Come to Hilltop Hanover Farm and Help Pick the Final Fall Crop

Come Glean at Hilltop Hanover Farm on Nov. 24

While many people will be battling crowds on Black Friday, a contingent of volunteers will be gleaning at Hilltop Hanover Farm. Last year’s gleaning - the act of collecting leftover crops from farmers’ fields – yielded over 2,400 pounds of vegetables.

Coordinating the gleaning effort is Sue Hubbard, the Friends of Hilltop Hanover Farm’s volunteer coordinator. Her HHF volunteers will supplement those provided by David and Devin Juros of the Pleasantville Community Garden. This year will mark the second consecutive year that the Pleasantville Community garden will be spearheading – with about 50 volunteers – the gleaning effort at Hilltop Hanover Farm.

Last year the Pleasantville Garden Club’s members took 1600 pounds of picked vegetables with them. The rest was left for the Hilltop Hanover farmers to distribute to its own local food pantries. This year the Pleasantville Garden Club intends to distribute its share – basically what it can transport – to Hillside Food Outreach, A-Home locations in Pleasantville, Katonah, and Chappaqua, Neighbors Link in Mt. Kisco, and the Pleasantville Interfaith Food Pantry. Mey Dolce-Bun, Hilltop Hanover’s farm coordinator of food pantry donations, will be contacting food pantries in the northern Westchester area for distribution of the farm’s share.

Lucille Munz, the Hilltop Hanover Farm and Environmental Center director, wishes to thank the Pleasantville Garden Club for its support of the farm and the local food banks. Not only do both the farm and club provide vegetables at the end of the season to food pantries but also throughout the growing season. Hilltop Hanover Farm, for example, has already donated over 10% of its summer crop to food pantries, shelters, and the Westchester Food Bank. Lucille Munz is especially proud of her farmers and volunteers, for “we are on pace to surpass last year’s donation of over 16,000 pounds of fresh produce. “

According to Sue Hubbard, volunteers are still being accepted for the gleaning event on Friday, November 24 from 10 to 12 (approximately). Come about 9:30 to have some coffee or hot chocolate and fill out the necessary paper work. A waiver must be filled out and signed for all participants – children and parents. All children under 18 must have a parental signature (pick up form BEFORE Friday). Be sure to wear gloves and dress appropriately!