Fruit picking program

When a homeowner can’t keep up with the abundant harvest produced by their tree, they let us know and we mobilize our volunteers to pick the bounty. The harvest is split three ways: 1/3 is offered to the tree owner, 1/3 is shared among the volunteers, and 1/3 is delivered by bicycle to be donated to food banks, shelters, and community kitchens in the neighbourhood so that we’re putting this existing source of fresh fruit to good use. It’s a win-win-win situation!

This simple act has profound impact. With an incredible crew of volunteers, we’re making good use of healthy food, addressing climate change with hands-on community action, and building community by sharing the urban abundance.

With our first full season in 2008, Not Far From The Tree has grown quickly.

In 2010 we picked nearly 20,000 lbs of fruit from 228 trees. And yet, this was only from 1/4 of the trees that were registered with us. There is a strong need for our successful programming to expand across the city.

What’s more…

• We transport all of our equipment and fruit by bicycle, keeping our carbon footprint low.
• We were an official part of Nuit Blanche with our all-night cider-pressing art installation, City Cider.
• We participated in 40+ fairs, festivals, and community events across the city this year.
• We ran 12 preserving workshops to extend the harvest year-round and share local food skills.
• We harvest maple syrup from city trees, too, to demonstrate a local winter crop from Toronto trees.
• We will be starting a public fruit tree mapping initiative to be launched in 2011.
• We helped Toronto’s first community orchard become established.

To put your support behind this excellent initiative, become a donor. (All donations managed by our parent charity, The Popular Education & Research Catalyst Centre.)