Speedwell Cranberry Harvest

Oct 25, 2006
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Last Saturday at the invitation of Mr.Stephen Lee 3rd i had the opportunity to witness the operations of their Cranberry Harvest. Two bogs were harvested, and it was really an interesting and fascinating thing to watch.

The first pic is a general view of a pump house and two pieces of equipment.
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Cranberries ready for the start of operations.
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A view of the picker, jointly developed by Stephen and Abbott Lee.
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A view of sluiceways, Mr.Lee calls them gateways.
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This device is lowered into the water, two men were raking Cranberries into it, notice the opening, the Berries then go through a large hose into a machine that water washes them.
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Cranberries all boomed up, besides the two men raking them into the device in the previous pic, there were also two men with large wooden boards with extensions on them to push the Berries along to the water washing truck.
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The device in the water, it was designed by Abbott Lee, notice the wooden objects at 9 and 12 o'clock, that i mentioned were used to push the Berries along to the intake, i asked Mr.Lee if there was a name for the device and he said that a name was not given.
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The machine off to the right of the truck is where the Berries go in to be washed, then by conveyor are elevated into the truck.
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In this pic, besides the John Deere, there are two other trucks that are involved in the operation, noticed the dirty water going into the truck, this water came from the bog that the berries are being taken from, and through filters the water comes out clean to the bog that will be harvested next.
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A pic of the conveyor that takes the Berries from the wash process into the truck that will take them to the receiving station in Chatsworth.
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Finally a close up of the Berries being washed.
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In closing, this has been a very rewarding day for me, besides the harvesting, i also met a cousin of Mr.Lee that had a copy of John Mcphees The Pine Barrens signed by Fred Brown, she also knew the Rev.Beck, and was present when the Reverand did his research on Speedwell, it was a truly an interesting and fascinating day, another facet of the Pine Barrens that i have never experienced before.

I cannot wait to return next year, i skipped a visit to my friend's house in Tabernacle this time, it was a very long day, but once again very rewarding.
Also upon leaving the premises i was given a large bag of Cranberries to take home. I think i will make Cranberry Bread with Myer's Rum of course.

Jim
 

Teegate

Administrator
Site Administrator
Sep 17, 2002
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Very nice Jim! You did a nice job with the photo's and explaining each one. An interesting day and report.

Guy
 
Oct 25, 2006
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Thanks men.

I forgot to mention that the Berry washer machine put a big hole in one of the diked roads, you could see the water running through the gateways, Mr.Lee's son Stephen said the gateway needed to be repaired.

As a temporary fix, he brought a front end loader to the spot filled with Cranberry vines, they first plugged the hole with the vines, then packed it with sand.

Scott, how did you make out with the Ocean fishing over the weekend ?

Jim
 

woodjin

Piney
Nov 8, 2004
4,342
328
Near Mt. Misery
Nice report Jim. Great photos and a very nice step by step report of the cranberry harvest. Very detailed. I am surprised that much of the machinery was designed by the Lee family. I wonder if Haines and (formally) DeMarco had to design their own machinery as well.

Jeff
 

MartGBC

Scout
Sep 10, 2008
79
0
Glendora
I like the forestry management program that the Lee Bros. have implemented to go along with the cranberry farming.
 

Teegate

Administrator
Site Administrator
Sep 17, 2002
25,955
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It sure is some interesting times in the Pine Barrens.

Guy
 
Oct 25, 2006
1,757
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Nice report Jim. Great photos and a very nice step by step report of the cranberry harvest. Very detailed. I am surprised that much of the machinery was designed by the Lee family. I wonder if Haines and (formally) DeMarco had to design their own machinery as well.

Jeff

I will ask Mr.Lee on my next visit what you asked about the other Cranberry farmers designing their own equipment. I will post when i get his answer.

Jim
 

Ben Ruset

Administrator
Site Administrator
Oct 12, 2004
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Monmouth County
www.benruset.com
Nice report Jim. Great photos and a very nice step by step report of the cranberry harvest. Very detailed. I am surprised that much of the machinery was designed by the Lee family. I wonder if Haines and (formally) DeMarco had to design their own machinery as well.

Jeff

I know that Tom Darlington designed a lot of dry harvest equipment. I'd imagine that each grower probably had equipment unique to their operations. After all, it's doubtful that you could just go to a store and buy the things.

Beck also mentions a lot of home made moss balers that were made by moss gatherers.
 
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