Picture-perfect produce exchange

A grassroots, giving spirit animates the La Jolla Backyard Produce Exchange. This garden-centric neighborhood celebration springs to life the second Sunday afternoon of the month, on a wee patch of green just north of the La Jolla United Methodist Church Nursery School campus.

Local garden gnomes gather in Via Del Norte Mini Park at 3 p.m., their arms filled with baskets, boxes and bags of their home gardens’ seasonal bounty. Within minutes, a blank table-top canvas is transformed into a vibrant still life, brimming with homegrown vegetables, fruit, herbs, fresh eggs, honey and flower cuttings.

Bird Rock resident Jeannette De Wyze, the event’s organizer and frontline ambassador, started the produce exchange in 2019. Since then, it’s become a beloved weekend ritual, drawing neighbors together to share, chat and swap gardening tips.

“Trading and sharing start promptly at 3:30 p.m.,” she explained. “No money exchanges hands, just lots of goodwill.”

Not knowing who will turn out and what will turn up lends an air of happy suspense to an otherwise calm and collected community confab. Parking is never a worry, thanks to the plentiful spaces lining the quiet street in front of the pocket park.

 “Please consider joining us,” Jeannette said encouragingly. “Bring your own bags!”

Your next opportunity to participate in La Jolla’s Backyard Produce Exchange is April 12.