Apples, plums, pears and grapes galore were harvested from our neighborhood trees in our 2-day annual gleaning project. In this second year of collaboration with the food banks of White Center and West Seattle, our members and volunteers braved the elements to glean fruit (at least on the rainy morning in September). Neighbors signed up their trees to be harvested. There’s an abundance of fruit that would otherwise go to waste or land on the ground to compost, but this program provided fresh fruit to people in need in our community.
Scouts from a local troupe joined us for the August gleaning day. Since the optimum picking days vary for different fruits, different species and even different locations, the two days produced different results. September yielded more pounds of fruit this year. The food banks have many ways to use and distribute the fruit and are greatly appreciative of our efforts. Special thanks go to our lead, Mike Price, who coordinated the project with efficiency and enthusiasm.
Seeing the lush harvest, the beautiful colors, in such abundance was an experience in itself. We’re thankful for the bounty and the benefits reaching the community through our food banks.
