SLO Master Gardeners Partner With GleanSLO 

By Aliza Golan  Wendy Waldron   UCCE Master Gardeners

As UC Master Gardeners, we know the joy of watching our gardens grow and the pleasure of harvesting the bounty. Sharing the fruits of our labor brings an even greater sense of satisfaction.  Over the years, since the establishment of the Garden of the Seven Sisters, the Demonstration Garden in San Luis Obispo, our garden has steadily grown and flourished.  And, here's another feel-good story:

Consistent with the UC Master Gardener's public service and outreach mission, a sizable portion of the harvest from the orchard and other garden plots in the Demonstration Garden is donated to our local community. Donations are made through our partnership with GleanSLO, a program of the Food Bank Coalition of San Luis Obispo County.

GleanSLO rescues nature's bounty, distributing locally harvested produce throughout San Luis Obispo County through its direct food programs and network of community partners.  The collaboration between the UC Master Gardeners and GleanSLO began in fall 2013 when 65 pounds of produce was harvested by GleanSLO. Subsequently a Master Gardener-GleanSLO Liaison Committee was established to coordinate the consistent increase in harvest donation. During the 2016 harvest season, over 600 pounds of produce was harvested from the Demonstration Garden and distributed to various community partners through our joint venture with GleanSLO.  

We look forward to our continuing partnership with GleanSLO and to sharing the bounty of our Demonstration Garden with the local community.

If you want to learn more about GleanSLO or are interested in donating a portion of your own garden or orchard harvest, check out their website at: www.gleanslo.org