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Post by bluelacedredhead on Dec 19, 2010 12:25:47 GMT -5
Many of us are involved in various Gift/Card Exchanges on gardening forums. I've seen appreciation for gifts of preserves and seeds in abundance, but I would like to know who here gives gifts that reflect their gardening talents off the forums?
What items do you make or give from the garden that show you care?
One year, we gave my son a quarter of our organic beef. My son was young and working in a gas station. His g/f at the time was in university. They didn't have much money. At least we knew they were well fed.
And for many years, I gave my elderly parents jars of Peaches and Pickled Beets that I have grown in my yard and bottled in my kitchen. The 3 tier fruitcake that I made to give them also contained 12 eggs from my hens.
Those days are gone, but I did have a request last night from my Granddaughter and Future DIL to bring Pickled Beets to Christmas Dinner.
How 'bout you?
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Post by cw on Dec 19, 2010 15:47:38 GMT -5
I love gifts from the garden and giving them.Pickled onions are a favourite then pickled okra for Christmas giving.This year I pickled a dozen jars of pickled eggs to give out,I also made wood painted pendents as gifts ,those were from branches I saved from a old apple tree that had to come down.I really like to stretch my imagination and see what I can make out of nature to give to friends. Hi there Blue.
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Post by bluelacedredhead on Dec 19, 2010 16:56:44 GMT -5
Kate, is that you? You are being too modest about your Creations! I should know; having been the blessed recipient of several of them. ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/3247375/images/AgR8NN4iidU1wy_OcyQm.png)
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Post by coppice on Dec 19, 2010 22:10:18 GMT -5
Housing I choose has been on the small side (when ever I got the choice), So collecting seed banks and community gardening sites that'll want, take, and plant, OP seeds has been my fix for almost all my seed swapping needs.
I make seeds, somebody else has to do the heavy lifting of finding the hands to put 'em in. Works for me.
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Post by paulf on Dec 20, 2010 14:45:25 GMT -5
We enjoy sharing what we grow. My wife makes (with a little help from me) applesauce, peach jam, apricot jam, strawberry jam, pickled beets, relish and salsa from our gardens and yard. Mostly we share with family. It is amazing how much six grandchildren under age 5 will devour. Next year when rhubarb is ready ti begin harvest there will be strawberry/rhubarb pie to share...maybe, since it is my favorite.
I give excess tomatoes, peppers and melons to neighbors and friends.
I also share my experience with others. Our local restaurant sponsors weekend speakers and programs and I am asked several times a year to give seminars on various gardening topics.
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Post by bluelacedredhead on Dec 20, 2010 14:52:08 GMT -5
When I asked this question, it never thought of giving to your community such as Coppice and Paul have done. But I think that is even above and beyond, because you are touching the lives of Many Folks by doing so. Kudos to You both! Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, Strawberry/Rhubarb PIe.....I best you are the most popular Grandparents on the block then. ![;)](//storage.proboards.com/3247375/images/AlTVKjAhCypksR0Ugttf.png)
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Post by w8in4dave on Dec 20, 2010 22:49:55 GMT -5
I have givin gifts of canned goods from my garden, but I also give my tomatoes to those that have not planted enuf and want more so they can have more canned tomatoes..friends ![:D](//storage.proboards.com/3247375/images/1O7SOWgs0dheN6ogmHMC.png)
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Post by daylilydude on Dec 21, 2010 5:48:28 GMT -5
I'm like most of you, I can a lot and give to family and friends. When I first started growing a garden here I planted a row for our shelter here, but a couple of years ago they said that the laws were stricter now and they couldn't accept mine anymore because of some new restrictions?
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Post by paulf on Dec 21, 2010 12:39:16 GMT -5
We used to give produce to a local retirement home and like dude we were told because of state regulations, home grown stuff was not legal. State law says it is OK to buy produce from countries where there are no sanitation laws but not from locals. Go figure.
The people living in the homes wanted the fresh garden grown just like they remembered but were told they couldn't have fresh any more. The laws gotta change some.
