Charity looking for fruit trees in North Wellington

Tawa local Julie Harris has recently volunteered as Community Fruit Harvesting co-ordinator in the North Wellington area. To kick-start activity in the area, she is calling for people with unwanted fruit growing in their back yard to get in touch so the charity can help the hungry.

Community Fruit Harvesting volunteers pick fresh fruit that would otherwise go to waste and give it to charities who share it with people in need. Community Fruit North Wellington will cover Johnsonville, Tawa, Porirua and the Kapiti Coast, extending the reach of the existing Community Fruit Wellington operation.

“There is so much untapped opportunity in this area with many old houses with fruit trees in their gardens,” says Julie. “I’d like to see that wasted fruit going to households where it’s needed. It’s a win for everyone – the tree owners don’t have rotting fruit in their garden, those in need receive a helping hand, and volunteers find it immensely satisfying to work with like-minded people to play a part in reducing poverty and making a real difference.

“Anyone who is happy to don a set of gloves, pick fruit or climb a ladder is welcome. I also welcome volunteers happy to take a bag of fruit, add value to it by making delicious jam or chutney and then get those homemade goodies into fruit boxes. And if anyone has a tree or two laden with fruit that they are happy to donate I’d love to hear from them.”

In addition to volunteers offering a fruit tree or their time to pick or preserve fruit, Community Fruit North Wellington is also seeking donations of sugar and jars, boxes, crates or large bags to put the fruit in and offers of storage space.

People in North Wellington with a fruit tree available for picking or who want to volunteer to pick fruit or make jam can email Julie Harris on pickfruitnthwellington@gmail.com.

Julie Harris, Community Fruit Harvesting North Wellington co-ordinator on why she chose to get involved with the charity.

I read an article on Community Fruit Harvesting earlier this year and was interested in this concept. I had previously worked in another food charity and became really interested in the complex issues surrounding food security in our community. I am dismayed at the child poverty issues occurring in this country so I wanted to do something that I felt I could make a difference. Pickfruit redistributes the fruit to other charities who then arrange for it to get to those households in need. And that need is growing.

Due to a bad run health wise over the past couple of years, that has necessitated time out of the workforce, I went looking for a project that can be run from home and would fit around paid employment as well. Being part of a wider national network, I will work alongside Melody Holmes who oversees the Wellington city area.

I have been involved in the small business sector and have a lifelong interest in food. Cooking is my hobby that has become an important part of my life. I have travelled extensively, and have enjoyed learning about different food cultures. I possess good food knowledge and established a small food business that has had to be put on the back burner for now. I am happy spending hours cooking up a storm, really interested in the garden to table concept that helps to educate children about food and would love to see that concept developed in Wellington, as well as seeing a community garden in the Northern suburbs. It is the social and educative aspects of food I enjoy, and getting a group of like-minded people together to pick unwanted and wasted fruit that helps the owners of residents to not have loads of rotting fruit in their gardens and also assist in getting it to members of our community in need is an immensely satisfying project to be involved with.

I have a business background so using the organisational and marketing skills to get this initiative off the ground is a welcome challenge. I am looking forward to getting volunteers on board. Anyone who is happy to don a set of gloves, pick fruit or climb a ladder, happy to use a set of secateurs or maybe a set of loppers is welcome. I also welcome volunteers happy to take a bag of fruit, add value to it by making delicious jam or chutney and then getting those homemade goodies into fruit boxes. A supply of sugar and jars, especially in peak preserving season, boxes, crates or large bags to put the fruit in, and some storage will all be needed and very welcomed. And if anyone has a tree or two laden with fruit that they are happy to donate I’d love to hear from them.