Jamul, CA – It’s the last Saturday of the month in the parking lot of the Jamul Hardware store. There is a canopy and a sign: “East County Produce Exchange”. Beneath the canopy are tables laden with home grown vegetables, fruits, herbs, flowers, eggs, seedlings, seeds and more. Community members cluster together and visit, exchange gardening tips, taste the produce, and take home a share of each others’ backyard surplus.
Jamul, CA – It’s the last Saturday of the month in the parking lot of the Jamul Hardware store. There is a canopy and a sign: “East County Produce Exchange”. Beneath the canopy are tables laden with home grown vegetables, fruits, herbs, flowers, eggs, seedlings, seeds and more. Community members cluster together and visit, exchange gardening tips, taste the produce, and take home a share of each others’ backyard surplus.
It’s been happening each month in Jamul for over four years, thanks to the vision in 2010 of two Steele Canyon freshmen, Blake Powers and John Chapman. These students were concerned about home grown produce going to waste because homeowners were unable to consume the produce their trees yielded. They noticed fruit rotting on the ground in yards around the community. So they associated themselves with ARCHES, a local community based non-profit organization that agreed to sponsor their project. And the East County Produce Exchange was created. Community members can now share their homegrown surplus and partake of their neighbors’ abundant harvests.
Blake and John continued their leadership of the Produce Exchange throughout their high school years, volunteering many hours each month promoting, advertising, and coordinating each event. And then…off they went to college! They are sorely missed, but we Produce Exchange “regulars” are proud of the two community minded young men who are now attending Cal Poly at San Luis Obisbo.
Fortunately for our community, there are three more Steele Canyon students ready to take on the project. Jason Chapman, Josh Cloud, and Angel Mora, sophomore students at Steele Canyon High School, are enthusiastic. They love the concept of the East County Produce Exchange. “I think the Produce Exchange benefits our community in a lot of ways,” says Angel. “It can build long lasting relationships between people with similar interests.” Josh enjoys the interesting new foods he has tasted at the Produce Exchange, and observing people opening to new taste experiences. “People inspire each other to start gardens, and grow new crops,” adds Jason.
These boys have energetic plans for expanding participation in the Produce Exchange. They want to involve more high school students in the project, spreading the word, and even volunteering to pick excess fruit if homeowners would like assistance. They want the Produce Exchange to gain more visibility in the community, and motivate more backyard gardeners to attend the monthly event.
The next Produce Exchange is on January 31, 3:00-4:30 in the parking lot of the Jamul Hardware store. Join us! Bring your fruits, vegetables, nuts, plants, herbs, eggs, flowers, crafts, and any gardening ideas & tips to share with others.
