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Across the Fence:  Giving away your excess goodies --a rant of sorts  |
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rksmith
True Blue Farmgirl
858 Posts
Rachel
Clayton
GA
USA
858 Posts |
 Posted - Mar 09 2012 : 06:51:14 AM
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The other day I took several dozen eggs to the office where I work to give them away as I had too many and didn't have the materials I needed to preserve them. I'd already composted 2 dozen that had gone bad. A couple of people in the office were glad to get some. The majority though kept asking why don't I sell them. I told them because I thought I'd give these away to people that I like, but if they wanted to pay me go ahead and pay whatever they felt was appropriate. Only one person paid me. Last year, we had lots of extra stuff from the garden, so I took it in to give away and was also asked why I'm not selling...and again said if you want to pay me then pay me. No one did.
I was taught growing up that when we had our own supplies taken care of, if we had extra you offer it to family and friends for free and if someone wants to buy you sell. It doesn't bother me that no one paid me for the things I brought in, because I wasn't trying to sell. What bothers me is that these people are so focused on money that I "could/should" be making off of my goodies yet don't bother to contribute, or for the most part say thank you. We garden and have chickens primarily because we enjoy it and it provides us with food. While it is nice to make some money with it when we can, it is not our primary goal--besides that we don't produce enough to "make a living" at it and I don't mind one bit sharing with people I like (which isn't very many). It just really gripes me that so many people are too focused on what I *should* be doing to appreciate what I am doing. At any rate, most likely I will not be taking my excess to the office this year as I am investing in equipment for preserving what I do get, but it still irritates me. Have people gotten so far away from the idea of helping out and sharing that they can't even appreciate or enjoy if you try to give them something just because you like them?
Rachel
Farmgirl Sister #2753
True enlightenment is nothing but the nature of one's own self being fully realised-- His Holiness the Dali Lama
http://madame1313.wordpress.com/ |
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Penny Wise
True Blue Farmgirl
1903 Posts
Margo
Elyria
OH
USA
1903 Posts |
Posted - Mar 09 2012 : 07:58:16 AM
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rachel, you have a good heart. don't lose sight of that !
Farmgirl # 2139
proud member of the Farmgirls of the Southwest Henhouse
~*~ counting my pennies and biding my time; my dreams are adding up!~*~ |
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Naked on a Mountain Top
Farmgirl in Training
43 Posts
Seana
Durango
CO
USA
43 Posts |
Posted - Mar 09 2012 : 09:14:26 AM
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I am often the receipient of a coworkers extra eggs at my work.
However, I almost always pay if have have cash on me (she does have to buy feed right?) but even better I bring her my extra baked goods!! She's always happy to barter eggs for cookies - besides they are her eggs in my cookies.
Too bad you work with so many ungrateful people. Perhaps they didn't attend kindergarten - where we ALL learned to share.
www.durangodream.blogspot.com |
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FARMALLChick
True Blue Farmgirl
978 Posts
Lora
Alexandria
IN
USA
978 Posts |
Posted - Mar 09 2012 : 09:30:28 AM
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It is sad when people will gladly take what you offer and tell you to sell, but when asked to pay up, suddenly they don't have the money. I am with you - if you want to give excess away so that it doesn't go to waste - then do it. Even better that you will be able to preserve what excess you do have.
Lora
If it ain't red, leave it in the shed.
www.CountryFriedAcres.etsy.com
www.farmallchick.blogspot.com
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FieldsofThyme
Farmgirl Guide & Schoolmarm / Chapter Leader
4928 Posts
USA
4928 Posts |
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acairnsmom
True Blue Farmgirl
1319 Posts
audrey
cheyenne
wy
1319 Posts |
Posted - Mar 09 2012 : 2:01:56 PM
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I think it is, as you pointed out, that we as a society are so far removed from kind acts that we don't know how to respond. People used to bring their abundance in to share with people just as you tried to do. But back then others appreciated it. Today, we are used to everyone else being selfish and no one shares anymore so when someone does, it throws them for a loop!
Just let them come up with their uninformed ideas and you just keep on being an example of a KIND and GENEROUS person. Who knows? Maybe you'll infect someone else with your "strange" ideas and you'll start a generosity movement at your office!
