immanuelbrookfield.org

Why not use all that extra zucchini as a way to get to know your neighbors better? Organize a gardening co-op among your neighbors and help everyone connect while sharing their homegrown produce.

Hold a planning meeting in the spring before planting season begins, where everyone can get acquainted and choose which vegetables they want to grow. Determine the guidelines. For instance, will you swap one for one, or pound for pound? Will you allow IOUs or credit vouchers? How will you handle extra produce?

Another consideration: organic and natural farming is becoming more and more popular. Determine within your group if everyone wants to garden without pesticides or chemicals. If so, you can all research what natural alternatives are available, and then decide on a course of action. A group outing to your local garden center might a fun and informative field trip.

Then determine who will grow what. If someone already produces great tomatoes but never has luck with corn, have him or her contribute containers of tomatoes. Have each person focus on just a few vegetables (although fruit is great, too!). Choose a nice variety of produce to be disbursed and grown among the gardeners.

As the crops start ripening, set one day per week as the swap day. For example, if it’s to be Saturdays at 9 a.m., have everyone meet in a designated driveway to display their harvest.

Instant Intentions

Use some of the produce from your co-op to make a tasty dish or canned food item that you can share with your newly acquainted neighbors. For example, you could offer cucumbers for pickles to one of your co-op partners to enjoy. Or, if you make a delicious zucchini lasagna, you could take some to a neighbor. Or better yet, invite some neighbors over to enjoy the whole lasagna dinner with you!