An end of the day photo taken in the early 80’s, when I spent six weeks working at Shelburne Orchards in MA. It looks like we were picking Red Delicious at the time, though MacIntosh was probably the largest variety by volume. Some of the tools of the trade are at the top: the kidney-shaped picking bag, and a big jug of water, replenished regularly through the day, particularly when it was warm and sunny.
The photo was probably taken with the aforementioned (9/12/18 post) Sigma 18-200mm telephoto lens – see the curved side of the bin? It was truly wonderful but hard work, and in retrospect, i can say the wages were but the icing on the cake.
At this time of the year, the town green in Ivoryton becomes, in the words of one local wag, “kinda like Las Vegas” (400,000 lights!!! the state’s largest living Christmas tree!!! etc. etc.) Here’s hoping they toned down the flashing lights this time around, but in any case, it’s magical and worth a trip.
The traffic through the channel here at the Clothesline Dock in North Cove is mostly pleasure boats, but every decade or so, a vehicle like this comes through to clean up the silty sediment that accumulates over time. The work itself seems to be synced to the tides; bringing new sound – not unpleasant – to sleep and dreams.
Here’s one from the article that captures the gestalt of the whole day nicely – coming into the barnyard for the drop off – the day’s work nearly done, for the oxen anyway.
The November 2017 issue of INK magazine carried my article, Team of Six, which I will share in its entirety as soon as the publisher sends off the PDF version. It’s a six page spread, with sixteen photographs in all. For now, you can still get the issue around the area (free!), and see some of the photographs from my visit to Earl’s farm here.
An end of the day photo taken in the early 80’s, when I spent six weeks working at Shelburne Orchards in MA. It looks like we were picking Red Delicious at the time, though MacIntosh was probably the largest variety by volume. Some of the tools of the trade are at the top: the kidney-shaped picking bag, and a big jug of water, replenished regularly through the day, particularly when it was warm and sunny.
