the team Director Laura Reinsborough Program Manager Laurel Atkinson Community Arts Intern Robin Newman* Field Coordinators
When this whole adventure got going, I had never picked fruit from a tree before. It was 2007 and I found myself organizing an apple harvest at Spadina Museum’s heritage orchard. And now, just four years later, that little adventure has turned into a muchloved project that has captured the hearts and imaginations of so many Torontonians. Not Far From The Tree’s first full season was launched in 2008. Since then we have picked over 30,000 lbs of fruit, engaged over 700 volunteers, and donated fresh fruit to 25 food banks, shelters, and community kitchens. It has been an incredible journey. On a personal level, I have met so many of my neighbours and become more rooted in my community. I have had my eyes opened to the sheer abundance of fruit that grows between the stitches of our urban fabric. I see the city in a whole new way, inspired by the fertile soil beneath my feet. Not Far From The Tree is a collective effort, now with hundreds of volunteers, a dedicated staff team, willing homeowners, and a growing list of donors who are lending their support. We have made visible an urban orchard in Toronto – teeming with 1.5 million lbs of fruit every year. Armed with this fresh perspective of our city, we are making change in meaningful ways. Congrats and thank you to all who are making this happen! In fruitful solidarity,
Laura Reinsborough, Founder & Director Not Far From The Tree I am delighted to announce that we have now become a project of Tides Canada Initiatives Society, a national charity that will provide us with exceptional administrative support while we focus on the project at hand. An enormous thank you goes to The Catalyst Centre which acted as our parent charity who took us under their wing for our first few years.
2010 Pollie Marziali, Marc Michalak, Beau Phelps, Chris Sharp, Alana Wortsman 2009 Carlton Allen, Laurel Atkinson, Marc Michalak, Marnie Saskin 2008 Laura Reinsborough Supreme Gleaners Kate Atkinson, Val Colden, Paula Coutinho, Barry Espin, Heather Kilner, Sarah Lambert, Alexandra McLellan, Lisa Pitman, Tyler Seguin, Dena Warman, Silvia Yee Volunteers Too many amazing people to mention. (You know who you are. Thank you.) Not Far From The Tree has been a project of The Catalyst Centre Chair Sally Miller Directors Clare Nobbs, Katharine Rankin Executive Director Chris Cavanagh Contact Information
Not Far From The Tree 139-639 Dupont St. Toronto, ON M6G 1Z4 info@notfarfromthetree.org 647.774.PICK (7425) www.notfarfromthetree.org Not Far From The Tree is now a project of Tides Canada Initiatives Society a registered Canadian charity BN 13056 0188 RR0001 *Funded through generous support from the George Cedric Metcalf Charitable Foundation Thanks to FoodShare Toronto for providing Not Far From The Tree with office space in 2010. Design: elevenideas.ca Cover Photo: Reena Newman Creative Contributors: Lindsay Campbell Gregory Alan Elliot Dana Harrison
“There should be something like Not Far From The Tree in every city. We need this new kind of thinking to rediscover our place in nature and live more lightly on the planet.� ~ Dr. David Suzuki
awards and accolades Received an Urban Leadership Award from the Canadian Urban Institute (2010) Featured in the inaugural season of GreenHeroes TV (2010) Profiled in former Toronto Mayor David Miller’s book Witness to a City (2010) Named a Hometown Heroes Award Finalist from Earth Day Canada (2010) Founder Laura Reinsborough described as a “local hero” by Village Post Magazine (2010) and a “local food visionary” by The Toronto Star (2010) Laura featured as “We’ve got our eye on...” in Chatelaine Magazine (2009) Named as 1 of “50 Reasons to Love Toronto Now” by Toronto Life Magazine (2009) Received an Environmental Award of Excellence from the City of Toronto (2009)
Not Far From The Tree ensures that Toronto’s fruit is picked and shared. This simple act has profound impact. Not Far From The Tree promotes:
*local food *urban ecology *hands-on community action
volunteers By the end of 2010, Not Far From The Tree had amassed a crew of 700 volunteers – and counting! There is an overwhelming amount of interest and enthusiasm for Torontonians to lend a hand, climb a tree, and have a taste of our urban fruit. The organization is growing quickly to make sure that every interested volunteer has a chance to participate.
supreme gleaners are the core volunteers who go above and beyond to make the magic of Not Far From The Tree happen. They are specially-trained to lead picks and ensure the fruit is delivered to the social service agencies.
fruit tree owners Across the city, property owners have registered their fruit trees with Not Far From The Tree in order to share the abundant harvest. Those located within Not Far From The Tree’s current operating area have had the chance to have their trees picked, while the rest wait patiently for the organization to expand city-wide. During the 2010 season, approximately 1/4 of the registered trees were within the catchment area where Not Far From The Tree was picking.
social service agencies Not Far From The Tree donates 1/3 of each harvest to social service agencies – like food banks, shelters, and community kitchens – right here in the neighbourhood where the fruit is harvested. It’s hard to get fresh and healthy food - especially fruit - when money is tight. Quality of life is greatly enhanced for those receiving fruit from Not Far From The Tree.
