2nd Gleaning, Twice as Much

This is the second gleaning in The Garden at 485 Elm’s partnership with Community Harvest of Central Vermont.

The first gleaning in July yielded 40 pounds of food. Today, volunteers gleaned over 75 pounds of food. It has been delivered to The Montpelier Senior Activity Center‘s FEAST Meals Program and Capstone Community Action‘s Community Kitchen Academy in Barre (a joint partnership with the Vermont Food Bank) and to the Capstone Food Shelf.

The Garden at 485 Elm is a community garden feeding the gardeners who work this land and, thanks to Central Vermont Community Harvest, other Vermonters who need fresh, healthy, delicious food.

Two women assemble boxes in the garden while a third gives instruction
The gleaners arrive. Maribeth & Karen open boxes while Allison describes the work ahead. The gleaners will take leaves from plants that need thinning, lettuce that’s bolting, and herbs that are going to seed.
Maribeth picks beets
In the rain, Maribeth picks beets that are past their prime.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Karen & Allison thin collard greens
Karen & Allison thin collard greens
The plants in front, about half the collard greens, have been thinned. In a week, they'll be ready to harvest again.
The plants in front, about half the collard greens, have been thinned. In a few weeks, they’ll be ready to harvest again.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Karen picks kale. The boxes fill quickly. The super-productive plants still have many, many leaves on them.
Karen picks kale. The boxes fill quickly. The super-productive plants still have many, many leaves on them.

 

Cindy, the garden coordinator, weeds in the foreground while Allison gleans spinach and salad greens from around the pea trellis.
Cindy, the garden coordinator, weeds in the foreground while Allison gleans spinach and salad greens from around the pea trellis.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eleven pounds of kale in this box.
Eleven pounds of kale in this box.

 

 

Twelve pounds of beets and greens to go.
Twelve pounds of beets and greens to go.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Allison and Karen weigh and record each box of food.
Allison and Karen weigh and record each box of food.

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