Oak Park Crop Swap: vegetarian swingers wanted

Did you get overeager with the zucchini plants but lost the lovely tomatoes you were hoping to enjoy? Fear not: You can swap your crops. The Oak Park Crop Swap, which began last summer, is a great recession-era shopping spree. Just take any homegrown organic produce you can’t use (fresh from the garden, please) to McClatchy Park (3500 Fifth Avenue) each Monday from 6 to 7 p.m. You’ll get your veggies weighed and receive “Crop Swap Dollars” to spend on anyone else’s produce. Lately, people have also been bringing things they’ve made, like smoked chipotle peppers. You might even find a masseuse on hand, and there are often local experts scheduled to talk about gardening subjects, like building raised garden beds or beekeeping. To date, swappers have traded almost 363 pounds of produce. Right now, the swaps are only scheduled through the end of September, but with year-round gardening here in Sacramento, you can put in your vote for a longer season. Visit www.oakparkcropswap.org for more info.