My Summer of Gleaning in Martha’s Vineyard

It’s 9:00 on a sunny morning in mid-July, about three years ago. I’m 13 years old, and my mom is driving my younger brother and me down a dusty dirt road to Island Grown Initiative (IGI). I’ve never been to Island Grown before, and I have no idea what to expect, except that I’m gleaning, which means volunteering to pick fruits and vegetables in the fields. The glean group picks one type of produce during each glean; today we are picking potatoes. When we arrive at the farm, we are greeted warmly by our leader, a farmer who works for IGI and will be guiding our glean of about 15 volunteers. My brother and I are the youngest people there, being 11 and 13 at the time, but we immediately feel included. All of us are here to help the Island community and learn more about sustainable farming. We walk through the greenhouse to the fields, plants and seedlings slowly stretching towards the ceiling, surrounding us as we walk through the aisle.

Gardening and fresh food have always been an important part of my childhood and upbringing, especially on Martha’s Vineyard, where I have come for the entire summer my whole life. My grandfather, who lives in West Tisbury on the Island, has had a huge garden since the 1970s, where he grows fruits, vegetables, and herbs. Ever since I was little, the whole process of gardening and farming intrigued me. He grew tiny seedlings under a light in his basement during the cold and barren winter, which would later somehow turn into luscious red tomatoes that my grandmother would deliciously cook up when it finally became summer again. 

On that gleaning day, we continue walking into the stunningly green fields, the early morning heat and sun already hitting us. Birds chirp in the sky as our group chats and gets to know each other. The familiar smell of dew and dirt fill the air. We continue to the potato fields. It’s time to get our hands dirty, since potatoes grow underground and today is the day to dig them up. One of my favorite things about gleaning is that it’s usually a different type of fruit or vegetable each time. Over the next few years, I will glean other vegetables, such as kale, strawberries, tomatoes, onions, swiss chard, and beans. As we pick the potatoes, I ask my leader about IGI and its mission. I learn that it is a 40-acre regenerative farm that serves to reduce food waste and provide free produce for people on the Island who could not afford it otherwise. The cost of living is high on Martha’s Vineyard, resulting in food insecurity for many families and individuals.

After an hour, our glean is finished. Together, our group packs the freshly picked potatoes into containers, which will be displayed in the food pantry and sent out to families. Leaving IGI, I feel confident that this program is taking action to make change on the Vineyard, and that I myself, as well as those volunteering with me, took part in fulfilling its mission.

 As I have gotten older, I think about how I can give back to this Island and make it a better place for everybody. I am very passionate about the environment, and IGI was my first exposure to hands-on learning and helping combat food insecurity sustainably. IGI is an amazing way to give back: vegetables and produce grown naturally and wholesomely on the Island, sent out to Islanders who would not have been given it otherwise, picked, grown, and organized by other Islanders who care about food waste, sustainability, the environment, and each other. 

Island Grown Initiative is always looking for volunteers for their Island Food Pantry, Gleaning, and Prepared Meals programs. For more information, visit igimv.org/volunteer.

Hungry for more? Read a student interview with Hilal Elver, former UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food.