From: songbird@anthive.com   
      
   Paul Drahn wrote:   
   ...   
   > I've lurked here for years, but seldom see anything to comment on.   
   >   
   > We live in the Central ORegon desert and have quite sandy soil, Actually   
   > all volcanic ash! Water drops bounce up the sand and gets on the berries   
   > and gives them a gritty texture, even after trying to wash them. So, the   
   > pine needles break up the water drops, but still lets the water get to   
   > the soil.   
      
     huh!  learn something new every day.  :)   
      
     we get some sand or clay splash but that   
   rinses away.  i never rinse the berries when   
   i pick them but only right before i'm prepping   
   them for jam or mashing for shortcakes.   
      
      
   > The needles also help to keep the jeans clean when I have to kneel down   
   > to pick the berries.   
      
     i can't do a lot of kneeling in any of   
   the gardens but if i have to get that low   
   to the ground i have ground pillows to sit   
   on.  much easier on my body.  every year is   
   a new adventure in what i can and can't do.   
      
      
     songbird   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)