Comments on: Urban Fruit Gleaning: Harvesting Fresh Fruit in the Middle of the City http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/07/26/urban-fruit-gleaning-harvesting-fresh-fruit-in-the-middle-of-the-city/ Personal finance that makes cents. Common sense advice on topics from high interest savings accounts, frugality, cd rates, money market accounts, mortgage rates, how to get out of debt, money management and more. Sat, 20 Mar 2010 09:44:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 By: Rossco http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/07/26/urban-fruit-gleaning-harvesting-fresh-fruit-in-the-middle-of-the-city/#comment-185934 Rossco Sat, 04 Jul 2009 08:04:22 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=1400#comment-185934 I have a question about the rights to street trees that have fruits and nuts. I have recently been challenged by a neighbor who thinks that we were stealing these from the property owner. We knocked on the property owners door multiple times, but there was no answer. We felt that these street trees (trees growing between the sidewalk and the street) were growing on public property and were for public harvesting. Please send a note to steer us in the right direction. Thanks for reading our dilema! I have a question about the rights to street trees that have fruits and nuts. I have recently been challenged by a neighbor who thinks that we were stealing these from the property owner. We knocked on the property owners door multiple times, but there was no answer. We felt that these street trees (trees growing between the sidewalk and the street) were growing on public property and were for public harvesting. Please send a note to steer us in the right direction. Thanks for reading our dilema!

]]> By: A.B. http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/07/26/urban-fruit-gleaning-harvesting-fresh-fruit-in-the-middle-of-the-city/#comment-147697 A.B. Thu, 11 Sep 2008 05:38:23 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=1400#comment-147697 Hi JD, I have to admit I am very jealous of your ability to grow fruits and veggies. I grew up in California and almost every plant and tree on our property was edible or fruit-bearing. I remember one summer where my mother was sitting on the side of the street with grocery bags full of peaches, offering them to anyone who walked by; that was after she filled two shelves of the freezer with preserves. I didn't take advantage of the same ability when we lived in Portland, and now that we've moved to Las Vegas, I really see what I took for granted. We live on a quarter of an acre, and we have a thriving herb garden, but it really isn't suited to grow fruits and veggies. I absolutely cringe every time I go to the store. I'm looking into drought tolerant fruit/veggie-bearing plants, so wish me luck! Good luck with your garden, (And send some of that beautiful rain our way), Andrea Hi JD,

I have to admit I am very jealous of your ability to grow fruits and veggies. I grew up in California and almost every plant and tree on our property was edible or fruit-bearing. I remember one summer where my mother was sitting on the side of the street with grocery bags full of peaches, offering them to anyone who walked by; that was after she filled two shelves of the freezer with preserves.

I didn’t take advantage of the same ability when we lived in Portland, and now that we’ve moved to Las Vegas, I really see what I took for granted. We live on a quarter of an acre, and we have a thriving herb garden, but it really isn’t suited to grow fruits and veggies. I absolutely cringe every time I go to the store. I’m looking into drought tolerant fruit/veggie-bearing plants, so wish me luck!

Good luck with your garden,
(And send some of that beautiful rain our way),
Andrea

