Volunteer Newsletter, February 15, 2004

Harvesting for the Hungry, Palo Alto
2003 Village Harvest Results
Upcoming Village Harvest Event Schedule
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HARVESTING FOR THE HUNGRY, Palo Alto, Saturday, February 21st

On Saturday, February 21st, we'll be harvesting citrus with the Valley of Heart's Delight. Come help us start a great year of building community, sharing the bounty with those in need, and reducing waste. Please RSVP if you will be joining us so we know how many homes to commit to.

Saturday, February 21st
8:30 am - 1:00pm
Valley of Heart's Delight, Foundation for Global Community
222 High St, Palo Alto

We'll be finished picking, packing and enjoying refreshments by 1 p.m. If you have a truck we can either borrow or that you would be willing to drive for the event, please let us know. We could use help with carrying equipment and fruit.

Instructions for harvesting volunteers:

Dress in layers with long sleeves and comfortable shoes... Long sleeves are to protect your arms from branches.
Bring gloves and hand pruners.
Be prepared to drive or carpool... If you have a large car or truck, it's always appreciated
Feel free to bring a bag/box to take home fruit for yourself. Tree ripened fruit from Santa Clara Valley... it doesn't get any better than this!
See our Volunteer FAQ's for more information, especially regarding children.

2003 VILLAGE HARVEST RESULTS:

2003 was an amazing year. There was a bumper citrus harvest then very unusual weather lead to some of the latest plum and apple harvests seen in this valley in recent history. Village Harvest also received great support from volunteers, a number of corporations, community and press and as a result has been growing in it's impact. Here are some of the results that you made happen:

Harvesting:

84,072 lbs harvesting for the hungry! More than twice 2002's harvest and more than two semi trucks-trailer loads.
Over 200,000 of fresh, healthy servings were provided for the hungry in Santa Clara Valley.
Over 300 homes were harvested for the hungry. Averaging 225 lbs per backyard.
The record breaking single backyard tree was a grapefruit yielding 1,322 lbs.
Hundreds of additional homeowners are now harvesting their backyard trees and dropping off their excess fruit for the hungry through phone or web referrals.
Several additional local private and corporate orchards have made their harvest available to the hungry where previously the fruit was dropping and a nuisance.

Preserving:

Approx 600 lbs of fruit that hunger agencies are not able to use were turned into preserves. More value created by Village Harvest volunteers.
6 new flavors were added in 2003. Eureka Lemon Marmalade, Kumquats in Syrup, Loquat Butter, Wild Plum Jam, Apricot Jam - low sugar and Black Mission Fig Vinegar. All were so popular they have nearly sold out. Look for them again this year.
VH Preserves are now being sold at both Common Ground, Palo Alto and History San Jose.

Other:

Expanded and updated web-site.
California non-profit registration complete.

Thank you to each of you, the hundreds of volunteers that continue to create Village Harvest's success. Solving local hunger with locally abundant food is becoming a reality.

UPCOMING VILLAGE HARVEST EVENTS:

Please RSVP for the dates that you're available to help.
Click on the links for a map to the location.
In the schedule above, "SHFB" in the schedule below is Second Harvest Food Bank, 750 Curtner Avenue, San Jose.
The CIWP team has expanded and is continuing to go out every Monday.

Date / Day	Time	Event	Meeting Place	Notes
February 17, Tuesday	8:15 am - 2:00 pm	Community Fruit Harvesting, Willow Glen, Citrus	Meet 8:15 am, SHFB Volunteer Room.	You must RSVP for this event and be registered as a SHFB volunteer
February 21, Saturday	8:30 am - 12:30 pm	Harvesting for the Hungry w/ Valley of Heart's Delight	Meet 8:30 am, 222 High Street, Palo Alto	Citrus!
February 24, Tuesday	8:15 am - 2:00 pm	Community Fruit Harvesting, W. San Jose, Citrus	Meet 8:15 am, SHFB Volunteer Room.	You must RSVP for this event and be registered as a SHFB volunteer
March 19, Friday	11:30 am - 2:30 pm	Preserving from the Garden - Citrus	TBA	Contact joni@villageharvest.org if you are interested.
March 28, Sunday	8:30 am - 12:30 pm	Harvesting for the Hungry	Mt. View CSA, 204 Stierlin Rd., Mt. View	Citrus!
April 3, Saturday	8:00 am - 4:00 pm	Master Gardener Spring Garden Market	Prusch Park, San Jose	VH preserves will be for sale. New! Pomegranate and Green Gage Plum.

Remember that the best tasting, tree ripened fruit goes home with the volunteers, as it will be too ripe to go through distribution at the Second Harvest Food Bank. Perfect for people who like to make preserves. All dates subject to change based upon ripening and weather.

Cheers,
Joni Diserens
Village Harvest
joni@villageharvest.org
www.villageharvest.org
(650) 740-7725

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