How it started
Neighborhood Harvest took root one peach season when Sarah and Alex Benko realized their bounty was more than their pantry could hold.
They invited neighbors for a potluck and welcomed everyone to gather what they wished. Driving through the community, they realized they were not alone. Plenty of households had the same happy problem: gardens and fruit trees with more than one family could ever use.
What began as a few neighbors harvesting, cooking, and swapping extras has grown into a countywide initiative. Today, Neighborhood Harvest brings people together to glean backyards across the region, host themed Harvest Hang Out events, and create spaces where food sparks connection.
What we do today
We connect neighbors with surplus produce from backyard gardens, community orchards, and local farms. We glean fruit and vegetables that would otherwise go to waste and share them freely with the community.
Beyond harvesting and sharing food, we create welcoming spaces for connection, learning, and leadership with free harvests, seeds, pots, clothing swaps, art activities, and information about local resources.
Neighborhood Harvest is about relationships. Sharing harvests builds stronger, more connected neighborhoods by gathering around local food, caring for the land, and supporting one another, one harvest at a time.