]]> By: Donna Freedman http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/07/26/urban-fruit-gleaning-harvesting-fresh-fruit-in-the-middle-of-the-city/#comment-142471 Donna Freedman Wed, 30 Jul 2008 20:10:30 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=1400#comment-142471 Hi J.D., Last summer I noticed a neighbor's tree dripping with plums. I proposed that if she let me have enough fruit to make some jam, I'd give her a jar of it. Her response was that she was glad SOMEONE wanted the fruit. That's how I wound up with a lot of plum jam; some of it I ate, some I shared with my sister and a neighbor, and some of it I gave as gifts. I'm also a big fan of free Seattle blackberries -- not only do they make wonderful jam, but they're easy to freeze for winter cobblers or shortcakes, or to toss into smoothies. The response to an article I wrote on the subject, which can be found at http://blogs.moneycentral.msn.com/smartspending/archive/2007/10/10/a-preservationist-viewpoint.aspx, indicates that plenty of people are interested in harvesting and/or preserving this bounty. I just put an ad on Freecycle asking if anyone had raspberries, apples or other fruit that would otherwise go to waste. They'll get am, applesauce or canned fruit, and I'll get free food. Maybe this would work for others as well. Good luck with your garden. Best regards, Donna Freedman Hi J.D.,
Last summer I noticed a neighbor’s tree dripping with plums. I proposed that if she let me have enough fruit to make some jam, I’d give her a jar of it.
Her response was that she was glad SOMEONE wanted the fruit. That’s how I wound up with a lot of plum jam; some of it I ate, some I shared with my sister and a neighbor, and some of it I gave as gifts.
I’m also a big fan of free Seattle blackberries — not only do they make wonderful jam, but they’re easy to freeze for winter cobblers or shortcakes, or to toss into smoothies.
The response to an article I wrote on the subject, which can be found at http://blogs.moneycentral.msn.com/smartspending/archive/2007/10/10/a-preservationist-viewpoint.aspx, indicates that plenty of people are interested in harvesting and/or preserving this bounty.
I just put an ad on Freecycle asking if anyone had raspberries, apples or other fruit that would otherwise go to waste. They’ll get am, applesauce or canned fruit, and I’ll get free food. Maybe this would work for others as well.
Good luck with your garden.
Best regards,
Donna Freedman

]]> By: Narinda http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/07/26/urban-fruit-gleaning-harvesting-fresh-fruit-in-the-middle-of-the-city/#comment-142155 Narinda Mon, 28 Jul 2008 20:58:01 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=1400#comment-142155 There are huge rosemary plants growing around the patio of a cafe nearby and I snag a stalk or two every now and then. It's lovely to find herbs and fruit around. I remember taking a walk with a friend I was visiting in Portland and finding blackberries growing in the neighborhood-- magical. As a postage-stamp-size-apartment dweller without even a proper window-box, I'm jealous of those with any square footage at all and have definitely been fantasizing about guerrilla gardening. http://www.homegrownevolution.com is another great blog about small-scale farming in a small Los Angeles backyard. There are huge rosemary plants growing around the patio of a cafe nearby and I snag a stalk or two every now and then. It’s lovely to find herbs and fruit around. I remember taking a walk with a friend I was visiting in Portland and finding blackberries growing in the neighborhood– magical. As a postage-stamp-size-apartment dweller without even a proper window-box, I’m jealous of those with any square footage at all and have definitely been fantasizing about guerrilla gardening. http://www.homegrownevolution.com is another great blog about small-scale farming in a small Los Angeles backyard.

]]> By: Duncan Beevers http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/07/26/urban-fruit-gleaning-harvesting-fresh-fruit-in-the-middle-of-the-city/#comment-142132 Duncan Beevers Mon, 28 Jul 2008 17:42:25 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=1400#comment-142132 A friend of mine built a great site http://urbanedibles.org/ that allows you to enter the locations of wild fruits in the city as well as to find and harvest these foods yourself. A friend of mine built a great site http://urbanedibles.org/ that allows you to enter the locations of wild fruits in the city as well as to find and harvest these foods yourself.

]]> By: EscapeVelocity http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/07/26/urban-fruit-gleaning-harvesting-fresh-fruit-in-the-middle-of-the-city/#comment-142113 EscapeVelocity Mon, 28 Jul 2008 15:14:49 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=1400#comment-142113 Since I noticed the wild grape vines at the back of the parking lot at work, I haven't needed to buy jelly. There are dewberries in season, too, although not in jelly-making quantities (the grapes can't be eaten straight, so there's a lot less "shrinkage"). Since I noticed the wild grape vines at the back of the parking lot at work, I haven’t needed to buy jelly. There are dewberries in season, too, although not in jelly-making quantities (the grapes can’t be eaten straight, so there’s a lot less “shrinkage”).

