I have some sort of internal, primitive motivation to glean. I can not resist but to knock on people's door and ask if I can collect their apples falling all over their lawn. Same with any fruit or nut trees. I am always one of the people on Craigslist asking for free fruit/nuts/veggies, or barter, or Life Dollars (www.fourthcornerexchange.com). I have gotten to know some farmers and barter berry plants and whatever for the opportunity to glean what they have left over. My favorite such farmer is Charles on Highway 9. I traded him 15 blueberry plants in the spring for squash, pumpkins and fruit this fall.
So, a couple of weekends ago I took my girls out to his farm to load up on these squash, pumpkins and fruit. The girls loved feeding his "furry cow" squash, helped pick out my pumpkin for Halloween, and selectively choose their pumpkins (which were actually not pumpkins at all, but organic, heirloom squash). We picked apples, pears and grapes. As I taught the girls how to suck out the sweet grape in the middle and throw away the tart skins. We managed to fill my trunk with a great selection of his Organic Heirloom Squash. A few had been nibbled by bunnies, but are perfectly good.
I bartered the squash for life dollars and eggs. I even paid for some website consulting with a squash (thanks Amy - http://www.nettleteadesign.com/).
One friend of mine got 75 lbs worth and told me this enlightening story regarding the squash.
"So - a little story about some of that squash ... it wasn't my original intention, but today as I was working with my beloved Elders out at Lummi, I overheard their Thanksgiving and November birthday plans. Knowing what I do about the nutrition at their Elder Care residence, and knowing that I still had a Jeep full of squash, I decided to gift them one of the large and one of the mid-size squash. They were quite thrilled at the size of them and assured me that they would feed all that gather in celebration. I am full of gratitude for having an abundance to share. Thank you for opening the pathway for that gift from the heart. I am grateful to know that at least one of their meals will contain goodness direct from the Earth."
I found her story heart warming. How a squash that would normally rot in a field can make so many connections between people (not that decomposing is a bad thing either :).
I have met so many wonderful people bartering, through fourth corner exchange, through craigslist, through word of mouth. I highly recommend it!
