Giving thanks for the Gleaners

“If you are not from here, you will not believe this place,” said one client. “I have lived here for over four years and this Food Bank never ceases to amaze with fresh produce, some is even from the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens — organic items, ‘hippie’ breads, dessert, dog food, cat food and more … these guys are local heroes.”

According to a Wikipedia definition, “gleaning” is the act of collecting leftover crops from farmers’ fields after they have been commercially harvested or on fields where it is not economically profitable to harvest. There are many in our town who can be considered gleaners. Earlier this year, I saw one man carrying a bumper crop of apples into the Food Bank to share. Another day someone might bring plums, another day perhaps some chard or kale. Heck, the Food Bank even takes zucchini!

Two main local sources for much-needed produce are the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens and the Noyo Food Forest.

Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens: The vegetable garden at MCBG has a dedicated group of volunteers who work each week, year-round. It’s because of these volunteers that MCBG is able to provide the Food Bank with over three tons of food annually. Every week crates are delivered that are filled to the brim with veggies. The folks at Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens are thrilled to have the bounty from their demonstration vegetable garden going to a great cause, and Jim DiMauro, the warehouse manager at the Food Bank is always grateful and gracious.