Community Fruit Harvest
The Community Fruit Harvest rescues unwanted fruit from private gardens in and around Ōtepoti and distributes it back to communities who need it.
Community Fruit Harvest is a nationwide, volunteer-based initiative to pick fruit (and other produce) from people’s gardens. This fruit then gets distributed back to the community and our neighbours. In a time where our country is facing growing food insecurity, a cost of living crisis and a climate emergency, creating a food resilient community is more important than ever.
CFH Dunedin has been happening for several years on a small scale with only voluntary support. This year (2024) we are working in collaboration with The Valley Project and Our Food Network. We are funded with grant support from the Dunedin City Council Waste Minimisation Community grant, as well as the MSD Puta Ora Food Security Funds.
Our goal is to distribute healthy foods to our community, minimise garden waste, and help build a food resilient community.
We have diligently worked to create a private database of many of the properties with fruit trees around all areas of Dunedin. This is updated regularly, and held securely in The Valley Project’s internal network.
Register Your Fruit Trees (and Other Produce)
Got fruit?
We can’t pick fruit if we don’t have fruit trees! We take all fruits and vegetables. We prefer to pick larger quantities and won’t take food that is rotten or inedible. We will travel all around Dunedin (and sometimes outside!).
We can provide our own ladders, boxes and volunteers. You just need to tell us when and where, and if there is anything we should know about your property.
Pickers & Distruibutors
We need help all around Dunedin to pick the fruit. Some jobs are less labour intensive than others and don’t require heavy lifting or climbing ladders. Some jobs are suited for tamariki and families. We’d love to find opportunities for everyone, so just ask! General mobility and fitness is required. Shifts are usually announced a week before, with various times and days (it all depends on when the fruit is ready!). Picking is generally 1-2 hours, and supplies are usually provided, and carpool options are available. If a coordinator isn’t available to do a shift with you, they will share all of the relevant information and where to deliver the fruit to.
You get to see some amazing gardens around the community, and volunteers are welcome to take some of the fruit they pick home.
Preservers
What do we do with 500 kgs of cooking apples or plums? We preserve it! We need helpers who are interested in testing their skills or learning new ways of how to make the best preserves and sauces. We ask volunteers to preserve what we pick at home and occasionally have preserving workshops. We can help provide jars and sugar and of course, the fruit!
Other Volunteering Opportunities
Kai Surplus Stall helpers: Help us at our Kai Surplus stall on Thursdays at The Valley Project,
selling and helping customers at our table.
Festival Table Manning: Sometimes we go to festivals and community events and need volunteers to help
advocate and share our stories and projects.
Have another way you might be able to help? Get in touch! harvest@ourfoodnetwork.org
Meet the CFH Team
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Karena Garratt
CFH Coordinator
harvest@ourfoodnetwork.org
021-0273-1251Karena has background in logistics and volunteer management. She found her love for food rescue while working at a food bank and rescue group in Michigan USA. She is passionate about helping others and getting food otherwise wasted to those who need it most.
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Tamsin Liegh
CFH and Valley Kai Coordinator
valleykai@northeastvalley.org
022-1240-525
Tamsin coordinated the Community Fruit Harvest for the last two seasons and is focusing this year on growing it into a sustainable enterprise that can operate all year-round. She is excited by the vision of a resilient & wildly cohesive food system in Ōtepoti (and beyond) and would be delighted to hear from anyone who wants to support our mahi or collaborate with us in some way.