Canning

Canning is not CHEAP if you haven't done it before.  Buying the bottles and lids to get started can be tough!  But, if you have bottles sitting around, seek opportunities to can.  We use a lot of canned peaches, pears and applesauce.  We also have made a tomato sauce with zucchini and some spices that has been awesome for spaghetti sauce.  It makes it very flavorful and actually a bit healthier too.  My parents have managed to get a lot of free produce from friends, neighbors who aren't using their trees.  Let people know you want to can.  Offer to share some of the canned goods with them if they will let you take the produce they aren't using.  My parents have been a great example to me.  In fact, my dad has even stopped at houses where there were trees with fruit just dropping to the ground and going to waste.  He went up to the door and asked if they were going to use the fruit.  If they said no, he offered to clean up the fruit on the ground if they'd let him pick the rest of the fruit.  Its worth a shot.  You could even write a note and leave it on their door if talking to them intimidates you.  Just leave the note with your number.  Just say, "Hi, my name is ... I was driving by and noticed the fruit from your tree dropping on the ground.  Are you going to be using them this year?"  Some may offer to sell it to you, some may just let you have it.  Some may say they want a few but you can have the rest. It seems to be that older couples can't get to their trees and fruit and/or don't have a need for it all.  It could even be a big service to them for you to pick all the fruit, leave them what they can eat and then clean up the rest so they don't have to.  For people we know we have gotten the fruit and canned it and then given them a thank you card with some of the canned goods.