This Tacoma gardener turned his zucchini problem into a community-building effort

David Thompson had a problem that many gardeners can relate to: he had too many vegetables. Even after sharing with neighbors, there was still plenty to go around.

But Thompson found a way to spread the bounty. And he hopes it’ll inspire other gardeners to do the same.

It’s Sunday afternoon at Tacoma’s Jefferson Park. David Thompson and a couple of volunteers are setting up tables that will hold bins of vegetables, free for the taking.

“Gardeners always call it the zucchini problem,” said Thompson. “And it’s always a big joke that you’ll leave it in the neighbor’s cars and whatever you can to get rid of that zucchini. This solves the zucchini problem.”