National Sneak Some Zucchini Onto Your Neighbor’s Porch Day

Sunday morning I found ten zucchinis on the railing of my back deck. It had to be one of my two next-door neighbors, because anyone else would have left them on the front porch. I went to Google and found out they were two days early. Trying to get a jump on the rest of the neighborhood. 

Every year, millions backyard gardeners decide to grow a variety of vegetables, including zucchini. Yeah, they'd like a loaf of zucchini bread (they think). But there are many seeds in an envelope, and even if they buy plants, they usually come in at least a four-pack. But even when they only have one surviving vine, zucchini produces way more than you need. What to do with all these vegetables? Give it to your neighbors, even if they don't want it! 

"Everyone who has grown zucchini knows that it can be difficult to keep up with the yield. The gourds grow quickly if not picked, and do not freeze or can well," said Dr. Pam Duitsman, nutrition and health education specialist with University of Missouri Extension. "Since you can only bake so many loaves of zucchini bread, many folks find giving their zucchini to neighbors is a great solution. To celebrate the holiday, you are to quietly sneak up to your neighbors' porch, and leave them a pile of homegrown zucchini."  

August 8 is National Sneak Some Zucchini Onto Your Neighbor’s Porch Day. The holiday was launched by Tom Roy at Wellcat Holidays & Herbs in Pennsylvania. They have some zucchini jokes and recipes that will help you deal with what you may find on your porch today. Otherwise, you might take some to your local food pantry.