Vision and Plans

This is basically a brain dump of plans and dreams for Neighborhood Harvest. They break down roughly into 3 phases, just like turning barren land into a lush forest takes time and succession of species.

Phase 1 - pioneer

Build the infrastructure and resources for mapping, harvesting and distributing nuts and fruits
  • Fruit and nut picking
    • Cleanup of fallen fruit
    • At least 25% to those in need
    • Up to 25% to harvesters
    • Up to 25% to homeowner
  • Fruit and nut sales
    • Neighbors
    • Farmers markets
    • Restaurants
    • Local food processors
    • CSA type subscription
    • Bicycle delivered produce
    • Trade for goods and services
    • Produce stand?
    • Local supermarkets
  • Harvest parties
    • Music
    • Fruit picking
    • Fruit pressing

Phase 2 - understory

Continue all the activities from phase 1, and in addition develop the depth and richness of the organization. Teaming up with other organizations and skilled and knowledgeable members of the community.
  • Fruit preserving
    • drying
    • fermenting
    • shared storage
    • canning
    • certified kitchen
  • Classes and mentoring
    • Tree care
    • Preserving food
    • Pest management
    • Building community
    • Growing food forests
    • Permaculture design of fruit guilds
    • Wild edibles
    • Certifiying growing practices
      • Pesticide free
      • Sustainable
      • Gerywater / rainwater
  • Connecting people to local resources
    • acorns and pine nuts
    • Garden produce
    • Tools
    • Skills
    • Crafts
    • Raw materials
    • Books and movies
    • Animals and animal products
    • Freecycle / Rideshare
    • Heirloom seeds and scions
  • Tree care
    • Consulting
      • Recommended species and varieties
      • Design
    • Classes
    • Recommended arborists
  • Tree planting

Phase 3 - Canopy

Continue all the activities from phase 1 and 2, and in addition focusing on advocacy and outreach
  • Support planting of food forests
    • Public land
    • Unused lots
    • Private residences
    • Community orchards
    • Advocacy
    • Tree maintenance and harvesting contracts
  • Relationships w/ other orgs
    • Volunteers
      • Schools
      • Places of worship
      • Neighborhood orgs
    • Sales and services
      • Arborists
      • Nurseries
      • Seed catalogs
    • Tree finders
      • Gardeners
      • Arborists
      • Farm orgs
    • Advocate for food forests
      • Local government
      • Landscape designers
      • Architects
    • Manage trees
      • Real estate agents
      • Property management firms
    • Distribution
      • Growers markets
      • Local farmers
      • Small stores and produce stands
      • Hunger relief orgs
      • Food not Bombs

Other thoughts

  • Expenses
    • Startup costs - Equipment
      • ladders
      • pickers
      • pruners
      • gloves
      • scales
      • preservation equip
      • bike trailers
      • harvest bags
      • vehicle?
    • Staff
    • Voicemail / phone
    • Printing
    • Insurance?
    • Advertising
    • Web hosting
    • Business registration
    • Memberships
    • Lawyer?

  • Advertising and affiliate sales on website
    • Local businesses
    • Seed and plant suppliers
    • Food preservation systems
    • Books / media

  • Community service
    • Working with homeless
    • Donating at least 25% of fruit harvested
    • Donating trees?