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Owen is a Harvest VISTA member serving with Portland Fruit Tree Project (PFTP), a gleaning organization focused on reducing food waste from fruit trees and cultivating urban orchard spaces.

As the Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator with Portland Fruit Tree Project, part of Owen’s role involves hosting volunteer groups at the community orchards that PFTP maintains in the city of Portland. These community orchards are not just spaces for growing fruit to donate to food pantries, though that is certainly their objective. They are also spaces for learning, teaching, experimentation, and collaboration. The Parkrose Community Orchard, located behind a church in Northeast Portland, is home to over 40 fruiting plants including trees, vines, and shrubs. This summer Owen corresponded with the Volunteer Coordinator for the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland (JFGP) to set up a volunteer day for members at the Parkrose Community Orchard. 

Owen hosted a group of 30 volunteers from the JFGP in an orchard tour and discussion of why caring for urban orchard spaces is an important part of food sovereignty. The group carried out orchard maintenance tasks such as weeding, picking up fallen fruit, and fruit thinning as well as harvesting. Volunteers were able to harvest 236 pounds of apples, 17 pounds of pears, 9 pounds of berries, and 5 pounds of plums to distribute to food pantries that day. After picking, volunteers of varying ages and backgrounds sat in groups to sort between the A-grade and B-grade fruit sharing stories and getting to know one another. For most volunteers, it was their first time working with Portland Fruit Tree Project and many said they would like to come out again sometime. Events like this with the JFGP help PFTP keep its orchards productive, expand its volunteer base, and deepen its cultural connections within the community.