Not Far From The Tree
601 Christie St., Suite 255 M6G 4C7 Toronto, ON, Canada

As issues like climate change, economic inequity and access to food become increasingly critical the pawpaw is drawing more attention.

A great reminder of the value of fruit orchards!

Making the most of these warm fall days as the season winds down for the year. Thanks for everything! We are so happy to have been able to go ahead with the picking season and it’s been a great success in light of all that’s going on! Why do you pick fruit? What drives you to get outside? Let us know! We hope you’re enjoying some sunshine today!

In celebration of the last day of summer before the Autumn Equinox We’d like to congratulate all of you for helping pick over TEN THOUSAND POUNDS of fruit this summer and put it to good use. That’s a lot of fruit! Toronto yields such an abundant urban fruit harvest that despite this large amount, it’s hardly a dent in the total amount of fruit that grows in the city! ... Help us spread the word about what we do and let’s increase this number next season! There’s no better time to come volunteer and learn about local food. It’s a great chance to spend some (socially distanced) time outdoors and make an impact locally. What’s been the best part of this season for you? Let us know!

are a rare treat in Toronto! Not widely known, they are also called Kentucky bananas or custard apples. They are not commercially grown anywhere, and have a native range within eastern North America. Pawpaws are green when ripe, but some varieties can lighten to a yellow colour. They are oval-shaped, and have a length of 3-6 inches when mature, which is similar in size to a small mango. When cut open pawpaws have two rows of brown lima bean-shaped seeds and the inside...s have a white to creamy yellow colour. : The fruit gives in to soft pressure, much like a peach. The fruit smells fragrant and tastes like a mix of mango, pineapple, and banana. When you cut into the fruit, it will have a custard-like texture and a yellow centre. : Pawpaws need to be processed or eaten right away, as their shelf life is quite short. Cut the fruit in half and scoop out the insides with a spoon, like you would with a kiwi. : Pawpaws do not have a long shelf life and can go from ripe to rotten within a few days. Pawpaws give off a gas called ethylene that causes nearby fruits and vegetables to ripen more quickly, so keep this in mind when finding a place to store them. When the pawpaws start to develop brown spots or lighten in colour its time to eat them right away or put them in the fridge to extend their shelf life for a few more days. Make breads, pies, sorbet/ice cream, muffins, and drinks or eat it as is!

So, we managed to pick over 10,000 pounds of fruit this season! And what a way to begin wrapping things up with an apple pick that yielded over 500 lbs from just two trees! We had a huge donation and just couldnt believe the bounty growing in Torontos urban orchard. Whats the biggest pick youve been on to date? Sharing is caring!

In celebration of the last day of summer before the Autumn Equinox Wed like to congratulate all of you for helping pick over TEN THOUSAND POUNDS of fruit this summer and put it to good use. Thats a lot of fruit! Toronto yields such an abundant urban fruit harvest that despite this large amount, its hardly a dent in the total amount of fruit that grows in the city! ... Help us spread the word about what we do and lets increase this number next season! Theres no better time to come volunteer and learn about local food. Its a great chance to spend some (socially distanced) time outdoors and make an impact locally. Whats been the best part of this season for you? Let us know!

: Quince resemble knobbly, yellow apples, and theyre known for their lovely floral scent. Theyre a rare fruit in Toronto, so theyre quite a treat! Unripe, theyre green, with a white coating. As they ripen, theyll turn yellow and lose their coating. They might also develop an orange blush on their skin. : They turn yellow and come easily off the tree (or start falling). Up close, theyll smell sweet and floral. Quince will ripen ...off the tree, so dont worry if youre a little bit early. : Well need some advance notice to schedule your pick, so please submit a fruit pick request 3-5 days before your fruit is ready. A good time to do this is when the quince are a very pale green, almost yellow. : When picking, lift the fruit slightly and gently twist. If its ripe, the stem will gently snap off. If you have to tug at the fruit, its not ripe. If you need to harvest early due to frost, cut the stems with clippers. : Most varieties of quince are too hard and tart to eat raw. Peeling and chopping raw quince can be difficult, so be careful. Cooking turns them into a beautiful pink colour, and develops the flavour into a sweeter, more apple-like taste. In Spain, a jelly-like paste called membrillo is made of quince and traditionally eaten with Manchego cheese. Quince makes great jelly, sauce, and pie. Its also used in Middle Eastern and North African savoury dishes. : Quince bruise surprisingly easily, so handle gently and do not stack them. Store in a cool, dark place, away from other fruits or wrapped in paper towel to keep the aroma from infiltrating other foods.

