How Many Tomatoes Can You Really Eat?

By Brad Tuttle | @bradrtuttle | September 3, 2009 | +

This year, tons of people planted their own vegetables in backyard gardens—to double up on saving money and eating healthy at the same time. But now that harvest season is upon us, if you’ve had any luck you’re eyeballing an overabundance of cucumbers, zuchini, squash, tomatoes, and peppers that are going to spoil unless you do something with them soon. What to do?

Some suggestions are provided by The Simple Dollar for what to do with a heaping, perhaps overwhelming harvest. Among other things, you can get creative with what you’re cooking and go vegetarian, or sell it, can it, freeze it, invite folks over to eat it, give it away—anything but let it go to waste.

Related Topics: food, freebies, gardens, seeds, vegetables

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  • ohiopapa

    I encourage all gardeners with a surplus harvest (or money) to share with the less fortunate in their area, by donating to their local food pantry.

    http://feedingamerica.org/foodbank-results.aspx

  • jujuzuzu

    It is definitely an super idea to share with other hungry people, especially those who do not know from where their next meal come. Food banks could use the food and also imagine yourself and your friends as the food bank AND the spirits faces behind the meal…go where the hungry are and do not wait for them to come to you. For ideas and ispiration look at the Food, Not Bombs website. http://www.foodnotbombs.net/

    Or, if you need your food for later or want to share it a different way, ask your grandparents or look for books and information on various conserving methods. You can do it old school stylz without a freezer. Look as wide as in-ground methods, basements, drying, lacto-fermentation, oil, vinager, salt, sugar and so on. I recommend this French book, “Conserves Naturelles des 4 Saisons” ISBN 978-2-914717-60-1.

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