Urban Harvest Exchange

08/25/2026

On the tables today. Shiro, Italian, and purple plums, crackers, pears, apples, zucchini, crookneck squash, tomatoes, green beans, and peppers. Please use the bags provided or bring your own. DON'T TAKE THE BINS, ANYTHING FROM THE DRIVEWAY, OR HARVEST ANYTHING FROM THE GARDEN. Please be RESPECTFUL and only take from the SHARING AREA.

Tacoma Urban Farm
6515 Tacoma Ave S
Accessible 24/7

08/24/2026

Just blew a front tire on Little Red. If it's not one thing it's another. I limped it about a mile, M St to Pacific and got a new tire. They didn't have a used one in my size and I really don't care for them anyway. Just one that someone else thought was bad enough to replace. I'll be looking to replace the other three so I don't have this problem again in the years to come. I paid $125 complete with mounting and balancing. I could use some help getting the other 3 or I'll have to wait for my social security. I had to reschedule my 11 and 1:30 gleans but I'll be at the 7 tree glean at 4pm. I'm still needing more volunteers so if you want to join in please message me for the address. It's in Parkland.

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08/24/2026

I woke this morning feeling nervous about leaving the house. I have a good description of the thieves and it matches the description of the people here a week ago of the people who wanted my wheelbarrow and yard tools. They were told that the tools were not for sale. It was a Ukrainian couple in a white submarine. They called someone to meet them here to help load. They left after they were told the stuff in the driveway wasn't free. Obviously they came back Friday when I wasn't here. I have quite a number of Ukrainians come to the table and pick up for their community and I usually let them take what they need. I even have a very nice group of Ukrainian ladies who come help with food rescue. I asked that the Ukrainian people who use this service to help me identify this couple given how tight their community is. I don't want to be suspicious everytime I see a Ukrainian couple in a white suv come to the table. Please if you are part of the local Ukrainian community help me identify these people or tell them to bring what they stole back. They are giving your community a bad name. As for the Hispanic lady in the red van my neighbors ring camera caught you and your van. I suggest you bring back what you took before I post your picture of you and your van. Also I seem to remember you. I have pasted the description I was given from someone who was here below. Until these people are identified I'm very nervous to leave the house before all the cameras arrive and installed that so many have generously donated. Thank you everyone for supporting this project.

The wife & boys stopped by around..14:00hrs today Friday 21 August and wife noticed a guy carrying three empty crates. She asked him who do we pay for crates ..he set them down..and said oh it's for over here and proceeded to join a lady who was sifting through the side behind the gate and had already rifled through the front. The guy and lady talked about how everything was free. Wife walked through the gate and and looked at the framed art and tried to explain no this is for Skoolie...the guy said yeah, "I know Skoolie, that's my truck.." she tried to explain to them to read the A Sign and that items are in the driveway are for someone else. Both guy & lady ending up stating that the drive way was over there. My wife shook her head. Note: total of 4 individuals, three there as my wife drove up and another person as she did...she shared that none of them appeared to have read the sign. One person used the bags and two acted as if they owned the world.
Unsolicited observations; Gates were unlocked and access to them was clear. The crates...the crates beautiful and new were in the open within reach at the sharing tables. The bags are tucked away. The A Sign was small and too wordy...too much writing, only my wife would stop & read it. Items for Skoolie were visible...boxes were opened...not sure if this was because other "shoppers" had opened and helped themselves.

The guy drove an off-white SUV, he had the back open and was walking to auto with the empty crates...( sorry no photos phone camera doesn't work) like an older model Bronco.
Sorry my wife can't recall much more and one kiddo had to get an appointment so she couldn't stay.
The guy sounded Ukrainian, 5'9" or taller, one lady never spoke and was bended over in the semi- boxed items in the driveway, the other lady was talking without an accent was around 5'3" and had a reusable bag with red fabric handles she set down by the gate..it looked heavy, the individual that arrived the same time as wife was taller than 5'1" she had dark hair, Latino because was talking to 2 kids in auto...one maybe around 4/6yrs in Spanish she was the one that walked up and grabbed a bag, sampled an apple and took several apples and then left..my wife and her talked a bit about plums and pears...she was asking about summer squash and onions.

08/23/2026

On the table today. Canned goods, russet potatoes, pears, kale, plums, and apples. Please use the bags provided or bring your own. DON'T TAKE THE BINS, ANYTHING FROM THE DRIVEWAY, OR HARVEST ANYTHING FROM THE GARDEN. Please be RESPECTFUL and only take from the SHARING AREA. Read the sign and FOLLOW the simple RULES when coming to my home the Farm.

