The newsletter has been quiet, but not Village Harvest! There's been a tremendous amount going on, but founder Joni and Craig Diserens were away in Europe and the newsletter gets sent out of their computers. On with the news!
Register ASAP - Summer Pruning Workshops - August 1 and August 22
In partnership with one of our apricot orchard donors, they are allowing us to use their trees for workshops on fruit tree care. Summer pruning is becoming a growing practice for fruit trees, especially for avoiding disease and promoting health of the tree. For backyard gardeners, learning summer pruning is easier to identify disease and understand and control the canopy of the tree with the leaves still on it. Arborist, Dave Muffly and Matthew Sutton both specialize in sustainable methods of fruit tree pruning and care which over the years will promote crops, health and less maintenance. Please register immediately to hold your place and ensure your session has enough participants. This is a rare hands-on opportunity to learn and practice on real trees and help an orchard give back to the community. No fake pruning here!
There is a $35 charge for these workshops, VH will bring ladders and a small lunch. Please bring your own tools (loppers and hand pruners). There are a few free spots available in exchange for experienced pruners volunteering to assist. Contact Joni (joni@villageharvest.org) for full details and to register.
If you have Cable TV, don't miss the upcoming
story on Village Harvest on the HGTV network "Gardening by the Yard" program
with master gardener/host Paul James. Paul and a full video crew joined VH
volunteers last October at a hilltop garden in Los Altos Hills. While we
don't know exactly what made it into the segment, from the title "Easy Fruit
Harvesting" we can guess some of the tips we've developed over the years will be
shared with a national audience.
Scheduled air date is Saturday, August 9, times vary so check the HGTV show web site. Episode is "GBY-1911."
Various Village Harvest groups have been prominent in the press in the South Bay, Davis, and Sacramento, encouraging even more tree owners and volunteers to help:
The Thursday, June 25 edition of San Jose Mercury News has a local feature article "Silicon Valley volunteers harvest backyard fruit to feed the needy." Many long time volunteers are mentioned or pictured, including Lisa Bennett, Heather Dooley, Elaine Hays, Karen Hurst, Julia Shen, Craig Diserens, and Joni Diserens. The reporter participated in the Mountain View and Palo Alto harvest held last Sunday June 21, and the photographer joined the new Sunnyvale team on Monday June 22.The cover feature article in 6 Silicon Valley Community Newspapers on June 26 (Willow Glen, Almaden, Rose Garden, and Cambrian Resident) and July 22 (Sunnyvale Sun, Cupertino Courier). This article focus on the impact of the Apple Moth quarantine and how Village Harvest has been able to continue our successful harvesting. The "Resident" editions have a large picture of volunteer Bud Pyle on the cover (looking surprised), and photos inside including Diana Foss' son Jed and volunteer Basil Apostol at the Tuesday San Jose team harvest on June 16. The Sunnyvale and Cupertino editions feature volunteer Joel Cohen on the cover.
The new Village Harvest Davis Team received great press coverage in the local Davis Enterprise (Davis branch of nonprofit collects excess fruit from residents, feeds hungry, July 3, 2009) and the widely circulated Sacramento Bee (Gleaner groups save the fruit, feed the hungry, July 11, 2009 ).Welcome New Volunteers and Subscribers
With all the recent press there are around 100 new volunteer and 100 new tree owner sign ups - welcome! We hope you'll enjoy volunteering and making new friends. Volunteering with Village Harvest is flexible and "self service" - check out the online Events calendar, find something of interest that fits your schedule, then contact the organizer for that event to sign up.
Brighton women's accessories support Village Harvest
Christmas in July (and August)! Two local retailers of Brighton accessories have chosen Village Harvest as the recipient of their "Feed our Friends" campaign. They will be contributing a portion of sales of selected jewelry to Village Harvest staring now through August. Have mothers, sisters, wives? Consider a gift that cares.
Home Produce Donations - Once Again!
Of interest to the many volunteers who are home gardeners: what can I do with my extra summer produce, especially with the Light Brown Apple Moth (LBAM) Quarantine that prohibits moving fruit?
VH Director Joni Diserens got creative after lots of press inquiries, and with the support of the Santa Clara County Division of Agriculture we're pleased to announce a a new trial program for home gardeners to donate their extra produce and fruit to benefit the Community Services Agency in Mountain View. Home gardeners may drop off their produce and fruit in person to the CSA on the following special donation days and times:
Tuesday, August 4, 11, 18, and 25
9 to 11:30 am
Community Services Agency, 204 Stierlin Rd. Mountain View
Santa Clara County Agriculture will inspect all produce to prevent the spread of the LBAM. Sorry, produce can NOT be accepted at any other date or time. Clean produce in ripe but firm condition only, please. No squishy tomatoes!
Additional donation locations and days may be announced later, depending on gardener and agency interest. Visit the Village Harvest web site Home Produce Donation Program page for the latest information.
Pears, Prunes, and more volunteer opportunities - Upcoming Events
There's
more summer harvesting ahead, with Pears and Prunes (French plums) next in
order. Visit the online calendar at
www.villageharvest.org/events.htm, then
contact the organizer by email, including the date and location you'd like to
volunteer for. Events do fill up, so sign up early to ensure a place.
How to volunteer:
Online calendar as of 7/28/09, subject to change. Details and sign up online.
| Sat Aug 1 | 9am – 1pm | Summer Pruning Workshop w/ Dave Muffly - Palo Alto, CA | |
| Sat Aug 1 | 10am – 2pm | Andy's Orchard Fruit Tasting and Tour - 1615 Half Road, Morgan Hill, CA | |
| Sun Aug 2 | 9am – 12:30pm | Mt View - Community Fruit Harvest | |
| Tue Aug 4 | 8:30am – 12pm | SJ central - Community Fruit Harvest | |
| Sun Aug 9 | 9am - 12:30pm | Pear Harvest - private bridal shower event | |
| Sun Aug 9 | 10am – 2pm | Andy's Orchard Fruit Tasting and Tour - 1615 Half Road, Morgan Hill, CA | |
| Mon Aug 10 | 8am - 12pm | Sunnyvale Community Harvest | |
| Tue Aug 11 | 8:30am – 12pm | SJ central - Community Fruit Harvest | |
| Sun Aug 16 | 9am – 12:30pm | Mt View - Community Fruit Harvesting | |
| Tue Aug 18 | 8:30am – 12pm | SJ central - Community Fruit Harvest | |
| Sat Aug 22 | 9am – 1pm | Summer Pruning Workshop w/ Matthew Sutton - Palo Alto, CA | |
| Mon Aug 24 | 8am – 12pm | Sunnyvale Community Harvest | |
| Tue Aug 25 | 8:30am – 12pm | SJ central - Community Fruit Harvest | |
| Tue Sep 1 | 8:30am – 12pm | SJ central - Community Fruit Harvest | |
| Sun Sep 6 | 9am – 12:30pm | Mt View - Community Fruit Harvest | |
| Tue Sep 8 | 8:30am – 12pm | SJ central - Community Fruit Harvest |
Village Harvest
info@villageharvest.org
www.villageharvest.org
(888) FRUIT-411
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Sent by Village Harvest, PO Box 9231, San Jose, CA 95157.