Summertime...and the eating is easy.

What do I like most about summer?  I love the beautiful summer sun rises and sunsets that I get to view from my apartment.  I love that I can walk so short a distance and relax at Lyons Pool in Tompkinsville. And I love the plethora of flowering plants that assail the senses of sight and scent as we pass by them.  But the things I love most about summer is the ability to enjoy so many fresh fruits and vegetables in this season of plenteousness.

Melons, peaches, plums, nectarines, blackberries, tomatoes, peppers and various squashes are all  much more flavorful in summertime. Many of you have wonderful home gardens .  Connie Black and Shelia Hewitt  lovingly tend our own community gardens here at Christ Church.

But sometimes the home harvest can be overwhelming.  A family member recently begged me to take home some more summer squash as the family’s garden was in overtime production.  I took two…how much squash can one person be expected to eat in a week?  I know how difficult it can be to give away that green zucchini in August when the whole neighborhood is awash in squash, but there is a solution.

Are you willing to share your bounty with local families who are food insecure?  There are plenty of folks waiting on lines at food pantries across this island who would jump at the chance to get their hands on some fresh tomatoes, peppers, and even the ubiquitous zucchini to stretch their food budgets and offer healthy alternatives to their families.  You may not be aware, but here in New Brighton, we are in a food desert.  Not too many healthy choices in food selection can be made year round.

Our community garden here at Christ Church provides fresh produce for our Second Saturday program and sends excess to Richmond Senior Services for their choice food pantry.  And you can also get involved.

You can donate your bumper crops to a local food pantry or soup kitchen.  For folks who are dependent on Federal Food Stamps, the price of good produce can be prohibitive, but excess crops from home gardeners can be a great way to enjoy locally grown fresh foods.

So, if you can...give your extra tomatoes, peppers, eggplant and zucchini to some local folks who will really appreciate it, and not hide in the kitchen when you ring the front door with a basket full of your recent bumper crop.

And if you can include an easy recipe on how to use said fruit/veg....include it!  It will be much appreciated!