Deer Park Library offers produce swap for those with extra veggies

Gardeners drowning in zucchini or awash in tomatoes can bring them to the Deer Park Library every Sunday this month for a produce swap.

It’s a low-key affair, just a table with a sign inviting people to leave produce in exchange for the bounty of someone else’s garden. “You don’t want it to go to waste,” said Deer Park Community Librarian Amber Williams.

The swap is part of the Spokane County Library District’s growing emphasis on, well, growing. The Medical Lake, Deer Park and Otis Orchards libraries all have seed libraries. People can pick up free packets of seeds in the spring in exchange for bringing back seeds from their harvest in the fall.

The libraries also offer classes taught by master gardeners about growing produce. In the fall the classes teach salsa making and pickling.

The produce swap has been little publicized and not many people have heard about it, Williams said. Usually there isn’t anything left over, but if there is it will be donated to a local food bank.

The Deer Park Library at 208 S. Forest Ave. is open from 1 to 5 p.m. on Sundays.