CABOT – Richie and Connie Hourihan, owners of Cabot Smith Farm, will host a gleaning event on Saturday, Aug. 9, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. On that day, Salvation Farms of Morrisville, an organization dedicated to gleaning excess food from local farms and processing it for hungry people to eat, is teaming up with one of its food recipients, Neighbors in Action of Cabot and Lyndonville, to host a gleaning event at the farm.
The purpose of the event in Cabot is to inspire folks of all ages and abilities to become involved and put their muscles behind their love for their neighbors and their farmers, explains Amy Hornblas, executive director of Neighbors in Action. Gleaning is the practice that encourages farmers to share their abundance with those in need.
Over 20 years ago Richie Hourihan volunteered to help Neighbors in Action’s founder, Reverand Bill Cobb, deliver food to elders in the neighborhood. Over 20 years later, Neighbors in Action has grown and continues to grow, with over 50 volunteers who help an increasing number of families through their bi-monthly food share program.
Now a gleaning enthusiast, Richie describes his reluctance about it at first. Years ago, at his wife’s urging, Richie reluctantly agreed to allow a local schoolteacher to bring her elementary students to the farm to glean what was left in the fields. “I had to leave. I couldn’t watch them tear up my fields and make a mess.”
When Richie returned after the gleaning, he couldn’t believe the work the students had done. He had to agree with his wife. The Hourihans are now regular suppliers of the Salvation Farms gleaning program. Salvation Farms is about to build a new facility in Morrisville that will allow them to process gleaned food into ready-to-eat products for institutions, senior programs and food service organizations.
The gleaning event is an opportunity for people of all ages to learn about the various ways to join the glean team where you live.
There is an attendance fee to cover expenses with scholarships available. Call (802) 563-3322 for more information. Registration and information are available at NeighborsInActionVT.org. Following the gleaning party at Cabot Smith Farm, participants will gather at Neighbors in Action for lunch and activities led by the youth and adults who volunteer locally.
