use them for my Flower-vase
Thank-Yous.

anyway, I like this new approach, it make me feel less resentful of all
the
hard work,
and I enjoy being able to give something nice as a Thank You.

well, thanks for listening!

I think maybe some people misinterpreted jfrost's message. I know how
she/he feels. I garden because I love it and when I give someone the fruits
of my labor and I get a "shrug" or "expected" type of attitude, I no longer
care to share with them. A lot of people truly do not understand what love
goes into the labor of a garden.

Cheryl
"Valkyrie" wrote in message
news:1057178823.902291@yasure...
And here, all these years I was thinking that the giving of the gift was
supposed to be for the pleasure of just giving a gift, huh! I must have
missed something in my notes the day that was taught in Gift Giving 101.
Sounds to me like you have Martyrdom confused with Joys of Giving.

HOWEVER, if you'd really LIKE to give your produce away to somebody who'd
really appreciate it and could honestly use it AND don't expect it to be
done up like Mad Martha handing out hostess gifts why don't you take it to
a
local food bank (the people who run these things are often pleased to pick
this up at your house,btw). I had a very prolific garden in Seattle and
after keeping what my family would consume, handing out goodies to the
neighbors (not gift packed) and canning and freezing what I'd use for
winter, I dropped off at least two boxes a week at the Phinney Ridge Food
Bank. This was not only given to those who came to the food bank but also
in
preparation for the Sunday afternoon drop-in dinner that was always cooked
up for the homeless by a local church. I dropped the food bank boxes off
on
my way to work at 5am, just slid them into the little doorway and left and
I
was too busy getting ready for Monday on Sunday afternoon so I was never
around either place to be petted and fawned over and showered with
gratitude
for all my back breaking toil and magnanimous generosity so a similar plan
may not appeal to you.

Val


"jfrost" wrote in message
...
I have recently become more firm in my opinion about
how to handle my extra produce, and thought I would
pass my humble rantings on.......

Recently I have been feeling very much like the ant in the
"Ant & the Grasshopper" story. In the past, I have picked loads
of Bell Peppers, hot peppers, cherry tomatoes, & salad tomatoes
out of the garden and gave it away in plastic grocery bags.
It always irritated me that when i gave away my extra produce
to friends& others, that it wasn't valued as much as it probably
should have been, but they hadn't done hard labor
to produce it so how could i expect them to fully empathize.

I have worked through years of summers, even when the heat index is
over 110deg. loaded 100's of full pickups of gravel/ mulch/ compost
weeds etc/etc/etc/ plus all the other labor & monies for organic
amendments
it takes to keep it managed, {& I don't have a working back/ feet/ or
knees
anymore} while the Grasshoppers were inside reading books in 65deg
air-cond.

When I ask why they don't just want to plant a tomato, some will
honestly
say they don't want to go to the trouble.

So here is my solution........

It's all in the packaging !!! I no longer will throw stuff in a plastic
bag
& hand
it to anyone like they are doing Me! a Favor.

Instead I will now give it away Only as my Thanks You's to people.
It will have a proper presentation, in wicker baskets with raffita,
ribbons & bows & lovely custom printed "Thank You" labels, & maybe
special
recipes;
essentially it will now be given as if it is a $40-$60 mail order gift
basket
whenever I have a need to give someone a Thank You.

I bought a tall wicker laundry basket at Wal-M. that I will keep in my
mudroom,
I also went to the local Thrift Stores & bought bunches of baskets that
have been
sitting there for years for about 50cents ea. The Laundry basket is a
perfect place
to store the assortment of small baskets, & whenever I need to make a
basket;
I just choose the size I need, go to the garden and pick whatever is
harvestable.

since I have flowers in the garden, I also bought a collection of the
glass
vases
that the thrift store has for 25cents, and use them for my Flower-vase
Thank-Yous.

anyway, I like this new approach, it make me feel less resentful of all
the
hard work,
and I enjoy being able to give something nice as a Thank You.

well, thanks for listening!

"jfrost" wrote in
:

I have recently become more firm in my opinion about
how to handle my extra produce, and thought I would
pass my humble rantings on.......

There's an organization called 'plant a row for the hungry' or something to
that effect. I don't know if it's local or national. Anyway, if you want
to unload some tasty home grown veggies, consider donating to them. I
never meet a hungry person who didn't appreciate a gift of food.

-- Salty

Psssst...get help. Lots of it. Psychologists, Psychiatrists, Camp
Counselors....

On Wed, 2 Jul 2003 13:10:06 -0500, "jfrost"
wrote:

Recently I have been feeling very much like the ant in the
"Ant & the Grasshopper" story. In the past, I have picked loads
of Bell Peppers, hot peppers, cherry tomatoes, & salad tomatoes
out of the garden and gave it away in plastic grocery bags.
It always irritated me that when i gave away my extra produce
to friends& others, that it wasn't valued as much as it probably
should have been, but they hadn't done hard labor
to produce it so how could i expect them to fully empathize.

snip

I sympathize with your feeling that all your work (and of course that
of Mr. Sun and Jack Bee) isn't greeted with fulsome appreciation. You
need to find a better class of recipients. :-) Sarcasm *isn't* going
to do it. The most obvious suggestion is to find a food bank in your
area. They're generally pretty appreciative. There are many co-op
operations featuring "10lb of fresh produce" per week for a season.
For a price. Sell the stuff on contract. Now that you have baskets and
bows, advertise "fresh vegetable gift baskets" by the roadside or in a
classified ad. Give more to those who at least thank you nicely (I
always ohh and ahh at length, and often return a cooked or processed
item to the supplier).

valued as much as it probably
should have been

Oh, now, let's not get into measuring exactly how others *should*
receive gifts. Gift: "Something that is bestowed voluntarily and
without compensation." If you require a particular response, it's not
a gift. Try giving to poorer people. Believe me, those of us who are
staggered by grocery store signs reading $1.79/lb for green beans,
or(I swear) $1.19 for a single green pepper will fall to the ground
and kiss your feet. If that's what you require.

