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Monday, December 3, 2018

1979 Mushroom Harvest BLUES

Found an old film reel and it turned out to be about mushroom harvesting at our C.C.O. the Practical Training College for Mushroom Growing in Horst, The Netherlands.
Costco had it converted in August...
Mushroom Harvest
Mushroom Harvest 10 chapters (total time 0:13)
Translated from Dutch: EFFECTIVE MUSHROOM PICKING
IMAG - The Institute of Mechanization, Labor and buildings of the Agricultural Research Service of the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries
The old film is from 1979 and meanwhile things have changed.
IMAG-DLO wijzigt naam (change name)

The entire IMAG video is in BLUES... I have no idea why?!
My baby sister Gerd to the left, Els and me with short, straight hair. The older I get the more curls!
Me, powdering hands and putting on surgical gloves...
Chapter 1 - 0:43 min. Getting our aprons on and me showing powdering hands before putting on surgical gloves...

 Link for FAR BETTER COLOR VIDEO that I found later!
1979 IMAG HARVESTING C.C.O. HORST/THE NETHERLANDS  ←click for a better copy in color!

Just added the above for all those that have problems viewing the other chapters.
We can view it, using flash, but apparently not in all browsers.
FOUT means wrong.
Niet zoeken maar voor de voet wegplukken means not searching for mushrooms but picking steadily from the outside and advancing inward towards the center of the bed.
Keeping reaching distances short.
Niet 1 of 2 champignons maar 3 of 4 - not 1 or 2 mushrooms but 3 or 4
Me, showing the ideal picking knife in Chapter 2
Me, getting the boxes for harvesting from Chapter 2
Me, putting the boxes on cart - Chapter 2
Me, pulling the cart into growing room for harvest - Chapter 2

Chapter 2 Me showing knife, loading and pulling the cart 2:13
Hanging the picking rack onto the lorry and cranking it up to the correct height.
Using the stools on wheels for the lowest bed.

Chapter 3 showing 'FOUT' = WRONG 1:01
Lorry has not been cranked up high enough and we are not supposed to touch the bed surface.
Ergonomically it is also not the best position and one tires more.

Chapter 4 baby sister Gerd picking the 2nd bed from bottom 0:38

Chapter 5 1:42 my sister Gerd's hand...
Separating twin mushrooms and picking 3 or 4 in each handling.

Chapter 6 Els picking lowest bed while sitting on a stool with 4 wheels 0:56

Chapter 7 Els 1:44
Putting a cluster back on the bed as it is too much to handle at once.
Fout means wrong - too much into one container.
Els also shows how she is cleaning the bed surface, removing stumps and debris to avoid infections.

Chapter 8 cleaning of the beds for hygiene and showing 'Fout' = wrong with trash on floor 0:47

Chapter 9 grading by size and quality 0:33

Chapter 10 about stem length: too short, too long and the correct way.
Also about sizing not good 0:39 


Related link:
modern mushroom growing 2020 harvesting | post about our newest publication
{What YOU should LOOK for when Buying Fresh Mushrooms} | previous post by me and my publication


32 comments:

  1. What a great find, especially that you were able to get it transferred. Ironically, I was just thinking last night, when I couldn't sleep right away, that there are so many video tapes we took when the kids were little that we have never been able to view. One I remember specifically I took when it was Christmas time and my father-in-law wished me a Merry Christmas. How I wish I knew where all those tapes are and that I could find someone to put them on media that I could actually view. FYI: I can only see images in your post up to chapter 2 of you pulling the cart into the growing room.

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    Replies
    1. Dearest Tammy,
      Yes, we are fortunate for having had all of our old film reels converted into digital video!
      Let's hope that soon enough you will be able to locate your precious video tapes from when the kids were little!
      It is strange that on our Apple devices we can see the chapters but I've also added the downloaded version into Blogger and that is visible for all.
      Hugs,
      Mariette

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  2. Deaert Mariette,
    great blue memories :O) thank you for showing us again! Is it really such a blue light in those mushroomhalls?
    Have a great week,
    sending Love and hugs, Claudia xo

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    Replies
    1. Dearest Claudia,
      Those memories are indeed great!
      Showing us again...? This is the very first time I show them and if you read my post, under the IMAG info, you see that I have no idea WHY it is blue. Of course we never had blue light in the growing rooms.
      Hugs,
      Mariette

      Delete
  3. Liebe Mariette,

    dein wunderschöner Post erfreut mein Herz.

    Alles Liebe
    Elisabeth

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  4. Hello Mariette, Yes, the world of agriculture has been changing and an important part of that has had to do with integrating environmental concerns. I don't know if you meant to post the actual video segments--most of the images contained an error message instead of a photo or movie link.
    --Jim

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    Replies
    1. Dearest Jim,
      You are so right about that and looking back over those 30+ years, too much has changed.
      On all of our Apple devices we can view the video segments but I've also added a downloaded version straight into Blogger for all those that cannot view otherwise.
      Hugs,
      Mariette

      Delete
    2. Hi again, Thank you for adding the additional link to the film--you know that I am interested in seeing about mushroom culture. The blue color was a little weird, but it also added some atmosphere! I think that mushroom culture is mysterious to most people because it is mostly hidden--we can plainly see apple trees, wheat fields, etc. but mushrooms in quantity are not a common sight. Now we can admire the judgment and dexterity required of mushroom workers! --Jim

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    3. Dearest Jim,
      Glad it worked and you are the main reason for putting it on as it is a great way for getting insight in this artful work. Hygiene is the main issue in this field, it is very similar to working in a hospital, even though it looks quite different. Grading by size and quality is a real skill and the machine can never replace the human eye or you sacrifice all first quality and go for the second and third quality, mainly used as sliced product for e.g. pizza restaurants.
      It is also one of the very few skills that requires fast movements with the left hand, just like playing certain instruments.
      Hugs,
      Mariette

      Delete
  5. Hello dear Mariette!
    Very interesting videos showing us the growing rooms and all about the mushrooms!
    Great memories indeed! Thank you for sharing! Wishing you a lovely day and a happy week! Hugs!
    Dimi...