In 2010, Not Far From The Tree partnered with 25 social service agencies, serving over 8000 people throughout the season. Community Care East York Eastview Community Centre FoodShare Glen Rhodes United Church Humewood House NaMeRes PARC (Parkdale Activity Recreation Centre) PNC (Parkdale Neighbourhood Church) Romero House Sagatay Scadding Court Community Centre Sistering South Riverdale Community Health Centre St. Anne’s Parish Foodbank St. John Mission St. Stephen’s Community House The Green Barn at The Stop Community Food Centre The Mustard Seed The Riverdale Food Working Group The Scott Mission The Shoelace Collective The Stop Community Food Centre Woodbine Heights Food Bank Woodgreen Community Services Wychwood Open Door
“I honestly think that Not Far From The Tree is one of the best things to happen to Toronto in the last ten years.” ~ Debbie Field, Executive Director of FoodShare
Since Not Far From The Tree began, we’ve participated in 100+ events: Harvest Wednesday Tastings at the Gladstone Hotel The Leslieville Tree Festival Planet in Focus Film Festival Colborne Lodge Harvest Festival A Cherry Tasting Adventure with Slow Food Toronto The Ministry of Natural Resource’s Urban Biodiversity Conference at the ROM The Picnic at the Brickworks HarbourKIDS Harvest Festival at Harbourfront Centre
what’s more... In 2010 we added a new crop to our harvest: maple syrup! Syrup in the City is our way of celebrating the urban forest by bringing the magic of the sugar bush to the heart of the city. Culminating in a sugaring off over the campfire at Dufferin Grove Park, this program has become a highly-anticipated, sweet success. 2011 * 15 maple trees were tapped * 92L of sap was donated from 6 trees 400 people attended * our sugaring off event
2010 * 10 maple trees were tapped * 70L of sap was donated from 8 trees 150 people attended * our sugaring off event
The Strawberries & Asparagus Festival Greenest City’s Food, Earth, & Culture Festival The Live Green Toronto Festival The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair
We’ve also hosted a few of our own: Edible Tree Tours in partnership with LEAF Spring Blossom Festival at Spadina Museum Our very own City Cider installation as an official part of Toronto’s Nuit Blanche The Gleaning Screening Handpicked Syrup in the City Sugaring Off at Dufferin Grove Park ...and more than 20 preserving workshops
“Not Far From the Tree is an innovative, citizen-led collective. It is good for the environment, good for health - and helps build communities in many ways.” ~ David Miller, Mayor of Toronto (2003-2010)
the urban orchard In Tucked in backyards and along alleyways, strewn throughout ravines and beside city boulevards, Toronto is teeming with fruit trees. A single tree can produce a beautiful bounty of fruit, even more than one household can handle. Strung together, these trees form an urban orchard. It is estimated that 1.5 million pounds of fruit are grown every year in Toronto, within city limits
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*Cheques payable to: Tides Canada Initiatives Society - Not Far From The Tree
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Condensed statement of financial position for the year ending 31 December 2010 Income $ Foundations 56,400.00 Special events 1,520.00 Government grants 62,082.90 Cash donations & merchandise sales 5,927.15 Total Income
131,165.05
Expenses $ Conference fees 386.24 Equipment rental 395.99 GST expense 1,056.05 Insurance 1,768.49 Office, telephone & internet 2,202.69 Professional fees 1,487.50 Program expense 12,293.40 Outreach & project events 2,524.13 Project consulting 64,913.88 Project facilitator 24,373.79 Project supplies & services 13,883.53 Project promotion 5,616.03 Total 130,901.72 Net Income
263.33
Not Far From The Tree (2008-2010) was made possible by: Fruit-Bearing Donors ($10,000+)
ided With support prov Ontario. of nt me by the govern
Live Green Toronto Community Investment Progra
m
The George Cedric Metca lf Charitable Foundation
Blossoming Donors ($1000-$9,999)
Budding Donors ($25-$999) Adam Chaleff-Freudenthaler
Derek Smith
Leah Bobet
Andre Vallillee
Ellen Field
Marisa Mazzulla
Andrea Toole
Elsa Fancello
Melanie McRae
Anonymous
Fiona Mansfield (in honour of Brendan and Val)
Meredith Hayes
Anonymous Anonymous
Geoffrey Singer
Antonietta Curcio (in memory of Katherine Turner)
Hani Abushomar
Carolyn Bailey
Jennifer Freudenthal
Christopher Chopik
Joan Ouellette
Janet McKay
Clare Mauro
Jode and Carol Roberts
Conan MacLean and Malgosia Halliop
Joe Mihevc
Dana Harrison
Judith Weinstein
David Ley
June Komisar
Dawn Desjardins
Laura Collins
Deborah Mesher
Laura Hatcher
Michael Duschesne Nelly Auster Young Orion Wilson Peggy Lucas Peter Spinato Rachel Climenhaga Reid Bodley Rhona Phillips Carniol Risa Alyson Cooper Saleem Hall Val Colden Yvonne Howard
e not far from the tre et, 139-639 dupont stre toronto ON, m6g 1z4