NOT FAR FROM THE TREE

 

Not Far From the Tree Puts Toronto fruit to good use by picking and sharing the bounty.

When a homeowner can’t keep up with the abundant harvest produced by their fruit tree, they call us to mobilize volunteers to pick the bounty. The harvest is split three ways: 1/3 is offered to the tree owner, 1/3 is shared among the volunteers, and 1/3 is delivered by bicycle to be donated to food banks, shelters, and community kitchens in the neighbourhood. We’re putting an existing source of fresh fruit to good use by sharing with those most in need. It’s a win-win-win situation!

This simple act has profound impact. We’re enhancing the environment, promoting local food, alleviating poverty, enriching city life, and feeding those most in need.

“When it comes to sustainable food, Toronto chefs and brewers really know what they’re doing. Brewers Plate has earned its reputation as an excellent food event in our city and Not Far From The Tree is delighted to have been chosen as the charity to benefit from this year’s event.

“With this support, we’ll be able to expand our highly-successful fruit-picking program into one of the 13 priority neighbourhoods where the fruit will be donated to those struggling to access healthy food.”
- Laura Reinsborough, Founder and Director of Not Far From The Tree

Started in 2008, Not Far From The Tree has already made quite a splash:

• Received an Environmental Award of Excellence from the City of Toronto
• Awarded the Urban Leadership Award in the category ‘City Soul’ from the Canadian Urban Institute
• Selected as a Hometown Heroes Finalist by Earth Day Canada
• Named 1 of “50 Reasons to Love Toronto Now” by Toronto Life in 2009
• Picked over 30,000 lbs of fruit from trees on residential property, mostly in the downtown core
• Mobilized a crew of 700 volunteers who are now engaged in meaningful environmental action in their neighbourhoods

 

Founder Laura Reinsborough has been recognized for her work with this initiative:

• Featured as an inaugural GreenHero on the new GreenHeroes TV alongside prominent environmentalists such as David Suzuki and Jane Goodall
• Presented as “We’ve got our eye on…” in Chatelaine Magazine
• Portrayed in a chapter in former Toronto Mayor David Miller’s new book, Witness to a City
• Named a “local hero” by The Village Post and a “local food visionary” by The Toronto Star
• Selected as one of eleven Vital People in Toronto in 2024 by the Toronto Community Foundation
• Awarded a national Women of the Earth Award from the Yves Rocher Foundation

 

In addition to establishing itself in Toronto, Not Far From The Tree has also acted as an advisor and mentor to help start similar projects in cities in Canada (Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Niagara, Mississauga, Peterborough, Kitchener, and Guelph), the US (Atlanta, GA and Portland, OR) and as far abroad as New Zealand (Auckland).

For more information on this highly-successful initiative, please visit www.notfarfromthetree.org.