A Weekend of Fruit and Fun
Once again, our community has shown their support of food equity, sustainability, and connections in our first ever Citywide Gleaning Day. We asked for volunteers and over 100 people signed up. We asked for tree stewards to share the bounty of their fruit trees. Dozens graciously said yes. On September 28th 11 teams will fan out across Denver and glean fruit trees. The harvest will be shared with numerous food relief organizations. The seconds will be used to make cider at a few harvest events across town. Denver Food Rescue, Fresh Food Connect, We Don’t Waste, and Southwest Food Coalition will pick up much of our harvest and distribute to their partnering organizations. This morning will illustrate how people coming together can make a positive change.
The fun doesn’t stop there. Join us and our partnering organizations on Sunday, September 29th, for ApplePalooza. The afternoon will include cider making, poetry, music, ice cream from Little Man, and a potluck of seasonal food.
Click here to sign up for ApplePalooza
The fun doesn’t stop there. Join us and our partnering organizations on Sunday, September 29th, for ApplePalooza. The afternoon will include cider making, poetry, music, ice cream from Little Man, and a potluck of seasonal food.
Click here to sign up for ApplePalooza
The Denverite has featured our gleaning efforts over the past three years. Each time one of Kevin Beaty's articles appears we get a big influx of volunteers and tree owners wanting to be a part of this positive project. That additional interest translates into more trees to harvest and more helping hands to make it happen. Thank you, Denverite and Kevin, for making gleaning so popular in our community.
Read Kevin Beaty's recent article...
Gleaning with Grow Local Colorado
By Felicia Brower, GLC volunteer
Volunteer with Grow Local Colorado by attending a gleaning event! We host these opportunities every weekend from early September through October. To sign up for our gleaning email list email us at [email protected].
What is gleaning?
Fruit tree owners know that it can get a bit overwhelming when all of the fruit on a tree ripens. If you don't have a plan for handling the fruit or a way to get it out of the tree, you end up with a sticky, fruit- filled yard. When Grow Local Colorado comes to glean a tree, we knock down all of the ripe fruit, collect it, and share it with organizations in the community who share it with neighbors in need. It prevents the homeowner's yard from becoming a mess and helps close the gap on food waste. A true win-win!
The high-quality fruit is distributed to the community, and we use the fruit with minor blemishes for making sauce and cider. A few schools use the fruit for cooking classes. The more bruised fruits are either composted or given to local pig farmers. Nothing goes to the landfill.
How long has Grow Local Colorado been gleaning?
Back in 2019, we saw a growing need for fresh produce at local food pantries and shelters while also noticing a large amount of fruit on our local trees going to waste. An idea was born, and in 2019 we started gleaning local fruit trees. That first season, we picked 350 pounds of fruit and distributed it to four organizations. When we started delivering our hauls to the food pantries and shelters it was evident that we were on to something. Clients of shelters and food pantries were so thankful for this delicious and healthy fruit.
Every year since then, we've grown in the number of trees to glean, eager volunteers to do it, and grateful organizations that let us know we're making a real difference in the lives of others in our community.
Learn more about gleaning in this Denverite article by Kevin Beatty.
Back in 2019, we saw a growing need for fresh produce at local food pantries and shelters while also noticing a large amount of fruit on our local trees going to waste. An idea was born, and in 2019 we started gleaning local fruit trees. That first season, we picked 350 pounds of fruit and distributed it to four organizations. When we started delivering our hauls to the food pantries and shelters it was evident that we were on to something. Clients of shelters and food pantries were so thankful for this delicious and healthy fruit.
Every year since then, we've grown in the number of trees to glean, eager volunteers to do it, and grateful organizations that let us know we're making a real difference in the lives of others in our community.
Learn more about gleaning in this Denverite article by Kevin Beatty.
How can I get involved?
If you're a homeowner with trees that need to be gleaned or would like to volunteer at harvest time, please email us at [email protected].
You can also follow us on Instagram or Facebook where you'll see upcoming volunteer opportunities, typically shared the week of.
What should I expect?
After you sign up for a gleaning shift, you'll head to the address listed on the volunteer sign up page. Once there, you'll meet up with a Grow Local Colorado lead and other volunteers where you'll get specific instructions about how to glean the trees on the property. The group of volunteers will shake trees, collect fallen fruit, and sort it all for easy donation. The entire process takes about 2-3 hours.
All materials are provided. Dress appropriately for the weather and bring gloves and water if desired. As an added thank you, volunteers will be able to take home some of the fruit at the end of the shift.
What if I have questions?
If you have questions, please reach out to: [email protected]
Thank you to everyone who has ever volunteered, let us glean their trees, or is thinking about volunteering or inviting us to their property. We couldn't do this important work without you!
If you're a homeowner with trees that need to be gleaned or would like to volunteer at harvest time, please email us at [email protected].
You can also follow us on Instagram or Facebook where you'll see upcoming volunteer opportunities, typically shared the week of.
What should I expect?
After you sign up for a gleaning shift, you'll head to the address listed on the volunteer sign up page. Once there, you'll meet up with a Grow Local Colorado lead and other volunteers where you'll get specific instructions about how to glean the trees on the property. The group of volunteers will shake trees, collect fallen fruit, and sort it all for easy donation. The entire process takes about 2-3 hours.
All materials are provided. Dress appropriately for the weather and bring gloves and water if desired. As an added thank you, volunteers will be able to take home some of the fruit at the end of the shift.
What if I have questions?
If you have questions, please reach out to: [email protected]
Thank you to everyone who has ever volunteered, let us glean their trees, or is thinking about volunteering or inviting us to their property. We couldn't do this important work without you!