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Questions on setting up a balcony garden plus terumot and maaserot

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Question

 I live in Israel in an apartment with access to a tiled roof on the 7 th floor. I wish to grow for my own consumption and to share produce, both vegetables and fruit. I will be grateful with information as to how / what I must do physically to ensure all halachic tithes are taken and removed from the produce. I imagine that harvesting will take place under these 2 scenarios: Potatoes might be harvested in a single batch -or in multiple batches Other vegetables may become available gradually (possibly every few days) throughout the season. I understand that the taking and distributing Terumah and Ma’aser Rishon physically must be performed? And that after this a tenth of what remains (Ma’aser Sheni) is removed which was then biblically given to the Levites. However, I need instructions of how and what to physically do so that my planting and harvesting complies with Halacha. I’m not sure what additional information is required -but wish to advise the following: I plan to plant in pots on the roof with holes at the bottom -in the open -or in a plastic mesh enclosed frame area -or inside the apartment, in front of a sunny window (e.g., tomatoes) If a pot has holes at the bottom but stands in a small tray to catch excess water, does this affect the halachic status? I am also considering placing multiple pots in a larger tray to conserve water—does this have any halachic implications? I hope this is enough information to assist you to be able to advise what exactly must be physically done. 

Answer

Rabbi Moshe Bloom
1. You will need to separate terumot and ma'aserot from every batch you harvest. While there is a halachic solution to separate in advance once every week, it should only be employed if you are concerned that someone (family member, perhaps) will harvest without separating. If this is the case, see our video here.

2. Members of our ma'aser fund, Beit Ha'otzar sign an agreement with a pedigreed Levi and this year, a charitable organization, pledging that all the ma'aser rishon (for Levi'im) and ma'aser ani (for the poor) will go only to them. Part of the membership money is a loan to the Levi and charitable organization. They agree that instead of physically giving them the produce, its value will be deducted from the loan (ex. If they owe 40 shekels according to the loan agreement, you harvest potatoes and the 9% meant for ma'aser ani is worth NIS 5, the amount of the loan that the organization owes you will be reduced to NIS 35). In this way, membership allows you to actually give the gifts in a mehudar and convenient way in the comfort of your home. On ma'aser sheni years, all members have a dedicated coin for redeeming the holiness of ma'aser sheni produce. Become a member here: en.toraland.org.il/services/beit-haotzar-fund-for-terumot-and-ma-aesrot/subscribe/

3. The order of separation is outlined as follows:

a) Separate a bit more than 1% (for the terumot)

b) Recite the text for separating terumot and ma'aserot.

c) Double wrap and dispose the bit more than 1% you separated.

BTW - Maaser rishon was given to the Levite, ma'aser sheni (on appropriate years) has holiness and used to be eaten in Jerusalem by the produce owner in a state of purity. Today we transfer the holiness to a coin.

Since it is important to understand what you are doing for the separation to take effect, I highly recommend that you avail yourself or our materials to understand the process in full. There are 20 biblical mitzvot involved in separating terumot and ma'aserot! What a privilege! The most important thing is that you know that by reciting the text, you are designating various parts of the produce for a Kohen, Levi, and on some years (this year, for instance), a poor person, and on others, as ma'aser sheni. However, it's best to really and truly understand the text and process: 

This is a workshop on the topic. It's a bit long, but takes you through the formula of separation step-by-step so you really understand what you're doing, and discusses other relevant halachot: Hands-on terumot and ma'aserot workshop for women (in conjunction with the OU) - YouTube

4. Vegetables that grow outdoors require the separation of teurmot and ma'aserot with a blessing, even if they are detached from the ground. For those that grow indoors or in greenhouses, (or your tomatoes on the windowsill, for instance), separate without a blessing (you say the text, but omit the blessings).

Are you growing herbs too? Please inform, since there are various relevant halachot.

5. In terms of having vegetables in separate planters that share the same water, that is fine.

In general, it is necessary to distance different types of annuals from one another under the prohibition of kilei zera'im (appprox. 12 cm), but if they are in distinct planters,  it is clear that they are separate, so they need not be distanced.

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