Fruit Tree Project
We turn falling fruit into a whole new way to think about life in the Greater Victoria region. By changing the way folks interact with the Urban Orchard and their community, we can transform their relationship with the local food system.
Through connecting dedicated volunteers with fruit tree owners in the Greater Victoria region, we distribute fruit that would otherwise go to waste to those in the community who will use it. Want to learn more? Keep scrolling to find out how the harvest works or learn about volunteer roles!
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 high quality, ready-to-eat produce being shared with the over 60 agencies in the Food Share Network and other community partners.
Our Local Products
Fruit that is more suitable for processing is then turned into unique artisan products. In past years we’ve made a Backyard Blend cider, in collaboration with Rathjen Cellars and the Totally Pitted Golden Plum Sour made in collaboration with Whistle Buoy Brewing. 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.
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!
Suggested Donation as a Tree Steward
While a donation is not necessary as a tree steward, the costs to Lifecycles of picking trees can be significant. We want to emphasise to please donate an amount that is comfortable for you and your family.
At Lifecycles, we recognise 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: $50+
Half Bottle: $20 – $50
Low Fill Bottle: $0 – $20
