Frequently Asked Questions
How will I know what to do?
Your Field Captain will demonstrate how to harvest each crop. Feel free to ask questions. You can stay near an experienced gleaner for one-on-one help.Do you have gloves, knives and tools?
Yes. Kindly remember to return items that you borrow.Can we pick anything we want?
The farmer has offered certain unsaleable crops for us to harvest. We will not pick anything else. Please stay in the designated rows and do not wander through other areas of the farm. We are guests and have worked hard to earn the trust of farmers.How long will we be there?
Most gleans last an hour and a half. We expect volunteers to stay until the end but it's okay to leave a few minutes early, especially on hot days if you need to cool down.May I bring produce home?
Please do! Part of the joy of the harvest is to try some for yourself. Feel free to share gleaned produce with family and friends who'd appreciate it, too.May I bring children?
Children over age 12 are welcome at any glean but must be accompanied by an adult. Email Astrid, Gleaning Manager, at astrid@igimv.org if you'd like to bring children under 12. If you are accompanying a child, please work closely with them.Will there be bathrooms at remote locations?
No bathrooms are available in the fields.Are dogs allowed?
Sanitation regulations do not permit dogs to be near food harvesting operations. Some farms also have livestock on site and dogs would endanger them. Do not bring dogs into the field.What are the risks associated with field work?
Do not attempt to lift anything that feels too heavy. Take breaks as needed, especially in hot weather. The fields may be uneven; large weeds or rocks create trip hazards; they will be slippery when wet from rain or irrigation. Poison ivy may grow at the edges of fields. Even if you're not allergic, others are! Be careful where you leave bags and boxes. Deer ticks may transmit illness from Lyme, Babesiosis, or Erlichiosis. Disease transmission is generally prevented if the tick is not attached for long. Make sure to check for ticks when you get home.
