Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to common questions about swapping and donating surplus produce locally with Plentifully.

About Plentifully

What is Plentifully?

Plentifully is a cash-free marketplace and community-powered network where neighbors can swap or donate surplus produce, seeds, tools, garden space, and knowledge.

Our mission is to make neighbor-to-neighbor food sharing simple, safe, and joyful for backyard growers, community gardens, and anyone who wants to help their neighborhood thrive.

You can learn more about our story and mission on the About page.

Who is Plentifully for?

  • Backyard and balcony growers with more than they can use

  • Community garden members and coordinators

  • Neighbors who want to swap or donate homegrown food locally

  • Mutual aid groups and food access advocates

  • Local organizations that want to reduce food waste and support their community

Is Plentifully free to use?

Yes. Plentifully is 100 percent cash-free.

There are no listing fees, subscription fees, or transaction fees for swaps or donations.

Are tokens or rewards involved?

Not right now. Plentifully focuses on simple neighbor-to-neighbor swaps and donations.

If we introduce any incentives or reward systems in the future, we will share official details on this website first. Please ignore any third party claims that are not from Plentifully.

How swaps and donations work

How do swaps work?

You sign up, choose your metro, and connect to local hubs in your area. From there you can:

  • List what you have

  • Request what you need

  • Match with neighbors who are nearby

Swaps can be completed at public pickup hubs or at small community events hosted by partners.

Do I have to trade item for item?

No. Swaps on Plentifully are flexible. They can be:

  • Item for item

  • Many items for one item

  • A mix of items and skills

  • A pure donation with nothing expected in return

How do donation listings work?

When you create a listing, you can mark it as a donation instead of a swap.

Donation listings are meant for situations where you want to give surplus produce, seeds, or other items without needing anything back. We help connect those listings with neighbors or local food banks and community pantries where possible.

Is money involved? Are these sales?

No. Plentifully is a cash-free, non-commercial swap network.

There are no sales on Plentifully. It is not a platform for buying or selling food.

What you can share

What can I swap or donate?

Common things people share through Plentifully include:

  • Fresh produce from home gardens or community plots

  • Herbs, seedlings, and extra starts

  • Saved seeds and heirloom varieties

  • Garden tools and equipment

  • Supplies like soil, compost, or containers

  • Shared space for events, planting days, or workshops

  • Knowledge and skills like pruning help, pest troubleshooting, or teaching a gardening class

What is not allowed on Plentifully?

To keep the network safe and community-focused, the following are not allowed:

  • Alcohol

  • Controlled substances

  • Weapons

  • Anything illegal in your area

  • Items that are clearly unsafe for human use or consumption

If you are not sure whether something is appropriate, you can always ask us.

Can I share skills or time instead of physical items?

Yes. You can list skills and time as something you have to offer. Examples include:

  • Helping a neighbor build raised beds

  • Teaching seed starting or composting

  • Offering translation or outreach support for events

Skills can be swapped directly or combined with produce and tools in multi-party swaps.

Safety and guidelines

How is food safety handled?

Plentifully is built on the idea of sharing food you would comfortably give to a neighbor. We ask that you:

  • Only bring fresh, safe, and reasonably clean items

  • Keep perishables chilled if needed

  • Label common allergens where possible

  • Avoid sharing anything spoiled or questionable

Each city may also follow local food sharing or cottage food guidelines where they apply.

Where do swaps and pickups happen?

Swaps usually happen at:

  • Designated public pickup hubs in your neighborhood

  • Community gardens and partner locations

  • Small local events organized with community partners

Hubs are chosen to be visible, accessible, and comfortable for neighbors.

Is there any kind of review or reputation system?

Yes. Over time, members can build trust through:

  • Profile verification

  • Swap history

  • Community reviews and feedback

These tools are there to help you feel more confident about who you are swapping or donating with.

Membership, ambassadors, and partners

I do not grow food. Can I still join Plentifully?

Absolutely. You do not have to be a grower to be part of Plentifully.

You can:

  • Share tools or supplies

  • Offer space for events

  • Volunteer at hubs or swaps

  • Help with outreach and translation

  • Support local growers by receiving and using their surplus produce

Who can be an ambassador?

Ambassadors are neighbors who want to help Plentifully grow in their community. They often help with:

  • Outreach and local communication

  • Organizing or supporting events

  • Partner relationships

  • Moderation and community care

  • Translations and accessibility

If you are interested in becoming an ambassador, you can start by joining our community and reading the Ambassador Guidelines and Code of Conduct.

How do organizations or partners get involved?

Community gardens, nonprofits, mutual aid groups, schools, markets, and local businesses can:

  • Host public pickup hubs

  • Co-host events

  • Help coordinate volunteers

  • Support outreach to neighbors

Most partnerships start with a simple conversation and, when helpful, a memorandum of understanding that spells out roles and expectations.

Cities and availability

Where are you launching first?

We are currently forming early access cohorts in:

  • Albuquerque, New Mexico

  • Minneapolis, Minnesota

  • St. Paul, Minnesota

  • Tampa, Florida

I am not in one of those cities. Can I still sign up?

Yes. If you are outside the pilot metros, you can still:

  • Join the waitlist for your city or region

  • Tell us what you would like to share or receive

  • Express interest in helping start a future hub

When enough neighbors in your area sign up or a strong partner steps forward, we will reach out.

How do I get early access?

Visit our Early Access page, select your city, and complete the short form.

We will contact you as soon as your local hub or cohort is ready to start trying swaps and donations.

Data and privacy

What data does Plentifully collect?

We collect:

  • Basic contact information so we can reach you

  • Your metro or ZIP code so we can connect you to nearby hubs

  • The items, skills, or resources you choose to list

We also use privacy-respecting analytics to understand how people use Plentifully and to improve the experience.

How is my data used?

Your data is used to:

  • Match you with nearby swaps, donations, and events

  • Notify you about updates to your local hub

  • Improve the platform and understand demand in different areas

We do not sell your personal data. For full details, please see our Privacy Policy.

How do I report a concern or problem?

If you have a concern about an item, a swap, or a member, you can:

  • Talk to a host at the event or hub, if you are at one

  • Email us at info@plentifully.co with details

If anyone is in immediate danger, please contact local emergency services first.

How you can help

How can I help right now?

There are several ways to support Plentifully and your local food sharing network:

  • Join the early access list for your city

  • Join the waitlist if you are outside the pilot metros

  • Pledge items, tools, or skills you can share

  • Volunteer as an ambassador or event helper

  • Introduce us to a community garden, pantry, or local partner

I want to host a hub or event. What should I do?

That is great. Hosting a hub or event can make a big difference in your neighborhood.

The best next step is to:

We will follow up to explore what a pilot hub or event could look like in your area.

Ready to join Plentifully?

Turn your surplus produce and garden resources into something that helps your neighbors.

Get Early Access in My City
Join the waitlist for my city