August 8 is National Sneak Some Zucchini onto Your Neighbor’s Porch Day!

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Zucchini Fertility Spawns Annual Holiday

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Ah, zucchini. Every gardener who has grown zucchini knows that vines go crazy this time of year—producing hundreds of tiny squash. They quickly grow to gargantuan size if not picked. For seasoned gardeners, the struggle is real. What to do with all that zucchini? 

Come learn all about National Sneak Some Zucchini onto Your Neighbor’s Porch Day.

For those of us blessed (or perhaps burdened) with abundant zucchini, August 8 brings a delightful solution: National Sneak Some Zucchini onto Your Neighbor’s Porch Day! This playful holiday, designated by Pennsylvanian Tom Roy, is a gardener’s secret weapon. It’s a chance to share the bounty of your harvest lightheartedly. We’ve all been there – staring down a fridge overflowing with zucchini, desperately searching for new recipes (zucchini bread, anyone?).  Sneak Some Zucchini Day offers a solution that fosters good-natured neighborly connection.

To celebrate it, you simply wait until the dead of night and quietly creep up to your neighbor’s front doors, leaving plenty of zucchini for them to enjoy …  Consider attaching a friendly note signed with a gardening pseudonym like “The Zucchini Fairy” or “The Masked Squasher.” This adds to the fun and lets your neighbor know the gift is intentional.

It is a way to rid yourself of the avalanche of long, green squash this time of year.  They don’t can well (but, you can freeze them!).  You can only bake and consume so much zucchini bread, quiches, and cakes.  And, friends and relatives have stopped answering their doors when they see you come up their walk with heavy bags of freshly-picked zucchini.

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A day’s harvest from a plant or two can easily feed dozens of hungry people.

Zucchini Sharing Strategies 

National Sneak Some Zucchini onto Your Neighbor’s Porch Day is just one way to share your summer squash bounty. Here are some additional ideas: 

  • Host a Zucchini Cookout: Invite your neighbors over for a potluck featuring all things zucchini! From fritters to bread to refreshing salads, the possibilities are endless. 
  • Start a Neighborhood Zucchini Exchange: Leave a basket at the end of your driveway where neighbors can leave or take zucchini. It’s a simple way to share the wealth and prevent food waste.
  •  Donate to a Local Food Pantry: If you have a truly overwhelming amount of zucchini, consider donating it to a local food pantry or soup kitchen. Click here to find one near you. 

So, this August 8th, embrace the spirit of National Sneak Some Zucchini onto Your Neighbor’s Porch Day! Share your harvest, spread some summer cheer, and celebrate the camaraderie that binds gardeners together. After all, a little zucchini goes a long way in fostering good neighbors and a thriving community.

How do you use your excess zucchini?  Have you celebrated the holiday and gifted neighbors, or do you plan to this year?

For more ways to use zucchini, see the Almanac’s 15 best zucchini recipes!

About The Author

Doreen G. Howard

Doreen Howard, an award-winning author, is the former garden editor at Woman’s Day. She has gardened in every climate zone from California to Texas to Oklahoma to the Midwest. She’s especially fond of unusual houseplants and heirloom edibles. Read More from Doreen G. Howard

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