What is Gleaning?
Gleaning is the act of collecting produce from a farm, that would otherwise not be harvested. Roughly, 20% of crops aren’t harvested on farms. There are many reasons for why a farm might not harvest all their crops. They might not have enough employees or have a surplus of produce that would otherwise be wasted. However, gleaning is not just restricted to food but include a wide variety of things. Most college students have participated in the act of gleaning without even knowing. Have you ever bought clothes from Poshmark? Or taken furniture off the curb and put it into your new apartment? That’s gleaning. You are taken something that would otherwise be thrown away and using it.
Why is it important?
Gleaning is important because it not only decreases the amount of food waste that occurs in this country but also helps those who have food insecurity. 1 in 6 Americans struggle with food insecurity which means that, while they have money to pay their bills, they don’t have enough to feed themselves and their family. In Massachusetts alone, 1 in 10 struggle with this problem. However, gleaning provides a solution by filling local food pantries, shelters, and affordable marketplaces with food that would otherwise gone unused.
How to get involved?
Boston Area Gleaners is a local group that was founded in 2004 out of Waltham. They organize volunteer groups to go to local farms, around Eastern MA, to harvest produce that is then donated to organizations that help feed struggling families. These trips can range from 2-3 hours of active harvesting and occur all throughout the week, so there are plenty of opportunities to get involved. For more information and how to sign up go to https://www.bostonareagleaners.org/volunteer.html. No one should have to worry about where their next meal will come from and whether or not they can afford healthy, sustainable food. Gleaning looks to help solve this growing problem in America.
Video: Boston Area Gleaners: Harvesting for the Hungry