Are you a gardener and a bridal shower hostess? When it’s no longer gardening season, do you have storage crops in your cellar or pantry? Check out this inspiration for how to use them for a bridal shower.
What is the “Use What You Have” Concept?
Before we look at the inspiration, let’s talk about what the “use what you have” concept even is. Primarily, it’s using the supplies (or other resources, like tools and skills), that you already have in your possession. It’s especially good to use things that don’t already have a specific purpose, like extra craft supplies left over from projects (rather than just things you’ve stock up on), or things that can be reused (like tools and non-consumables).
Secondarily, it can mean using the resources you have available to you, even if that does mean spending some money. That is, you don’t have the things in your possession but you can easily and affordably obtain them. For example, if you have a lot of good thrift stores in your area you might shop for decor there, and pick your shower theme and style based on what you can find.
For gardeners, it means using the produce, flowers, and greenery you have in your garden at the time of the shower, especially the things you have in over-abundance (zucchini anyone?). Beyond the garden, it can also mean not just things you have coming in your garden but things that are readily available near you this time of year. So, if you don’t have a garden, or it’s not producing abundantly, you can also take advantage of in-season produce deals, using the same inspiration!
Inspiration: Storage Crops
This post is a collection of images of storage produce, designed to inspire! There are three ways you might use the things from your garden for a bridal shower.
1) To feed the guests. Got turnips? Well, feed them turnips!
2) As decorations. Flowers are obvious, but you can also use herbs and foliage in arrangements. What about storage crops, though? Well, I think that’s a bit more iffy! I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a good-looking stored root, but maybe yours fair a bit better. Squash and pumpkin, however, should stay just as decorative for months as when first harvested . . . unless they’ve started to rot. 😉 It’s going to depend on the crop, the actual specimens you have, and how long everything has been in storage.
3) In some other way. You may be able to use some things from your garden as part of a game or activity, or as a prize. Do any of these images suggest any possible uses? Hint: for a kitchen/food shower you could do a taste test as one of the games, or a recipe demonstration as an activity.
Beets
Beets know how to look festive!
Radishes
Turnips
I had never seen a stuffed turnip before, but now I’m intrigued! See photo #6 (clockwise from top left).
Rutabagas
Soup in a rutabaga? How cute!
Parsnips
Potatoes
There’s always an abundance of ideas for potatoes!
Sweet Potatoes
Roasted sweet potatoes are yummy!
Carrots
It looks like carrots have been to parties before!
Winter Squash
Is your pantry full of winter squash? This collection includes acorn, spaghetti, delicata, pumpkin, and more.
Acorn Squash
Various types of acorn squash.
Spaghetti Squash
And different types of spaghetti squash. Photo #5 looks like brunch to me!
Butternut Squash
Butternut squash in a variety of festive forms.
Onions
Pumpkin
Perfect for a fall shower, of course, but can you think of ways to use pumpkin in winter without it looking out of season? I see several!
Want More?
For cabbage see: Cool Season Crops (coming soon)
Use What You Have Bridal Shower Inspiration: The Fall Garden (coming soon)
Use What You Have Bridal Shower Inspiration: Fresh Herbs
And there you have it! Use what you have bridal shower inspiration, the storage crops edition! Did these photos spark any ideas for you?
