{"id":12065,"date":"2023-09-22T11:47:27","date_gmt":"2023-09-22T18:47:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/clallam\/?page_id=12065"},"modified":"2026-02-25T14:09:29","modified_gmt":"2026-02-25T22:09:29","slug":"farm-gleaning-program","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/clallam\/food-waste-reduction-and-gleaning\/farm-gleaning-program\/","title":{"rendered":"Farm Gleaning Program"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

About Us<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\"Farm
Benji Astrachan helps facilitate the Farm Gleaning Program.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

A volunteer team led by WSU Extension staff has been gleaning at River Run Farm since 2020 when SNAP-Ed Coordinator and Food Waste Prevention Specialist, Benji Astrachan, was also working part-time on the farm\u2019s harvest crew. The connection to food waste prevention and food access projects in his SNAP-Ed work through Extension was obvious, and the farm gleaning program was created to make sure unpicked organic crops could go to those in need. This program has been wildly successful over the last few years, with a rough average of 15,000 lbs. of organic local produce harvested by volunteers for donation each growing season! <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To continue this mutually beneficial relationship built between WSU Extension, the food <\/span>banks<\/span> and River Run Farm<\/span>, <\/span>it’s<\/span> important that <\/span>our <\/span>volunteer gleaners<\/span> <\/span>are prioritizing safety,<\/span> following instructions and guidance from any farm or Extension staff<\/span>,<\/span> and <\/span>being respectful of<\/span> the farm<\/span> that <\/span>freely <\/span>gives so much to the community<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>Extension staff <\/span>leading<\/span> the glean events are <\/span>always happy to answer questions, give demonstrations and field etiquette tips, and do whatever else is needed to make sure <\/span>all volunteers<\/span> <\/span>are working <\/span>safe<\/span>ly<\/span> and harvesting properly, <\/span>to preserve and carry forward the<\/span> trust <\/span>and cooperation between the farm and the glean program. Finally, all volunteers must fill out the  <\/span>Farm Gleaning Assumption of Risk form from Washington State University <\/span>to<\/span> <\/span>participate<\/span> in glean events \u2013 this can be done at the first glean event that a new volunteer joins.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Glean volunteers can expect to receive <\/span>an email at the beginning of each <\/span>week with the <\/span>day, time and location of that week\u2019s glean, although most gleans occur mid-week in the afternoon at River Run Farm in Sequim. <\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. In the email, <\/span>Benji <\/span>(<\/span>or other Extension staff organizing the glean<\/span>)<\/span> will <\/span>include any notes about special gear needed, what crops <\/span>a<\/span>re expect<\/span>ed for harvest<\/span>, etc. <\/span>Gleaners are welcome to take home produce for themselves – <\/span>the<\/span>re’s<\/span> al<\/span>ways an abundance!  <\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Gleaners <\/span>are <\/span>also<\/span> encouraged to <\/span>help distribute what we harvest to local food banks, Little Free Pantries, <\/span>nei<\/span>ghbors<\/span> an<\/span>d elders in need, <\/span>and anywhere else<\/span> where people would <\/span>ben<\/span>efit<\/span> fr<\/span>om increased access to fresh produce.<\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Once on the mailing list, <\/span>volunteers<\/span> can simply <\/span>show up at the<\/span> time and place<\/span> specified for that week – t<\/span>here is n<\/span>o need to RSVP<\/span> each week<\/span>, and gleaners <\/span>are<\/span>n’t<\/span> <\/span>ob<\/span>l<\/span>igated<\/span> to<\/span> stay for <\/span>all<\/span> of<\/span> a <\/span>glean. W<\/span>e appreciate <\/span>any<\/span> and all<\/span> t<\/span>i<\/span>me and energy volunteers can give to help harvest and donate foo<\/span>d.<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n