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    Replies

    1. Dearest Dimi,
      Thank you and I'm glad you enjoyed this insight into a special job.
      Hugs,
      Mariette

      Delete
  6. Hi Mariette! Interesting to see how to grow mushrooms.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dearest Anne,
      Well, this is only a small view of the harvesting once the mushroom already grew onto the compost.
      There are so many interesting aspects about the actual growing.
      The entire thing is to mimic Mother Nature, creating the perfect Fall Environment where mushrooms like to grow and eliminating all competitor molds.
      Hugs,
      Mariette

      Delete
  7. Great memories! thanks for showing us.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dearest Krishna,
      Yes, those are indeed fond memories of a time, long ago but still a job going on all over the world.
      Hugs,
      Mariette

      Delete
  8. Dearest Mariette,
    Thank you for sharing the video of the mushrooms. It is very interesting. I noticed the lady didn't wear any gloves when picking the mushroom. Maybe today, they will have to wear gloves :)
    Hugs, Michiko

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    Replies
    1. Dearest Michiko,
      Yes, most of my readers never have seen how harvest is going on inside a mushroom growing room.
      Oh, we have seen lots of harvesters that did not wear gloves.
      It is mainly for protection of your own skin... you have to clean your skin with chorine in order to get the brownish stains off again.
      Many companies do provide the cheaper version of examination gloves in large boxes.
      Hugs,
      Mariette

      Delete
  9. Interesting photos and videos of mushroom harvesting. They must bring lot of fond memories to you :-)

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    Replies
    1. Dearest Tamago,
      Yes, very fond memories of a time now so long ago!
      Hugs,
      Mariette

      Delete
  10. I have learned a lot....thank you.Tom and I visited a mushroom farm in northern German on a Rotary exchange several years ago. I hope you are enjoying the holidays Marianne.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dearest Marianne,
      So no doubt it did bring back fond memories for you about that special Rotary exchange trip.
      More than likely you visited the farm where I've done consulting for years (Pilzland, near Bremen) or another one where husband Pieter visited over the years.
      We sure will enjoy Christmas as that means it is a calmer period after so many singing in the choirs and time off from tutoring...
      Hugs,
      Mariette

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  11. Dearest Mariette!
    Husband Pieter is the one wearing the batik shirt and the brons,the substrate for Mushroom growing,
    On the nice trip did therefore make such a Doubt if your have improved much your hands powdering putting gloves, I was very happy from you both enjoy the in here!
    Hugs Michiko

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    Replies
    1. Dearest Michiko san,
      Yes, you are right about that photo from Pieter's trip to India where he wore his batik shirt and a brown leather bag, when checking out the compost: {Part IV of Husband Pieter's Trip to India - Solan, Himachal Pradesh}
      The powder is not to improve the hands but simply for getting inside your gloves with ease as it makes you glide into them!
      Hugs,
      Mariette

      Delete
  12. Hello Mariette, hope Pieter is recovering well.
    Best wishes for Christmas and health and happiness for the New Year.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dearest Sami,
      Yes, Pieter is fully recovered from his bronchitis with the help of some antibiotics.
      This time of the year is always going so very fast... but it is a special and meaningful time!
      Forgot to tell you that I do envy you for having those beautiful Jacarandas blooming again in your region...
      Hugs,
      Mariette

      Delete
  13. Muito interessante ver como se produz estes cogumelos, infelizmente não consegui ver o post na totalidade.
    Um abraço e bom fim-de-semana.

    Andarilhar
    Dedais de Francisco e Idalisa
    O prazer dos livros

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    Replies
    1. Querido Francisco Manuel,
      Obrigado, mas você se vê-lo completamente, o capítulos individuais adicionais talvez não. Depende do seu navegador.
      Abraços,
      Mariette

      Delete
  14. Mushroom grow in mysterious atmosphere,and needs a lot of care.

    Reading your comment to Sami, I am glad to know that Pieter is fully recovered from his illness,Mariette.
    Lovely weekend to you!

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    Replies
    1. Dearest Tomoko,
      Thank you for your visit and sweet comment! Yes, we are very grateful.
      Hugs,
      Mariette

      Delete
  15. Dear Mariette,

    Interesting to read and see your photos of the mushroom harvest. Looks lovely under the blue light.
    You will have a busy few weeks ahead with lecturing and your choirs.
    Takes care dear friend and have a lovely weekend
    Hugs
    Carolyn

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    Replies
    1. Dearest Carolyn,
      Don't know why the film turned out blue as we never worked under any blue light.
      But who knows what happens over 38 years with the quality of such old film reels and then being converted into digital format.
      Busy weeks ahead indeed but we enjoy our weekend first.
      Hugs,
      Mariette

      Delete

Thanks for your visit and comment.

Mariette...