Register a Tree
Share Your Bounty!
Have a tree that produces more than you can handle? Let’s make sure that fresh fruit doesn’t go to waste!
When you register a fruit tree, we send a volunteer team to harvest the surplus and split the bounty three ways:
- 1/3 for you to enjoy
- 1/3 for our hardworking volunteers
- 1/3 for local community agencies addressing food insecurity
By sharing your harvest, your backyard becomes a hub for community connection. You’ll help provide fresh, local produce to neighbours in need while keeping Toronto’s urban orchard thriving!
To keep our program growing, we invite Tree Registrants to make a contribution of $40. To learn more about Harvest Shares, see here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can register a fruit tree?
We welcome registrations from property owners, residents, or tenants (with landlord permission). If your neighbour’s tree hangs over your yard, please ask them to register it as we only harvest fruit with the direct consent of the property owner.
I’ve registered! What’s next?
Once your tree is in our system, our Pick Leaders can see it and will be in touch with you to set up a pick! You can optionally submit a Pick Request through the Portal when your fruit is almost ripe to give us a heads-up.
Please note: we love every tree, but with 1,000 registered and about 300 picks a year, we can’t always make it to everyone. If we can’t visit you this season, please know we truly appreciate your support!
Do I need to do anything to prepare for the pick?
Once a Pick Leader has contacted you to schedule a pick event, please make sure you are ready for us to come. You don’t need to be home for the pick, but you’re always welcome to watch us in action. Our small teams usually pick for about 2 hours.
Ensure animal waste, toys, or broken furniture are cleared and check for any sneaky wasps’ nests. Secure a safe ladder (borrowing from a neighbor is a great option!) and provide a green bin or yard waste bag for fallen fruit. Have a bowl or bag ready for your share of the harvest! You may also want to review the Tree Registrant Agreement and Release, which you signed upon registering with NFFTT.
Can I donate fruit I’ve picked myself?
Thank you so much for thinking of us, and for the kind offer! However, we can only accept fruit harvested at an ‘official’ NFFTT event. We suggest offering your harvest to a local Facebook group or a nearby social service agency. Neighbors usually jump at the chance for fresh fruit!
Why am I charged to share my fruit?
It takes a lot of resources to keep our little program running (one pick costs us about $400 to run!). To keep our program growing, we invite Tree Registrants to make an annual contribution of $40.
Harvest Shares are not a “fee for service”, but rather an invitation to contribute to our project through a model of shared abundance: the belief that when we pool our resources (whether they are fruit, time, or funds), we create a sustainable urban food model that benefits everyone. The Harvest Share is charged only if we are able to pick the tree.
We waive Shares for anyone who asks, no questions asked. We especially encourage Indigenous community members to utilize this option to ensure that the joy of fruit picking and the abundance of the land are accessible to those who have been systemically excluded. Drop us a line at picks@notfarfromthetree.org and we will get you set up!
A Note on Our Picking Capacity
We are a small, dedicated team, and during the height of the season, our “to-pick” list often grows faster than the fruit. While we wish we could visit every tree, a pick request does not guarantee a pick event. We may also not be able to follow up if we can’t make it to your property this year (unless we have something scheduled, as we’ll be sure to give you a heads up!).
We might not arrange or follow through with a fruit pick if:
- The fruit tree has transmittable disease such as fire blight, or an abundance of fruit pests
- The fruit cannot be reached safely by our volunteers
- The tree is surrounded by hazards (such as animal waste, clutter, lack of stable surfaces for ladders, wasp nest, etc)
- The weather conditions compromise the safety of our volunteers (we pick rain or shine, but not in heavy heat, bad air quality, or with the risk of a thunderstorm)
- The prime window to schedule a harvest was missed
We are grateful for your patience and generosity as we work to grow our capacity!
Have more questions about registering a fruit tree?
We’d love to help! Get in touch with us at picks[at]notfarfromthetree.org.