Archive for May, 2011

Spotlight on Salvation Army Booth Centre

Salvation Army – Booth Centre

The Salvation Army Booth Centre provides transitional housing.  The Salvation Army exists to share the love of Jesus Christ, meet human needs and be a transforming influence in the communities of our world.

The Salvation Army Booth Centre uses donated fruit to prepare meals.

Contact Information

Street Address: 180 Henry Avenue

Phone: 204-946-9400

Website: www.salvationarmy.ca

Donations Accepted

Fruit

Apples, berries, crab apples, grapes, rhubarb, sour cherries

Other Food Items

Vegetables

Non-Food Items

Toiletries, blankets, pillows

Donation Logistics

When

Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm

Where

- Loading dock located in the back lane on the south side of 180 Henry

- Parking by the dock while unloading

- Phone 946-9400 for access to loading dock

Special Notes

Please phone 946-9400 to ensure food being donated can be used.

The Centre is unable to accept homemade products.

 

Spotlight on Union Gospel Mission

Here’s yet another charity that Fruit Share is looking forward to supplying with fruit this summer.

Union Gospel Mission

The Union Gospel Mission is a non-profit evangelical, non-denominational Gospel Rescue Mission. Our Purpose is to carry on without financial gain to its members, Christ-centered programs for the addicted and the poor men, women and children of Manitoba.

Union Gospel Mission uses donated fruit to prepare meals, fill food hampers and process for future use.

Contact Information

Street Address: 320 Princess Street

Phone: 204-943-9904

Website: www.gospelmission.ca

Donations Accepted

Fruit

Apples, apricots, berries, crab apples, grapes, rhubarb, sour cherries, plums

Other Food Items

Homemade preserves (labeled & dated), frozen fruit (labeled & dated), homebaked goods (labeled & dated), garden vegetables and other items on the food and clothing page on the Gospel Mission website.

Non-Food Items

For a list of other items currently accepted and needed visit the food and clothing page at Gospel Mission.

Donation Logistics

When

Monday to Sunday 7:00 am to 9:00 pm

Where

- 320 Princess Street

- Northwest corner of Henry and Princess

- Knock on front or back door

- parking lot available

Special Notes

Please phone 943-9904 to let them know what type and what quantity of fruit you are donating.

 

Funding Proposal Successful!

Just got off the phone with the Winnipeg Foundation and am thrilled to announce that they have accepted our proposal for expanding Fruit Share!

Funding will be coming via the Community Grants Program with a portion also coming from the Moffat Family Fund and the Mauro Family Fund.  Thank you!

What a thrill to know that others share our vision and plans for harvesting, sharing and enjoying fruit growing throughout the city.

The Fruit Share Advisory Team will be getting together this Monday to discuss our next steps.  Stay tuned as we put our dreams into action.

If you have too much fruit, consider donating to Siloam Mission, another charity Fruit Share shares its fruit with.

Siloam Mission

Siloam Mission is a Christian humanitarian agency offering programs and services at no charge to those experiencing homelessness. Siloam Mission alleviates the hardships of the

poor and homeless, assists in transitioning them into self-sufficient and generous lifestyles and advocates nationwide on their behalf.

Siloam Mission uses donated fruit to prepare meals and fill food hampers.

Contact Information

Street Address: 300 Princess Street

Phone: 204-956-4344

Website: www. siloam.ca

Donations Accepted

Fruit

Apples, berries, crab apples, grapes, rhubarb, apricots, plums

Other Food Items

Homemade preserves (dated & labelled with ingredient list), frozen fruit (dated & labelled), home baked products (dated & labelled with ingredient list) garden vegetables, other fruits.

Non-Food Items

Men’s and women’s clothes, shoes, backpacks, socks, toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, shaving cream, razors

Donation Logistics

When

Monday to Friday from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm

Evenings & weekends 4:30 pm to 8:00 pm

Where

- Front door at 300 Princess Street

- Parking available on Princess Street

Special Notes

Please phone ahead at 956-4344.

Cannot accept heavily bruised fruit.

 

Rhubarb Picking

It’s time to harvest rhubarb!  I can’t wait for the first rhubarb crisp of the season.

Here are some rhubarb harvesting tips:

  • Stalks should be about 10 to 20 inches long.  Size is a much better indicator of readiness than colour since some varieties will never turn completely red.  They’re suppose to be green with a little bit of red on the bottom – so don’t wait for them to turn red!
  • Start with the bigger stalks on the outside of the plant and work your way towards the centre.  Leave the smaller stalks for another day.
  • Leave 1/3 of the stalks to ensure the plant continues to grow and thrive throughout the summer.
  • Simply slide your hand to the bottom of the stalk and pull.  The stalk should come out nice and easy.
  • If you find you’re pulling out roots or you can’t reach, you can also cut the stalks at the bottom.
  • Trim the leaves and put them in the compost. (Yes, the leaves are poisonous, but they won’t hurt your compost bin.)
  • Once the plant starts to flower, the stalks will get a little tough.  To extend the season, cut off the flower stalks.
  • Towards the end of June, give the plant a chance to gain some strength over the summer.  Add a little compost around the roots and let it be.
  • Rhubarb doesn’t like the heat and won’t do much during the summer, but you may get some more stalks in the cool fall season.

Concerned that your neighbour’s rhubarb plant is bigger than yours?   To get a big luscious rhubarb plant think about moisture, drainage, compost and sun.  These are the elements that will make a rhubarb plant thrive.  But, luckily, even if conditions aren’t ideal, rhubarb is very tolerant plant and you’re bound to get  a pie or two.

For more rhubarb information check out last year’s post on Top 5 Questions about Rhubarb.

Here’s some pictures of rhubarb plants to help you see the different stages.

Young rhubarb plant, still too small to pick

Ready to pick

Starting to Flower - pick soon or stalks will get tough

Of course, if you have too much rhubarb, don’t like rhubarb or know of anyone who isn’t picking their rhubarb – call us!  We have eager volunteers ready to pick rhubarb to share with their families and with local food charities.
Enjoy!

Today, our 50th volunteer fruit picker registered!

Volunteers from across the city are signing up and letting us know that they love Manitoba backyard fruit and are willing to roll up their sleeves to pick, enjoy and share some fruit.

We also have 39 fruit picking locations registered.  Based on last year’s experience we can expect even more calls from fruit owners  when the fruit is ripe and ready to be picked.

Just 20 more volunteers and another 20 fruit picking locations and we’ll be right  on target for picking around 7,000 pounds of fruit this summer!

Fruit Share in Food Matters Newsletter

Fruit Share was featured in the latest edition of Food Matters Manitoba’s e-newsletter.

Food Matters Manitoba is a registered charity dedicated to healthy, sustainable food for all.  If you’re interested in the latest and greatest events and activities related to local food, you gotta check it out.  You might even want to consider signing up for their e-newsletter or visiting their facebook page.   Here’s the May/June newsletter.

 

 

Red Currants

Here’s the latest addition to our fruit registry – red currants.  How exciting!

Red currants are great in jellies, juices and cakes.  The combination of sweet and tangy also makes an interesting sauce with pork or poultry.

Do you have a favourite red currant recipe?  Any favourite memories involving this fruit?

Over the summer we’ll be posting recipes for red currants and other backyard fruit, so check back often.  Our favourite recipes will also be included in our Guide to Backyard Fruit.

If you want in on the picking action, better sign up to volunteer now!