Deana Wise, Broomfield County
Every year the bounty of the garden seems to change. Some years there are so many tomatoes harvested, everyone is making sauces and salsas. Other years, many gardeners have given up on home-grown tomatoes; forced to wander the Farmer’s Markets and grocery stores. The one vegetable that always seems to thrive is Zucchini.
Some gardeners are quite masterful in using this veggie in creative ways in the kitchen. Others take them to offices, churches, and other places where they are left on tables while the gardener makes a speedy exit. It is worse than trying to get rid of Iris.
One solution is to donate excess fresh veggies to the food bank. Ok, where? There are many food banks, food pantries, and other non-profit soup kitchens in Colorado. A good place to start is Feeding Colorado. According to their website “Feeding Colorado's purpose is to coordinate and enhance food resources among the state's food banks and to support the mission of Feeding America. The food banks are 501(c) (3) non-profit organizations. They receive broad community support from individuals, corporations, local governments, faith communities and corporations.” (http://feedingcolorado.org/ ).
Feeding Colorado is comprised of five large food banks: Food Bank of the Rockies, Community Food Share, Food Bank for Larimer County, Weld Food Bank, and Care and Share Foodbank for Southern Colorado. Together, they send food out to 1500 other nonprofit agencies. To find a food bank in your area use this link http://www.feedingamerica.org/find-your-local-foodbank/ . H UD also has a website for foodbanks.
I know this is a busy time for everyone, please take time to donate any excess fresh produce you have. Someone somewhere would love to have fresh veggies, even if it is Zucchini.