Why You Should Learn How to Glean

Some of you know what gleaning is and others will be scratching their heads "what is gleaning and why does it matter?" Allow me to enlighten you and perhaps, in the process, convince you to learn how to glean!

What is Gleaning?

Gleaning is a traditional skill that has been practiced for thousands of years. It consists of gathering produce after the rightful owner has harvested all he/she wants.

While the principle usually applies to crops or produce, its also possible to 'glean' in the meat department as well!

Most of the time, gleaning requires nothing of yourself other than showing up, harvesting and taking food home to consume or preserve.

Why Gleaning Adds Value to Your Life

Apart from your time and the cost of fuel for travel, gleaning is free! Not only this, but the majority of glean-able produce is spray free.

Why? Because most large, certified farms or orchards (those that must use spray due to mass crop production) won't/can't allow individuals to glean the leftovers.

Most often, the only food that is available for gleaning is grown in back yards, by barns or at the edge of farmer's fields. In these places, nature is the only thing that has touched it.

To me, this is worth something!

It's A Wonderful Way for Urban Dwellers to Get Fresh Produce

Even if space is limited and you can't grow fruit trees, berry bushes or a vegetable garden, gleaning opens the door to accessing fresh produce at the end of each season.

How to Find Gleaning Near You

Advertise however you can! Put up flyers, post on a community facebook group or in a small, local paper. Don't be afraid to inquire if a neighbor has extra.

When driving, look for produce that is falling to the ground, then stop and ask about harvesting. Put the word out that you are willing to glean and also clean up after.

Don't Be Ashamed to Glean

Some folks squirm at the thought of gleaning.

Asking for food? Won't people think you're in the poorhouse? Isn't gleaning basically the same thing as...begging?

My theory is this: if you are neither beggar nor in the poorhouse, why play into that kind of thinking?

Speak the Truth and Show Your Appreciation

Be honest with others about why you are gleaning. Is it because you are trying to save money? Source spray-free food? Teach your children the value of gathering and preserving?

Always show your appreciation to those who open their assets to you! Offer the owners some of the harvest and always leave things cleaner than you found them.

In my personal gleaning experiences, most people have been eager to interact. Some even come out to help! They want to know where I'm from. What I am going to do with the produce? Why do I glean?

One conversation leads to another and before I know it, I'm learning all kinds of things!

 Gleaning Helps You Find More Options

The beautiful thing about gleaning is that you often make connections with people you never would have met otherwise.

And they? They often have connections to another source.

Through these folks, we've discovered more food sources, fresh pig fat for making tallow, a bird plucker for butchering day and even had an offer to join a small farm's efforts in raising meat chickens!

Don't underestimate the connections you make when gleaning!

3 Things You Should Know About Gleaned Food

Wonderful as it is, there are a few catches with gleaning produce.

The first is this: a poor crop season=less available produce. You must be willing to roll with whatever the year brings. Sometimes you may get plums and other years, you'll get none. This is the plight of gleaning!

Secondly, in times of plenty, you must learn to say 'no!' Everyone will be offering you their goods! And you? You can only use and put up so much before you're maxed out! Remember this!

You also must be aware that gleaned produce is often slightly overripe and may not last long. Be sure to have a harvest plan for your goods!

I have lots of preserving recipes here on the blog. If you want to step into the world of home canning, I teach you how to use a canning pot or water bath canner here.

Gleaning Meat for the Table

Gleaning doesn't stop with produce!

You can also learn how to glean chickens or other poultry.

Chickens are by far the most common!

While many folks keep laying breeds for egg production, the birds' productivity significantly decreases after year 3.

Many want to get rid of their old hens before bringing in fresh, young layers. These folks are usually quite happy to have you take old hens off their hands. Often, roosters are also available for free.

While these old birds will be tough, there are ways and methods of using the meat. In our home, we either pressure can or grind the meat.

Interested to learn? Here's a tutorial on how to butcher old hens!

Canning chicken at home is the best way to tenderize the meat from old birds.

If you own a meat grinder or have a friend who does, you should also learn how to make ground chicken at home!

After removing meat from the bones, it goes fast, and ground chicken meat can be wrapped just like red meats.

Gleaning Animal Fats (lard and tallow)

If you are into traditional cooking, cast iron cookware or soap making, you know that animal fats can play an important role in the kitchen!

Know a friend who raise pigs or beef cattle? Ask about gleaning the excess fats!

You can also check with your local butcher shop in the fall. They may have something to offer.

Learn how to render lard here.

In Conclusion

There are many things you can glean. The key is to explore and discover what grows in abundance in your area and then put your 'feelers' out.

Learning how to glean is a way to connect with neighbors and like-minded people. And who doesn't want to put good, spray-free food on the table while cutting back on the grocery bill?