Surprise! A rare sighting of our doggie mascot, Bella! Snapped during a rare quince pick where we shared 35 lbs of this freshly picked fruit. Has anyone tried this rare fruit? Has anyone seen any across TO? Does anyone have any interest in trying some! Let us know in the comments below or message us!

Well, its been quite the season! We are so grateful to be able to go ahead with it and we couldnt have done any of it without people like YOU! People who support us and are willing to devote their time and energy into picking and sharing Torontos bounty with their community. Just know that your efforts have a ripple effect! So heres to the remaining evening picks like these and creating a positive local impact while we still can!

Dont be turned off by the not-so-nice scent of this superfood! Ginkgo have been said to support the prevention of chronic diseases, promote wellness, strengthen the immune system and even improve brain function! Harvesting these seeds may be labour intensive, but the flavour and texture, similar to edamame, are surely worth it. The most revealing characteristic of gingko trees are their unique, green, fan-shaped leaves. The ginkgo seeds resemble fruit, as the seed c...oating is about the size of a ping-pong ball and fleshy. They have a shape similar to a plum and grow in a pale green colour before they mature into a yellow or orange colour. : The seed coating will change colour from a pale green to a more yellow/orange colour and begins to give off a strong and foul odour. Since the edible portion of the gingko seed is contained within two layers of seed coating, it is OK to eat the windfall. : Great care must be taken when dealing with ginkgo seeds because they have certain toxic properties. Touching the seeds with bare skin may cause a rash as the coating contains urushiol, the same chemical that causes allergic reactions in poison ivy, poison oak and sumac. : As soon as the seeds come off the tree, it is a good idea to remove the fleshy, odorous, toxic outer coating. Soaking the seeds in water will help the coating come off the seed easily (remember to wear gloves!). Wash and dry the seeds, and discard the coating. As soon as the coating is gone, the seeds will no longer smell or cause irritation to the skin. Dried seeds can be stored in the freezer for long periods of time. : It is important to note that gingko nuts cannot be eaten raw as they are mildly toxic. Boil, bake, roast or fry them before consumption. Peel or crack the shell off the nuts and eat the bright green kernels inside. The recommended limit for ginkgo nuts is around 8-10 per day for an adult; excessive consumption can lead to food poisoning.

So glad to share these beautiful pears with Building Roots and the Moss Park Market! A huge thanks to the generous tree registrant and pickers who made this possible!

Happy Friday everyone! If you need us, well be in the trees! (feel free to message us if you actually need us though! Were never far away) Happy picking to those on grape, apple and pear picks over the weekend!

We get lots of questions asking what our partners do with the huge fruit deliveries! Well, here's a great example: Elizabeth at Mustard Seed made lots of yummy jam and juice from a delivery of grapes. This will be used for free lunches from Friday to Sunday every week. What a delicious way to put the fruit to good use! You can learn more about their great work in the community here: https://fontbonneministries.ca/mustard-seed/

In honour of grape season... Come relax with us and pick some of Torontos urban bounty! Did you know there are 8,000 different varieties of grapes and people have been cultivating grapes for 8,000 years! Were also trying to reach 8,000 lbs of fruit picked this season! We need you to help make it happen. Come join the harvest! Its super calming just like this video.

Rollin into the long weekend like ... This was just after a pick where we donated 30 pounds of fresh fruit to a local charity who will help distribute it to those who need it most! As you can see, Felix was peelin very happy and was grinning underneath his mask. What puts a smile on your face after a pick? Is it the time spent outdoors? Connecting with others? Helping build community? Reducing waste? Being active? Let us know in the comments below!

Peak harvest time is officially here! We already have 23 picks scheduled for this week alone! This time of year we need all the picking help we can get. Apples, grapes, pears and crabapples are all ripening now, so make sure to check the Portal regularly throughout the day! Lots of picks are posted daily and last minute spots often become available. Looking forward to a fruitful September! https://portal.notfarfromthetree.org/

We pluck fruit in Torontos core and share it with those who need it most We are motivated by a deep conviction about who we are called to be as residents of this diverse and beautiful city! What do you love most about our city? We love its urban orchard!

Come say hi to our Program Assistant Jessica at Withrow Park Farmers' Market on September 19th to learn more about our fruit picking and sharing project! We had a great time this past weekend and were thrilled to see all of the other vendors who are helping create local and resilient food systems. Will we see you there?!