Before i read any other replies, let me say my piece.

I work and spend every year to have a nice productive tomato garden. I
started out with 4 plants. They didn't do that well , but it was
enough for us 3. Then the next year the 4 plants went crazy and we had
extras and would take them to nieghbors and friends. I will skip to
where i have 12 plants now that make enough fruit for us, our friends,
relatives, and i even send them to my family plus take some to the
post office personel. The extra digging, dirt working, hauling,
edging, conditioning, watering, etc. is all a labor of love. In the
spring when i have that "chore" to do, i am happy. It's a feeding the
soul type thing for me. After the plants are in the ground, i mulch
and all i do the rest of the hot hot year is water and pick tomatoes.
I don't give any to anyone who i know doesn't appreciate them. One
good honest look at there faces and in the eyes will let you know who
that is. After that, they can ask if they want some. I understand
wanting to plant a big garden and share the harvest and have everyone
love you for it, but sometimes people just don't give a darn about
others' produce or they would have gardens of thier own.

I wouldnt expect those who aren't fond of your produce to like your
gift baskets. If you have gotten to where no one wants them anymore,
cut down on your plants next year.



On Wed, 2 Jul 2003 13:10:06 -0500, "jfrost"
wrote:

I have recently become more firm in my opinion about
how to handle my extra produce, and thought I would
pass my humble rantings on.......

Recently I have been feeling very much like the ant in the
"Ant & the Grasshopper" story. In the past, I have picked loads
of Bell Peppers, hot peppers, cherry tomatoes, & salad tomatoes
out of the garden and gave it away in plastic grocery bags.
It always irritated me that when i gave away my extra produce
to friends& others, that it wasn't valued as much as it probably
should have been, but they hadn't done hard labor
to produce it so how could i expect them to fully empathize.

I have worked through years of summers, even when the heat index is
over 110deg. loaded 100's of full pickups of gravel/ mulch/ compost
weeds etc/etc/etc/ plus all the other labor & monies for organic amendments
it takes to keep it managed, {& I don't have a working back/ feet/ or
knees
anymore} while the Grasshoppers were inside reading books in 65deg
air-cond.

When I ask why they don't just want to plant a tomato, some will honestly
say they don't want to go to the trouble.

So here is my solution........

It's all in the packaging !!! I no longer will throw stuff in a plastic bag
& hand
it to anyone like they are doing Me! a Favor.

Instead I will now give it away Only as my Thanks You's to people.
It will have a proper presentation, in wicker baskets with raffita,
ribbons & bows & lovely custom printed "Thank You" labels, & maybe special
recipes;
essentially it will now be given as if it is a $40-$60 mail order gift
basket
whenever I have a need to give someone a Thank You.

I bought a tall wicker laundry basket at Wal-M. that I will keep in my
mudroom,
I also went to the local Thrift Stores & bought bunches of baskets that
have been
sitting there for years for about 50cents ea. The Laundry basket is a
perfect place
to store the assortment of small baskets, & whenever I need to make a
basket;
I just choose the size I need, go to the garden and pick whatever is
harvestable.

since I have flowers in the garden, I also bought a collection of the glass
vases
that the thrift store has for 25cents, and use them for my Flower-vase
Thank-Yous.

anyway, I like this new approach, it make me feel less resentful of all the
hard work,
and I enjoy being able to give something nice as a Thank You.

well, thanks for listening!

I wouldnt expect those who aren't fond of your produce to like your
gift baskets. If you have gotten to where no one wants them anymore,
cut down on your plants next year.

I plant extra to donate to the local food shelf, they don't turn away non
perishables like veggies usually because they can pass them out rather quickly.
I would assume loaves and fishes would love a donation of any kind, or a soup
kitchen would make use of it.
Colleen

You know, I teased in my original response, telling the poster to seek help,
but in all seriousness -- I do not see what the issue is here.

If folks are unappreciative of the fruit and veggies then the appropriate
response is certainly clear -- do not give it to them. When my
father-in-law plants tomatoes in his garden I cannot wait for the periodic
harvests during the summer -- I'll tell ya, I'm REALLY missing those yellow
tomatoes he plants each year. It looks like he will not be planting any
'maters this year at all (local weather ain't been that great) and it's a
real bummer. So believe me -- his garden overflows are very appreciated and
I make certain to tell him so.

So if they don't appreciate it, then don't give them the fruits of the
labors (quite literally at that). Take what you can eat, give some to those
who do appreciate it, then pass the rest along to a food bank.

James