Strategic Planning Process
Each year, our Steering Committee (formerly known as our Advisory Committee), our staff, some key volunteers, and some partners get together in the depths of winter for warm drinks, food, fellowship and strategic planning.
We update our 5 Year Strategic Plan and each committee sets their Annual Action Plan which we refer to throughout the year.
Download Hidden Harvest
Ottawa’s 5 Year Strategic Plan (2017-2021)
Our Structure
In order to structure our strategic plan, we use food tree symbolism as follows:
- Vision (Sun)
- Values (Nutrients)
- Funding and Volunteers (Roots)
- Core Governance and Infrastructure (Trunk)
- Core Activities (Branches) and Goals (Fruit)
2017-2021 Strategic Plan Summary by Core Activity/Branch
Our Impact
This is how we see Hidden Harvest’s impact in our environment. Through our dedication to
harvesting local fruit and nuts naturally growing in our city, we want to prevent waste and
share the harvests with people in need in our community. We bring together diverse groups of
energetic volunteers who while experiencing the pleasures of harvesting, get educated on
local fruit and nut trees and the people in need in their neighborhood. We believe that
these actions contribute to the well-being of our volunteers and our community. Through
Hidden Harvest’s activities we nurture a tree friendly city which has a significant impact
on climate change and
sustainability.
Our Mantra
Pick, Share and Take Good Care
Our Vision (Our Sun)
We want to live in a food-tree friendly city where everyone is empowered to access, share and make full use of their local fruit and nuts.
Our Mission (Our Purpose)
Hidden Harvest Ottawa is a volunteer-based social enterprise engaged in revealing,
harvesting and sharing the fruit and nuts around Ottawa. Through our volunteer-led harvests,
educational programs, and partnerships, we seek to make good use of local food and inspire
community members to steward the bounty growing in their own neighbourhood.
Furthermore:
- We are committed to getting food that would otherwise go to waste to those who can use it
- We have access to public and private property
- We share each harvest in four (4) ways:
- ¼ goes to the nearest food agency (shelter, food bank, etc)
- ¼ is shared with the homeowner (on private property)
- ¼ is shared with the volunteer harvesters
- ¼ goes back to Hidden Harvest Ottawa (used in outreach activities,
sponsored events or shared with local food processors & restaurants)
Our Core Values (Our Nutrients/Our Essence)
- We believe in stewarding food tree friendly cities
- We believe in rescuing food from trees that would otherwise go to waste
- We believe in sharing food with people in need
- We believe in engaging local diverse groups of volunteers to build stronger communities
