Gleaning for Gather

Our gleaning and gardening coordinator works with volunteers and local farmers to harvest surplus crops that would otherwise go to waste. Gather can then offer that produce at our pantry and mobile markets. Not only does gleaning increase access to locally grown, nutritious food for our members, it has several other benefits. Gleaning galvanizes support for our local food system by strengthening relationships with our farm partners, which is vital to the health of our communities. It also offers a community climate solution, diverting food from biodegrading or from a landfill.

Gather is the fiscal sponsor and coordinator for NH Gleans, a state-wide initiative that rescues food from local farms, local producers, farmers markets, and community gardens. Gather also runs its own gleaning operation, working with farmers in Rockingham and Strafford County, as well as York County, ME, to glean produce that would otherwise go to waste. Gather has a Grow 4 Gather program, which encourages residents to grow at home or in community gardens and donate some or all of that produce to Gather.

Each year, Gather purchases shares from local farms through their CSA program. We then distribute the produce from those shares through our many programs. This allows Gather to support local farmers and provide farm-fresh, local produce to our members.

Gather coordinates the statewide network of gleaning partners, NHGleans. For more information about gleaning across the states and the environmental impact, please visit NH Gleans.

Contact John Hennessy at jhennessy@gathernh.org