About five years ago, I ran into an organization called "Not Far From The Tree" located in Toronto. They so impressed me that I have been taking notes about our own city for a few years. Now, with the Windsor Essex County Community Garden Network Coordinator position, I'll be able to start mapping these locations so that we can put this fruit to good use by picking and sharing the bounty.
Sometimes you find fruit trees, nuts, berry bushes around your neighbourhood and you just don't know what to do. You think, "Oh my gosh! I've got to tell all my friends! We can't let this go to waste!". Mapping the Food Forest locations for Windsor Essex can help us all glean wasted fruit. Our warm, hot, long season is great for producing outstanding food. Will you help us?
Take notes. Where is it? What kind of produce is it? Is it private land, public land, not sure? Do you know the owners? Do you watch the food go to waste every year? This project will seek to provide a collective approach to wasted food in our city.
Not Far From The Tree sure knows how to do it right. Here is a quote from their website stating how they negotiate with homeowners who cannot deal with all their produce.
When a homeowner can’t keep up with the abundant harvest produced by their tree, they let us know and we mobilize our volunteers to pick the bounty. The harvest is split three ways: 1/3 is offered to the tree owner, 1/3 is shared among the volunteers, and 1/3 is delivered by bicycle to be donated to food banks, shelters, and community kitchens in the neighbourhood so that we’re putting this existing source of fresh fruit to good use. It’s a win-win-win situation!This simple act has profound impact. With an incredible crew of volunteers, we’re making good use of healthy food, addressing climate change with hands-on community action, and building community by sharing the urban abundance.
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