One thing I really enjoy about this job, besides the obvious of being able to work outside, is that in a given day I'm always doing new things. Doing new things means learning new things. One day last week I went to spray Roundup on land a farmer rented to Ken (the owner of Millcreek Nursery) to grow some extra trees. Since we only spray weeds and not the trees, Jay taught me to use my boot to hold down weeds and spray them so the chemical doesn't touch the tree. It felt sort of like a gangland execution.





Another day last week I was repairing the irrigation lines in the South Field. Above is the tool Ken had custom made to puncture holes in a live water line. The way they do it, water enters the lines making them stiff, and so easy to puncture when a new dripper has to be inserted. It also makes finding any missing nozzles easier, just look for the mini-geyser drenching a tree in the next row!

And another day last week I was out looking for blackknot (I think we were in some Schuberts). Other than a chance to see what it looks like in the field, I didn't learn anything that I didn't already get from Sima's class, except that the REAL common name for the fungus Apiosporina morbosa is "shit on a stick".

Here we see a co worker landing a tree in the back of a truck to be taken away. Notice here too the tree is leaned on its side to avoid damage from being knocked over by the wind while in transit. On larger trucks a tarp is sometimes used to further reduce risk from wind.

Trees are sometimes left above ground when they are being sold quickly, but have to be leaned on their sides or else they might be damaged if the wind blows them over.

Pests can be a problem, whether animal or vegetable.

While landing some spruces we noticed that some of the tops get damaged. In that case, a new leader must be trained, and its neighbours trimmed or else they will all be competing for the "top spot".

More digging

Yes we continue to dig, and I have learned that this industry is very weather-dependent. When it rains out the fields turn to mud, which makes it difficult for the Bobcats to dig. Days off are nice, except on payday!

Digging

Well, here it is. After lots of computer troubles that just ended in formatting my entire hard drive, I have finally created this blog about my summer working for Millcreek Nursery in Edmonton. I have been taking lots of photos, which I will share now.

Early in the year, while the trees are still dormant, the staff rush to get all the trees dug they can. Once they leaf out they cannot be dug or it will damage the tree. The process involves using a spade on a Bobcat to sever the roots and lift the tree from the hole so that it can be placed in a metal basket lined with burlap for easy transport and delivery. However, sometimes a tree gets too big and we have to call in a larger spade to get rid of it.