Gleaning
A volunteer-led community harvest program
The Gleaning Program is a volunteer-run community harvest program under Hope Mountain Centre for Outdoor Learning (HMCOL). Its purpose is to encourage and help local Hope residents to pick fruit from trees, and use or redistribute the fruit preventing waste and reducing attracting wildlife, such as bears.
A share of the harvest goes to the resident, another share goes to the people who pick the fruit and the rest is donated to local organizations such as the food bank, school programs, or for animal feed.
Want to help us pick fruit?
Got fruit trees that need picking?
Need fruit for your group or animals?
GET INVOLVED
by joining our email list below!
Also consider joining our Facebook group.
Program Objectives
1. Prevent negative human-bear interactions in the town of Hope by deterring bears in residential area fruit trees through removing ripe and rotten fruit which is a bear attractant, and;
2. Prevent waste of fruit.
Other benefits include reducing other wildlife attraction in residential areas such as rodents and those that prey on them, increasing local food security by connecting residents to local food sources, and facilitating social volunteer activity.
The gleaning program is limited to the District of Hope geographic boundary.
This program began in 2011 when local Hope resident Lydia Koot worked with HMCOL to form the Hope Mountain Black Bear Committee and managed this program until 2024. Since its inception, no bears have been shot in fruit trees in Hope—a huge success story
Under the Solid Waste Management Bylaw No. 1472, 2020, Section 6.1(u) of the District of Hope Bylaws, owners and occupiers must not keep attractants (like fruit, garbage, or organics) accessible to wildlife.
Let’s continue working together to keep our community safe!
For Residents
with Fruit Trees
Do you have a fruit tree? Apples, cherries, pears, plums, grapes, or quince - Having a crop of fruit can be great, but can also be overwhelming if you aren’t able to manage it. Fruit falls to the ground and spoils and can attract wildlife such as bears.
Here are some things that you can do:
When fruit is ripe:
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Clean up windfall often to prevent rotting.
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Put it out weekly in your green bin for pick-up or donate to local farms for animal feed.
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Pick your fruit if you are able, or
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you can post on local Facebook groups to invite people to pick your fruit.
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Or contact us for help! Register your tree with the Gleaning Program for volunteer picking: We ask that you ensure a safe space (no hazards, dog poop, or bee/wasp nests.) We will pick your tree, and share the harvest with you, the volunteers who pick, and local organizations such as the food bank, local schools, or for animal feed.
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Regular Tree care:
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Prune your tree annually to keep it a manageable size, typically in winter or early spring when the tree is dormant.
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Prune to remove dead, damaged and diseased branches, and open up space in middle. This can result in better quality fruit.
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Plant native, non-fruit bearing trees and shrubs if the fruit is unwanted or unmanageable.
Keep yourself and the bears safe! Contact us at gleaning@hopemountain.org or sign up for our mailing list.
Join us as a Fruit Picking Volunteer!
Pick a tree to save a bear!
Help your community while enjoying the outdoors, and enjoy the literal fruits of your labour. A portion of each harvest goes to the volunteer pickers, the property resident, and local organizations.
Fruit typically ripens from June to November, and it can include apples, cherries, pears, plums, grapes, and quince. Pole pickers are provided to reach the fruit, and we typically pick early morning or evening to avoid the heat.
What to Bring:
Water, gloves, hat, sunscreen, good footwear, and optionally, cardboard boxes, containers, or a rake (some are provided). Safety glasses are available, or bring your own to avoid falling debris in your eyes.
If interested, contact us for more information at gleaning@hopemountain.org, or join our email list.
Need Fruit?
We've got a variety of fruit to give away including large quantities for community groups, food programs, farms, and more. Contact us at gleaning@hopemountain.org if you’d like fruit for your local organization or for animal feed. We will add you to our contact list to let you know when we have a surplus.
About the Fruit
It’s local and organic! Expect blemishes or imperfections, and it may be smaller than supermarket fruit, but it’s still edible and delicious. There are many great ways to use and preserve the fruit.
Join us to reduce bear attractants and food waste, and build community!
Key Program Volunteers:
Robyn Barker, HMCOL Board Chair – Gleaning Volunteer Coordinator
Jennifer Rodney –Gleaning Coordinator
Esther Brysch – Picker Coordinator/Team Leader
Sign up for our emails, contact us at gleaning@hopemountain.org, and join our Facebook group to learn more and to get involved.