Then I got out to help. I'm trying to be a little more "hands-on" in the parenting these days.
Then, the owners of the house came out and they were like, "hey! Don't pick that fruit off the sidewalk!" And we all thought we were busted, you know? And I'm going over in my head the rules about fruit on the sidewalk and how it's like, public property, right? And aren't you glad we're cleaning up your sidewalk? But then the people were like, "give us your basket; we'll pick a bunch from the tree! This tree isn't stingy!" And we just stood there in disbelief and gratitude, thinking how this was so spirit of aloha (they reminded me of pacific islanders), and how we want to move to Hawai'i and grow our own plums...and mangoes...and taro root...
Okay, maybe that was just me. But it got me thinking that it would be awesome to have this big neighborhood farmers market trade thing, where a couple of times a year, you just bring boxes of the edibles that are growing in your yard, set it down with all your neighbor's boxes, and then everyone just goes shopping! There's no money exchanged, just a bunch of overflow fruit and veggies that would've otherwise ended up in the compost bin. Isn't that a great idea?
I have lots of great ideas.... I'm working on the man-power part of executing them.
This is what was left today, after only 24 hours. They were SO good...
I was so blown-away by this family running out and filling up our basket with the fruit from their tree (which really was bountiful, but they were doing all the work!) that I had to send them a thank-you card:
I made Korah run up and slip it into the mailbox, as Taylor was yelling "but it says NO TRESPASSING!" from the back seat. So when she got back in the car I peeled out before they ever knew we were there!No, I didn't. But I do have a kooky, dramatic bunch of kids. I have no idea where they get it.
8 comments:
That's great! And it's true, no one can eat their own garden bounty!
Never a dull moment in your family! The images of your children piling out of the card with baskets being tossed after them is nothing short of Rockwell.
So you just made this card on the fly? I still haven't sent out thank you cards for meals after baby #2, that was 4 years ago. Are you making holiday cards? I'd buy a bunch from you... help you out with that ticket!
piling out of car.. oops.
What a great story and even greater idea! Make it happen sister... how cool....
They have a group in Los Angeles that gathers groups that go and pick fruit that is available in Public areas.
I answered an add on Craigslist earlier in the summer for free plums from someones front yard. They asked that we not disturb residents, just come and pick. It must of been quite a scene when my boys and I got out of car and started picking.
How fun and neat and neighborly:)
We were out peddling Boy Scout popcorn (in uniform) and saw a bunch of rotting fruit on the sidewalk and started picking it up (as a service to them) The owners, an older couple who spoke no English, came out and said "No" so we stopped then they brought us in their and we thought we were picking the fruit for them because they were old and coudln't reach and climb and my boys were all agressive and stripped that tree. Then I realized that they were offering us the fruit :)
So awesome!!!!!! I have lots of weeds if your little laborers get bored... Just saying. ;)
yummy! We got baskets of plums from my inlaws and shared with Dad and Adrienne too. We had so many that some of them got dried but we ate a good portion of them.
You should start a produce wendy's list or something ;) We could use that here too!!!
Post a Comment