are popular for their unusual flavour in pies, jellies, and jams, and are sometimes used in winemaking. They hang in clusters from wood-like stems. Only the purplish-black elderberries are good for eating, and must always be cooked. Green or bright red elderberries are bitter, and possibly toxic, even when cooked. : Ripe elderberries tend to be a deep purple to black colour. Underripe elderberries will not ripe...n after being harvested. Do not eat elderberries when green. : Please submit a fruit pick request 3-5 days before your fruit is ready. A good time to do this is when an entire cluster of Elderberries is a purplish-black and not green, as this means the berries are ripe and ready for harvesting. : Elderberries grow in clusters. When picking elderberries, remove the cluster as a whole by snapping the stem at the base of the branch. Remove the berries from the stem by holding the cluster over a bowl with one hand and gently running your other hand down the cluster, separating each berry and allowing it to fall into the bowl below. One technique is to use a wide-tooth comb to separate the berries from the stem. : Elderberries are poisonous raw. They need to be cooked to make them edible. They have all sorts of cooked uses, though! Think pie, jelly, juice, and wine! : Elderberries should not be stored in containers at room temperature for more than 2-4 hours as this can cause them to spoil. They should generally be frozen or cooked immediately after picking them.

Sometimes the biggest picks happen the quickest! We picked a whopping in just one hour and shared 1/3rd with @ymcagtas Sprott House. The teamwork was making the dream work on this one! Whats the biggest pick youve ever been on? Let us know below!

With the busiest time of the season almost upon us, we decided to share some interesting facts about apples! 1) There are 7,500 varieties of apples grown throughout the world (only the crabapple is native to North America) ... 2) Apples can float because 25% of their volumes is nothing but air 3) It takes around 5 for an apple seed to grow into a fruit Just something to think about on your next pick! Know of any more facts? Share in the comments below! Wed love to hear em.

: Toronto has an abundance of apple trees, and some local trees can produce over 500 pounds of fruit in a season! Apples can be red, yellow or green when ripe, or a combination of these colours. They are round, sometimes elongated, and at least two inches in diameter when mature apples that are smaller are considered crabapples. : A general rule is that apples are ready when the apple seeds have turned brown. Cut one open and take a ...look at the seeds to check! We also recommend a taste test depending on the variety, you can expect a sweet or sour taste. If you take a bite and the flesh is still tinted green (and your lips are puckering), its not ready yet. Also, a mature apple will detach from the tree easily when you lift the apple up and give it a twist. : Well need some advance notice to schedule your pick, so please submit a fruit pick request 3-5 days before your fruit is ready. A good time to do this is when the seeds of the apples are brown or when the apples taste sweet and juicy. Apples on the outside of the tree and those that get more sun exposure will ripen first, so check apples on different parts of the tree for ripeness, including the lower branches. : Falling apples are not necessarily an indication that they are ready to harvest. : Our favourite picking techniques for apples is the eye to the sky or rolling method. Turn the apple upside down and give it a twist. If the fruit doesnt come off the tree easily, hold the stem and twist the fruit. Apples that are too underripe may be difficult to pick. Apples bruise very easily when jostled so handle them with care, like you would eggs. : Apples tend to taste best a few days after theyve been picked. : Apples can be stored for a long time at room temperature, and for even longer in cold storage. Apples give off a gas called ethylene that causes nearby fruits and vegetables to ripen more quickly, so keep this in mind when finding a place to store them. The saying one bad

Attention gleaners! Be prepeared for one of the most bountiful pear seasons weve seen in recent years! Our volunteers just picked this gigantic tree and ended up picking ... 95 pounds ... and donating 40 pounds to Margarets Be sure to keep an eye on the portal to get on a pick! There will be heaps over the coming weeks and its the pearfect way to spend an evening! What do you plan on doing with your pear haul? Crumble? Smoothie? Sorbet? Let us know in the comments below!

As recently as 1960, the majority of Torontos food came from within 350 kilometres of the city limits. Today, Torontonians rely almost entirely on food brought in from thousands of kilometres away. It doesnt have to be that way, especially in a region that has fertile soil that produces delicious fruit without a real concerted effort! Attending a pick will reconnect you with where your food comes from, build community and help others in need. ... Join the harvest and take part in a timeless activity!

This week we're featuring another one of our amazing partners: South Riverdale Community Health Centre! They are a non-profit, multi-service organizaton providing primary healthcare, social and community outreach services with an emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention. They successfully compelled the Ministry of the Environment to 'get the lead out' of the soil way back when they started out on their mission to build a healthy community and environment over 40 y...ears ago. They are still committed to the same values and beliefs such as dignity and self-worth of all people and their right to peace, security, safe affordable housing, education, food, income, a healthy environment, quality health care and equity. Keep doing what you do!

Happy long weekend everyone! Well just be up here chillin What are your plans? If anyone comes across some fruit in the city be sure to post a photo, tag us and use the hashtag:... #pickpics See ya next week! Stay safe out there!

