Network Your Way to Free Food
You can network your way to a better job, but did you know that you can also network your way to a lower grocery bill? You can indeed.
Over the past couple of weeks, my husband and I have received an offer for free pears and an offer for free nuts – simply because we mentioned that we enjoyed canning and harvesting our own foods. Easy.
So easy in fact, that it has me thinking about all of the other ways networking could result in free food. Why not offer to help someone with their harvest in exchange for some of the bounty, for example? Or post a notice on Craigslist saying that you'd be happy to remove all those "nuisance" nuts that are cluttering people's lawns? You could even exchange canning services for a share in the finished product. Lots of possibilities, and they all result in free food.
Put those career networking skills to work on your grocery bill, and see what happens.
Share Your Experiences:
Do you already network your way to free food? Have you come up with networking strategies that go beyond the ones I've mentioned? Share your successes, and wow us all with your frugal prowess.
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Comments
I already do a lot of bartering with my free range eggs and can for others for a share of the crop as you suggested. Some friends and I are starting a “soup circle”. We will each make a large quantity of adifferent kind of soup then exchange a quart of it with each other. A variety of ready to heat homemade soups!! I’m also looking for someplace that processes nuts. AS a full time student and full time employee with three kids I don’t have time to process them but would be willing to pay someone to do it (black walnuts). Comments are very much appreciated.
Is this the same as “gleaning?”
Gleaning is cleaning up what is left in a field for harvest after the main crop is taken.
Today, gleaners are also known as food banks, giving away seconds from food manufacturers.
Is there a place where you can go on line to see what there is in your area?
Thanks
I traded garden work (I did the heavy stuff like turning compost and digging for her and watering when she was out of town) for many years with a friend for a share of the crop. It worked great and I learned a lot about gardening too!
I have indeed done a lot of gleaning and continue to do so..for fruits, some veggies…but my problem…is that most of this isn’t organic…and since we now have 3 adopted autistic kiddos..this has changed our way of doing it….esp since heavy metals tend to make them more autistic….like the ones found in pesticides and some fertilizers….
Just a mom in the middle…or is that a muddle…lol
A low budget solution is ANGELFOOD MINISTRIES.com They have a website and sell food at a 1/4 of the price at the grocery stores. They have everything from staples for your cabinet to steak.
Angel Food Ministries is a wonderful program to take part in. One box is $30 and has enough items to feed a family of 4 for a week. In most distribution locations, they will take check, cash, and even food stamps. They also have monthly specials that you can take advantage of, such as 10 pounds of chicken tenders for $18. I would encourage you to give them a try-
www.angelfoodministries.com
I think there is also an organization called Second Harvest. If you have some nuts or things that you need need to find a home for you might want to consider trying to contact them. I don’t have a web address for them but I bet you could Google and find them. You might also check if you have a local food pantry.