Harvesting Beans for the Food Bank

It was time to harvest for the food bank again. I like to harvest a day before the food is given out to the needy as it is fresher. This week the Eureka bush beans were ready to be picked. There will be additional harvests as the beans are still putting out more flowers.

It took awhile to pick but I had about four pounds of yellow beans the first week to drop off at the food bank. Not too bad a haul for a few families.

The following week was a bumper crop. A total of seven more pounds of beans. I think we will get a third picking of beans some time next week. We still have potatoes and cabbage to harvest. They will be followed by green beans and squash.
It looks like Monday nights will be the harvesting time. Its cooler outside and the produce can be dropped off early Tuesday morning.
So what do you do to get the harvest ready for delivery? I bring home whatever is harvested and clean it up. You wouldn't want to buy dirty vegetables at the grocery store and most people will try a new vegetable if it looks pretty. Sorry to say but that's just human nature. Its only us die hard gardeners who don't mind the dirt. I also bag smaller vegetables like beans into one pound bags. That's about what I would buy when shopping. This also makes it easier for the food bank staff who are all volunteers.
Have you planted a giving garden or have extra vegetables to donate? The supplies at local food banks are low and needing your help. There is nothing more rewarding than giving back to your community.

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