]]> By: Cheap Like Me http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/07/26/urban-fruit-gleaning-harvesting-fresh-fruit-in-the-middle-of-the-city/#comment-142109 Cheap Like Me Mon, 28 Jul 2008 14:52:57 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=1400#comment-142109 Hey, J.D. - we are on the same wavelength recently. I've written about this a couple of times, most recently discussing the cherries we got from a neighbor down the street (yep, knocked on a stranger's door, and we were followed the next day by another family picking more of the fruit). I called it "scavenging," but gleaning is an excellent term. http://cheaplikeme.wordpress.com/2008/06/30/fruit-scavenging-cherries/ We've also picked up some apricots that are dropping off one neighbor's tree onto another's driveway. The driveway neighbors are friendly with us, and we picked up the apricots while they were away on vacation so they wouldn't come back to a nasty mess on the concrete. Last year, we got 40 lbs. of grapes from another neighbor who lives alone and has health conditions that make it impossible to pick the grapes. In all cases, we've paid back the kindness with a gift from their fruit. Most fruit trees produce far more bounty than a single home can -- or wants to -- consume, so it makes lots of sense to share -- and makes a neighborhood feel more like a community. Thanks so much for the links to the organizations taking this a step further. Here in Denver, we have some city blocks with fruit trees in the medians, and we've wondered why no one takes the fruit. It's not stealing -- it's our tax dollars, and not being wasteful. Hey, J.D. - we are on the same wavelength recently. I’ve written about this a couple of times, most recently discussing the cherries we got from a neighbor down the street (yep, knocked on a stranger’s door, and we were followed the next day by another family picking more of the fruit). I called it “scavenging,” but gleaning is an excellent term. http://cheaplikeme.wordpress.com/2008/06/30/fruit-scavenging-cherries/

We’ve also picked up some apricots that are dropping off one neighbor’s tree onto another’s driveway. The driveway neighbors are friendly with us, and we picked up the apricots while they were away on vacation so they wouldn’t come back to a nasty mess on the concrete.

Last year, we got 40 lbs. of grapes from another neighbor who lives alone and has health conditions that make it impossible to pick the grapes.

In all cases, we’ve paid back the kindness with a gift from their fruit. Most fruit trees produce far more bounty than a single home can — or wants to — consume, so it makes lots of sense to share — and makes a neighborhood feel more like a community.

Thanks so much for the links to the organizations taking this a step further. Here in Denver, we have some city blocks with fruit trees in the medians, and we’ve wondered why no one takes the fruit. It’s not stealing — it’s our tax dollars, and not being wasteful.

]]> By: Andrew http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/07/26/urban-fruit-gleaning-harvesting-fresh-fruit-in-the-middle-of-the-city/#comment-142059 Andrew Mon, 28 Jul 2008 01:43:15 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=1400#comment-142059 xysea - sometimes you have to spend money to be frugal! The reason I asked my earlier question about the financial viability is because of some of the themes I've seen in this blog - saving, investing, scrimping where you can. I will be a lawyer soon, and I'm actively working to not get into the mindset where I feel I have to keep up with the others in terms of cars, watches, clothes, etc. (I'm fine with my Timex, Corolla and Costco dress pants.) This is something I would be interested in, since I enjoy gardening, but because of the theme of the blog I would like to see dollar signs on it - say, rodent traps or barriers, water meter monitoring (obviously this would be more expensive in Southern California, say, than compared to Portland or Seattle), seeds/seedlings, equipment, etc. ALL things considered, and personal enjoyment aside, for each pound of tomatoes, would I be better off growing them myself or walking around the corner to the store? xysea - sometimes you have to spend money to be frugal!

The reason I asked my earlier question about the financial viability is because of some of the themes I’ve seen in this blog - saving, investing, scrimping where you can. I will be a lawyer soon, and I’m actively working to not get into the mindset where I feel I have to keep up with the others in terms of cars, watches, clothes, etc. (I’m fine with my Timex, Corolla and Costco dress pants.) This is something I would be interested in, since I enjoy gardening, but because of the theme of the blog I would like to see dollar signs on it - say, rodent traps or barriers, water meter monitoring (obviously this would be more expensive in Southern California, say, than compared to Portland or Seattle), seeds/seedlings, equipment, etc. ALL things considered, and personal enjoyment aside, for each pound of tomatoes, would I be better off growing them myself or walking around the corner to the store?

