Gleaning
Gleaning is defined as harvesting leftover crops from a farmers' field after the commercial harvest. It is an ancient practice being revived and organized by the PEI Food Exchange on PEI and many other organizations worldwide.
Gleaning enables people to secure healthy food in a dignified manner, it is not charity but rather an exchange. Benefits are realized by both the farmers and gleaners. Typically, the harvest is shared one third to the farmer, one third to the people who help with the harvest ("gleaners") and one third is delivered to social service agencies. On average, the PEI Food Exchange gleans ten thousand pounds of produce each year from, primarily, organic farms on PEI. Farmers with non commercial crops can contact the Food Exchange at foodexchangepei@gmail.com, call 902 314 2220 or message us on facebook at Food Exchange PEI. |
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People glean for diverse reasons, some of which are :
an opportunity to stock up for the lean winter months
a dignified way to source healthy food
the gratification of saving good food from being wasted
the satisfaction of helping provide fresh produce to people who can't access it
an opportunity to learn about the diversity of food grown on PEI
the comradery that develops during the harvest over the common theme of how to grow, harvest, store and prepare food.
The Food Exchange aims to give back to participating farmers and assist in growing a sustainable food system on PEI. When a farmer does not want their share of the harvest an exchange of labour is offered. Farmers are protected under the Donations of Food Act on PEI.
"This group of people really made a difference today in so many ways. They helped me to finish harvesting the last of my storage carrots and they gleaned the rest of the carrots I did not have room for. My cooler is now FULL of carrots for winter eating and many folks in-need across the Island will have access to fresh carrots through several distribution systems. Many thanks to all those who came out to make a big job not so big. As they say....many hands make light work" . Jen & Derek's Organic Farm
"This group of people really made a difference today in so many ways. They helped me to finish harvesting the last of my storage carrots and they gleaned the rest of the carrots I did not have room for. My cooler is now FULL of carrots for winter eating and many folks in-need across the Island will have access to fresh carrots through several distribution systems. Many thanks to all those who came out to make a big job not so big. As they say....many hands make light work" . Jen & Derek's Organic Farm
Gleaning - from other sources
The Food Exchange collects unsold produce from the Charlottetown Farmers Market. This produce is delivered to households recommended by service agencies (for example, PEI Family Violence Prevention Services, The Association for Newcomers, Anderson House and the Salvation Army).
The Food Exchange also redistributes excess fresh food from community gardens and community supported agriculture/veggie box schemes.
People very much appreciate receiving this healthy food which otherwise might be wasted.
Gleaning cultivates community health by connecting people
to the food they eat,
to the farmers who grow it and
to the land it comes from.
The PEI Food Exchange Gleaning Handbook
is a training aid for new gleaners
and a guide for communities
who want to implement their own gleaning initiative.
