There’s a big, beautiful avocado tree outside my window that I planted when I moved into this house 6 years ago. A tiny sapling then, it’s a large tree heavy with fruit now and, as it’s been coming into its own, I’ve been keeping a proprietary eye on the avocados and the thrushy birds who love them as much as I do.
I followed the advise of an expert and picked them as soon as the birds started pecking, easing them into the basket of my new extension pole fruit picker and lining them up on my kitchen counter – 1 green baby after the other counting in at 15 with a few more on the tree.
Since they’re fetching 4-5 dollars apiece, I scanned my storage room for a table, thought about when would be the best time to set up a stand and asked a few friends if they wanted to keep me company. No one said yes,
I took a photo of the avocados and posted it on Facebook with my dilemma – should I sell or give away my avocados. I got 28 comments. Some people were all for selling them, others felt half and half would do, several said “sell them if you need the money”, a couple voted for avocado philanthropy and one said give away what you don’t eat.
I am fortunate enough to be able to forfeit the $40-$50 selling them would put in my pocket. To feed my kids or pay the bills, I wouldn’t think twice and I’d be up on the road. But I have a hunch that selling them or giving them away is more than a question of need but of inclination, what feels right based on your values, your upbringing, your current status, your heart and your ability to generate cash in other ways.
The luxury in which I now stand is not the luxury of monetary wealth, but the luxury of avocados and coconuts and star fruit, beauty all around and well-being. I can afford to give away my avocados and the pleasure I get from doing so is worth far more than $40. That’s me.
I get that someone else might see all those avocados and think dollar signs $$$$, add the star fruit to boot, throw in some genips and pay some bills or start a fruit savings account. Payment as an exchange of energy is important and an indication of how invested someone may be in therapy, an educational program, an exercise class. We sometimes value the things we pay for more than what is offered for free. we want to get ‘our money’s worth.”
But this feels different. These are precious gifts offered to me freely by a tree and offered by me to whoever is lucky enough to cross my path or mind or both at the right time. They are given in a spirit of playful whimsy with love thrown in – like giving out roses on Valentine’s day. With my avocados I bestow a small buttery swath of green abundance on all recipients. Or at least that’s the way I like to tell the story, with a smile. And I have testimonials.
So, what’s your fruit situation? Do you have trees that bear? What do you do with the fruit that you don’t eat?
Make tarts or jams, jellies and stews with what you can? What do you do with the avocados? Do you sell them? Do you give them away? Eat them straight for days on end until they’re gone? Have a margarita party?
I just made a batch of delicious guacamole to take to a friends house. I’ll give her an avocado to have her way with and might take a couple of extra’s with me just in case –
Maybe you’ll be lucky enough to run into me – right place, ripe time, avocado time.:)
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