Seven city districts start the communal orange harvest
The communal harvest of bitter oranges in the city is being organised from 6 to 11 February. The fruit will be used to make La Marga, a 100% natural marmalade to be distributed to social organisations working with vulnerable groups, people affected by food poverty or at risk of social exclusion in the city.
This year brings the fifth edition of the Barcelona Espigolaprogramme, with seven districts involved: Ciutat Vella, Sant Martí, Gràcia, Les Corts, L’Eixample, Sant Andreu and, for the first time, the district of Horta-Guinardó.
The communal orange collection is an initiative by the Mans al Verd, programme, by Parks and Gardens, in collaboration with the districts. The programme promotes the joint management of green spaces in the city with members of the public, under the urban agricultural strategy to foster the use of food.
The contribution of members of the public in taking care of these spaces favours social interaction, coexistence and a sense of belonging and respect for public space. Many of the activities organised also offer people a broader knowledge of urban biodiversity and improve its protection. The harvest starts on Thursday, 6 February, and ends on Tuesday, 11 February.
The communal exercise will see volunteers from schools and organisations taking part alongside local people from different districts. Under the supervision of the Fundació Espigoladors, the participants will be collecting oranges that will then be processed and turned into marmalade. The Barcelona Public Health Agency (ASPB) will be analysing the oranges harvested untreated, to guarantee safety in the process to make the marmalade.
The project also includes communication and awareness actions. Besides the harvests, environmental education workshops are held for the organisations and schools taking part in the harvest or for other collectives agreed in each district. Last year’s harvest generated 5,375 kilogrammes of bitter orange marmalade, with 598 volunteers and 29 organisations taking part.
