Volunteer Newsletter, February 3, 2005

 

HARVESTING FOR THE HUNGRY, PALO ALTO - Saturday, February 5th

We had a great response to our call for help last weekend and over 30 volunteers harvested 3857 lbs of citrus (oranges, lemons, grapefruit, tangelos) and even a few kiwi's.  It was a record breaking weekend Harvesting for the Hungry event.

We had so much fun and so we're doing it again... 

Part II: (Encore)
Saturday, February 5th
8:30am - 12:30pm
Valley of Heart's Delight, Foundation for Global Community
222 High St, Palo Alto

Thank you for all those who have already RSVP'd.  This will be a smaller event than last Saturday but we'll still get a "ton" of fruit.
(we have a lost & found item from last Saturday -- if you're missing a cap, please contact us.)

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.

 

PRUNING PARTY/WORKSHOP - Saturday, February 12th

Want to learn to prune fruit trees?  Want to see a wonderful example of a French Intensive apple orchard?  or just want to spend a day away from the crowds with good company and good food?

We're having a Pruning Party/Workshop at SkyRanch.  SkyRanch has donated "tons" of their delicious apples and persimmons to the hungry and we're helping them in return.  Pruning improves the health of the trees and fruit as well as help sustain production.  Sean McGrail and his partners from Professional Horticulture Associates will be leading the pruning workshop, then we'll all work in teams and see how much progress we can make in the apple orchard.  This French Intensive apple orchard has trees planted close together and are kept short so there will be very little ladder climbing.  Plan on spending at least the morning if not longer.

Saturday, February 12th
8:30am - 3:00pm ish
Bring:  Hand loppers and hand saws
(If you plan on coming and don't have pruning tools please let us know.)

Meet at the Loma Prieta District Playfield @ 23845 Summit Road, Los Gatos.
The Playfield is on the Left just past the Loma Prieta Elementary, Middle & Community Center on the Right.  (You'll see the school crossing signs before the school)
We'll carpool/caravan from there.

Please RSVP so we know how many lunches to provide.  If you can't make this event and are interested in learning to prune fruit trees, the California Rare Fruit Growers are having two pruning events on Saturdays, February 5th & March 5th at Prusch Park Heritage Orchard in San Jose.  See calendar below for details.

 

PRESERVERS IN THE NEWS!

Only in Silicon Valley would the idea of folks preserving the fruits of the season be news...   But there's been a lot of good news lately for local preservers that have featured a number of folks who are involved in Village Harvest.

Afghan women taught ins and outs of canning:  South Bay official creates program in war-torn Kabul, SF Chronicle, January 15, 2005.

Cambrian couple cultivates Cal Expo blue ribbons, Cambrian Times, December 2004

Let's Jam: Neighbors gather for Carroll's jam session, Campbell Reporter, November 24, 2004

Inspired to do more preserving or learn how?  Join the Preserving from the Garden interest group.  This is a joint event with the Santa Clara County Master Gardeners.  We have meetings every other 3rd Fridays over lunch to share recipes, compare tastes and learn from each other.  There's also a yahoogroup to join.  Contact joni@villageharvest.org if you're interested in learning more.

 

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 and Thursday.
  • Menlo Park team goes out as convenient for their schedules.  Contact joni@villageharvest.org to join in.
Date / Day Time Event Meeting Place Notes
February 5, Saturday 8:30 am - 12:30 pm Harvesting for the Hungry w/ Valley of Heart's Delight - Part II Pending confirmation - see newsletter above. Please RSVP if you can make this date, if we have critical mass, we'll harvest the bumper crop of homeowners who have responded.
February 8, Tuesday 8:30 am - 3:00 pm Community Fruit Harvesting, Saratoga/Campbell, Oranges & Lemons Meet 8:30 am, SHFB Volunteer Room.  You must RSVP for this event and be registered as a SHFB volunteer
February  12, Saturday 8:30 am - 3:30 pm Pruning Workshop & Party @ SkyRanch, Los Gatos Meet 8:30am, 23845 Summit Road, Los Gatos

