Go Ahead And Hop To It!

We actually went to the Woodward Ranch and were prepared to live in the camp ground while picking hops. Mrs. Woodward, the wonderful lady who owned the ranch, decided we should not be in the camp ground and directed us to use one of the cabins on the ranch. That is where we stayed during the duration of the season. To those of you who do not know about hops I offer this information. They are used in the making of beer. Polls are set in the ground several feet apart and wire strung from pole to pole. Up and down vertically heavy string is placed so that the vines can climb. I do not remember if it is string or wire across the bottom from pole to pole, but once they have reached the top and maturity, it is time to pick hops. First and very important is is the necessity to wear long sleeves and gloves. The vines are not kind to your skin and there are small insects that do not hesitate to initiate you for disturbing them. You have a tall and very large basket like container that you put your hops in. You grab the vine above your head and pull hard until it comes loose and falls to the ground. With your thumb and forefinger you strip the small little puffy objects off the vine and let them fall into your basket. They are green, a bit larger than an acorn, and the leaves are layered similiar to an artichoke. When your basket is full, it is weighed and recorded because you are getting paid by the pound. You then start all over again. The funniest incidence that I remember is the field boss telling us to be sure and not get "dirty hops." Being new at this my mom appointed me (Since I was probably 7 0r 8 at the time and really not strong enough to pull the vines down) to be the one to gather all the loose hops that had fallen on the ground and brush the dirt off and then put them in her basket. No dirty hops,right? Well when the field boss came by again he asked what in the world I was doing. Mom explained and he nearly came unglued with laughter. He then told us that by dirty hops it meant no stems and large leaves in the basket since we were getting paid by the pound. Also important was rising early in the morning and getting into the fields early while the dew was still on the vines and would weigh a bit more. A good day was probably a 200 t0 250 pound day. If I recall correctly the going rate was 3 to 4 cents a pound.