January 2023 - 30

NOTES FROM THE FARM
A view of Mills Apple Farm from the top of the new
Gillisons pruning tower in Marine, Illinois, Nov. 11.
Photo: Jerry Mills
A chilling post-Halloween moment on the farm
A
new high-altitude Gillison's pruning tower arrived.
There was nothing wrong with the old Brownie.
It has served us well for 30 years with the only
problem being a tired engine. However, it did have an open,
unprotected workstation and I decided it was time to move
in out of the cold winds.
The workstation on the Gillison is completely enclosed
around the lower half of the body and there is heat and cold
ventilation at the bottom.
If I can build a partial enclosure at the top to break cold
winds and keep in some of the heat, it will make it a perfect
winter pruning machine.
This new tower can reach twice as high as the Brownie
which is the justification for purchasing it. We need to be
able to open the interior of our pecan trees. The ones I
planted 30 years ago are already close to 100 feet tall. Nut
production occurs toward the end of the branches so I hope
I can keep them compact by judicious pruning as the trees
reach maturity.
Gosh, this year is passing swiftly. Carpenters are
working on the interior of the " new barn, " installing public
restrooms. Next step will be a new commercial kitchen.
After that will come another shed to house tractors and
new pecan harvesting equipment.
In the meantime there are orchards to care for.
I had a spooky experience the other night. I worked in
the new barn until after seven. When I went to go home,
I stepped out the door, took out my telephone and turned
on its light, reached in and turned off the barn lights, shut
the door, stepped away from the barn and the light on the
telephone went out. Dead battery.
30 | JANUARY 2023
No problem, I thought. My night vision will pop on. The
only problem, it was the darkest night I think I have ever
experienced and our yard light was out. There was no
moon. Clouds obscured stars, I was on the back side of
the building and no neighbors' lights were visible. Total
blackness.
I reached back and felt a wooden pallet leaning against
the building. I slowly turned around and inched along until
I felt the cooler compressor case. I knew the power pole
for the building should be next.
You must realize that people with long-term
Parkinson's disease have poor sense of balance, and none
without a visual reference. I can't even put on a thick pullover
without falling.
Anyway, soon the end of the building arrived. My car
was parked about thirty feet east across an uneven
driveway and up a berm.
If I could head in that direction I might find it, but the
minute I let go of the building I knew I was in trouble.
Nothing to do but reach back, find the building and use it
lower my body to the ground and start out on all fours.
Crawling was slow and painful. Large gravel covers
that part of the driveway. It is hard on knees. Luckily, I had
gloves on. I felt my way along, hoping I would not veer too
much and miss the car.
Just as I was crawling up the berm headed slightly
left of the car, I heard a voice and my son Lowell
calling. Marilyn was afraid something had happened
and called him.
I was saved! We have got to get the yard light fixed and
install more door lights.
January 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of January 2023