]]> By: Jax http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/07/26/urban-fruit-gleaning-harvesting-fresh-fruit-in-the-middle-of-the-city/#comment-142054 Jax Mon, 28 Jul 2008 00:36:26 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=1400#comment-142054 JD- I don't mean to whine, but when are we getting a July gardening update? I am anxious to hear how well you have been doing. JD-
I don’t mean to whine, but when are we getting a July gardening update? I am anxious to hear how well you have been doing.

]]> By: honeybee http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/07/26/urban-fruit-gleaning-harvesting-fresh-fruit-in-the-middle-of-the-city/#comment-142040 honeybee Sun, 27 Jul 2008 21:43:58 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=1400#comment-142040 Oh, this is so Portland. Not everything green happens in Portland first, but if it doesn't, it usually happens there next. Oh, this is so Portland. Not everything green happens in Portland first, but if it doesn’t, it usually happens there next.

]]> By: xysea http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/07/26/urban-fruit-gleaning-harvesting-fresh-fruit-in-the-middle-of-the-city/#comment-141980 xysea Sun, 27 Jul 2008 12:00:45 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=1400#comment-141980 I know there are a lot of people out there with a frugal mindset like me, but I just wanted to say that I ended up changing my mind about this one aspect of my life. I eat fresh because even though it costs a little more upfront, the long term benefits will save me health insurance premiums and miscellaneous costs in the long run. I look at it as a long-term investment program in myself. I used to eat cheaply, but a lot of things that are cheap are not necessarily healthy for you. I know there are a lot of people out there with a frugal mindset like me, but I just wanted to say that I ended up changing my mind about this one aspect of my life.

I eat fresh because even though it costs a little more upfront, the long term benefits will save me health insurance premiums and miscellaneous costs in the long run. I look at it as a long-term investment program in myself.

I used to eat cheaply, but a lot of things that are cheap are not necessarily healthy for you.

]]> By: Alan http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/07/26/urban-fruit-gleaning-harvesting-fresh-fruit-in-the-middle-of-the-city/#comment-141955 Alan Sun, 27 Jul 2008 04:45:05 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=1400#comment-141955 J.D. - Recently, I completed a semester-long research project about vertical farming, a relatively new concept that involves erecting skyscraper farms in dense, urban cores. In my research I concluded that while the project seems sexy enough (reducing transportation costs and providing fresh food to the urban community, among other positives), it appears that more research is needed before we see vertical farms sprout up. Small, communal based initiatives currently seem more effective, more real. I'm curious to see how urban agriculture evolves as population pressures and food security issues intensify. Hopefully people will realize that eating fresh can benefit both well-being and, most of the time, one's pocket. With farmer's markets, shared apartment gardening, and other projects like the one mentioned in your post, I am optimistic about the development of urban gardening in the years to come. Great post! I'm always looking for new ways to get fresher food on my plate. (Shameless plug - I wrote a post about VF on my blog, any interested readers should check it out by clicking my name) J.D. -

Recently, I completed a semester-long research project about vertical farming, a relatively new concept that involves erecting skyscraper farms in dense, urban cores.

In my research I concluded that while the project seems sexy enough (reducing transportation costs and providing fresh food to the urban community, among other positives), it appears that more research is needed before we see vertical farms sprout up. Small, communal based initiatives currently seem more effective, more real. I’m curious to see how urban agriculture evolves as population pressures and food security issues intensify.

Hopefully people will realize that eating fresh can benefit both well-being and, most of the time, one’s pocket. With farmer’s markets, shared apartment gardening, and other projects like the one mentioned in your post, I am optimistic about the development of urban gardening in the years to come.

