In order to engage volunteers, it is a good idea to expand their knowledge of local, available produce. New or unusual produce can be featured in the volunteer newsletter. This will encourage volunteers to come to gleaning events that might not otherwise interest them. A…
Clallam County has a rich history of home and farm orchards. The tree fruit in the area includes Apples, Peaches, Cherries, Plums, Pears, and Figs. In addition to this tree fruit, Clallam County can grow several nuts, berries, and vegetables. The environmental good fortune of…
In a location of produce abundance such as Clallam County, finding available produce is not a challenge. Often there is more available than volunteers can pick. Therefore, volunteers should be encouraged to be politely selective about what they harvest and donate. This will ensure that…
The Clallam County Gleaning Program has partnered with one local farmer’s market to recover market produce and baked goods. This partnership set seed when a volunteer gleaner and avid farmer’s market shopper brought it to the attention of the gleaning coordinator. From there the gleaning…
Prior to Glean: Coordinate with farmers. Make a list of info you need from farmers to effectively and efficiently coordinate gleaning events. This includes: type of produce, number of volunteers needed for a 2-3 hours harvest, best hours for farm to have volunteers (some farms…
Reach out to the Farmers Market Coordinator to express interest in setting up market Recovery. Try to set up a meeting to learn more about the Farmers Market and have them help you set up this opportunity if they think there will be interest from…
Many fruit tree harvests are backyard fruit trees hidden right in your community. Home owners will have a range of fruit tree knowledge, and this can sometimes make it a bit challenging to coordinate a glean. A new home-owner may not be familiar with when…
One of TCFB’s big farm donors was mainly supplying culled produce, or produce that had already been harvested. This produce can be anything that was sorted out as un-sellable, such as blemished or misshapen vegetables, produce that was not sold at the market, CSA boxes…
Once you have established a gleaning program and have fresh vegetables and fruits coming through your food bank doors, it is important to make sure that clients know how to prepare and cook with the produce. When you develop a great gleaning partnership, it is…
The Thurston County Food Bank hopes to one day have a full food bank farming operation, but in the meantime, they have a very successful relationship with a local service club to manage a food bank garden project. The Kiwanis Club of Olympia has garden…