SLO Food Bank
Coalition of San Luis Obispo County
GleanSLO
Recapturing nature's bounty for the benefit of our community.
Since March of 2011, we have gleaned over 36,429 Ibs of fresh fruit and vegetables! With the help of over 385 volunteers, we have harvested apples, oranges, tomatoes, artichokes, and plums.
Please join us to celebrate the end of the fall harvest on December 3rd, from 2 PM to 5 PM at SLO Creek Farms in Avila. Join us for an afternoon of apple gleaning, cider pressing, and live music! Please contact Caroline for more information and details, cginsberg@slofoodbank.org or (805) 835-3750
Harvesting Sites needed! Please call (805) 835-3750.
About Us
GleanSLO is a new effort that unites farmers, health advocates, food providers, backyard gardeners and community volunteers together to harvest and donate produce gleanings into San Luis Obispo County’s food system. Last year GleanSLO contributed over 22,000 pounds of gleanings to the Food Bank Coalition’s food distributions and we anticipate this will double in 2011.
GleanSLO was formed by recognizing that through gleaning, many organizations could fulfill their missions in collaborative effort. These partners include Cal Poly STRIDE, Transition Towns, SUSTAIN, Central Coast Ag Network, One Cool Earth, and SLO Grown Kids.
This past summer, GleanSLO was awarded the United Way Innovation Award under the premise that “GleanSLO is not just a program; it’s a movement to purposefully reengage SLO County residents in farming, healthy eating, and providing nutritous food for those in need.”
Our Mission
We seek to create a community culture that utilizes healthy, locally grown food to sustain the needs for all people in San Luis Obispo County.
What is Gleaning?
Gleaning is the collection of leftover crops both large and small, from both farmers’ fields after they have been commercially harvested or from fields where it is not economically profitable to harvest. GleanSLO has expanded this definition to include the collection of surplus produce from backyards and gardens of community residents.
How Can You Help?
There are many opportunities for you to get involved both behind the scenes and “in the field”. You can help by taking part in a glean, assisting in administrative duties, offering your surplus produce, or donating new or used equipment.
Thank you for your interest and we welcome any contact from you!
Caroline Ginsberg
GleanSLO Volunteer Coordinator
cginsberg@slofoodbank.org
(805) 835-3750
