Zen and The Art of Almond Field Sprinkler System Maintenance

I must include the same disclaimer as Prising did in his book; that this post should in no way be associated with that great body of factual information relating to orthodox Zen Buddhist practice. It's not very factual on motorcycles (sprinkler systems), either."


It's important to remember when thinking about Sprinkler System Maintenance that this individual experience of Sprinkler System Maintenance is on a Kibbutz in Israel. And while quality may normally be considered an issue when dealing with such an integral factor in Almond Field productivity, here on Kibbutz Giv'at Oz it is far from an issue.

The day starts at 6:30 with a strong cup of coffee. The options when choosing coffee are seemingly limitless.

(12 different choices, makes starbucks look pathetic)

When my boss, Beaver, tells me that I have to be at the cafeteria at 6:30, he really means 7, and by the time we finally get out into the fields it is normally past 7:30. After sitting around drinking coffee for an hour

(me drinking coffee and a terrible effort at stitching)

we finally hop in our tractor and move out to the Almond Fields.

(our whip)

The essence of Almond Field Sprinkler System Maintenance can be broken down into 3 individual problems.

1. Clogged Sprinkler- in which the sprinkler itself is blocked by; weeds, dirt, mud, dirty water or an almond.
2. Detached Sprinkler Head- when the water pressure becomes to strong and launches itself off of the hose.
3. Detached Sprinkler Hose- the hose that connect the sprinkler to the main water line is buried half a foot below the ground.

This is what a working sprinkler should look like:




(Fascinating, I know.)

The work if you were wondering is mind-numbingly easy but given the vast size of the almond fields makes it fairly tedious. There are six different almond fields spread out around the kibbutz and each has its own unique problems, but they all share one in common, water pressure.

Water in Israel is obviously a constant problem being that the Kinneret is the only fresh water source in the country. The Kibbutz is only allotted so much water per season so they have developed a system of blocks in each of the fields. A block consists of about an acre worth of almond trees and there are about 8 blocks in each of the 6 different fields yielding an enormous amount of almonds.

They told me that at the end of the harvest they had 60 loads of almonds this size. Each dumpster full sells for 25000 shekles (about seven grand.) Apparently the work that goes into harvesting is much harder than the Sprinkler System Maintenance that I have been assigned too. My work varies depending on where they have decided to allow water to flow that day. Often times the sprinklers aren't functioning because there is not enough water pressure to spin the propeller. Times like this we just walk through the fields making sure that the sprinkler is standing and is not obstructed. Another big problem in the fields is wild boars. They come down into the fields and bite through the pipes so they can drink water. It makes the whole field very wet and muddy and fixing the bitten pipe is nearly impossible. Often times Beaver just says leave it and we walk back to the tractor for a break before moving on to another field.

(an almond field)

The work is easy but its enjoyable. Walking through the fields at 7:30 in the morning is very peaceful and a certain "zen" feeling does set in as you make your way through the blocks. We break for breakfast around 8:30 or 9 and then go back into the fields until 1 when we have lunch and then are through for the day. Kibbutz life is very slow, because of the heat everybody spends the afternoons inside so I find that I usually nap and then read for the rest of the day. Soon they say that the rains will come and the Almond Fields won't need any more Sprinkler System Maintenance and I am not sure what they will have me do after that. Hopefully it involves a little more effort.

Giv'at Oz, because I don't think I mentioned it is about an hour an a half north of Tel Aviv and maybe 30 minutes east of Haifa. The closest city is Afula and we are surrounded by Palestinians. 5 times a day you can hear the call to prayer from at least 3 different Arab villages, its kind of like church bells in Burlington.

I'll leave with what they had me do yesterday.



90,000 baby chicks had to be unloaded into their chicken houses. In two months i'll be eating them for dinner.