Fruit Tree Project
Through the the Fruit Tree Project, we connect dedicated volunteers with fruit tree owners in the Greater Victoria region, to harvest and share fruit that would otherwise go to waste, ensuring fresh local produce reaches community members who need it most.
Want to learn more? Keep scrolling to find out how the harvest works or learn about volunteer roles!
2026 Volunteer Orientations have begun!
Our 2026 fruit picking season is just around the corner and we have begun volunteer orientations. Please review the volunteer descriptions and orientations below.
General Orientation
Our Fruit Tree Project General Orientation is required for all new volunteers, and those who have gone on less than 3 picks in the past 2 years. Our General Orientation is now available online on demand! Watch the video below (30 mins) and complete the short quiz. Our staff will review your answers and update your account within 24 to 48 hours so you will be set to pick fruit!
Tree Assessor Training
Our team of Tree Assessors are vital to being able to pick fruit at its prime! Tree Assessors go out a few weeks before the estimated harvest date and ensure we have accurate estimates of the yield and ripeness. The role involves visiting beautiful backyards all over the region, chatting with Tree Stewards and is an excellent mix of low impact on your body and high impact on our program! Tree Assessor training involves attending one of our scheduled online orientations (45 mins) and then going out with a staff member to do some practice in the field. Tree Assessors are encouraged to share in the harvest, and your efforts will be rewarded with fresh fruit available for pickup once the season gets underway.
2026 Tree Assessor Training Dates:
Thursday, June 25, 2026 – 6pm – online
Thursday, July 9, 2026 – 6pm – online
Saturday, July 18, 2026 – 10am – online
Wednesday, July 22, 2026 – 6pm – online
Tuesday, August 4, 2026 – 6pm – online
Saturday, August 15, 3036 – 10am – online
Sign up for a training on the Gleaning Hub by going to: Join –> Shifts
Harvest Leader Training
Harvest Leaders are the backbone of the Fruit Tree Project. Harvest Leaders are able to choose the time and date of outings, choose what and where they pick and can choose to either build their own team of pickers or create open picks. You’ll gain experience driving vans, get practice leading teams and be a key player in the Fruit Tree Project this season. If you are wanting to get out on more picks this season consider being part of the core team and help facilitate opportunities for others to get out and harvest the abundance. Becoming a Harvest Leader involves attending one of our scheduled online orientations (45 mins) as well as accompanying a staff member on an initial Buddy Pick.
2026 Harvest Leader Training Dates:
Thursday, July 2, 2026 – 6pm – online
Saturday, July 11, 2026 – 10am – online
Wednesday, July 15, 2026 – 6pm – online
Saturday, July 25, 2026 – 10am – online
Tuesday, July 28, 3036 – 6pm – online
Thursday, August 6, 2026 – 6pm – online
Saturday, August 8, 2026 – 10am – online
Sign up for a training on the Gleaning Hub by going to: Join –> Shifts
What do volunteers do?
Volunteers are at the heart of what we do here at LifeCycles. They take on a variety of roles in the harvest process to help keep the Fruit Tree Project running smoothly.
Harvest Leaders are the backbone of the whole operation. These volunteers schedule when and what to pick, drive the LifeCycles van, coordinate volunteers onsite, document the harvest, and help pick the fruit.
Fruit Pickers are our casual volunteers. These volunteers can choose when and where they want to harvest by joining one of the picks scheduled by Harvest Leaders in the Gleaning Hub.
Tree Assessors are trained to help us gather important information about trees in their neighbourhood to ensure a successful harvest. They’re also often the first point of contact between Tree Stewards and the LifeCycles volunteer team!
Fruit Sorters are the foundation of our Community Sharing Model. These volunteers come together twice a week during harvest season to grade the harvest and redirect it into the community.
Ready to become part of the LifeCycles volunteer team? Register on our Gleaning Hub and sign up for an Orientation Shift!
How does the harvest work?
The harvest begins with Tree Stewards (tree owners) registering their trees in our online portal, the Gleaning Hub. After providing information about their property and their fruit tree(s), the Steward can request to have their trees picked by our dedicated team of volunteers.
Our staff team reviews each pick request – ripeness and yield can be tricky to judge, and fluctuate from year to year! If we need more information about a tree, we’ll contact the Steward for photos, or send a volunteer Tree Assessor to take a closer look. Once the details are confirmed and approved by staff, the tree is put on a ‘Ready to Pick’ list. Learn more about what trees we will and won’t pick here.
Next, our volunteer Harvest Leaders choose from the pool of trees that are ready to pick and book an outing. Volunteer Fruit Pickers are then invited to join the harvest, and the Steward is notified of the scheduled pick. Afterwards, the Harvest Leader, Fruit Pickers, and Tree Steward take their share of the harvested fruit, and the remaining portion returns to LifeCycles for redistribution into the community. Learn more about the redistribution process here.
Ready to join the harvest? Register as a Tree Steward or Volunteer on our Gleaning Hub!
What happens to the fruit we pick?
Everybody loves fruit, and we share the bounty as widely as possible. Our goal is to best match the fruit with the needs of the recipients.
Our Program Participants
Everyone who participates in the harvest shares in the bounty. Tree stewards and volunteers can take up to 25%. Program participates further share with their friends, family, and neighbours.
Our Community Partners
The remaining fruit is sorted by our volunteers, with the high quality, ready-to-eat produce being shared with the over 75+ agencies supported by the The Mustard Seed Food Security Distribution Centre, as well as other community partners.
Our Local Products
Fruit that is more suitable for processing is then turned into unique artisan products. In 2025, LifeCycles made a Backyard Blend hard cider, in collaboration with Spinnaker’s Brewing. We also made a number of unique jams and canned apple juice that are available for purchase on our store and on the South Island Farm Hub. All proceeds help fund the harvest.
Our community sharing model flips the standard market arrangement, ensuring that the highest quality fruit is given away to the community.
Suggested Donation as a Tree Steward
While a donation is not strictly necessary as a tree steward, please consider Lifecycles’ costs – equipment, staffing, van upkeep, gas, warehouse space etc. – as part of your thought process when deciding to donate.
At Lifecycles, we recognize that the financial situations of our community members differ greatly. Therefore, we do not want to set a universal standard for contributions. The Embracing Equity Sliding Scale pictured below is a useful tool to gauge an appropriate contribution based on individual ability. As we dedicate ourselves to creating a more equitable structure within the Lifecycles community, we encourage those identifying more closely to the full bottle to share what they feel they can.
Full bottle: $100+
Half Bottle: $50 – $100
Low Fill Bottle: $0 – $50
Support the Fruit Tree Project!
Your tax-deductible donation helps sustain this invaluable program, which has been operating since 1994 — a long-standing pillar of community care and food-sharing in the Greater Victoria Area.