Harvesting Galore!

In all the harvesting hubbub and mountainous piles of tasks around the Portland Fruit Tree Project during the summer months, it is tough to find moments to reflect and appreciate the wonderful work that is being accomplished. But, this critical reflection is crucial in always keeping the mission of the organization present, and ensuring that our continuing work is always supporting food access and equity in the Portland area.

I do feel lucky to be a part of such a genuinely good thing. To see the excitement and hard work of the volunteers that come out to harvest, as well as the passion and commitments made by the dozens of individuals that volunteer their time to lead these harvests is truly inspiring. I think it certainly speaks to the quality of the organization, and the importance of community building throughout the globe. These grassroots efforts and nonprofit organizations may seem trivial at some moments, but in thinking about the hundreds of families and people that are directly benefiting from the Portland Fruit Tree Project in combination with millions of people connected to other small organizations, it seems as though this may be where the most work is being accomplished.

Thinking about my role as a 6 month intern at one of hundreds of nonprofits in the area doesn’t diminish the fact that I have gotten to be in community with so many wonderful individuals, and it is the work that I have done and I continue to do that makes these opportunities possible. Harvesting fruit trees is, I believe, a way to be in solidarity with a diverse array of people from all over the Portland area, even if just for a couple of hours. Picking the fruit side by side where we all work together to reach a singular goal is humbling, and allows me to learn so much from others. Undoubtedly, my favorite part of the harvests are those moments when I get to hear the life stories of others, while reaching for ripe apples off the branches, or sitting in a circle of several and sorting the fruits of our labor that will benefit many others, not so different from us. Every evening harvest proves to be different and special from all the others before it, and that is what motivates me to continue more.

In such a rapid and technological world, these moments of togetherness with one another and connecting back to nature are what make life so meaningful.