Sunday was a cool but good day for a drive up to Mt. Baldy Ski Resort. The 35 km. ride into the back country was scenic but bumpy with 24 km. of the distance being on gravel. Our highlight was the contrast of the yellow and green colors of the trembling aspens in the lower elevations and the pines and the larches found up higher .
This week consisted of the usual washing of pans and teflon sheets, finishing the frozen peas and getting started on potatoes. The Gleaners received a truck load of undersized white potatoes from the Grand Forks BC area, which did not make the grade for the stores. But perfect for dehydration at the gleaners. They were easy to prepare - wash, and cut out a few bad spots. Removing the dried potato chunks was also very easy as they just slid off the pans. Another great addition to the soup mix.
The diced potatoes are measured so that an even layer gets spread on the pan.
This week's new experience was picking apples in an orchard. Our Plant Manager was asking for at least 10 volunteers to go and pick apples at Okanagan Falls about 20 minutes away from here. The day started cloudy but by the afternoon the sun was shining and we had a great picking day. These old trees were loaded and required the use of ladders but the picking went fast. They delivered 4 bins for apples and we had those filled in about an hour. When we returned we heard that a packing house in Osoyoos had six bins of Ambrosia apples for the gleaners to pick up and more to come next week. So as far as we can see they were not running out of products here at the gleaners to dehydrate yet.
The suppliers of produce receive donation receipts for what they supply. The value is established by the marketing board as culls, which is a very low price, but it is better than having to pay dumping fees to discard the product.
Those dried apple chips are a welcome, tasty and sweet treat enjoyed by many children around the world. This small shipment will be going to the Philippines.
Our four weeks at Okanagan Gleaners has gone by quickly. We leave here with a better understanding of putting crops to good use which would otherwise be composted.
Saturday we headed further West to our next service location in Abbotsford.
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