Volunteer Newsletter, March 26, 2009

A big welcome to our newest registered volunteers and newsletter subscribers!  We added online registration forms to our web site www.villageharvest.org in February, and we've had many new people interested in participating.  Every year between 400 and 700 people volunteer, and 2009 looks to be even bigger.  There are new harvest teams and events planned for Morgan Hill, Redwood City, San Ramon, and Davis, and we also plan to have more weekend harvests this year to match many volunteers' schedules.  Check the Event Schedule in this message.

This newsletter is intended to be a monthly edition, but with much going on in Village Harvest and the rest of our work and lives it's very late.  Please bear with us as we get our publishing on track.  And check out our Volunteer Opportunities below to help :-)

With our national recognition we're getting even more local interest, and receiving several inquiries every week from people wanting start harvesting groups in communities all over the country.  We are in SERIOUS need of extra help to handle this good news and our continuing growth.  We are planning more teams, and need a major revamp of our web site and custom coordination software to accommodate our wider operating area and a national audience.

Please consider offering your special skills and talents.  Our web site has a longer list of specific Volunteer Opportunities, but here's what we need urgently, as soon as possible:

Harvesting Team Leaders for weekend harvests
Van and/or Large Truck Drivers for weekend harvests
Software Developers and Web Designers

Please contact craig@villageharvest.org for more information and to offer help.

The Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County have an annual Spring Market in San Jose, selling countless varieties of vegetable plants to help support their volunteer programs. Village Harvest will have a booth with educational materials and selling Village Harvest's award winning preserves.  Entry is free ... arrive early for the best plant selection.  Be sure to drop by if you're attending!

Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County
Fifteenth Annual Spring Garden Market
Saturday, April 4, 9 am to 2 pm
History San Jose/Kelly Park, 1650 Senter Rd., San Jose (Map link)

Thanks to all of you, Village Harvest has harvested 35,795 lbs of fruit so far; we're on track to once again harvest over 120,000 lbs for the year.  Yea!

If you haven't picked this year, join us soon!  The weather is beautiful, and Citrus is waiting for you :-)

Instructions for harvesting volunteers:

• Dress in layers for a cool morning, warming during the day, and cooling in the evening with sun protection, and insect repellant in mind.
• Wear comfortable, covered shoes.
• Please carpool as parking is limited at all locations.  Please let us know if you have a truck or SUV to help carry fruit.
• Children, high school age and over are welcome but please see our Volunteer FAQ's for more information.

Upcoming dates of these regularly schedules harvests are:

Tuesdays in SJ (March 31, April 7, 14, 21, 28)
Sundays in Mountain View (April 5, 19).

Additional Scheduled Events