It was then that I saw the ad for a "Dry Harvester." My heart skipped a beat! What? Work in the sun, get paid to exercise, and actually be able to leave your troubles at the office at the end of the day? I'm in! But how would I ever be able to keep this is a secret from my friends and family? What would they think of me, working a farming job? I would need to figure that one out later.
As I drove to the office to fill out the application, I had not recalled feeling that nervous in a long time. What if they don't hire college educated people? What if they don't hire women? What if they don't hire moms? What if, what if, what if!
And two weeks later, I was at the company orientation, being instructed on the ins and outs of dry harvesting cranberries. I was completely unaware that the most profound lessons I would learn, would only come from hands on experience. I could never do them justice in a short blog, but here are a few...
- Cranberry Harvesting is a very complex and fascinating business. Maintaining the bogs is a 24-7 job, 365 days a year.
- General labor, unskilled labor, menial labor- however you choose to define it, is indeed LABOR!
- Immigrant workers (and I'm not talking about illegal immigrants) are an extremely hard working and valuable and part of our economy- period. Don't even think about taking a stand against immigrants until you REALLY understand what they do for this country. I have seen it, and they are amazing!
- Producing a quality crop involves hard work from man (and woman) power, a variety of mechanical equipment (including helicopters) and amazing computer systems.
- It is important to hold your shirt down when the helicopters fly overhead, to avoid flashing nearby co-workers.
- Cranberries WILL stain designer jeans.
- Women work just as hard as the men (well, actually, we've been known to work a little harder!)
- Watching a dedicated and passionate farmer is truly a thing of beauty.
The type of work that I do does not usually lend itself to immediate results. I must continually remind myself that I have impacted people in a positive ways. This experience was one of the first in my life where I could walk away at the end of the day and physically see, if you will allow me... "the fruits of my labor." And it has become one that I am proud to share with family and friends. I know that it may seem silly to say this because it has become so cliche, but the food on the table that some of us often take for granted, really is worthy of our thanks. I can assure you it arrived there because of great devotion on the part of the farmer.
See you on the bogs!
The Cranberry Diva
