What can you do?
Volunteer to be a Harvester
Harvesters are volunteers who participate in gleaning events by helping to pick, sort, and weigh produce that is harvested. Harvesters do not need to attend any training to start helping as your Glean Lead or Branch Leader will train you during the gleaning event.
On top of building a better community, volunteers get to take home a portion of the harvest!
Apply to be a Branch Leader
Branch Leaders will work closely with Fruit Tree Assessors, Site Stewards (homeowners, renters, etc.), Harvest Pierce County staff, and volunteer Harvesters. They are responsible for scheduling and leading urban fruit harvests with a team of volunteer Harvesters. In addition, Branch Leaders are responsible for assuring the produce gets dropped off to local hunger relief organizations, and recording harvest data and details.
Branch Leaders also get to take home a portion of the harvest, which means they have access to fresh fruit all season long. This is the perfect opportunity for people who like to preserve food or bake, and want to give back to the community.
We ask that Branch Leaders have a drivers liscense and a reliable form of transportation that can accomodate an 8-foot ladder and numerous gleaning bins filled with freshly picked produce. Branch Leaders should also be able to commit to the entire season and have ability to perform their duties for 3-5 hours/week. Branch Leaders are provided mileage reimbursement and a $1000 end of season pay for gleaning a minimum of 30 trees.
Apply to be a Fruit Tree Assessor
Fruit Tree Assessors will work with Branch Leaders, Site Stewards (renters, homeowners, farmers, etc.), and Harvest Pierce County staff. They are responsible for scheduling fruit tree assessments with Site Stewards, and assessing both the tree and their fruit to determine if it has pest and disease issues, requires pruning or replacement, and to come up with an action plan for Site Stewards to achieve a healthy orchard. In addition, Fruit Tree Assessors are responsible for letting our Branch Leaders know if the fruit is healthy and ripe for the picking, and recording site data and details.
We ask that Fruit Tree Assessors have a drivers liscense and a reliable form of transportation that can accomodate an 8-foot ladder. Fruit Tree Assessors should also be able to commit to the entire season and have ability to perform their duties for 2-4 hours/week. Fruit Tree Assessors are provided mileage reimbursement and a $1500 end of season pay for assessing a minimum of 60 trees.