When this whole adventure got going, I had never picked fruit from a tree before. It was 2007 and I found myself organizing an apple harvest at Spadina Museum’s heritage orchard. And now,

just four years later, that little adventure has turned into a much-loved project that has captured the hearts and imaginations of so many Torontonians.

Not Far From The Tree’s first full season was launched in 2008. Since then we have picked over 30,000 lbs of fruit, engaged over 700 volunteers, and donated fresh fruit to 25 food banks, shelters, and community kitchens.

It has been an incredible journey. On a personal level, I have met so many of my neighbours and become more rooted in my community. I have had my eyes opened to the sheer abundance of fruit that grows between the stitches of our urban fabric. I see the city in a whole new way, inspired by the fertile soil beneath my feet.

Not Far From The Tree is a collective effort, now with hundreds of volunteers, a dedicated staff team, willing homeowners, and a growing list of donors who are lending their support. We have made visible an urban orchard in Toronto – teeming with 1.5 million lbs of fruit every year. Armed with this fresh perspective of our city, we are making change in meaningful ways. Congrats and thank you to all who are making this happen!

In fruitful solidarity,

Laura Reinsborough, Founder & Director Not Far From The Tree

I am delighted to announce that we have now become a project of Tides Canada Initiatives Society, a national charity that will provide us with exceptional administrative support while we focus on the project at hand. An enormous thank you goes to The Catalyst Centre which acted as our parent charity who took us under their wing for our first few years.

the teamDirector Laura Reinsborough Program Manager Laurel Atkinson Community Arts Intern Robin Newman*

Field Coordinators

2010 Pollie Marziali, Marc Michalak, Beau Phelps, Chris Sharp, Alana Wortsman

2009 Carlton Allen, Laurel Atkinson, Marc Michalak, Marnie Saskin

2008 Laura Reinsborough

Supreme Gleaners

Kate Atkinson, Val Colden, Paula Coutinho, Barry Espin, Heather Kilner, Sarah Lambert, Alexandra McLellan, Lisa Pitman, Tyler Seguin, Dena Warman, Silvia Yee

Volunteers

Too many amazing people to mention. (You know who you are. Thank you.)

Not Far From The Tree has been a project of The Catalyst Centre

Chair Sally Miller Directors Clare Nobbs, Katharine Rankin Executive Director Chris Cavanagh

Contact Information

Not Far From The Tree 139-639 Dupont St. Toronto, ON M6G 1Z4info@notfarfromthetree.org647.774.PICK (7425)www.notfarfromthetree.org

Not Far From The Tree is now a project of Tides Canada Initiatives Society a registered Canadian charity BN 13056 0188 RR0001*Funded through generous support from the George Cedric Metcalf Charitable Foundation

Thanks to FoodShare Toronto for providing Not Far From The Tree with office space in 2010.

Design: elevenideas.ca Cover Photo: Reena Newman

Creative Contributors: Lindsay Campbell Gregory Alan Elliot Dana Harrison

“There should be something like Not Far From The Tree in every city. We need this new kind of thinking to rediscover our place in nature and live more lightly on the planet.” ~ Dr. David Suzuki

awards and accoladesReceived an Urban Leadership Award from the Canadian Urban Institute (2010)

Featured in the inaugural season of GreenHeroes TV (2010)

Profiled in former Toronto Mayor David Miller’s book Witness to a City (2010)

Named a Hometown Heroes Award Finalist from Earth Day Canada (2010)

Founder Laura Reinsborough described as a “local hero” by Village Post Magazine (2010) and a “local food visionary” by The Toronto Star (2010)

Laura featured as “We’ve got our eye on...” in Chatelaine Magazine (2009)

Named as 1 of “50 Reasons to Love Toronto Now” by Toronto Life Magazine (2009)

Received an Environmental Award of Excellence from the City of Toronto (2009)

Not Far From The Tree ensures that Toronto’s fruit is picked and shared.This simple act has profound impact. Not Far From The Tree promotes:

*local food*urban ecology*hands-on community action

volunteersBy the end of 2010, Not Far From The Tree had amassed a crew of 700 volunteers – and counting! There is an overwhelming amount of interest and enthusiasm for

Torontonians to lend a hand, climb a tree, and have a taste of our urban fruit.

The organization is growing quickly to make sure that every interested volunteer

has a chance to participate.

supreme gleanersare the core volunteers who

go above and beyond to make the magic of Not Far From The Tree happen. They are specially-trained to lead picks and ensure the fruit

is delivered to the social service agencies.

fruit tree ownersAcross the city, property owners

have registered their fruit trees with Not Far From The Tree in order to share

the abundant harvest. Those located within Not Far From The Tree’s current operating area have had the chance to have their

trees picked, while the rest wait patiently for the organization to expand city-wide.

During the 2010 season, approximately 1/4 of the registered trees were within the catchment area

where Not Far From The Tree was picking.

In 2010, Not Far From The Tree partnered with 25 social service agencies, serving over 8000 people throughout the season.

