From Concord Grapes to ‘Goat Gold,’ Local Produce Exchange Hits New High

By David Drum

About two-dozen people gathered in the Eagle Rock garden of Karin Kachler on Sunday evening for the monthly cooperative produce exchange known as RIPE Eagle Rock.

While most of the people who brought organic fruits and vegetables to trade were from Eagle Rock and Highland Park, a few came from as far away as Glendale and Altadena. The number of participants was about triple compared to last month’s event.

Many of those who came discovered the event for the first time as they sampled fruits and vegetables displayed on two long outdoor display tables. Some exchanged gardening information.

People came, sampled and went home with Concord and Champagne grapes, licorice, kale, Swiss chard, chives, collard greens, fennel, lemon grass, basil, Asian pears, and heritage and cherry tomatoes.

Other items ranged from three kinds of figs—including a palm-sized variety that evoked the biggest “aaahhhs” and “ooohhhs” from the Aug. 11 gathering—and three kinds of grapefruit (yellow, pink and white). Jams made out of meyer lemons, berries and figs were yet another highlight.

One participant brought Montbretia flower bulbs, which aren’t edible but were snapped up nonetheless.

The RIPE group now has 31 members, Karin said, adding that she hopes the event next month would be even larger. Some gardeners said they were happy to find a place to make use of their excess fruits and vegetables. Several said that next month they planned to return and bring their friends.

Clearly the most exotic item of the evening was "goat gold"—soiled goat straw that’s considered to be one of nature's finest fertilizers. People stuffed it in their bags and one member offered to pick up 10 bags of the stuff from a private goat farm to hand out at next month’s meeting.

Related: How 'RIPE' is Your Garden?

RIPE Eagle Rock meets every second Sunday of the month at 7 p.m. at 1597 Grandola Ave., a few blocks south of Trader Joe’s, on the northeast corner of Townsend Avenue. Membership is free. E-mail Karin Kachler at screamingredcat@hotmail.com or send her a text at 3102796681.