Volunteers wanted to help with nut harvest

The harvest has begun at the Gellatly Nut Farm Regional Park and Peter Klassen, soon to be 95, and Ferne Jean, 91, of the Gellatly Nut Farm Society, were husking hazelnuts, also known as Àlberts, at the farm last Friday morning.

The society needs volunteers to pick ripened nuts off the ground so they can be sold. No ladders are required.

The harvest is expected to last 10 days, said Jean.

Volunteers will be at the farm house Monday to Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.

If you are interested in picking nuts, pick up a bucket from a volunteer at the farm house and he or she will direct you to a good picking spot.

You can also drop by and buy nuts, including hazelnuts, chestnuts and walnuts, or one of the fine wood items made by Blair Jean out of butternut tree wood.

The nut harvest is run by the society and the regional district. All proceeds from the harvest are used for the restoration, preservation and rehabilitation of the 100-year old farm. The society, which is completely made up of volunteers, is currently fundraising for the restoration of the farmhouse.

The Gellatly Nut Farm Regional Park is located at 2375 Whitworth Rd. in West Kelowna.

For more information about volunteering at the nut farm, call Jennifer Reece at 250-768-7297.

BARB AGUIAR/Westside Weekly Kathi Lawrence was at the Gellatly Nut Farm Regional Park buying her winter supply of hazelnuts from volunteer Lynn Frey. Lawrence buys nuts every fall at the farm.

BARB AGUIAR/Westside Weekly Lynn Frey, Gellatly Nut Farm Society volunteer, shows off bowls crafted by Blair Jean, available for sale at the farmhouse. The bowls are made of wood from trees from the nut farm .