SOUND OFF: Gleaning Abundance Program adapting to climate change
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WELCOME BACK to the Gleaning Abundance Program (GAP)! I’m thrilled to be the GAP coordinator for this season and invite you to participate in our local fruit and vegetable harvests. With the help of our volunteers and homeowners with an abundance of fruits and veggies, the GAP works to reduce food waste by harvesting, distributing and processing local produce. Each pound of fruit that is harvested and locally utilized provides support to our community when it comes to food security and is progressive toward our mission of a sovereign food system.
As we prepare for the start of the gleaning season, I’m noticing some concerns for the upcoming harvests. Where is all the fruit? Our local fruit trees have taken a hit this spring, and the drastic climate change has damaged many buds, resulting in reduced flower growth and limiting the chance of fruit production. This season will be different from others due to our changed climate and the effects it’s had on our local food production. Together, we can help each other by learning to adapt to our ever-changing climate, offering support to our neighbours and sharing resources.
ADAPT: The GAP is most known for harvesting fruit trees, but we’ll help you harvest an abundance of any fruit or vegetable that grows on your property. Since most fruit trees aren’t (yet) productive this season, we have to adapt to what we do have an abundance of and share that food with our community. If you have (or plan to have) a crop of pumpkins, for example, and you don’t know what to do with all of them, please consider registering your garden or farm. This allows the GAP to help you harvest the produce; returning ⅓ back to you (the homeowner), ⅓ for the volunteers to take home, and distribute ⅓ to our community for those in need of fresh food.
SUPPORT: It may feel overwhelming when it comes to mitigating climate change, but there are things we can do to help each other out. Small changes towards a healthier community can grow into large beneficial impacts. Reach out to your neighbours and offer help in any way you can. Share your lawnmower or offer to prune dead branches off their tree. By helping out our neighbours (and vice versa) with gardening tasks, we are building community connections through trust and beneficial actions. By doing this, you are actively taking steps towards local food sovereignty, and it all starts with one small change. The GAP is here to support you as a neighbour.
