This is a curated collection of AGO resources from our members designed to assist new gleaners seeking to start a gleaning program. Under each section, there are both recommended and optional resources. This learning path contains the following sections – Why Glean?, Starting A Gleaning Program, Engaging Volunteers, Building Community Partnerships and Lessons Learned.
Audience: New organizations, community leaders, volunteers considering launching a program.
This learning path addresses the question – “How Do I Get Started?”
Why Glean?
These presentations all discuss the magnitude of food loss and food waste in the United States. These can be used in full or in part with volunteers and funders and community members to understand the business case for a gleaning program in your community.
Food Loss Measurement on Farms. Dr. Lisa Johnson shares the result of the study quantifying the stunning amount of on-farm food loss in the United States. The second part of this presentation is a training on how to conduct on-farm food loss and backyard food waste measurements. (Recommended)
State of Gleaning Shawn Peterson reviews the status of the On-Farm Food Loss and Backyard Food Waste Measurement study conducted by AGO in 2025/2026. Watch this video in conjunction with reading the 2025 Gleaning Census Report. (Recommended)
Starting A Gleaning Program
Best Organizational Practices for Non Profits A crash course in tax and legal requirements for non-profits as well as sage advice for gleaning organizations with Erica Horn CPA/JD from the 2021 Symposium. (Recommended)
Engaging Volunteers
These two strategic presentations provide a good overview of volunteer recruitment strategies. Choose one or watch both for a slightly different take on the Ladder of Engagement:
Ready, Set Go! Volunteer Engagement How to energize, engage and empower your community to volunteer. From the 2024 Symposium, author and activist Kacey Carpenter presents the ladder of engagement.
Recruit Like an Organizer Connor Wertz of Cumberland Food Security Council shares the principles or political organization and how these can frame volunteer recruitment for gleaners. This presentation is from the 2026 Symposium.
Growing A Volunteer Program Madi Kay and Alden Hererra of Food Forward share practical actions to grow your volunteer base and most importantly how to recruit and retain volunteer leaders. This presentation is from the 2025 Symposium. (Recommended)
All Volunteer to Staff When your all-volunteer organization is ready to transition to a paid staff model, this presentation is a panel presentation from Bella Coola Valley Sustainable Agriculture Society (Canada), Kitsap Harvest and UpRoot Colorado on their transition. Note that in this presentation from 2021, government programs are mentioned that may no longer be funded. (Optional)
Building Community Partnerships
Farmer Engagement Allison Levin of Community Harvest of Central Vermont and Jacob Beck of Operation Food Search shared best practices for Farmer Engagement at the June 2025 Coffee Chat. (Recommended)
Building Your Local Community Network Deb Hicks of Boston Area Gleaners and Faith Whaley of CTK Food Share (Optional)
Lessons Learned
Leaders in the Gleaning Movement Betsy Storm of Food Forward, Allison Levin of the Community Harvest of Central Vermont, and Barbara Eiswerth of Iskashitaa Refugee Network in a panel at the 2026 Symposium share their wisdom and experience. (Optional)