Subject: Re: Wash shed/rack

From: "Hook Family" <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 28 Jul 2000 16:30:10 -0700

Jim and Joe wrote below message.  I've been thinking about this since I read
the message and responded that I wash nothing but root veggies.  I think one
of the reasons it works for me is all pick ups are on farm.  The garden is
steps away, in fact they step into it to upick peas, beans etc.   I think
they "see" the garden soil under their feet and are more tolerant.  In last
years newsletter I put some blip about how if you come at it with a good
attitude washing your veggies once you get home is a fun way get to know
your veggies sort of ethereal :) experience and that I didn't have time for
that much fun :)  ie washing everyones.  Since most of this years members
are returning members I have not yet put that blip in for the new members.
It rained here the past two days so the veggies were a bit more soil covered
than usual can't say I was in love with their looks but once again just no
time to worry about it. Plus my members were amazing the majority of the
pick ups still picked peas and beans and not a quick handful but a good
amount I was impressed and will tell them so in next newsletter, I found the
rain  welcome but picking veggies two days in it was a bit of a nuisance.
Beth

> We wash the grit from our sandy soil off lettuce and salad greens. Salad
> greens go nicely into a mesh bag (like the one onions come in), get a dunk
> or two in a bucket, then they can be hung up to drain. We do not strive
for
> "ready to eat" for reasons of time, the effort involved, and so forth.
Root
> crops are usually given a quick dunk to rinse off the worst of the
clinging
> grit, but again are not really cleaned. Our members have stated on more
than
> one occasion that that is their job. Other farms we know of have members
who
> expect (or were lead to expect) clean greens and veggies, and some
> strategies we have heard of include:

---

From: "five springs farm" <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 28 Jul 2000 12:02:17 -0400

We wash the grit from our sandy soil off lettuce and salad greens. Salad
greens go nicely into a mesh bag (like the one onions come in), get a dunk
or two in a bucket, then they can be hung up to drain. We do not strive for
"ready to eat" for reasons of time, the effort involved, and so forth. Root
crops are usually given a quick dunk to rinse off the worst of the clinging
grit, but again are not really cleaned. Our members have stated on more than
one occasion that that is their job. Other farms we know of have members who
expect (or were lead to expect) clean greens and veggies, and some
strategies we have heard of include:

multiple rinses then a spin dry on the spin cycle of an old washing
machine\\

honey extractor to spin dry

big tubs for rinsing and drain on a screen

Some advice on packing shed design and washing technique can be found at
http://bse.wisc.edu/hthp

We leave stuff out for members to select and they bring plastic bags or
paper ones from the grocery store or some bring their own canvas or mesh
bags.

Jim and Jo
The Community Farm Newsletter
http://www.mufn.org/public/tcf
----- Original Message -----
From: Cassie Roth <[email-masked]>
To: community supported agriculture <[email-masked]>
Sent: Thursday, July 27, 2000 5:12 PM
Subject: Wash shed/rack

> What does everyone currently use for washing the produce they pick from
> the
> field?  Do you get the residual dirt off by hand or do you wash/rinse
> everyhing before giving it to shareholders?  I have clay based soil (I am
> working on that), that if it drys, it is like rock.
>
> If you do wash, what kind of set-up does everyone use?  Also, for packing
> does anyone use canvas bags for re-use, or the ole standby wal-mart bags?
> :>)
>
> Thanks everyone for the posts about the CSA cookbooks that you
recommended.
>  Each one sounds great!!
>
> Cassie Roth
> Earthly Edibles CSA
> NE Texas
>
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