Enjoy this quick recap of the 30+ lbs we picked off a pear tree yesterday! Theres been a bit of a lull in between berry season and the upcoming apple, stone fruit and grape season but things are about to pick up! Make sure you check the portal (refresh the page throughout the day like some keen gleaners!) There will be heaps of opportunities to attend a pick over the coming weeks. A simple act like fruit picking has a profound impact. Were making good use of healthy f...ood, addressing climate change with hands-on community action, and building community by sharing the urban abundance. It's a win-win-win situation that spreads good will and fresh fruit to everyone involved. If you know someone who would benefit from a pick, spread the word!

Cherry season was short but sweet this year! As soon as the heatwave hit - whoosh - it was over. A huge thank you to all our masked pickers who made the season a safe success! Don't worry - this is only the beginning. We're predicting 10,000+ lbs of pears, apples, grapes and more to come!

As cherry season wraps up, we wanted to give a huge thank you to one of our amazing Pick Leaders @torontorivers! Brian led 3 picks that yielded 92 pounds of fruit AND braved one of the tornado-esque thunder storms to do so! Thanks Brian! We're so grateful to have you helping share the harvest! "I love picking fruit that would otherwise go to waste. Im working on finding ways to extend NFFTTs reach and service area into the West End. I grew up beside an Italian neighbour who grew tomatoes for sauces, grapes for wine, and a bunch of other fresh, delicious and beautiful vegetables. He would say, why spend money on subpar produce in stores when you could grow the best tasting vegetables ever!?" Brian, Pick Leader

If you're wondering why things have been quiet on the Fruit Picking Portal, it's because we're in the "lull" between cherry/berry and stone fruit season. A quick peek in some Toronto alleyways this weekend hinted that apricots and plums may be thriving in the heat this year! Do you have an apricot, plum or peach tree? How is it doing? Have you seen any in your neighbourhood? Let us know! Our fingers are crossed for some great stone fruit picks soon!

Did you know Black Creek Community Farm also runs an Urban Harvest Program? This is a great option if you have an abundant fruit tree in the area! With apples, pears and grapes looking GOOD this year, consider donating some of your bounty to their program!

Do you want to guarantee your spot at picks, have a steady supply of fruit this summer AND make a big difference in your community? We're looking for more Pick Leaders! In this volunteer role, you'll help us bring equipment to picks and make deliveries of fruit to social service agencies. It's not limited to biking - if you have your own vehicle, that works too! Will you join us this season? If you're interested, please register for our training session on July 20th from 6:...30-7:30pm! bit.ly/PickLeader

We've recently been asked where this fruit we're always talking about in the city of Toronto is located! Well look no further! It's right outside your door and you can even slide to see what is ripe right now! http://www.mapto.ca/maps/the-fruit-trees-of-toronto

Did you know Misaskwatomina means Saskatoon berries in the Cree language? Artist and spoken word poet Kevin Wesaquate along with 15 volunteers planted more than 440 Saskatoon berry bushes in Saskatoons Victoria Park as part of the Misaskwatomina Project.

Mulberries, notorious for turning your fingers purple, can also be harnessed to dye other things - like yarn! http://ow.ly/Rm2350Anv9U Have you dyed anything with mulberries before? We're curious and would love your tips!

In case you've ever wondered what 72 lbs of cherries looks like! This was the tree registrant's first time using our program, and we're so happy they opted to share their harvest. 1/3 was shared with Horizons for Youth, a shelter for at-risk and homeless youth in Toronto. Forever grateful for those who offer to share their abundance!

Hey Toronto, mulberry season is in full swing - and we're not kidding when we say they can be found almost everywhere! Check your local park, walking path, alleyway or neighbour's yard. The easiest way to spot them is to look down, not up! Their location is given away by their very distinctive splatter on the sidewalk. If you find one grab a broom or stick and spread out a sheet or tarp under the tree. Then get ready to shake! Ripe mulberries will come raining down right onto your tarp. They ripen in waves, so you can even come back for more! What's your favourite way to enjoy mulberries?

A huge thank you to all our Pick Leaders and volunteers who together have picked and shared over 470 lbs of cherries, mulberries and serviceberries in the past 7 days alone! Hooray! The cold weather streak last June meant we had a total zero picks until July! We're thrilled the weather is cooperating this year to make the cherry berry picks bountiful.

Cherry berry season is in full swing! There are 26 picks this week alone, with lots of people coming together to take part in accessing fresh food and fostering sustainability! And with that, we recognize the challenge that the COVID-19 virus presents. Here's a short video outlining several protocols and best practices to ensure your safety on a pick. Give it a watch before attending a pick to be well pre"pear"ed!

We're thrilled to be going ahead with another season of reducing food waste and providing fruit access for Torontonians! Be sure to register / renew your membership on the Portal in time for cherry season! http://ow.ly/QNxH50AfPYo Watch this space for more news and updates.