Dear Oak Meadow School Team,

I am writing this letter on behalf of one of your homeschooling students.

Aileen and I are co-workers at Gourmet Greens. We have had the good pleasure of working together since May of 1997.

Your real life skills evaluation form does not have much room for elaboration of detail, and I feel that this letter may help you to gain a better grasp of the level of responsibility that Aileen has taken on.

Gourmet Greens is a fine little Vermont micro-company. We are commercial growers of Vermont certified organic wheatgrass and soil-grown greens. We grow and harvest approximately 700 pounds of greens each week; also 200-250 pounds of wheatgrass. Our business is very technical with much attention to detail required.

Aileen is the only young (teenage) person working in our ranks. The rest of her co-workers are 10-25 years older than she. She really handles herself very well in an adult work environment.

I would like to give you an overview of Aileen's current responsibilities, with a detailed explanation of each duty:

1. Watering for planting - a specific amount of water is required for the four different crops that we grow. Each tray must be watered prior to planting.

2. Planting - A specific amount of seed is required for each tray; must be measured and spread properly to ensure a good crop.

3. Stacking - Each variety of greens and wheatgrass requires a different stacking method. Seeds require 2-3 days for germination.

4. Separating - After the individual germination period has been completed, the trays are separated onto the shelves where they will complete their life cycle, under grow lights.

5. Daily watering of growing crops - Each day, all of the growing trays must be watered to insure a good crop yield.

6. Harvesting - A single edge razor is gripped in one hand, while the other hand is pushing back and grabbing up the harvested greens, depositing them into a tub. This is a delicate job, as there should not be any roots or dirt in the harvested sprouts.

7. Bagging greens and wheatgrass - Each bag is stuffed and weighed according to its individual weight. Requirement - Try zipping 800-900 reclosable bags in several hours, it's a challenge.

8. Labeling case boxes and bags.

9. Packing cases

10. Answering telephone / customer service

11. Gophering - During the harvest, the harvesters must continuously be supplied with fresh trays to harvest; also removing the already harvested trays onto a trolley so that they may be moved back into the greenhouse for composting.

12. Composting - Harvested trays from the different crops must be alternated and turned into a rotational series of compost bins. We are a sustainable agricultural farm.

13. Training new employees

14. Shipping - To our wholesale distribution site in Boston, also UPS to our direct retail customers nationwide.

Thanks.

Lisa W.
Londonderry, Vt. 05148