Volunteer Newsletter, June 14, 2004

 

APRICOTS!

Apricots in mid-June?  It completely caught us by surprise...  (thus the last minute notice)
Come join us for our first apricot H4H (Harvest for the Hungry) of the season...

Tuesday, June 15th
9:30am - 12:30pm
(Those meeting at SHFB should be there, ready to leave at 8:30am promptly)
Meet at the corner of La Paloma & Westwind, Los Altos Hills -- carpool please as parking is limited.
Click here for map.

The trees are pruned quite low to the ground and will be mostly harvested by hand (no ladders needed).  Children over 7 are welcome however it will be best if they are at least 4 feet tall to reach the fruit.  It's predicted to be quite hot on Tuesday so please be prepared with sun protection and water.  Also bring flat boxes to take ripe apricots home. 

Please RSVP to help us manage the number of people and cars on this private property.

If you're an apricot fan and aren't able to make it on short notice, stay tuned...   We're watching another apricot orchard in San Jose and will inform you about that one as soon as we can tell what will happen after this week's heat.  (heat is not kind to apricots)

Instructions for harvesting volunteers:

  • Dress in layers with long sleeves and comfortable shoes... Long sleeves are to protect your arms from branches.
  • Bring gloves, sun protection, and water.
  • Feel free to bring a flat box to take home fruit for yourself. Tree ripened apricots from Santa Clara Valley... it doesn't get any better than this!
  • See our Volunteer FAQ's for more information, especially regarding children.

 

VH IN THE NEWS:

ABC 7 NEWS is running a year long, END HUNGER NOW! campaign.  On Thursday, June 3rd, Village Harvest was featured with some of the core members of the SHFB Gleaning team.  We hope to get a digital video copy on the web, meanwhile, click here for a transcript.

SF CHRONICLE will be running a story on innovative ways that folks can grow food for the hungry.  A SF Chronicle photographer took pictures at our H4H event with Congregation Beth Am on Sunday, May 23rd.  Their photographer was up in the trees taking pictures and having a grand time.  Look for it on Wednesdays in the Home and Garden section soon.  (If anyone takes the Chronicle, please save copies and mail them to us at P.O. Box 9231, San Jose, CA  95157).

 

JAMMIN' IN AFGHANISTAN:

 Thank you for all of you that responded to our request for mason jars.  As a result 500 women now have the supplies they need to learn to preserve at home!  Thank you all!

Village Harvest volunteer and board member, Rosemary Stasek, has left for Afghanistan, this time to train the preserving trainers that will be reaching the 500 women this summer.  While she's there, Rosemary will be blogging from Afghanistan. Watch her daily progress at:  http://www.stasek.com/afghanistan/

 

VILLAGE HARVEST TO DATE:        41,833 lbs!

That's one semi-truck worth all in citrus...  amazing work everyone!
We'll be harvesting apricots and plums for a while then we'll be back to citrus again in mid-late July. 

 

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 Tuesday.
Date / Day Time Event Meeting Place Notes
June 15, Tuesday 8:30 am - 3:00 pm H4H - Apricots, Los Altos Hills Meet 8:30 am, SHFB Volunteer Room. or 9:30am at corner of La Paloma & Westwind Way. Children over 7 are welcome.  Please RSVP.
June 22, Tuesday 8:30 am - 3:00 pm Community Fruit Harvesting, TBD, Plums & Apricots Meet 8:30 am, SHFB Volunteer Room.  You must RSVP for this event and be registered as a SHFB volunteer
June 27, Sunday 9:00 am - 12:00 PM Community Fruit Harvesting, Mt. View, Plums & Apricots Meet 9:00 am, Mt. View CSA contact karen@villageharvest.org if you'd like to join in.
June 29, Tuesday 8:30 am - 3:00 pm Community Fruit Harvesting, TBD, Plums & Apricots Meet 8:30 am, SHFB Volunteer Room.  You must RSVP for this event and be registered as a SHFB volunteer
July 6, Tuesday 8:30 am - 3:00 pm Community Fruit Harvesting, TBD. Plums & Apricots Meet 8:30 am, SHFB Volunteer Room.  You must RSVP for this event and be registered as a SHFB volunteer
July 16, Friday 11:30 am - 2:30 pm Preserving from the Garden contact joni@villageharvest.org if you're interested in this event Stone Fruit (aka apricots, plums, peaches, nectarines, pluots,...)
July 17, 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 Stone Fruit, Pomme Fruit & Citrus.
July 24, Saturday 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm Ladder-less Fruit Harvesting Clinic and VH Preserve Tasting Common Ground, 559 College Avenue, Palo Alto Free! 

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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