Fresh Produce: Part Two ( On the Farm)

Yesterday I got to deepen my appreciation for the hard work that goes into every bunch of greens and every pint of strawberries, each bundle of beets and bouquet of flowers. I spent my morning at Full Sun Farm, participating in the work share component of my CSA(community supported agriculture). It felt so good to get my hands in the dirt, and really know the magnitude of effort that goes behind the scenes of a farmer’s market stand!

I arrived at the farm at 8:30 a.m., (and with the guidance of a lovely farm intern, Melissa,) I started in the thick rows of kale, choosing, picking and bundling mature leaves into bunches. Then I moved to the broccoli, harvesting the full, open florets with a knife and trimming off the large leaves. Next came collecting the beets into similarly sized bunches, then weeding the carrot patch and finally, gathering strawberries. Each task required special attention to detail, only choosing the very best for market. With about eight people in the field, it took four hours to get most of the harvest for today's farmer's market stand. My feet and hands were caked in mud, my heart was happy for the good, honest work, and my body was downright tired out by mid afternoon and I fell asleep that night with a wonderful sense of satisfaction. It was a miracle that we did not have thunderstorms! The clouds drifted overhead and kept the fields cool, but luckily no downpours.I love that I will never look at another bunch of greens or pint of berries without recalling the effort that it takes to get produce from field to market.

Thank you, Alex and Vanessa, for giving me this opportunity!