July 2020 - 19

NOTES FROM THE FARM
Ponder new operational approaches with COVID-19
JERRY MILLS
Mills Apple Farm
jerry@millsapplefarm.com
even if we develop vaccines. Case in
point: Measles. This disease could have
been eradicated worldwide long ago,
but there are still a few people, who
for one reason or another, refuse to
accept immunizations. The same will
probably be true of COVID-19.
It is difficult for me to understand
Spraying fruit trees. Well, here we
are at the most critical time of the year
for spraying our apples and peaches
and it keeps raining. I am using an
extra sticker this year in hopes of
getting more mileage from the sprays.
Even so, if it is not sprayed it cannot
stick. Same thing happened last year
but we lucked out and had clean
apples. Fingers crossed.
Shelter in place! What a great time
to be a farmer. Most of our national
population live in towns, in houses,
apartments, condominiums and even
on the streets. I suppose when most
hear the word place, they think of
where they live and sleep. Work is
somewhere else. All true. However, we
farmers have a better option. Our place
is our farm, where we live, sleep, eat
and work.
I think the COVID-19 virus will
pose a threat for the rest of our lives,
such thought processes when so
much is at stake for the world at
large. There comes a time when
selfish personal prerogatives have to
yield for higher causes.
New do-it-ourselves orchard.
A couple of months ago I wrote
about developing a heritage orchard
composed of the surviving apple
varieties that we planted back in 1973.
The list is not complete. Some were
not suitable and disappeared. We
grafted 25 scions, when available, of
each variety. There are 400 grafted
rootstocks, plus 100 extras.
Dealing with virus and farmers'
markets. The local farmers' market
in Edwardsville will open late with a
different footprint. The organization
will facilitate keeping personal
distances. It will be curious to see how
well it works.
Different challenges for on-farm
markets. It looks as if we will have to
business. Require everyone to have a
mask and sell them our homemade
masks if they don't have one. To go
even further, print our name and logo
on them and label them as renewable
when laundered.
Found one smart reader. A lady
reader reports that she not only
ordered and read my book, but she
cuts out succeeding columns and adds
them to the book, so it is always upto-date.
That is about the ultimate
compliment for a column writer. I'd
like to send her a bouquet of roses but
we both might get in trouble. Thank
you, missus.
Job opportunity! Today a recruiter
Jerry Mills holds grafted rootstocks ready
to plant at Mills Apple Farm, Marine, Illinois.
Scions are dipped in warm beeswax.
Photo: Jerry Mills
make changes to how we operate our
pick-your-own farm. The traditional
wagon ride to the picking area may have
to change to drive yourself. The everpopular
three-story maze may have to
close and perhaps the swings too.
We might develop a sideline
sent an email asking if I was interested
in being a facility/plant manager
for a co-op in another state. The job
comes with all the privileges of lower
management, moving expenses paid,
personal truck, home office and
communications equipment, 40 hours
per week plus weekends as needed,
medical insurance, 401(k), etc.
I replied that I was tempted, but at
my advanced age, might have trouble
remembering new procedures, and
besides, I just lost my glasses.
What do I do if they offer to pay for
a new pair? VGN
Notes from the Farm
A collection of nearly 25 years of
columns written by Illinois grower
and marketer Jerry Mills, experience
wisdom, humor and practical advice as
Jerry shares details of what's worked
(and what hasn't) throughout his time
in American agriculture.
GET YOUR COPY TODAY!
bit.ly/vgn-farm
VGN | JULY 2020 | 19
http://www.bit.ly/vgn-farm
July 2020

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