Monday 6 June 2016

Car boot sale

Car boot sales in France go under the name of vide greniers, or empty attics.   I like browsing them, since not only is there an opportunity to pick up bargains, but they're a window into the local culture: we often go to them when we travel, and it's interesting to note the differences in what is for sale.

The ones this weekend were local, and pickings were thin.   There was a stand that had a "help yourself" box, so I picked up a couple of CDs from it.   The squash plant is a Butternut squash, and although I have some seeds planted, they are not up yet.    This plant is starving (indicated by the yellow lower leaves) because the nutrients in the pot are exhausted, but I think it will recover in my garden, and it was only one euro.  The apples were being sold to fund a home for mistreated animals.  This is always a soft spot for me, I can neither understand nor abide ill-treatment of animals, so I bought a kilo for a euro (5 apples).  I was told that they are Jonagored, a type I had not heard of, and they are delicious.  I looked them up, and discovered that they are supposed to keep until April or so, but here they are in in June, still firm, crisp and juicy.  I found a tree nursery (pépinière, m) that sells this type of tree, and I will plant some.   Another reason to go to vide greniers.


4 comments:

James Higham said...

Eating in a good cause - like the idea.

Mark In Mayenne said...

Like those 1,000 dollar-per-plate charity dinners, but french country style :)

Actually I feel a bit guilty about only handing over a euro, but this consideration got drowned in how many apples I wanted.

James Higham said...

That's the spirit.

The Jannie said...

We went to one in Vimoutiers about fifteen years ago; it was terrible! Grubby-looking clothes we could have bought at home for not much more, broken toys, generally total crap at daft prices. Maybe the Normans haven't grasped the concept!

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