Summer Gleaning

Instead of spring cleaning, call it summer gleaning.

Its become a tradition for our little primary here in Lake Forest, although it actually takes place in nearby Irvine, at the Incredible Edible Fields. Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County grows crops in a community park, and runs programs which allow groups and individuals to lend their labor in seeding, weeding, planting and harvesting the crops that will benefit the needy in our community.

Of all the activities that I coordinate for the youth in our primary this is by far my favorite, and I think the kids quite enjoy it as well. This day was a warmer than normal day, which makes it a bit harder on the younger ones, but overall I feel it is a very positive activity which hopefully teaches the kids a bit about serving others, as well as working hard and appreciating the conditions that other people endure in order to make money to feed their families.

Getting instructions from Sam,

director with Second Harvest Food Bank.

He gives the kids correct instructions on picking the crop

(twist at the stem, don't pull the whole plant out of the ground),

sets us up with a dozen or so blue picking baskets,

and then sets the kids loose in the fields.

Today's crop = cucumbers!

As well as numerous weeds (I suppose weeding

is not nearly as popular as gleaning)

and a healthy crop of those stickers that

get stuck in your socks, shoelaces, pant legs, etc.

Conveniently, Jed took many water breaks.

In fact all the kids were thrilled when a giant power washer

pulled up to the giant power plant coils which populate the park

and started hosing them down.

they were even more thrilled when the truck operator

took pity on the group of kids quickly gathering under his sprayer,

and directed the nozzle directly at them

forget everything you know about mixing water with electricity-

this was very refreshing

The kids worked hard and filled up the baskets with the beautiful cucumbers.

We took home a bag full and have been enjoying them for the

past week in sandwiches, salads and just cut into slices.

Delicious!

Henry and friends enjoying some frozen juice boxes in the shade

Lake Forest Ward Primary kids posing with

our crop of cucumbers as well as Raoul on the right,

who was an effective motivator to the kids in the fields.

We owe much of our productivity on this day to him.

Thank you Raoul, Sam, and Second Harvest of Orange County

for accommodating us and running such a wonderful program.

See you next year!