2025 Gleaning update
July update – Unfortunately, due to adverse weather conditions in the spring and early summer, our regular farms have been unable to host gleaners so far. We will update this page as we receive more information in the coming weeks. If you’d like to join us and you haven’t come out with us in the past, please sign in to our volunteer system to make a volunteer profile, or email gleaning@arlingtonurbanag.org. Also, if you have a local farm contact, please email and share it with us!
In 2024, volunteers gleaned over 53,500 pounds of produce for Arlington area food programs!
Each Tuesday through October, head out to local farms to pick produce and deliver it back to Arlington area feeding programs. Our mornings usually being by 8 am at a designated farm (which can change based on the crop). Each location will be within an hour of Arlington. We have a limited number of volunteer spaces available on each trip. These mornings are always a fun way to connect with the land and do good. We can also help arrange a limited number of carpools.
To join us, sign in to our volunteer system and click on “schedule.” 2025 dates will be announced in late spring.
Why glean? This ancient practice has many modern benefits. Back in the day, farmers would leave the corners of their fields unpicked so that others could take food if they needed. Today, if commercial farmers aren’t able to pick all of the produce on their fields due to weather, harvest or labor schedules, or other environmental concerns, volunteers step in. Unpicked produce represents wasted time, money, and labor, and has the potential to attract pests or even spread disease! Instead of having a field go to waste, gleaners are invited to pick healthy produce for donation. Everyone wins with this arrangement; neighbors in need receive delicious fresh locally grown produce, volunteers have a fun and meaningful day, and farmers have their fields cleaned and make a great contribution to the community.
If you have additional questions, please email volunteer@arlingtonurbanag.org.
2023 Urban Agriculture Month
Urban Agriculture Month shines a spotlight on the significant role urban agriculture plays in our regional and local food system. This event will feature discussions on maximizing food production in an urban setting, demonstration sessions, and a reading of a …
Read moreThe Big Green Bean Glean of 2022
Have you heard of a “Green Bean Bee”? It’s sort of like a quilting bee, but with green beans. To glean green beans, at the farm we pull up the entire plant (otherwise we would be in the field for …
Read more
EN 
ES