Great post! I’m always looking for new ways to get fresher food on my plate.

(Shameless plug - I wrote a post about VF on my blog, any interested readers should check it out by clicking my name)

]]> By: Paul http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/07/26/urban-fruit-gleaning-harvesting-fresh-fruit-in-the-middle-of-the-city/#comment-141947 Paul Sun, 27 Jul 2008 02:48:11 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=1400#comment-141947 @Adam, For the reasons already mentioned above by others it is worth while to "grow your own". But the biggest reason for me is that you can grow so many different varieties that you can never get at a store or even at farmers markets. Plus, there is absolutely no match for picking your own freshly grown tomato and taking a bite--it is quite possibly the best tomato flavor you can get. @Adam,

For the reasons already mentioned above by others it is worth while to “grow your own”. But the biggest reason for me is that you can grow so many different varieties that you can never get at a store or even at farmers markets. Plus, there is absolutely no match for picking your own freshly grown tomato and taking a bite–it is quite possibly the best tomato flavor you can get.

]]> By: Jessica http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/07/26/urban-fruit-gleaning-harvesting-fresh-fruit-in-the-middle-of-the-city/#comment-141944 Jessica Sun, 27 Jul 2008 02:12:43 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=1400#comment-141944 Doing some personal research, back in ancient times people would leave about a quarter of their fields deliberately unharvested so the poor could glean off the fields and have food to eat. It's nice to see this ancient practice coming back! Doing some personal research, back in ancient times people would leave about a quarter of their fields deliberately unharvested so the poor could glean off the fields and have food to eat.

It’s nice to see this ancient practice coming back!

]]> By: Penny http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/07/26/urban-fruit-gleaning-harvesting-fresh-fruit-in-the-middle-of-the-city/#comment-141941 Penny Sun, 27 Jul 2008 01:20:59 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=1400#comment-141941 Last year we gleaned a few paper shopping bags full of crab apples from the trees outside my husband's office (with management permission). Crab apple jelly tastes a lot like sour apple jelly and we had enough to give as gifts, paying just for the sugar. Of course, I boiled some into hard candy for my husband to share with his officemates, who were shocked that the decorative trees could actually produce something so tasty. Last year we gleaned a few paper shopping bags full of crab apples from the trees outside my husband’s office (with management permission). Crab apple jelly tastes a lot like sour apple jelly and we had enough to give as gifts, paying just for the sugar. Of course, I boiled some into hard candy for my husband to share with his officemates, who were shocked that the decorative trees could actually produce something so tasty.

]]> By: Melanie http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/07/26/urban-fruit-gleaning-harvesting-fresh-fruit-in-the-middle-of-the-city/#comment-141937 Melanie Sat, 26 Jul 2008 23:59:36 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=1400#comment-141937 I volunteer my time with the CSA I belong to - it started with bartering - I do the delivery in exchange for my share of the veggies....a bonus, I have been able to glean any veggies or fruit (and sometimes eggs) that are beyond the sell date, or with imperfections or bruises, etc. I don't mind cutting out a bad spot that paying customers would reect. I took up canning and preservation and have lots of preserved veggies from the CSA farm. I volunteer my time with the CSA I belong to - it started with bartering - I do the delivery in exchange for my share of the veggies….a bonus, I have been able to glean any veggies or fruit (and sometimes eggs) that are beyond the sell date, or with imperfections or bruises, etc. I don’t mind cutting out a bad spot that paying customers would reect. I took up canning and preservation and have lots of preserved veggies from the CSA farm.

]]> By: CB http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/07/26/urban-fruit-gleaning-harvesting-fresh-fruit-in-the-middle-of-the-city/#comment-141929 CB Sat, 26 Jul 2008 22:03:05 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=1400#comment-141929 I started a garden this morning in a friend's yard! It's very rewarding beyond the financials. I started a garden this morning in a friend’s yard! It’s very rewarding beyond the financials.