Community Care East York

Eastview Community Centre

FoodShare

Glen Rhodes United Church

Humewood House

NaMeRes

PARC (Parkdale Activity Recreation Centre)

PNC (Parkdale Neighbourhood Church)

Romero House

Sagatay

Scadding Court Community Centre

Sistering

South Riverdale Community Health Centre

St. Anne’s Parish Foodbank

St. John Mission

St. Stephen’s Community House

The Green Barn at The Stop Community Food Centre

The Mustard Seed

The Riverdale Food Working Group

The Scott Mission

The Shoelace Collective

The Stop Community Food Centre

Woodbine Heights Food Bank

Woodgreen Community Services

Wychwood Open Door

social service agenciesNot Far From The Tree donates

1/3 of each harvest to social service agencies – like food banks, shelters,

and community kitchens – right here in the neighbourhood where the fruit is harvested. It’s hard to get fresh and

healthy food - especially fruit - when money is tight. Quality of life is greatly

enhanced for those receiving fruit from Not Far From The Tree.

“I honestly think that Not Far From The Tree is one of the best things to happen to Toronto in the last ten years.” ~ Debbie Field, Executive Director of FoodShare

“Not Far From the Tree is an innovative, citizen-led collective. It is good for the environment, good for health - and helps build communities in many ways.” ~ David Miller, Mayor of Toronto (2003-2010)

what’s more...In 2010 we added a new crop to our harvest: maple syrup! Syrup in the City is our way of celebrating the urban forest by bringing the magic of the sugar bush to the heart of the city. Culminating in a sugaring off over the campfire at Dufferin Grove Park, this program has become a highly-anticipated, sweet success.

2011

* 15 maple trees were tapped

* 92L of sap was donated from 6 trees

* 400 people attended our sugaring off event

2010

* 10 maple trees were tapped

* 70L of sap was donated from 8 trees

* 150 people attended our sugaring off event

Since Not Far From The Tree began, we’ve participated in 100+ events:Harvest Wednesday Tastings at the Gladstone Hotel

The Leslieville Tree Festival

Planet in Focus Film Festival

Colborne Lodge Harvest Festival

A Cherry Tasting Adventure with Slow Food Toronto

The Ministry of Natural Resource’s Urban Biodiversity Conference at the ROM

The Picnic at the Brickworks

HarbourKIDS Harvest Festival at Harbourfront Centre

The Strawberries & Asparagus Festival

Greenest City’s Food, Earth, & Culture Festival

The Live Green Toronto Festival

The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair

We’ve also hosted a few of our own:Edible Tree Tours in partnership with LEAF

Spring Blossom Festival at Spadina Museum

Our very own City Cider installation as an official part of Toronto’s Nuit Blanche

The Gleaning Screening Handpicked

Syrup in the City Sugaring Off at Dufferin Grove Park

...and more than 20 preserving workshops

the urban orchardIn Tucked in backyards and along

alleyways, strewn throughout ravines and beside city boulevards, Toronto is teeming

with fruit trees. A single tree can produce a beautiful bounty of fruit, even more than one household can handle. Strung together, these

trees form an urban orchard.

It is estimated that 1.5 million pounds of fruit are grown every year in Toronto,

within city limits

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Condensed statement of financial positionfor the year ending 31 December 2010

Income $Foundations 56,400.00Special events 1,520.00Government grants 62,082.90Cash donations & merchandise sales 5,927.15

Total Income 131,165.05

Expenses $Conference fees 386.24Equipment rental 395.99GST expense 1,056.05Insurance 1,768.49Office, telephone & internet 2,202.69Professional fees 1,487.50Program expense 12,293.40Outreach & project events 2,524.13Project consulting 64,913.88Project facilitator 24,373.79Project supplies & services 13,883.53Project promotion 5,616.03

Total 130,901.72

Net Income 263.33

With support provided

by the government of Ontario.Live Green Toronto Community Investment Program

The George Cedric Metcalf Charitable Foundation

Adam Chaleff-Freudenthaler

Andre Vallillee

Andrea Toole

Anonymous

Anonymous

Anonymous

Antonietta Curcio (in memory of Katherine Turner)

Carolyn Bailey

Christopher Chopik

Clare Mauro

Conan MacLean and Malgosia Halliop

Dana Harrison

David Ley

Dawn Desjardins

Deborah Mesher

Derek Smith

Ellen Field

Elsa Fancello

Fiona Mansfield (in honour of Brendan and Val)

Geoffrey Singer

Hani Abushomar

Janet McKay

Jennifer Freudenthal

Joan Ouellette

Jode and Carol Roberts

Joe Mihevc

Judith Weinstein

June Komisar

Laura Collins

Laura Hatcher

Leah Bobet

Marisa Mazzulla

Melanie McRae

Meredith Hayes

Michael Duschesne

Nelly Auster Young

Orion Wilson

Peggy Lucas

Peter Spinato

Rachel Climenhaga

Reid Bodley

Rhona Phillips Carniol

Risa Alyson Cooper

Saleem Hall

Val Colden

Yvonne Howard

Not Far From The Tree (2008-2010) was made possible by:

Fruit-Bearing Donors ($10,000+)

Budding Donors ($25-$999)

Blossoming Donors ($1000-$9,999)

notfarfromthetree 139-639 dupont street, toronto ON, m6g 1z4