Harvesting for Community Since 1996
GLEAN:
(v) /glēn/ to gather the remnants of crops from the field, after the main harvest
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Gleaning is the act of collecting the remaining crops from farm fields, after the commercial harvesting process is complete. The practice dates back to early civilizations. In fact, the Hebrew Bible and Old Testament command that farmers leave the corners of their fields unharvested and do not return to gather any produce that is dropped or overlooked in the initial harvest. These crops ("gleanings") are to be left for the poor, strangers, and others in need, to freely pick from the remnants left in the fields.
The practice continues today, with some minor modifications. FAH receives calls from farmers statewide, inviting us to bring in volunteers to glean. Sometimes, this is the traditional gleaning of crops left behind after harvest (overlooked, dropped, or left because they were not yet ripe). Other times, farms merely find themselves with surplus crops, without the staff or customers to make it profitable to harvest. In any case, we always find an abundance of healthy and delicious produce, ready to be shared with our neighbors in need. Our gleaning season typically goes from June to December, picking a wide range of crops—sweet corn, apples, green beans, tomatoes, squash, potatoes, and much more. If you have a few hours to spare, we'd love your help! |
To volunteer, sign up for our email list here!
Gleaning opportunities often come up at the last minute, depending on factors like weather, daily sales, and crop ripening speeds. Events are scheduled 1-7 days in advance, depending on when farmers call.
The best way to learn about upcoming volunteer gleaning opportunities is to sign up for our email list above. Gleaning events start in June and continue through December. For information about scheduling a volunteer session for groups of 10+ people, click here. |
*Note: all new volunteers will need to sign a waiver form before gleaning.
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