Urban Fruit Gleaners

[Penne]

An email exchange with Laura from Toronto's Urban Fruit Gleaning organization:

On Wed, Aug 20, 2008 at 1:33 PM, Penne wrote:

Hi Laura, Suzanne!

I was sure I left a comment about your wonderful project on one of the blogs, but it's worth saying again - DOUBLE WOW!! Our co-op would like to duplicate your model in our own hometown here in the US, and wondered if you'd mind us borrowing your forms and such as a template for getting started. Kudos to all!!

Celebrate Life & learning ~ I AM! :D
Penne & the folks at AFC
------------------------------

On Wed, Oct 1, 2008 at 6:35 PM, Laura - not far from the tree wrote:

Penne,

Thanks so much for your encouraging words! I'm sorry I didn't get back to you sooner - it's been a very busy season as our project has grown considerably and I'm trying to manage it all.

Sure, you can borrow our forms and anything else you find on the website to help get you started. I've got a list of other projects that we've learned from here. And a group of projects in BC got together to create a manual on how to start your own project. You can order it here.

I hope that helps. If you have any specific questions, feel free to send me an email. I'll get back to you sooner than I did this time, I promise!


All the best,
Laura

--
Laura Reinsborough
Project Coordinator
www.notfarfromthetree.org

[Penne]

My friend, Robby Barbaro, asked me if I knew of any persimmon suppliers in our area, and I told him about a mysterious tree bearing some sort of persimmon-like fruit hanging over the water plant fence in the park next door. Here are some photos, if anyone can help us identify them; the tree itself is beginning to look rather unhealthy:

[Robby Barbaro]

http://healthyoptimist.smugmug.com/photos/396798449_RUAvG-L.jpg

[Robby Barbaro]

I found a similar tree in Gainesville. My current guess is that it is a late blooming saijo.

[Penne]

I believe you're right, Robby ~ Thank You!! I found two reference pages on this variety of persimmon (glad to know I was in the same family ;-) with a Google search:

The first one is at EdibleLandscaping.com and the other at the Tropical Fruit Club. They mention fungal spot and gnats (psylids) as possible causes for the leaf damage seen in my photos. Not sure whether they use an herbicide around the fence to control weeds, but the rosebushes on the other side near the house show no signs of problems.

Glad you're here to share your wisdom with the group! :D

[Penne]

Amazing story of attraction: Robby and I learned that we've been on the same wavelength for an urban fruit gleaning project here in Florida and elsewhere. He and his good friend, Taylor Snipes, shared an extensive list of notes elaborating on their dream for creating a group called the Back Yard Fruit Pickers. Little did they know that such groups exist all over the US and Canada, if not the world! I'm pleased to report that Robby & Taylor have graciously agreed to work with us to bring BYFP to the CO-OP :D

My son and I were jammin' on our guitars the other day, and the thought struck me that Back Yard Fruit Pickers could be the name of a rockin' group LOL Too funny, especially since Dr. D (our mentor at FoodnSport.com) is an avid musician himself. Wouldn't a little music make the pickin' time even more pleasant? :D If it turns out that Robby and Taylor are musically-inclined -- I know for sure we're on the right track!