August 2009: It's the height of the summer, and what better way to share your backyard harvest than at a summer Garden Exchange. In Santa Barbara, the growing list of garden exchanges comes compliments the hard work of Santa Barbara Food Not Lawns.
If you don't live in Santa Barbara, start your own exchange. You don't necessarily need a bounty of fruits and veggies.... encourage your neighbors to trade baked goods, recycled farm tools, magazines, and the like. It is a great opportunity to get to know your neighbors.
Chris and Ann Pizzinat hosted today's event in their Santa Barbara backyard.... where they raise chickens, turkeys, and have two horses. Katherine Anderson of Blue Oak Ranch, brought two of her goats and served chocolate goat ice cream (it was delicious and refreshing). She also had prepared goat cheese in six different yummy forms... it was a really nice treat....
Gardeners from Santa Barbara brought lemons, rhubarb, tomatoes, melons, olive tree starters, apples, baked goods, and, compost, compost worms, well you get the picture.
The broader point: Grow your own food, and then trade, share, or giveaway the extras. Grow enough for your family, then grow more. Read more about Food Not Lawns and then start your own backyard garden.
See the full list of Santa Barbara Garden Exchanges.
(My new olive tree starter!)
(Traded for Weekend Hippie Pesto)
Grow Basil! Not only to puree into a beautiful summer pesto, but to toss in salads, adorn pizzas, and feed to the red wigglers in your worm bin. For Weekend Hippie's pesto, mix to taste: fresh, homegrown or farmers' market basil, toasted pine nuts, whole garlic, Parmesan cheese, olive oil, and sea salt. Drizzle a thin layer of olive over the top, seal, and store in glass jars. Use or freeze within ten days. I make five jars at at time and share with friends and neighbors. Enjoy!!
