Gleaning Program

Operated jointly by the Nanaimo Community Gardens Society and Nanaimo Foodshare Society, the Gleaning Program helps reduce food waste and redistribute food in our community by leveraging volunteers to harvest surplus fruit, vegetables and other crops that would otherwise go unpicked.

In addition to fruit trees, the Program has gleaned peas, blueberries, raspberries, corn and so much more! The food is shared three ways between crop o

2024 – 25 Highlights

• 82 volunteers participated.
• 12,228 pounds of produce were saved by the program.
• 102 picks for the season

Share You Produce

If you have more produce than you can use, we can connect you with trained and insured volunteer gleaners who will harvest it for you. Homeowners may keep a portion of the harvest, while the rest is shared throughout the community. Advance notice of 1–2 weeks is appreciated to allow time to coordinate harvests.

Become A Gleaner

Join a community of volunteers helping harvest local food and reduce waste. New gleaners must attend a mandatory safety orientation and purchase an annual $25 membership. Once registered, gleaners receive invitations to organized harvests throughout the season.

Supporting Local Farmers

We also work with local farmers to harvest surplus crops. Participating farmers may be eligible for an income tax receipt and can retain a portion of the harvest for sale.

Community Impact

The program helps prevent food waste while increasing access to fresh, local produce. Harvested food is shared among property owners, volunteers, community organizations, schools, neighbours, and Nanaimo Foodshare programs.

For more information, to register surplus produce, or to inquire about becoming a gleaner, contact the Gleaning Program at 250-816-4769.