How much veg do you give away.....

[Winged one]

I've given away a couple of things this year (not much as our first year and we didn't really have gluts). But gave enough for 1 meal of new potatoes to my grandparents (went down really well), some brocolli and a plait of onions to an aunt and uncle, a plait of onions and some new pots to one sister, some new potatoes (as salad) and fresh lettuce to my mum and some cabbage and brocolli to MIL. Will give some more onions (but want to keep a few for ourselves) and some garlic to a few others, and making some green tomato chutney to give as Chrissie pressies to various foodie relatives.

I'm looking forward to getting the whole plot into production next year (less than half was producing this year cause of weed issues), and hopefully giving away some more as well as enjoying more ourselves. If all of the spring brassicas do ok, we will be giving away cabbage and sprouting brocolli to all and sundry. But OH isn't allowing me to grow as many onions as this year (I keep telling him we'll use them all ourselves, but he doesn't believe me).

[Flummery]

I never have enough onions. I don't have a lot of room (till my name gets to the top of the lottie list!) but I do love to grow onions and shallots. I use a lot in chutneys - a favourite of mine and our son's.

[Paulottie]

I love to drop a few veg off with someone and often I find that the favour is returned in other ways. We have hardly ever had to buy kids school clothes etc. All part of the bartering thing. It is also nice to be able to look after friends, family and a few older folk who have little money and can't manage a veg patch anymore. All makes the world go round.

Yet, I am under no illusions about the amount of time we devote to the veg growing and it is an important part of our families food. I often found I would give away all the perfect stuff and had to eat all the rubbish myself. Now, I am much better at judging amounts, spreading the cropping season, picking stuff at its best, and storing preserving etc.so I have fewer gluts-more a steady supply.

[rustylady]

I have an arrangement with the lady next door. I give her my surplus fresh veg and fruit and she makes me a couple of homemade sausage rolls every Sunday. Saves throwing the pound coins around as she insists on paying for everything. Also there's a gentleman just up the road who used to have the lottie next to mine, had to give it up due to health problems, so I pop him and his wife a few bits in now and again, and they save their bags and punnets for me. Works well.

[andrewo]

I've given away plants but my plot is so small and veg has been so bad this year - even my leeks seem to be harbouring ambitions to be spring onions that nothing has been given away this year.

[moggssue]

Update on my earlier posting on this thread - I have now given away carrots and courgettes, both of which were very very well received, isn't it great!!