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grapenut
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Post by grapenut on Dec 22, 2010 1:26:05 GMT -5
I like to dry many things and tomatoes is one of the gifts I love to give! along with dried Pears, Apples, plums and other things, some people don't appreciate the gift, but some do...if they only knew what they would need to pay for that stuff on the open market! ;D I am grateful for the ones who appreciate the gift, it really makes it worth the while.
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Post by w8in4dave on Dec 22, 2010 21:01:31 GMT -5
Yea I am giving our neighbor homemade laundry detergent , homemade hand soap (M&P) and some scrubbers I have croched .. I have some lil toys fortheir boys but for them they will appreciate it, I know they will, They are great people ![:D](//storage.proboards.com/3247375/images/1O7SOWgs0dheN6ogmHMC.png)
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Post by stratcat on Dec 27, 2010 23:07:27 GMT -5
I also share seeds, plants, some fresh produce and my time. Always looking to get more people gardening.
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bunkie
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Post by bunkie on Dec 29, 2010 11:45:36 GMT -5
we share our jams and canned fruits and veggies as gifts. also our dried fruits and veggies.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 21, 2011 19:49:56 GMT -5
I gave a friend 2 jars of habanero jelly and ghost pepper flakes. The peppers were harvested from my garden. I also give away a few jars of pickled hot peppers to friends through out the summer.
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Post by bluelacedredhead on Jan 22, 2011 9:27:02 GMT -5
Habanero jelly. Roper, is it hot?
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Post by coppice on Jan 22, 2011 16:50:18 GMT -5
Habanero jelly. Roper, is it hot? Yes. And sweet too. An easy eight or nine on the yum-o-meter.
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adobo
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Post by adobo on Jan 23, 2011 9:22:06 GMT -5
last christmas, i gave basil plants for garden enthusiasts. ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/3247375/images/AgR8NN4iidU1wy_OcyQm.png)
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Post by Deleted on Jan 23, 2011 16:14:36 GMT -5
Yes bluelacedredhead it is hot. The sugar mellows it some. My Jalapeno jelly comes out mild, but I think the taste is better.
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Post by sorellina on Jan 23, 2011 19:16:53 GMT -5
Ciao all-
I'm constantly looking for ways to share the blessings from our garden. The biggest gift is my time because I do have more than most people since I don't work outside the home. I volunteered a few years back to tend the rectory garden at our church and I really enjoy that. I have free license to plant whatever I fancy, but I try to keep in mind Father's favourite things and plant accordingly, but also mixing in some edible flowers here and there. The school is just on the other side of the rectory fence and at recess, they can sometimes see me weeding or transplanting. When they see me pulling out pretty weeds, some of the younger ones yell at me to stop ripping out Father's flowers! It's pretty funny, but I think every parent here will nod at having been the recipient of a bouquet of dandelions at one point.
I also can a great deal and we don't always have much discretionary income for bought presents, so most of our friends and relatives get various jams, jellies, pickles, and sauces that I've made throughout the season. I also give teas and dried herbs as gifts and try to package them in a pretty way, particularly if it's a hostess gift. For whatever reason, women seem to appreciate pretty packages more than men do.
We also love to entertain and Duane has so enjoyed his birthday toy of a very well-made smoker, so his pepper blends have spiced up various meats, salsas, salads, and also desserts because we have many berry bushes and fruit trees here.
Because of silly restrictions on who can receive fresh produce from the garden, I work very hard to find alternative ways to give. Our firestation gets a LOT of stuff from me and trust me, those big men need lots of food. I also give a lot to our church community. I would LOVE to give to a soup kitchen, but I need to find a creative way to make that happen. I think I'll talk to the Pauline Sisters about the missions and how they can benefit from my extras.
Of course, you all know how much I enjoy seed-collecting and sharing as well. I keep adding more and more things to my lists as I learn about how to save seeds from them and keep the varieties pure. Always learn something new. It keeps life fresh and exciting.
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