It's an annual fall ritual in southeast Massachusetts - the harvest of the cranberry crop. Cranberries are second only to greenhouse and nursery products as the largest agricultural crop in the state. Massachusetts is second only to Wisconsin as the largest cranberry producer by state in the United States.
Scattered throughout southeastern Massachusetts are thousands of acres of working cranberry bogs. It has been a very challenging year for growers with the extreme drought conditions in this part of the state.
This bog is partially flooded and the initial harvesting has begun as the water continues to pour in.
Wiley the Wonder Dog enjoys the event as much as the people. As the water rises, the moles, voles, frogs, and similar creatures are active along the edge and Wiley gets to chase them. Captivating fun for a pooch.
Sometimes, he even goes all the way into the water. Dogs - you gotta' love 'em! They don't care if it's cold, or wet, or raining, or sunny - they are all in - there is a lot to learn from a dog.
The owner (above at left) confers with her farm manager on the ripeness and quality of the berries.
The operator of the tractor/mower-like equipment rides through the flooded bog and the reels in front and on the side arms of the machine stir the berries loose from their vines. The berries then float to the surface for harvesting. (There is a dry harvest method also - this is not it). After harvesting, the water will be recycled into an adjacent bog to repeat the process.
Here's a close-up of one of the side reels. The thin, white, wooden, pointy stakes you see on the harvester machine are used by the operator to mark the rows so he knows where he has already finished.
The generous owner is also a photographer and permits others to wander about to capture the harvest. This visit was arranged by the Plymouth Digital Photographers Club.
The cranberry sauce I enjoy on my plate came from a place similar to this - maybe even this place. I like knowing that.
This bog is partially flooded and the initial harvesting has begun as the water continues to pour in.
Wiley the Wonder Dog enjoys the event as much as the people. As the water rises, the moles, voles, frogs, and similar creatures are active along the edge and Wiley gets to chase them. Captivating fun for a pooch.
Sometimes, he even goes all the way into the water. Dogs - you gotta' love 'em! They don't care if it's cold, or wet, or raining, or sunny - they are all in - there is a lot to learn from a dog.
The owner (above at left) confers with her farm manager on the ripeness and quality of the berries.
The operator of the tractor/mower-like equipment rides through the flooded bog and the reels in front and on the side arms of the machine stir the berries loose from their vines. The berries then float to the surface for harvesting. (There is a dry harvest method also - this is not it). After harvesting, the water will be recycled into an adjacent bog to repeat the process.
Here's a close-up of one of the side reels. The thin, white, wooden, pointy stakes you see on the harvester machine are used by the operator to mark the rows so he knows where he has already finished.
The generous owner is also a photographer and permits others to wander about to capture the harvest. This visit was arranged by the Plymouth Digital Photographers Club.
The cranberry sauce I enjoy on my plate came from a place similar to this - maybe even this place. I like knowing that.
No comments:
Post a Comment