Audrey
.jpg) Good boy Hobbs! I love and miss you. |
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farmmilkmama
True Blue Farmgirl
2027 Posts
Amy
Central MN
USA
2027 Posts |
Posted - Mar 10 2012 : 03:44:04 AM
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That is ironic that they would ask why you don't sell your eggs...and then don't offer you money for them. People can be so strange sometimes! Thank goodness you're a kind person and so generous...
--* FarmMilkMama *--
Farmgirl Sister #1086
Be yourself.
Everyone else is already taken.
-Oscar Wilde
www.farmfoodmama.blogspot.com
www.thehmmmschoolingmom.blogspot.com |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Mar 10 2012 : 05:55:45 AM
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You could put a jar next to the egg carton with a donation sign on it. Are you getting the cartons back? You are very nice for just giving them away. I only give eggs to family but sell the rest. And I can't keep them.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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Annab
True Blue Farmgirl
2900 Posts
Anna
Seagrove
NC
USA
2900 Posts |
Posted - Mar 10 2012 : 08:52:41 AM
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I get it too sometimes. Giving becasue it makes you feel good and people want to know what the "catch" is.
Sometimes there simply is none and we good hearted people simply give stuff away becasue it makes us feel good-- pure and simple.
They just don't "get it".
So I understand completely |
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Debra B
True Blue Farmgirl
59 Posts
Debra
Thaxton
VA
USA
59 Posts |
Posted - Mar 10 2012 : 08:59:43 AM
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While they are saying you COULD sell it, I'm sure they are grateful that you have given it to them. It was still offered as a gift and accepted. That's some people's way of saying that your gift is valuable.
Debra
Homeschooling mom to 6 beautiful blessings
Pastor Joe's wife |
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rock003
Farmgirl in Training
11 Posts
Amber
Independence
ky
USA
11 Posts |
Posted - Mar 10 2012 : 8:11:12 PM
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| I agree with Audrey and Debra. Even I myself find at times having difficulty accepting a simple gift, comment, or jester at times wondering what the catch is. I say we change that and start freely giving more! |
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knitnpickinatune
True Blue Farmgirl
1140 Posts
Sherrie
Gardena
California
USA
1140 Posts |
Posted - Mar 11 2012 : 10:45:54 AM
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I'm with Lora- why mention the fact they feel you should be selling but not offering you any $ when they're taking the eggs you're offering? Like Kristin suggested,you could put up a donation jar which could help cover the expenses of taking care of the chickens.You do have a generous heart-don't lose that. I had a similar situation in which I had a spare fiddle I offered to a co worker at the college for what I paid for it-under $20 with case & bow. All she could ask is "why so cheap?" and never took me up on the offer-she suspected I was passing a dud to her. Well I wound up playing the fiddle more,did some adjustments on it,and wound up keeping it for myself. It bothered me that she would think I would try to sell an instrument off that was "junk". Don't let them get to you.
http://www.mandolinbabe.biz
http://www.fiddlebelle.com
http://www.banjobelle.biz
http://www.celticcowgirl.me
@MandolinChick on Twitter
mando pickin,uke strummin,Itish Tenor Banjo pickin, & fiddle sawin' Farmgirl #702 |
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rksmith
True Blue Farmgirl
858 Posts
Rachel
Clayton
GA
USA
858 Posts |
Posted - Mar 11 2012 : 11:43:58 AM
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True true ladies. Thanks for the insights. It just bugs me that some people just can't accept a kind thing without making it into something else. And yeah it does bug me that if they're so worried about why I'm not selling my eggs (cause I don't want to that's why) but at the same time don't offer to pay anything..people are strange. I put up 2 1/2 dozen eggs last night, so in a few months I'll crack open some to see how I did. Guess I'll just have to be more selective in who I attempt to give stuff to.
Rachel
Farmgirl Sister #2753
True enlightenment is nothing but the nature of one's own self being fully realised-- His Holiness the Dali Lama
http://madame1313.wordpress.com/ |
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goneriding
True Blue Farmgirl
1599 Posts
Winona
Central Oregon
USA
1599 Posts |
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Across the Fence: Giving away your excess goodies --a rant of sorts |
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Giving away your excess goodies --a rant of sorts
