Village Harvest

Volunteer Newsletter, June 17, 2009

 The Apricots are coming! The Apricots are coming!

Apricot OrchardWhat many of you are eager for - apricots (and plums) are almost here!  We've been offered several large orchards to harvest, up to 250 trees each, and have been closely watching to see when they'd be ripe.  This year's apricot crop has been impacted by rain during blossom time AND ground squirrels!  But every apricot is delicious and we wouldn't dare let them go to waste when there is so much need and they are so desired. 

Even with the smaller harvest, we still need plenty of volunteers, especially for the larger orchards.  Groups are encouraged as well as individuals.  Please sign up to pick at these (and other) events, so we can plan appropriately.  See the Event Calendar below and email coordinator heather@villageharvest.org with the date(s) and location(s) you'd like to volunteer for.

Here's the schedule for apricot-specific events.

Sat Jun 27 9am – 12:30pm Los Gatos
Sun Jun 28 9am – 12:30pm Palo Alto / Los Altos
Tue Jun 30 8:30am – 12pm San Jose central
Sat Jul 4 8:30am – 12:30pm Los Altos Hills
Sun Jul 5 9am – 12:30pm Palo Alto / Los Altos

Plums are already starting to come in so if plums are what you desire, then come join any team in progress.

 5back to top

More Locations...  Weekend Events ...

If you've been holding off volunteering for a weekend date that fits your schedule or location, in the next few weeks we have more harvesting opportunities for you to consider.  There are scheduled harvests with teams in Morgan Hill and Sunnyvale.  Also, for weekend fruit lovers, on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday mornings. As with all our harvesting, it's a wonderful opportunity to meet new friends and make a difference in only a few hours.  Hope to see new faces!

 5back to top

New Sunnyvale Harvest Team starting Monday, June 22

Volunteers are needed for a new monthly harvest team hosted by Sunnyvale Community Services, a nonprofit agency which provides food aid and other assistance to help low income families and seniors.  Julia Chen, a member of the San Jose team, championed the effort and will be leading the new team.  Harvests will start on Monday June 22 and meet 8:30 am at SCS (725 Kifer Road Sunnyvale, CA; located near Wolfe and Central Expressway). 

Volunteers, sign up through the online calendar.  To offer your extra fruit, visit the Home Sign Up page on the web site.

 5back to top

Thank you! - Springer Neighborhood Harvest, Mountain View

Springer Neighborhood VolunteersKudos to Girl Scout leader Donna Murphy for organizing a very successful community harvest in the Springer School area of Mountain View!  On Saturday May 30, Girl Scouts, their parents, neighbors, and some VH regulars joined forces to harvest 1280 lbs of citrus from 11 homes, including 6 where the homeowner was able to harvest the fruit themselves and have us pick up.  By all accounts the Girl Scouts were terrific volunteers and everyone had a great time.  Thank you Springer Neighborhood!

We'll be having more neighborhood-focused events.  If you'd like to help organize one for where you live, contact Heather (heather@villageharvest.org)

5back to top

Yum!  Andy's Orchard Fruit Tasting and Tours

Andy Mariani and Andy's Orchard are holding a fun tasting and tour at the orchard in Morgan Hill, featuring many dozen varieties of each fruit. This is a rare and delicious chance to taste dozens of varieties of each fruit.  Admission is only $15 for adults, children under 12 admitted free with adult supervision.  $3.50 per pound for all U-Pick Fruit.

June 20th  Mostly Cherries
June 28th  Mostly Apricots
July 5th   Mostly Apricots August 1st-Peaches, Nectarines, Plums, Pluots, etc.
August 9th  Peaches, Nectarines, Plums, Pluots, etc

Starting Time: 10 AM Harvest Walk   Note: Please check ahead to confirm dates. Dates are subject to change. Reservations for 5 or more people welcomed.

Andy's Orchard, 1615 Half Road, Morgan Hill, CA 95037
408-782-7600    e-mail: andysorchard@andysorchard.com
Website: www.andysorchard.com

 5back to top

 Quick Bites ... and 2009 Results to date

Executive Director Joni has set a goal of reaching 100 Followers on Twitter!  Please check out our Twitter account @villageharvest (www.twitter.com/villageharvest).  Hint:  VH will be featured in upcoming news articles very soon.  Links will go out via Twitter -- you'll want to be in the know!  (so that you can check for your name & picture & tell your friends =)

Volunteer Diana Foss continues to blog and post pictures on the Tuesday team's harvests and other food news:  www.dianafoss.com/blog .

Year to date harvest 73,727 lbs as of 6/16/09, a record pace, 12% over last year at this same time.

5back to top

Events Calendar

The latest event schedule is online at www.villageharvest.org/events.htm

Events scheduled over the next few weeks as of 6/17/09; all dates subject to change based upon ripening and weather.  You must visit the online calendar for the latest and to volunteer.

Sun Jun 21 9am – 12:30pm Mountain View - Community Fruit Harvesting
Mon Jun 22 8:30am – 12:30pm NEW TEAM! Sunnyvale - Community Harvest
Mon Jun 22 2pm – 5pm Morgan Hill Team - Community Fruit Harvest
Tue Jun 23 8:30am – 12pm SJ central - Community Fruit Harvest
Tue Jun 23 2pm – 5pm Morgan Hill Team - Community Fruit Harvest
Wed Jun 24 2pm – 5pm Morgan Hill Team - Community Fruit Harvest A
Sat Jun 27 9am – 12:30pm Apricots - Los Gatos - Los Gatos, CA
Sun Jun 28 9am – 12:30pm Apricots - Palo Alto - Palo Alto, CA
Tue Jun 30 8:30am – 12pm SJ central - Community Fruit Harvest
Fri Jul 3 8:30am – 12:30pm Palo Alto - Harvest for the Hungry
Sat Jul 4 8:30am – 12:30pm Apricots - Los Altos Hills
Sun Jul 5 9am – 12:30pm Apricots - Palo Alto / Los Altos
Tue Jul 7 8:30am – 12pm SJ central - Community Fruit Harvest
Sat Jul 11 8:30am – 12:30pm Palo Alto - Community Fruit Harvest
Tue Jul 14 8:30am – 12pm SJ central - Community Fruit Harvest
Sun Jul 19 9am - 12:30pm Mountain View - Community Fruit Harvesting

General Instructions for harvesting volunteers:

 

Cheers,

Village Harvest
info@villageharvest.org
www.villageharvest.org
(888) FRUIT-411

 5back to top

Subscribe / Unsubscribe to this Newsletter:

You have been added to this list because of past participation or request; send an email to Craig (craig@villageharvest.org) to be removed from this distribution list.

If you have received this newsletter through a friend and would like to receive it directly, you can sign up for the Newsletter-only subscription or as a Volunteer by visiting www.villageharvest.org.

Sent by Village Harvest, PO Box 9231, San Jose, CA 95157.