Equipment Wish List
If you'd like to support our program with an in-kind donation of equipment, please reference the following list:Every donation helps grow our gleaning network! Email us at GleanSLO@slofoodbank.org for more info!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I bring my friend?
Yes! Just be sure that they have registered at this page, and have signed up for the harvest along with you. We need to keep track of how many people are coming to each harvest so we don't have too many or too few volunteers.
Can I bring my kids?
Kid- and teen-friendly harvests are noted in the harvest description of harvest events, and are determined based on permission from grower, equipment needed to harvest, and restroom availability. See below for age guidelines.
- Kids age 4-12: Only permitted at harvests listed as "kid friendly". Guardian must register themselves to volunteer and provide the name and age of each child they will be responsible for upon signup. Children are the full responsibility of the guardian during the glean. Guardian must provide a signed copy of our volunteer waiver & liability agreement for each child present. No ladder use is permitted.
- Teens age 13-15: Required to register as a volunteer, must have a guardian present at the harvest for active supervision, and must provide a printed, signed copy of our volunteer waiver & liability agreement upon arrival to the harvest. No ladder use is permitted.
- Teens age 16-18: Required to register as volunteers, are not required to have active adult supervision, but must provide a printed signed copy of our volunteer waiver & liability agreement upon arrival to the harvest.
- Bring a re-usable bag in case the grower allows volunteers to take a portion of the produce home with you.
- Bring water to drink, and please take care of any bathroom needs before arriving at the harvest site. We will very likely not have access to a restroom.
- A ladder will be helpful at many harvests. We always provide as much information as possible about the height of the tree and the lowest fruit, so that you can make the decision whether or not you'd like to sign up. We will provide orchard ladders when it is useful, and ask only volunteers who are capable to use them. No one under 16 is permitted to climb a ladder.
- Sunblock
- Long-sleeved T-shirt
- Long pants
- Comfortable closed-toe shoes
- A hat and/or protective glasses(trees are often dusty)
- After you sign up for a harvest on the harvests page, your name is added to the harvest roster. The page that appears right after you sign up shows the address for the harvest. Write it down before you go to any other page.
- You will also be sent an email with a link to the harvest details.
- Make sure that we have your contact information so we can put you on the harvest roster. If you have not previously registered as a volunteer, fill out the Volunteer Registration Form. You have to complete this form only once.
- Significant rain, or light rain if ladders are necessary
- Thunder and lightning
- Outdoor temperatures above 90*
- Air Quality Index of 150 or greater
We believe that picking with GleanSLO is a valuable educational experience and a fabulous opportunity for young folks to give back to the community. When we announce new harvests, we will call special attention to those that are suitable for kids. Some of the farmers allow children on their property to help, others do not. If it's a kid-friendly harvest, we will indicate that on the Harvests calendar.
Nobody under the age of 16 may climb a ladder, and climbing trees is never allowed. If the lowest fruit is not reachable from the ground, there aren't many opportunities for kids to help. We always provide as much information as possible about the height of the tree and the lowest fruit, so that you can make the decision about whether or not to bring your kids.
What should I bring?
What should I wear?
Has the fruit been sprayed with chemicals?
Sometimes. Our harvests take place at a wide variety of properties, from 10-acre orchards to urban backyards. We always ask the property owner whether or not their fruit has been sprayed with chemicals that volunteers should be aware of, and we will report that information to you when we schedule the harvest.
I completed the Volunteer Registration Form. Am I signed up for the harvest?
Not yet. You have completed the first step of giving us your contact information. Now you need to visit our harvests page. Here you will find all of the open harvests that are currently scheduled. Sign up for the harvest that you would like to attend. If there are no harvests listed, then we do not have any scheduled, or the scheduled harvests are already full. Check back frequently for new postings.
I signed up for a harvest. When will I get the address?
I signed up for a harvest, and now I can't go. What should I do?
The email that you receive after signing up for the harvest has a link in it to use if you need to cancel. Cancelling gives someone else a chance to attend the harvest.
Do I have to stay at the harvest for the entire time?
Since most harvests are scheduled for only two hours, we ask that you sign up only if you can arrive on time and stay for the whole harvest.
Why are the harvests filling so quickly?
Hundreds of registered volunteers are notified of our harvests through our weekly newsletters. We believe that it is most fair to notify all volunteers at the same time through email when a large harvest is posted.
Why are there not more harvests?
GleanSLO relies on donations from crop owners. While we do want crop owners to be aware of our service, we simply cannot control the availability of crops. After a crop is donated, our staff factors GleanSLO's ability to staff harvests, parking, and the requests of the land owner to determine when and how many harvests will be hosted.
Who runs GleanSLO?
GleanSLO is a program of the SLO Food Bank run by SLO Food Bank staff members, that unites farmers, community volunteers, and backyard gardeners to harvest and donate excess produce into our local food system.
Do You Harvest Rain or Shine?
The GleanSLO coordinator will cancel gleans in the case of inclement weather. In the case of rain, heat, storm, or smoke, look out for an email from your harvest leader. The following are conditions under which gleans will likely be canceled:
