an old fashioned bean threshing

October 26, 2009

Firstly, I am feeling better, not 100% percent which I find frustrating, but better. I hate blowing my nose and I'm thinking for next time around (which hopefully will be many moons away) I might consider one of those nasty neti pots. And yes, I did get to enjoy the outdoors with my family yesterday. It was spectacular and I can't wait to share those photos.

Today's post is a photo summary of the annual bean threshing at the farm. It actually happened over a week ago but being sick last week post-poned sharing the photos here. By this point you might be asking "what's a bean threshing?"

Well, the version I know is what we do at the farm each fall. These dried bundles of beans are thrown down from the hay loft of the barn (darn, that would of made a good picture) onto big tarps. Then they are jumped on, hit with bats and otherwise pummeled by small children and adults alike until the beans come out of the pods. The biggest stalks and chaff are removed at this point and the beans (with a bunch of little bits of chaff) are scooped into buckets. These buckets are then dumped into empty buckets and the breeze helps blow away the bits of chaff. This last step is done repeatedly till most of the chaff is removed. Clear as molasses? Good.

The bean threshing party itself is more of a potluck and excuse to get together with other share members, listen to fiddle music, take wagon rides and run around the whole farm on a scavenger hunt (if you belong to the 4 ft and under set). Some beans do get threshed but this year I have to admit I did not do my part, too busy chattin'. I will enjoy those beans, with guilty pleasure, when they show up in our shares later this winter.

I managed to take a photo of our farmer, Jill, when we were on the wagon ride. I asked her permission to share it here. I want to introduce you all to the wonderful woman who grows our veggies; our family loves her and her farm dearly (in case you haven't been able to tell).