Are you looking for a good volunteer activity? Get outdoors and go gleaning!
What is gleaning? Well, let's begin with the problem of food waste on farms. Some farm produce is of good quality but looks not that good. Farmers don't (通常) try to sell this produce. Much of it is left in the fields. That (意味着) a great waste. And gleaning is about reducing this waste—by collecting the left produce.
These days, many volunteer groups go out gleaning in order to provide those in need with (新鲜的), healthy food, Holly's group is (在……之中) them. Her volunteers collect about boxes of food each week. Once, a (当地的) fruit farmer called Holly to ask for gleaning services. The farmer had a large field with more than fruit trees. A member of Holly's group (创造) a digital map of the trees. With the help of the map, the volunteers (容易地) collected the leftover fruit from the trees.
Besides this, Holly's volunteers have also picked potatoes, cabbages and many other (蔬菜) from farms. The food has been sent to food banks and community kitchens in her area.
Gleaning helps (解决) the problems of farm waste and food shortages (短缺). And gleaners also find the work very meaningful. "We can get outside and do something good for the world," said Holly. "I feel happy (无论何时) I go gleaning!"
