The Palm Beach Regional Board invites YOU to join us out in the south Florida sunshine for our first quarterly “Nature, Nurture, and NETWORK!” meetup of 2024!
Palm Beach County is one of the most sought-after destinations in South Florida, largely due to the rich natural landscape from the beaches to the Everglades, but there’s a tremendous wealth in farmland that resides in PBC, too!
Meet us out in the west Boynton Beach/Delray Beach farmlands (exact address to be provided in confirmation reminder email the day prior) as we join forces with the local community to GLEAN the recently harvested crops and DONATE all the produce to local charitable organizations and food banks in Palm Beach County.
Gleaning is a food recovery strategy that allows produce that is below top market grade or “unmarketable” for grocers, but equally nutritious and beneficial for consumers, to be harvested and distributed to food banks in Palm Beach and Martin Counties instead of being plowed back into the soil.
Since people live apart from where their food is grown, gleaning requires volunteers who will bridge the gap between the field and the pantry to bring food to locations where people in need can receive it. Farmers donate the produce they cannot sell, Volunteers gather the produce, and food-distributing partners distribute the recovered produce to local agencies with feeding programs for individuals and families with low-incomes, seniors, people with disabilities, and the unhoused. The food is given away free of charge!
Please note: Every volunteer must complete a Gleaner Volunteer Waiver Form upon arrival.
All gleaners under 18 years of age must have the waiver signed by their parents and be accompanied by a supervising adult.
All gleaners still in elementary, middle, or high school must be accompanied by a supervising adult. This includes high school students 18 years of age or older.
IMPORTANT AND HELPFUL TIPS:
1. It is advised to dress in layers. Closed toed shoes are required. No flip flops or open toed or heel shoes are permitted.
2. In cornfields, long pants are required. Leaves from the corn stalks are sharp and can cut the skin.
3. It is recommended that all gleaners wear hats in the field, apply sunscreen, and have bug spray handy in case insects are an issue.
4. Bathroom facilities are unavailable in most gleaning fields. It is advisable to use the bathroom prior to coming to the field.
5. A three-to-five-gallon pail with a handle is an excellent container to carry through the field. Fill it and empty it into the packing box or bin. We will have some on hand for you.
6. Mangoes are a member of the poison ivy family. Anyone with that allergy is encouraged not to glean mangoes.
