Gleaning Cornwall

How would you like to come home and find a piece of broccoli or a cauliflower on your door step?  Here's how you can make that dream come true for your  neighbours!

Isn’t it wonderful to see all the trees laden with fruit and berries, and marvel  at the abundance of nature in Autumn?  And isn't it equally confounding to know that so many go without or struggle just to have the basic need of eating met?  

Struggle no more!  Join your local gleaning society and start to share the abundance now!  The Gleaning Cornwall group help feed 12,000 people per week!

What is gleaning?

Gleaning is an ancient practice, first written about in the bible, where farmers who have finished cropping their fields give their permission for the remnants to be picked by those who need it.  Now there is a network of gleaning groups across the country who work with the farmers and other farm management teams like ‘Riviera Produce’ to organise groups of volunteers to go on set days and times to given fields and harvest the rest of the crops they won’t use.  These are then distributed for free to community kitchens, food banks and other non-profit groups supporting homeless people and anyone in need.

Why is there spare food?

Growing is not a precise science.  Sometimes the weather or other factors affects the crop, so extra seeds are planted to ensure a successful amount.  Sometimes there is excess, or the crops aren’t sold so there is spare left in the fields.  Sometimes the demand isn’t there or the pickers aren’t available at the right time, so again  vegetables are left un-picked.

What do you need?

Volunteers who can give a couple of hours just need to car share where possible and get to the pinned site.  Waterproof coat, trousers and wellies will keep you dry and protect you from mud so bring them. The picking tools like gloves, knife and know how will be given to you by the gleaning network.  You will even get a cup of tea or coffee and biscuits when the job is done!  You can then take home any spare pickings, and distribute to your neighbours, friends or any nurseries or community groups around you! Nothing is sold, it is all given for free.

 How do you get involved?

Get in touch with Gleaning Cornwall https://gleaningcornwall.org.uk/contact/ if you are local, or search for  gleaning groups in your area.  If you are inspired and want to start your own group elsewhere in the country, Holly and the team in Cornwall will offer helpful advice about what you need to do! 

If you don’t have the time or ability to pick yourself, you can always help by raising funds or donating to the cause here!

Food grows for free, lets make sure no one goes hungry because they don't have enough money!