Harvesting the Urban Orchard DIVRS Harvesting the Urban Orchard | Page 22

HARVESTING THE URBAN ORCHARD
Communication
It takes time to coordinate volunteers and harvests and to communicate
with volunteers, tree owners, and the public. Coordinating pre- and
post-harvest can take up as much time, if not more, than harvesting
itself. Consider the ongoing administrative part of the project, including
the funding required for a paid role. You will need to create registration
and audit forms. Each of our tree owners has a folder with contact
details, tree register, harvest log and garden schematic (see Appendices
for example).
Please thank your volunteers for pruning
my mum's grapevine. It has been such a
help and my dad would be so happy to
know it is still being looked after.
Tree Owner, 65
Communication tasks may include
v v creating logo and letterhead
v v creating and maintaining a website with
Other records you will need to keep include w w a members’ page for volunteers/tree owners
v v email lists for group emails to volunteers w w registration details
v v a secure database for householder details, volunteer details, harvest
log and tally w w harvest tally
v v any other supporting documentation that can be kept for future
funding applications. For example, value of fruit picked, volunteer
hours, number of trees on database, maps, number of people
who received the fruit, charities who have received the fruit, and
examples of media releases.
All volunteers should have access to email and phone. This is the easiest
way to alert to them to harvests. Not all tree owners will have email or
even mobile phones (in Darebin, a large portion of our tree owners are
elderly and/or non-English speaking), so regular postal services and a
designated phone and voicemail to receive calls may be required.
DIVRS
w w donation page
w w news updates
w w contact details
v v updating social media pages
v v taking photos
v v organising events
Document everything from the beginning, including photos, drawings,
maps and stories. This will save you a lot of time and be of great benefit
when it comes to reporting, applying for funding, and approaching
partners. It will also give you plenty to draw on for submitting articles,
updating social media and informing your volunteers.
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