Strawberry Fields

Years ago when I worked in Greenfield in the Salinas Valley I met Stephen Clarke, who was from the town, he both subbed and taught and talked to me sometimes until our later friendship. Since by the time I was working there most of the kids were the children of migrant workers we talked about that a lot. But not all the kids by any means. I started to say- since by the time I was working there the children were mostly immigrant field worker children Stephen decided one summer to go work the tomatoes. I remember this as being near King City. I'm not sure now if I can ever fully trust memory- but in my memory he was doing this to see what the lives of our families were like.
Maybe it was for a job that summer as well. For $.
My husband tells me if he did the picking he did it for like two minutes, that he drove tractor and knew farmers. Maybe that's closer to the truth.


So I remember him telling me about how much picking killed his back just to stoop over and do whatever it was in the tomatoes, probably harvesting. And how slow he was in comparison to those he was working along side. It was by the box work.
I remember him talking about talking to families-learning about their lives. They found him amusing I think.

It's been over 26 years- so my memory might be poor. But I do talk to children about what their parents do for a living.

As I type I'm eating the best blackberries and strawberries I just got- they are local. Oxnard produces wonderful conditions for berries. These blackberries are worth getting in the car and going to get a few more cases. Some of the sweetest I've ever had. I should go get a pile and make jam. I think I will in an hour after I rest a bit.

Several children shared with me this week their stories of how their parents were working in the very strawberry fields that caught fire in the Spring Fire. Predominately this year the strawberries are the workplace keeping them going.
And some of my families have family ties to that same work in Salinas-where I called home.

This sort of made me connect to how hard that work is.
I get to see that close up.

And how much I appreciate it.

I just read an article in the Los Angeles Times.
I recommend THIS LINK.