At
our last weekend Harvesting for the Hungry event with Valley of Heart's Delight
in Palo Alto, three photographers set out to record our day from beginning to
end. From loaded to empty trees, from empty to loaded boxes, from sources
of abundance to centers of need.
On Saturday, February 21st, 25 volunteers harvested 9 Palo Alto homes resulting in 2200 lbs of fruit! This fruit was delivered and donated to St. Anthony Padua's in Menlo Park. On the following Monday, St. Anthony's began distributing the fruit to the 400-700 people in need that they serve daily. From beginning to end, it was an inspiring event. Take a look and see!
Our preserves (especially marmalades), are like wine... they continue to age in the bottle. At this time of the year, the Seville Orange Marmalade 2003 vintage has reached what we consider to be the ultimate balance of fruit, sweetness, and tannin. If you'd like to get a batch of last years marmalade before the "new crop" comes in, it can be found at Common Ground, History San Jose Museum and on our web-site in both plain and with candied ginger. See http://www.villageharvest.org/preserves.htm.
For those who are not familiar with Seville Oranges... a short primer:
The Orange:
Seville oranges are one of the oldest varieties of oranges that are still cultivated today. Originally from Spain, Seville Oranges belong to the family of oranges known as Sour or Bitter Oranges. And that they are, due to their aromatic and essential oils found mostly in the skin. Bergamot, used in Earl Grey Tea is also of this same bitter orange family. Seville Orange trees are often grown for their ornamental quality and the fruit can be left ripe on the tree for a long period, adding to their ornamental value.
The Preserve:
Marmalade made from Seville Oranges is the classic British or Scottish-style marmalade. It has a "wild" aftertaste which goes well with strong coffee, black tea, red wine, ales and game meats. This distinctive taste is attributed to a tannin which, like wine, mellows with age. Depending upon the preserve maker, a ideal balance in the preserves may occur anywhere from a few months to a few years after the preserve is bottled.
Village Harvest has been making Seville Orange Marmalade for the past several years because we have an excellent source of organically grown Seville's. Seville's must be processed before eaten, so they are of limited use to the hungry in our community. Village Harvest has been not only making Seville Orange but also Eureka Lemon, Meyer Lemon and Kumquat marmalade, all fruits that are of limited value to the hungry in our area but make excellent marmalade. We're appreciating and finding use for ALL the incredible agricultural products that our valley blesses us with.
Village Harvest is partnering again with Mountain View Community Services Agency and the young adults division of the Jewish Federation. Fruit grown in Mountain View backyards will be harvested to feed the hungry:
Sunday, March 28th
8:30 am - 1:00pm
Mountain View Community Services Agency
204 Stierlin Rd., Mountain View
Please RSVP if you will be joining us so we know how many homes to commit to. 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:
| Date / Day | Time | Event | Meeting Place | Notes |
| March 16, Tuesday | 8:15 am - 2:30 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 23, Tuesday | 8:15 am - 2:30 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 |
| March 28, Sunday | 8:30 am - 12:30 pm | Harvesting for the Hungry | Mt. View CSA, 204 Stierlin Rd., Mt. View | Citrus! |
| March 30, Tuesday | 8:15 am - 2:30 pm | Community Fruit Harvesting, Santa Clara, Citrus | Meet 8:15 am, SHFB Volunteer Room. | You must RSVP for this event and be registered as a SHFB volunteer |
| April 3, Saturday | 8:00 am - 4:00 pm | Master Gardener Spring Garden Market | Prusch Park, San Jose |
VH preserves for sale.
New! Pomegranate Jelly and Green Gage Plum. |
| April 24, Saturday | 8:30 am - 1:00 pm | Harvesting for the Hungry w/ Valley of Heart's Delight | Meet 8:30 am, 222 High Street, Palo Alto | Citrus! |
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.
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