Now that summer is well underway and the gardens are planted, you may be looking at your yard wondering how you will deal with it all.
Spread the abundance by donating your surplus veggies and fruits to the Harvest Rescue Program, operating for its fifth year.
Harvest Rescue has many benefits. Once arrangements are made with the program coordinator, trained volunteer pickers will come to your yard and harvest fruit trees, nut and berry bushes, a section of your garden — any area that you have registered.
Typically, one-third of the harvest will go to you, one-third to the Nelson Food Cupboard and one-third to the volunteers.
It is crucial that you advance register your tree with Loray at Harvest Rescue, 250-551-8343 (VEGE), to ensure available pickers and that the fruit isn’t overripe.
Advance booking is also very important to reduce interactions with bears — keeping the bears as well as residents safe. Please note that they cannot accept worm-infested, wind fallen, bruised or slashed fruit.
Fresh surplus produce of any kind or grow-a-row donations can also be dropped off at the Food Cupboard Mondays and Wednesdays 9 a.m. to noon and Thursday from noon to 2 p.m.
Harvest Rescue is grateful for its volunteers who are the key to this program’s success. Interested volunteers can email harvestrescue@gmail.com or sign up on their website at harvestrescue.org