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The Gleaners: 40,000 particpate in ancient custom

By
Real Estate Agent with Remax equity group DRE# 200506219

I watched CBS news last night and wondered what year was being shown.  Was it 1938 or 2008?  It seemed as if I was living during the depression. The images, the need.  

Here's the story. A farm north of Denver CO had had a successful year.  The harvest was over. There was still  produce in the fields.  In gratitude for a good year, the owners opened the fields to local people to come and harvest the remaining potatoes, carrots and beets.  They expected maybe 5,000 or 10,000 people and over 40,000 people turned up to glean food from their fields. 

 It was the film that left me with the feeling. 

 

Pickers in Potato Fields, Dorothea Lange

Men and women, bent over dirt fields with hoes, shovels. 

 

 

Children of Migrant Workers, Dorothea Lange

Small children sitting in the dirt, playing.  A scene reminiscent of Dorothea Lange, but in color, a kodak moment .

The gleaners harvested over 600,000 pounds of food.

So many people came, the fields were stripped,  the second day was cancelled.

I am aware how fortunate I, and so many I know, are.  And yet I can only wonder how many of those I know are needing food, or feeling desperate. Of what more am I not aware?  Are there would be gleaners in my circle of friends? In yours?

Dorothea Lange images used with permission - © 2008 - The Multimedia Library (http://www.multimedialibrary.com. 

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Comments (21)

Jean Groesbeck
Compass - Anacortes, WA
Broker, CRS, e-PRO, ABR, ASP, CNE, IMS

Very touching story!  I hope you and your familiy have a great Thanksgiving!

Nov 26, 2008 05:21 PM
Jesse Clifton
Jesse Clifton & Associates - Fairbanks, AK

I read about this earlier today... I thought it was a fabulous idea!  Happy Thanksgiving Alexsandra!

Nov 26, 2008 05:39 PM
Sandra Cummings
William Raveis Real Estate - Guilford, CT
Real Estate Agent, Guilford Connecticut

So many in need, nice to read a story about people giving back. Happy Thanksgiving, Alexandra!

Nov 26, 2008 10:02 PM
Janice Roosevelt
Keller Williams Brandywine Valley - West Chester, PA
OICP ABR, ePRO,Ecobroker

Truly moving and a reminder for me of how much I have to be grateful for. I love hearing these sotires. Keep it up!  Janice

Nov 26, 2008 10:46 PM
Tami Vroma
West Michigan Real Estate Specialist-Five Star Real Estate - Grand Haven, MI
Realtor, Grand Rapids MI Real Estate

Alexsandra - That made my eyes well up!  I wish more people were more giving!

Nov 27, 2008 12:05 AM
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

Alexsandra, I am so glad you showed this and do hope myself more people will remember the spirit of GIVING  It doesn't take that much and even one person can make a difference.  Thank you so much for showing this--I hope it has a huge impact.

Nov 27, 2008 12:23 AM
Norma Toering Broker for Palos Verdes and Beach Cities
Charlemagne International Properties - Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
Palos Verdes Luxury Homes in L.A.

The video was a wonderful way to start my Thanksgiving morning, thank you for sharing it. 

 The food that would have rotted in the fields, is now feeding thousands.  More farmers, grocers and restaurants need to join in.  I salute that generous farmer for sharing his bountiful harvest with the hungry.

Nov 27, 2008 01:34 AM
Margaret Oscilia
Creative Concepts-Home Staging and Contracting, Salem Oregon - Salem, OR
Home Stager, Salem Oregon

There are local gleaner groups that are active and doing great work in Oregon.  I too have trouble letting food go to waste . . . quite a problem when our four apple trees give us a huge bounty!  Thanks for sharing this inspiration!

Nov 27, 2008 03:09 AM
Alexsandra Stewart
Remax equity group - Portland, OR
Broker - Portland Oregon Real Estate

Karen -  a great way to share, and it was unsettling too - to know so many are without.

Jean - thanks - and I hope your family does as well. enjoy the day off too!

Jesse -- a very fabulous idea, and much needed.

Sandra - thanks for stopping by!  and definitely a plus to read about others giving back to the community.

Nov 27, 2008 07:34 AM
Alexsandra Stewart
Remax equity group - Portland, OR
Broker - Portland Oregon Real Estate

Janice - I was reminded also, and there is so much to be thankful for.

Tami - I htink we will see - soon - more and more who do give!

Carole - I really love how one person CAN make such a difference, and hope that momentum keeps going.

Norma - that's a good point isn't it- something that would go to waste can be so useful and meaningful.

Margaret - I love that Oregon has so many gleaner groups.  We have them at our Moreland Farmers Mkt during the season too. It makes a huge difference here!

Nov 27, 2008 07:44 AM
Linda Scanlan
A Consumer's View - Burleson, TX

Alexsandra - what a wonderful idea and that video is awesome and disturbing at the same time. We, as consumers, waste way too much.

Nov 28, 2008 09:10 AM
Alexsandra Stewart
Remax equity group - Portland, OR
Broker - Portland Oregon Real Estate

Linda - we do, and I think some of that is going to change.  I hope more farmers will do this kind of thing.

Nov 28, 2008 09:33 AM
Rebecca Levinson, Real Estate Marketing and Online Advertising Consultant
Real Skillz-Clear Marketing for Your Real Estate Vision - Lake Geneva, WI

Alexsandra- Stories like this need more attention.  I just posted a link on twitter to your post.  Thank you for writing it.

Nov 28, 2008 01:42 PM
Regina P. Brown
MBA Broker Consultants - Carlsbad, CA
M.B.A., Broker, Instructor

Alexsandra, I agree that is a good work.  In the Bible times, the fields were to be gleaned by those less fortunate -- orphans and widows.  Much better than our broken social security system -- in gleaning, folks actually have to work for their food.

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Allison James Estates & Homes
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Nov 28, 2008 01:50 PM
Rebecca Anne Cole
PNC Mortgage - Timonium, MD

What a thought provoking story. Thank you so much for sharing.

Dec 01, 2008 04:12 AM
Alexsandra Stewart
Remax equity group - Portland, OR
Broker - Portland Oregon Real Estate

Rebecca L -- thank you for the honor!  I appreciate your comment and the twitter link! 

Regina -  It was a custom for a long time - farmers opening their fields.  I am linkedin.

Rebecca C - thanks for reading and commenting.  I liked that they did it!

Dec 02, 2008 11:49 AM
Terry Miller
Miller Homes Group - Tyler, TX
Miller Homes Group and Tyler Apartment Locator

What a great story and thanks for sharing it with everyone. Your blog is wonderful and I really enjoy the video aspect.

T

Dec 07, 2008 03:02 AM
Alexsandra Stewart
Remax equity group - Portland, OR
Broker - Portland Oregon Real Estate

Terry --  Thank you for reading and commenting!  I hope we see even more good news stories in the papers soon - ways that people are helping others cope with their crises.

 

Dec 07, 2008 11:50 AM
Russel Ray, San Diego Business & Marketing Consultant & Photographer
Russel Ray - San Diego State University, CA

I usually glean for someone else since I'm in a position to do so. Hopefully, when I need gleaning, someone will help me. Of course, I hope I never need gleaning, but I can't predict the future; I'm not Nostradamus.

Dec 09, 2008 10:14 PM
Alexsandra Stewart
Remax equity group - Portland, OR
Broker - Portland Oregon Real Estate

Russel -- I hope we all are able to continue to help others -- and perhaps someday there will be a time when the needs are less or non-existent

Dec 11, 2008 06:18 PM