Tacoma Urban Farm
6515 Tacoma Ave S
Accessible 24/7

08/23/2026

A lot of people recommend that I install cameras to protect the Farm. I have a couple of solar ones but they constantly go offline and need to be reconfigured
I made an Amazon list with cameras and lights to help secure the Farm. If you would like to chip in a little to help please check out the list. I also like to thank all the community members who donated tables and a wheelbarrow to replace what was stolen yesterday. We have a strong community.

08/22/2026

Update: Last Saturday a woman came for the wheelchair lift and there was a Ukrainian couple wanting tools from the racks and my wheelbarrow. They were calling people to come pick up stuff. This happened right before I got off at the Proctor Farmers Market. I rushed home and moved the wheelbarrow to the Farm end of the driveway filled with one gallon jars. I didn't notice when I found the other stuff gone that the wheelbarrow and jars are missing to. The wheelbarrow was an expensive orange one with metal handles. Someone one tonight told me about a couple here at 2pm going through the driveway stuff and saying everything was free and they left in a white Suburban or Bronco. It matches with the description from last Saturday. I have many Ukrainians who come here and are respectful and appreciate the help. They are great people. I'm asking my Ukrainian friends that if you know these people in your community to please explain that only the stuff in the sharing area is free and to please bring back what they took and I'll write it off as a misunderstanding. Please look around your community for my tables, the turkey fryer, and the orange wheelbarrow.

I was out gleaning 4 plum trees today, about 350 pounds. But while I was gone getting fruit to help my community some absolute dirt bag came in the driveway and stole 2 6 foot and 2 4 foot tables that I use to give food to the community. They also went all the way down the driveway and stole a turkey fryer and rifled through the Master Gardener clinic kit that I need for the Proctor Farmers Market tomorrow. They left my front gate open when they came in the front yard to steal garage sale items that I'm donating to the Skoolie Foundation. I'm now afraid to leave my house to pick fruit and do my Master Gardener volunteering. Funny thing I found the 3 bins that were stolen last Saturday in the sharing area. I'm so disappointed.

08/21/2026

I recorded my latest episode of Urban Bounty today and it's already in the archive for you to listen to. You can also hear the show broadcasts on RadioTacoma 101.9 Monday and Friday from 2-3. This is my second year doing the show and I'm quite proud how it has come along. Give it a listen and tell what you think and your suggestions.

Advice on gardening, food sovereignty, mutual aid, and growing community. Learn more at https://www.urbanharvestexchange.org/

08/20/2026

Volunteer Opportunity
I just picked up a 7 tree glean. Apples, pears, and plums in Parkland. I really need help with this one. It will be Monday at 4pm. I also have 2 other gleans that day that I need help with too. Apples at 11am in the North End and plums at 1:30pm in Hilltop. Please message me or sign up as a volunteer on the website www.urbanharvestexchange.org/programs/gleaning .

Urban Harvest Exchange Urban Harvest Exchange is a 501c3 people-powered nonprofit organization, growing and sharing fresh, free food, without barriers. We build garden beds, rescue surplus harvest and empower neighbors to feed each other, creating a resilient and self-sustaining community. The vast....

08/20/2026

On the tables today. Pantry items, canned goods, soda, dry soup mix, red potatoes, pears, apples, tomatoes, russet potatoes, collard greens, carrots, mango, a couple of plums, a couple of turnips, cabbage, spinach, cilantro, Italian parsley, mint, bread, English muffins, bagels, and pastries. Please use the bags provided or bring your own. DON'T TAKE THE BINS, ANYTHING FROM THE DRIVEWAY, OR HARVEST ANYTHING FROM THE GARDEN. Please be respectful and only take from the sharing area.

Tacoma Urban Farm
65615 Tacoma Ave S
Accessible 24/7

08/19/2026

On the table today. Canned goods, Asian salad mix, pears, turnips, tomatoes, and apples. Please use the bags provided or bring your own. Please read the sign with the guidelines for using the sharing area. DON'T TAKE THE BINS, ANYTHING FROM THE DRIVEWAY, OR HARVEST ANYTHING FROM THE GARDEN. Please be respectful and only take from the sharing area.

Tacoma Urban Farm
6515 Tacoma Ave S
Accessible 24/7