Glean with Us!

Come lend a hand, help a farmer, connect with community members, and have some fun!  All are welcome to join us and the Androscoggin Gleaners as we harvest vegetables to reduce food waste and increase access to good food at Whiting Farm in Auburn!   This is a great activity for families, work teams, youth groups, and any interested individual.

What is gleaning?  Gleaning is the act of collecting leftover crops from a farmers’ fields after they have been commercially harvested or on fields where it is not economically profitable to harvest. Gleaning helps to save fruits and vegetables from becoming food waste, and can help increase access to good food when gleaned produce is donated to a food pantry – which is what we will be doing with all our gleaned food!  Gleaners will often help with other farm tasks as requested to maintain the reciprocal relationship of generosity. Whiting Farm has a new program this year called ‘5 Fields for Families’ in which 5 acres of crops are all grown to be donated to food insecure families.

On October 6th, please bring:

• Layered clothing and footwear appropriate for the weather, and that which you don’t mind getting dirt/muddy
• Work gloves if you have them
• Full water bottle

RSVP is requested, but not required.  We hope you can join us!

The Androscoggin Gleaners are a local group of volunteers started in 2018 that on a regular basis during the harvest season coordinate with local farmers, food pantries, and volunteers like YOU to set up gleans in the local region. Want to learn more? Connect with the Androscoggin Gleaners on Facebook, by email: androgleaners@gmail.com, or by phone: 207-370-1061.