Bellingham Gleaning Network Discussions - Transition Whatcom2024-03-28T22:53:28Zhttp://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/group/seasonalharvest/forum?feed=yes&xn_auth=noGleaning Season 2011tag:transitionwhatcom.ning.com,2011-02-07:2723460:Topic:428932011-02-07T23:50:52.206ZChristie Casselhttp://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profile/ChristieCassel
<p>The fist signs of Spring our showing up in our area. Exciting!</p>
<p>It's a good time to re-group and sets goals and intensions for this up-coming gleaning season. </p>
<p>So, I'd like to hear from all of you - why you joined this group, what about gleaning most excites you, previous experienc(s) that may be helpful or insightful, gleaning steategies, possible allies, your level of involvement/leadership you would like, even scheduling logistics would be useful. It's all open for…</p>
<p>The fist signs of Spring our showing up in our area. Exciting!</p>
<p>It's a good time to re-group and sets goals and intensions for this up-coming gleaning season. </p>
<p>So, I'd like to hear from all of you - why you joined this group, what about gleaning most excites you, previous experienc(s) that may be helpful or insightful, gleaning steategies, possible allies, your level of involvement/leadership you would like, even scheduling logistics would be useful. It's all open for discussion.</p>
<p>Also, take a look at the gleaning flier pdf on the previous discussion. What are your thoughts about its design? Will it work for us this year? </p>
<p>Should we have a meeting soon, maybe middle March? What days/times work?</p>
<p>Thanks for participating in this discussion, and enjoy digging your heels into Spring!</p> Gleaning Flier Revisedtag:transitionwhatcom.ning.com,2010-06-04:2723460:Topic:233162010-06-04T18:59:14.579ZChristie Casselhttp://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profile/ChristieCassel
<div>I attached a pdf file of the revised formatted version for you to print and spread around, here's the text:</div>
<div><br></br></div>
<div>You take the best, and we’ll take the rest!</div>
<div><br></br></div>
<div>The Bellingham Gleaning Network is a project formed through the Transition Whatcom community. We are interested in gleaning from all types of fruit trees and bushes at the end of each fruit's season.</div>
<div>If you think you will have leftover fruit and wouldn’t mind it being…</div>
<div>I attached a pdf file of the revised formatted version for you to print and spread around, here's the text:</div>
<div><br/></div>
<div>You take the best, and we’ll take the rest!</div>
<div><br/></div>
<div>The Bellingham Gleaning Network is a project formed through the Transition Whatcom community. We are interested in gleaning from all types of fruit trees and bushes at the end of each fruit's season.</div>
<div>If you think you will have leftover fruit and wouldn’t mind it being gleaned for preservation projects in the community (such as canning, dehydrating, and fermentation) please let us know.</div>
<div><br/></div>
<div>In general, harvesting is “taking the best,” while gleaning is “taking the rest,” but if you have no harvesting plans and would like us to come earlier, we would be delighted.</div>
<div><br/></div>
<div>Also, we are happy for new members to join our group - if you have gleaning tools, preservation equipment and/or talent, please join us!</div>
<div><br/></div>
<div>Gleaning and preserving is a fun and productive way to take advantage of what nature provides freely while working towards a sustainable future through community resilience and</div>
<div>self-reliance. Gleaning also helps decrease the “mess” of fallen fruit at the end of the season while improving the health of the trees.</div>
<div><br/></div>
<div>Please email bhamglean@gmail.com including (but not limited to)</div>
<div>the following information:</div>
<div><br/></div>
<div>For each fruit tree –</div>
<div>Location and type:</div>
<div>Approx. harvesting/gleaning times (when you would like us to come):</div>
<div>Approx. yield / estimated ideal number of gleaners for the job:</div>
<div><br/></div>
<div>Your Contact info –</div>
<div>How and when would you like to be contacted</div>
<div>to confirm a gleaning day?</div>
<div>(Phone / email / knock on the door / just show up and pick the fruit)</div>
<div><br/></div>
<div>For more information about The Bellingham Gleaning Network, or if you would like to get involved as a gleaner and/or preserver, please visit: <a href="http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/group/seasonalharvest">http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/group/seasonalharvest</a></div>
<div><br/></div>
<div>You can also find The Bellingham Gleaning Network on Facebook.</div>
<div><br/></div>
<div>Thanks so much for your time and contribution to this community project. Happy summer!</div> The First Stepstag:transitionwhatcom.ning.com,2010-04-28:2723460:Topic:208602010-04-28T19:15:47.163ZChristie Casselhttp://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profile/ChristieCassel
<p>The first step to focus on currently, is to compile a calendar of what plants are in season when, so we can plan our gleaning one fruit at a time. This is what I have so far, but my memory of last year is patchy, so if you could add fruits and dates of your estimation, that would be greatly appreciated!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>April: Nettles, dandelions</p>
<p>May:</p>
<p>June: Salmonberries? Cherries?</p>
<p>July: Strawberries --> Raspberries --> Blueberries</p>
<p>August: Yellow plums!…</p>
<p>The first step to focus on currently, is to compile a calendar of what plants are in season when, so we can plan our gleaning one fruit at a time. This is what I have so far, but my memory of last year is patchy, so if you could add fruits and dates of your estimation, that would be greatly appreciated!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>April: Nettles, dandelions</p>
<p>May:</p>
<p>June: Salmonberries? Cherries?</p>
<p>July: Strawberries --> Raspberries --> Blueberries</p>
<p>August: Yellow plums! --> Purple Itlalian Plums --> Blackberries!</p>
<p>Septmeber: Pears? Grapes?</p>
<p>October: Apples!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>This is just a working list! Please, feel free to add, and correct me if I'm wrong about these timings.</p>
<p>After the calendar is more solid, we can decide what is doable, and where seasons overlap which ones take priority, etc. The calendar is going to be much more extensive than what we will actually going to accomplish in a season, but it will be nice to have and be aware of everything that's in season, to maybe break into smaller, more intimate groups for less-abundant, more tedious projects, or u-pick berries that cost money, for instance. As far as urban gleaning, I'm thinking of mainly yellow plums, blackberries, and apples just because they are so plentiful and available. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>The next step (or happening simultaneously) is to make the connections with fruit trees and equiptment. This will likely turn into two lists: a list of trees and the owners contact info (if applicable), and a resource list for neccessary equiptment. Share to Build will be a great resource for us for both tools and trees. <a href="http://www.sharetobuild.com/">http://www.sharetobuild.com/</a> Craigslist can be a good means of making connections as well. Also, we need to decide what to make out of our gatherings! There will probably be two parts to these projects: first the gleaning, then the preserving, which people are free to attend both or either, depending on schedules and such.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>This group is just a baby, so please, please don't hesitate to comment and share whatever thoughts, concerns, inspiration, connections, etc. about gleaning and food preservation.</p>