Overview of the Gleaning Program
The Gleaning Program was established in 2003 to help reduce food waste in Nanaimo and area. Volunteer gleaners pick fruit and vegetables from backyards and gardens that would otherwise be wasted. Please read below for information on the 2023 Gleaning Program. If you have further questions please call the coordinator at 250-816-4769 or email gleaning@ncgs.ca
Gleaning Program 2023
Orientations will be held in the spring of 2023 (May and June). Please see below for dates for both new and returning gleaners. Please note that volunteers become gleaners at these orientations and it is rare to onboard new volunteers once the season has started (after May and June). If you wish to join the Gleaning Program after that, you may have to be on a waiting list for 2024.
Surplus fruit to share? Don’t let it go to waste!
Share your produce!
If you have (or anticipate having) more fruits, nuts or vegetables than you can use, please call the Gleaning Program. We will do our best to link you with volunteers willing to pick. Advance notice of one to two weeks is requested to allow time to coordinate the picks.
Do you want to help? If you are a local farmer who wishes to have gleaners harvest surplus vegetables or other crops, please contact the Gleaning Program for more information about how we can support you by providing an income tax receipt and leaving some of the produce with you to sell. We have provided gleaners for peas, blueberries, raspberries and corn.
Contact the Gleaning Program at 250-816-4769 to register your crop.
Become a gleaner!
Volunteer gleaners must be willing to attend a one-hour orientation and safety session, and pay a $25 membership fee. Once registered, gleaners will be invited on organized picks throughout the season. Please note that most communication is done through email so you will need to have a valid email address that you check frequently.
Orientations are about one hour in length and include a ladder demonstration. We will meet in the gazebo at the Pine Street Community Garden located behind the Foodshare Centre at 271 Pine St. Children are welcome to play in the garden while you attend. Dogs must be leashed. All gleaners must have a safety orientation. The earlier you sign up, the better your chances of attending an early pick, such as a cherry pick.
Please attend one of the orientation dates below to join the program. You do not have to pre-register for a session – just show up! Remember to invite any friends or family that want to glean with you. ad non-registered gleaners are not permitted on picks. Latecomers are disruptive and may miss important information about the program so please be on time. If you cannot be on time, please attend a different session. There will be time to answer all your questions about the program. The orientation session lasts about an hour so dress appropriately to be outdoors for that length of time.
You will need to fill out a membership form and submit payment. The membership fee is $25 and payment can be made with cash, cheque or by credit card (no debit).
The Gleaning Program 2023 is a joint project of:
Nanaimo Foodshare Society
Nanaimo Community Gardens Society
We acknowledge the financial assistance of the Province on British Columbia. This program is also made possible through the work of many dedicated volunteers.
Thank you!
Orientation dates for new volunteers in 2023:
Tuesday May 23 from 2-3pm completed
Sunday May 28 from 10-11am completed
Wednesday May from 31 5-6pm completed
Friday Jun 2 from 6-7pm completed
Thursday June 8 from 12-1pm
If you are a returning volunteer only (attended an orientation within the past 4 years), stop by to fill out the paperwork on;
Wednesday May 24 between 11-3pm completed
Sunday May 28 between 11-1pm completed
Wednesday May 31 between11-3pm completed
Sunday June 4 between 11-1pm completed
Wednesday June 7 between 11-3pm