]]> By: xysea http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/07/26/urban-fruit-gleaning-harvesting-fresh-fruit-in-the-middle-of-the-city/#comment-141920 xysea Sat, 26 Jul 2008 19:57:31 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=1400#comment-141920 Wow, this is right up my alley! lol I have a container garden, but just down the road from me there is a farmer's market with locally grown produce at prices much better than the grocery store! Also I recently paid $5 to participate in an organic gardening co-op. You attend 3 session to learn about gardening, apply what you learn and at the end of the season you get a share of what is produced. I'm very excited about that! I was a little disappointed in the fruit selection at the farmer's market today, though. I do have a neighbor with an orange tree, and another with a peach tree, so maybe I'll just knock on their door and ask them? :) Wow, this is right up my alley! lol

I have a container garden, but just down the road from me there is a farmer’s market with locally grown produce at prices much better than the grocery store!

Also I recently paid $5 to participate in an organic gardening co-op. You attend 3 session to learn about gardening, apply what you learn and at the end of the season you get a share of what is produced. I’m very excited about that!

I was a little disappointed in the fruit selection at the farmer’s market today, though. I do have a neighbor with an orange tree, and another with a peach tree, so maybe I’ll just knock on their door and ask them? :)

]]> By: Poor Richard http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/07/26/urban-fruit-gleaning-harvesting-fresh-fruit-in-the-middle-of-the-city/#comment-141906 Poor Richard Sat, 26 Jul 2008 17:59:43 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=1400#comment-141906 J.D., Thanks, this is great! I love this kind of stuff. I live in Los Angeles, where the law is that if fruit grows OVER public property the fruit itself is public property, regardless of where the tree is. J.D.,

Thanks, this is great! I love this kind of stuff. I live in Los Angeles, where the law is that if fruit grows OVER public property the fruit itself is public property, regardless of where the tree is.

]]> By: Leah http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/07/26/urban-fruit-gleaning-harvesting-fresh-fruit-in-the-middle-of-the-city/#comment-141900 Leah Sat, 26 Jul 2008 16:58:57 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=1400#comment-141900 I live in Washington DC and do container gardening in trash cans in our small (bricked) backyard. You can see photos here! It's probably not a money-maker, I'm not even sure if we'll break even, but it's good for my soul, good for my boys, and a great family hobby. http://thecitymom.blogspot.com/ (click on "container garden" on the right side) Leah I live in Washington DC and do container gardening in trash cans in our small (bricked) backyard. You can see photos here!

It’s probably not a money-maker, I’m not even sure if we’ll break even, but it’s good for my soul, good for my boys, and a great family hobby.

http://thecitymom.blogspot.com/ (click on “container garden” on the right side)

Leah

]]> By: Amy Jo http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/07/26/urban-fruit-gleaning-harvesting-fresh-fruit-in-the-middle-of-the-city/#comment-141897 Amy Jo Sat, 26 Jul 2008 15:39:35 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=1400#comment-141897 Great post. The Portland Fruit Tree Project sounds like a wonderful organization--a great way to get good food into the hands of people who need it. Donations of fresh foods are always needed and welcomed at food banks. One of my goals for our garden (next year, when we actually have time to put one in) is to participate in Plant a Row for the Hungry (see: http://www.gardenwriters.org/Par/index.html). For those interested, Heidi Swanson recently wrote about her experience gleaning in the Bay Area: http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/cherry-cobbler-recipe.html Great post. The Portland Fruit Tree Project sounds like a wonderful organization–a great way to get good food into the hands of people who need it. Donations of fresh foods are always needed and welcomed at food banks. One of my goals for our garden (next year, when we actually have time to put one in) is to participate in Plant a Row for the Hungry (see: http://www.gardenwriters.org/Par/index.html).

