Glean: to harvest or collect leftover vegetables and fruit that would otherwise go to waste
TCFB’s Gleaning Program rescues fresh produce from local farms, gardens, and residential fruit trees and bushes, reducing waste and increasing produce availability for our clients. Each year, we glean an average 26,000–30,000 pounds of produce!
From May into winter, whether collecting pre-harvested produce, harvesting in a farm field, or picking neighborhood fruit trees, our gleaning volunteers enjoy camaraderie and fresh air while making a real difference in their community!
FIELD GLEANS
Every Friday, 9am to 12pm, from July through September:
On our Apply Now / Shift Sign-Up page we will post specifics about a weekly Field Glean on a local farm. Sometimes farmers are unable to harvest perfectly viable crops from the field, for lack of a market or because it costs too much in labor to harvest. Volunteers meet either at the TCFB Warehouse or at the farm and harvest these fruits and vegetables from the field. Volunteers will be given tools needed and specific instructions from TCFB staff for a successful harvest. All produce gets delivered to TCFB pantries.
PICK-UP GLEANS
Ride along with a TCFB staff person to rescue produce from farms that has already been harvested. Transfer the harvested produce from the farm’s bins, to TCFB bins. We are looking for 6-8 regular volunteers who can commit to helping out with 8 pick-ups from July to September.
PICK ONE, GIVE ONE
Help harvest from fruit trees and fruit bushes in residential neighborhoods and one share will go to the Food Bank and you can take a share home for yourself! There is so much fruit in Thurston County that gets left unharvested and ends up going to waste. Help us harvest this fruit and take some home for yourself and your family in the process.
Neighborhood Gleans: Sign up to volunteer, and stay tuned for a neighborhood-event Gleaning Day. Register to harvest!
For more information please contact MackenzieM@tcfb.org.
