Over the past
couple weeks of emerging summer, I have been out gleaning at many distinct
farms around Hancock County. From John Hyk’s rows of spinach at his market
garden in Prospect, to Runwater Farm’s plot of deer tongue lettuce, Four Season Farm and Beech Hill Farm greenhouses, each of the
farms we have gleaned at has a particular nuance that I have had the joy of
exploring.
It was only last June that I went out
gleaning for the first time. At Pat and Mike’s Garden, in Ellsworth, we were
greeted by a slobbery sweet dog and a cheerful invitation from its owner: “Take
that whole row of lettuce,” and “do you need to use the hose? Would you like
anything to snack on?” Katie and I spent a few hours amongst their beds,
getting our knees covered with dirt and salvaging the seconds greens not fit to
be sold. Once we finished filling our
yellow crates to the brim with fresh heads of lettuce we reluctantly left,
lingering to pat the dog on the head and hoping we could come back soon.