snacks and lunch provided

 Learn to prune fruit trees and help prune the SkyRanch Orchard that has been donating tons of apples for the hungry every year.
February 13, Sunday 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Community Fruit Harvesting, Mountain View Meet 9:00 am, Mt. View CSA Contact karen@villageharvest.org if you'd like to join in.
February 15, Tuesday 8:30 am - 3:00 pm Harvesting for the Hungry, Cupertino, Oranges Orchard Meet 9:30 am, Cupertino Orchard Placeholder date -  the Cupertino Orange orchard will be harvested again.  More info to come. 
February  19, Saturday 8:30 am - 3:30 pm Grow Your Own Conference, sponsored by Valley of Heart's Delight Sunnyvale Community Center, 550 E. Remington Drive, Sunnyvale. Keynote by Mas Masumoto.  Come meet other organic food gardeners and find out how to obtain a "healthy garden" sign.  Joni will be speaking on Preserving from the Garden - comparing various techniques.

Register online at http://www.fgconline.org/gyo/index.shtml
February 22, Tuesday 8:30 am - 3:00 pm Community Fruit Harvesting, Willow Glen, Oranges & Lemons Meet 8:30 am, SHFB Volunteer Room.  You must RSVP for this event and be registered as a SHFB volunteer
February 27, Sunday 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Community Fruit Harvesting, Mountain View Meet 9:00 am, Mt. View CSA Confirmed.
Contact karen@villageharvest.org if you'd like to join in.
March 8, Tuesday 8:30 am - 3:00 pm Community Fruit Harvesting, Campbell, Oranges & Lemons Meet 8:30 am, SHFB Volunteer Room.  You must RSVP for this event and be registered as a SHFB volunteer
March 13, Sunday 8:30 am - 12:30 pm Harvesting for the Hungry w/YAD Meet 8:30 am, Mt. View CSA

 

 3rd year in a row and often a record breaking event!
March 18, Friday 11:30 am - 2:30 pm Preserving from the Garden Interest Group:  Preserving equipment and jars   contact joni@villageharvest.org to join in on this event
March 19, Saturday 10:00 am - 12:30 pm Fruit Trees for the Hungry Meet 9:30 am, Mt. View CSA We are partnering with Fruition and Mt. View CSA to provide fruit trees to help families become more self-sufficient.
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.

OTHER ORGANIZATION EVENTS:

  • The following are events by other organizations that may be of interest to Village Harvest volunteers.
Date / Day Time Event Meeting Place Notes
February 5, Saturday 10:30 am - 4:30 pm CRFG Pruning Demonstration
by Andy Mariani		 Emma Prusch Park, 647 S. King Road, San Jose. 

Off 680/280 at King Rd or 101 at Story Rd East.

 Pruning techniques by Andy Mariani, followed by practice and orchard clean-up, remove clippings, cut weeds, cut suckers.  Volunteers bring pruners, shovels, saws, chain saws, weed eaters.

Refreshments planned, RSVP to Aline Bier

February 5, Saturday 10 am - 3 pm MG Citrus Celebration Yamagami's Nursery, 1361 S. De Anza Blvd., Cupertino.  Free citrus tasting including citrus recipes from the MG Crazy for Citrus cookbook. 

1pm - Nancy Garrison talks on growing citrus in Santa Clara Valley. 

March 5, Saturday 10:30am - 4:30 pm CRFG Heritage Orchard Pruning and Clean up Day Emma Prusch Park, 647 S. King Road, San Jose.

Off 680/280 at King Rd or 101 at Story Rd East.

 CRFG pruning coaches will be available to help teach pruning techniques with much opportunity to practice.  Orchard clean-up, remove clippings, cut weeds, cut suckers.  Volunteers bring pruners, shovels, saws, chain saws, weed eaters.

Refreshments planned, RSVP to Aline Bier

 

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

 

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