Gleaning Project.
Get involved!
Revelstoke Bear Aware is always looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help with a variety of tasks.
The Gleaning Project.
Our gleaning team takes care of the fruit harvest in Revelstoke for those that are not able. Fruit is a major bear attractant so by making sure out communities fruit trees stay gleaned, we make sure the bears aren’t drawn to the area for easy pickings.
THE GLEANING PROJECT
Volunteer with the Gleaning Project team.
Our coordinator, our tree scouts, and home-owners decide together the best time to schedule a harvest party. Volunteers arrive to pick the fruit at a pre-arranged time. Harvested fruit is shared between homeowners, volunteers, and community agencies such as the Community Connections Food Bank and Food Recovery Program.
The Gleaning Project helps to reduce bear attractants by gathering fruits and vegetables from our community. Residents with excess fruit can contact Revelstoke Bear Aware to arrange volunteers to harvest fruit. The volunteers receive some of the fruit and the remaining fruit is donated to fresh to Community Connections Food Bank or is preserved by the North Columbia Environmental Society’s Canning Project before donation to the Food Bank.
Volunteer
Sign up to be on the Gleaning Project email list
The Gleaning Project works!
In 2017, Community Connections Food Bank was pleased to receive 1800 pounds of cherries, plums and apples from The Gleaning Project. Community Connections Food Bank also saw an increase in the amount of fruit that was being donated, outside of The Gleaning Project.
You too can donate your surplus fruit. Take your fruit to these locations but phone first to arrange a drop-off time:
Community Connections – 1-250-837-2920
Use your own social media account or Revelstoke Fruit Share Facebook community. to let others know that you have picked fruit to give away. If your fruit is in poor condition, take it to the landfill or bag it for collection on your garbage day. Community Connections also takes non-edible fruit for donation to local pig farmers.
Gleaning Volunteer
Bear Aware volunteers work hard, and are much appreciated! If you are interested in becoming a gleaning volunteer, even for a day, please contact us.
Gleaning étiquette and FAQ:
Be on time.
We do not want people showing up randomly to someone’s home. And it’s so much nicer to work on the fruit together!
Bring All Necessary Equipment.
What to bring to a pick:
- 1 ladder per volunteer
- If you don’t bring a ladder you can be ground crew, to pass buckets and tools and pick up fallen fruit
- Pails/boxes for the fruit you would like to take home
- Gloves if you like ’em
- Appropriate footwear (no sandals on ladders please!)
- Bring your friends/family/kids! The more the merrier. Your kids will need your supervision due to the ladder work. Please leave your furry family at home.
What we provide:
- Pails/boxes for the compost and the fruit to donate to the food bank
- Rake for clean up
- 2 fruit picking poles for the group
- 2 orchard ladders for the group
When on Site:
- Ensure the fruit is harvested and shared safely and respectfully.
- Always be respectful of the fruit owner’s property and the instructions they provide for the harvest.
- Clean up!
- Non-edible fruit gets donated to local pig farmers or composted.
- Leave the site as neat or neater then before you arrived.
Safety first
We are extremely proud of our volunteers and the care and respect they show fruit owners’ property and fruit. We also care about them a great deal and instruct them to be safe and avoid taking unnecessary risks. Please understand that sometimes, this means that parts of a fruit tree may not be able to be picked (e.g. if the fruit hangs over a delicate structure or the fruit is higher than can be safely reached with a ladder, etc.). Pruning your tree is very helpful for our volunteers.
Please be sure your pets are indoors while your fruit is being picked.
Every effort makes a big difference in our community
Whether you volunteer, become a member or make a financial donation, your efforts are appreciated and make a big difference locally. Thank you.
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