For those interested, Heidi Swanson recently wrote about her experience gleaning in the Bay Area: http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/cherry-cobbler-recipe.html

]]> By: Autumn http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/07/26/urban-fruit-gleaning-harvesting-fresh-fruit-in-the-middle-of-the-city/#comment-141896 Autumn Sat, 26 Jul 2008 15:37:35 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=1400#comment-141896 My husband and I do this every year. He found some apricot trees while running by another apartment complex. No one ever picks the fruit, so almost all of it just ends up rotting on the ground. We just finished canning about 50 pints of apricot necter and jam. All the apricots were free from this apartment complex. We actually talked about the financial viability of this yesterday. We're both students with hourly jobs, and we could have worked the 4 hours it took us to can. While discussing it, we realized that even if we weren't canning, we wouldn't be working. Since we wouldn't have worked the time anyway, it doesn't make sense to assume canning really cost us $200 dollars because of lost income. And the time was enjoyable to us, as we got to spend time together working. My husband and I do this every year. He found some apricot trees while running by another apartment complex. No one ever picks the fruit, so almost all of it just ends up rotting on the ground. We just finished canning about 50 pints of apricot necter and jam. All the apricots were free from this apartment complex.

We actually talked about the financial viability of this yesterday. We’re both students with hourly jobs, and we could have worked the 4 hours it took us to can. While discussing it, we realized that even if we weren’t canning, we wouldn’t be working. Since we wouldn’t have worked the time anyway, it doesn’t make sense to assume canning really cost us $200 dollars because of lost income. And the time was enjoyable to us, as we got to spend time together working.

]]> By: MoneyBlogga http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/07/26/urban-fruit-gleaning-harvesting-fresh-fruit-in-the-middle-of-the-city/#comment-141895 MoneyBlogga Sat, 26 Jul 2008 15:25:50 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=1400#comment-141895 What a great idea. I'd never given it any sort of thought but now that you mention it, it makes perfect sense. The city in which I reside has a harsh climate (too cold, too hot) which means that many plants and trees won't grow here but, if one lives in an area where there are such trees, why not collect the fruit? I definitely would. What a great idea. I’d never given it any sort of thought but now that you mention it, it makes perfect sense. The city in which I reside has a harsh climate (too cold, too hot) which means that many plants and trees won’t grow here but, if one lives in an area where there are such trees, why not collect the fruit? I definitely would.

]]> By: J.D. http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/07/26/urban-fruit-gleaning-harvesting-fresh-fruit-in-the-middle-of-the-city/#comment-141893 J.D. Sat, 26 Jul 2008 15:13:53 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=1400#comment-141893 Andrew, that's one of the questions I'm exploring with my <a href="http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/01/06/year-long-grs-project-how-much-does-a-garden-really-save/" rel="nofollow">year-long garden project</a>. I'm beginning to believe that financially, it really does make sense to grow a garden (especially certain plants). If you factor the time, though, that's another matter. If you view gardening as a chore, then it probably <i>doesn't</i> make economic sense. But if you enjoy it, gardening looks to be a cost-effective way to get fresh produce. I'll know for sure at the end of the year. Gleaning, however, can be a great way to get food for cheap. Andrew, that’s one of the questions I’m exploring with my year-long garden project. I’m beginning to believe that financially, it really does make sense to grow a garden (especially certain plants).

If you factor the time, though, that’s another matter. If you view gardening as a chore, then it probably doesn’t make economic sense. But if you enjoy it, gardening looks to be a cost-effective way to get fresh produce. I’ll know for sure at the end of the year.

Gleaning, however, can be a great way to get food for cheap.

]]> By: Andrew http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/07/26/urban-fruit-gleaning-harvesting-fresh-fruit-in-the-middle-of-the-city/#comment-141892 Andrew Sat, 26 Jul 2008 14:54:01 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=1400#comment-141892 Question: considering the time, energy and resources required to grow food, is it actually cost-efficient? To yield, say, 20 tomatoes on a plant, is it actually worth the time weeding and taking care of pests (bugs, rodents) as well as expenses for fertilizer and water? Question: considering the time, energy and resources required to grow food, is it actually cost-efficient? To yield, say, 20 tomatoes on a plant, is it actually worth the time weeding and taking care of pests (bugs, rodents) as well as expenses for fertilizer and water?

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