First day as volunteers at the farm and the weather is adverse with a slight and intermittent drizzle but rather annoying. Boots, waxed jacket and a white bucket is all the necessary equipment for harvesting raspberries. Martin, a Chilean guy who has half of our age, is volunteering at the farm since two months. He teaches us briefly: if the raspberry is red and easily detached from the plant is ready to be harvested. In about ten minutes he has already filled a bucket, not to mention that a good part ends up in his mouth. With a little eye and practice we can speed up, familiarize ourselves and observing Martin learn how to move the branches and crouch to have a better view. The work continues a bit monotonous with some short breaks eating the raspberries with their sweet and sour taste in our mouth.
When the bucket is full we bring it in the kitchen and fill in the trays that must be placed in the freezer, stored till the time to make some juice or jam. Just a good shake to the waxed jacket so for few minutes we feel to be almost dry and we are out in the rain again. The illusion lasts little, now we have to slip between two rows of bushes and in addition to the rain, large drops of dew from the leaves of the plants glide on our hands and down the wrists drenching our sleeves. Here and there we feel the spurs stinging us, just to remind us that the unsympathetic Mother Nature equips her every creature with some defenses. It has been a tiring day, especially for those who have never experienced rural life, struggling in a humble and patient work made of repetitive gestures in uncomfortable poses. But the genuine satisfaction, of drinking the juice of a freshly picked fruit with your hands, is not what you can experience and find on the shelves of a supermarket.
Images of the author