Theme form Movie Rocky

[rox]

It is not jsut cutting the trees that is so much work, it is the brush, branches debris that you ahve to deal with. Next few photos give you an idea.

my hsuband hooked up the chipper to the back fo the tractor today and we tried it out. It really works gread on the small branches and leaves. It is going to take time, but whatever it takes it takes. At least we won't burn and I hate burning, it scares me so much.

I have 3 more trees on my current sloped row, then I have one more slope to do but my husband said there are only 8 trees on the final slope. After that I think I'll be feeding bursh into the chipper for the next week. Hopefully in about a week we will ahve this 450 tree parcel done and can move on to the next parcel.

Take a look at the debris, it is a lot of work.

 

[rox]

More Debris.

 

[MotorSeven]

Rox,

I don't know how "young" you are, but be carefull of repetive day long use of your hands/arms. I'm talking about carpal tunnel(sp?) and tendanitis. I used to build fences and decks as a side job. Made good money but mostly did all the work myself. It takes a toll, i had to stop when i couldn't pick up a glass of milk....for a week!
I'm not trying to scare you, but it is something i didn't think about until it was too late.
Pace yourself, drink lots of fluids, and switch tasks with your husband a couple of times during the day. Just keep it varied because if you don't you may end up with numb fingers or worse.
It's been 6-8 years since i stoped doing fences. I know that holding up a thousand or so pickets, and nail gunning 6 nails into each one had a lasting effect........My wife and i bought a house in Manitoba(her home) sight unseen as an investment. We thought it was a paint/appliance/carpet job. I spent 2 weeks of 12-14 hr days doing a complete re-mod including 6.5 yards of crete for a failed foundation wall. The carpal tunnel hit me about the middle of week 2. I had tingling numb hands and fingers for 2 months, and still have some numbness on the tip of one finger. That was from last summer. We are starting a log home this winter, and i know i will have to take my own advise and pace myself.
And like you i wouldn't have it any other way, because i enjoy the work....just take it easy! /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

RD

 

[1bush2hog]

While I have never prunned an olive tree I used to prune alot of apple trees when I was growing up. We would prune all the trees and then go back and pile all the brush in a wind row in the middle of the lane between the trees. We would then take a tractor with forks on the front and push the brush to the ends of the rows into piles and burn.

There were no leaves on the trees when we pruned either, and this was doen during the winter time when there was more moisture, so burning was not really a problem.

Any brush that was left was run over with a rotary cutter and left for mulch.

It is alot of work, but just think you don't have as many left to do as when you started, and I'll bet that is the best tasting olive oil in France. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

One thing is for sure - It is much easier to prune on a regular basis (annually) than to let the orchard go for a few years.

Hang in there - we are all pulling for you!

 

[rox]

MotorSeven,
How did you know? Youa re sooooo right. Last year our first year, I was cutting the suckers off the feet of the trees and I had an "ergonomically designed" prunnig shears. I had the exact same symptoms you described. Even went to a French Doctor, a specialist in arthritis, my hands hurt so bad I thought it was arthritis. Turns out it was exactly what you described, repetitive motion.

My husband bought me a new prunnign shears, Felco brand and that has helped. Although I feel the same thing happening in my right arm and hand. You gave me the extra motivation to be aware of it so all day today when I worked I made a concious effort to change hands, I even worked left handed quite a bit today. Plus when I felt the pain I would switch taks and saw a limb instead of clipping with the pruning shears.

Last eyar the pain was so bad I literlly could not sleep. My hand was numb. I am going to think about it on the job this eyar and not repeat. Many thanks for the reminder. I needed it. I knew I should have been doing it with the massive tree pruning but your tale of personal experience has convinced me more then ever to be more viglent than I was.

Thankfully only 3 more trees to do tomorrow on the slopes. Then no more trees on slopes. It is so much easier to work on the trees on mainly level ground. You can use the ladder tripod thing we have that is on wheels. On a slope you have nothing but your own physical skills to get the job done.

I prunned those babies good and tight, hopefully I cen get a few years out of the prunning job done this year.

 

[rox]

1bush2hog,

I drooled when I read how easy you had it with apple trees. Got to use the tractor and everything.

I wish it were so easy on our olive farm. Btu again short term pain, long term gain. Once back to the way the trees should be it is not that bad to do yearly prunning.

Olive trees are evergreens. Each leaf lasts 3 years so the trees always have leaves. It is one of the reasons the tree is popular in landscaping, it is always green.

My husband told me he has 80 more trees to cut in the parcel we are on. I do like 5 rees a day he does 20. He is not doing a complete, complete pruning like I am on the slopes. He is doing more of a rough cut, getting all the big stuff out. Plus I don't go out until about 11am he goes out at 8:30 or 9.

His 89 year old mother has been with us on the farm for a month. She fell down 3 times since Christmas eve, and had to be hospitalizz. Poor woman had black eys, and lost some teeth once she passed out and fell down, lots of bruises.

The 3rd time we took her in with us instead of having her go back to her Senior Apartment. It has been no problem at all. The doctor changed her blood pressure medecine, and I orgainze her pills every Sunday night. She has been just fine buy us for a month. But that means I have to prepare her lunch before I go out and work, and basically give her a little attention. So I don't get out to work until around 11. Well whatta gonna do? Gotta take care of our parents, can't not dop that. She goes back to stay with her daughter for a few weeks on Sunday. Then hopefully she will be able to live back in her own apartment which is what she really wants.

I don't know if we are the BEST Olive Oil in France, but I do know that we are in the top eschelon.

Many thanks for your words of encouragement. They help a lot, more than you can know....

 

[billbill1]

Just remember Rox, all of that hard work is what keeps you in such good shape and so young looking. Good oil means that you did it right. I doubt if I've ever had "good" olive oil, I think we use Gardenni's or something like that from Sam's club. It's in a 175 litre plastic bottle. Keep plugging away and keep us posted.

 

[1bush2hog]

Rox -

Fruits from one's own labor are always the sweetest /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Take Care and keep up the good work!

 

[rox]

Finally!!! I finished allt he trees on the slopes. Now I can work on level ground. Also went to the garden store and ordered a Stihl combi system. It has a small chainsaw on a pole. Cost 767 Euros, jsut for the motor, the chainsaw and one extension. Got the mid level machine. For big stuff we have a Pro Stihl Chainsaw. Hated to spend the money.

Will need to pay our US Accountant and our French Acountant + soon txes to both countries. I have been marries to my husband for 31 eyars and I learned one thing, he is very reluctant to spend a dime that he doesn't ahve to until he knows his tax liability. Was surprised he told me to go buy it, out of character for him for sure. But really he is working so hard hand cutting al thsoe high limbs. + we have many many many more trees to go. We won't get it until Friday, nothing is ever ins stock in this country it seems to me, but we have practically a week's worth of chipping to do anyway.

So so glad to have those 50 trees on ths slope done. That feels good.

 

[MotorSeven]

Rox,
Oh i left out the trying to sleep part. Just doze off, then sit bolt upright cradling one arm that feels like an 18 wheeler was parked on it. Wife say's, "are you ok?". Wait 30-45 min, then repeat. After around 4-5 times, wife says, "are you ok?" but in a much different tone! /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
Sheeze and to think i almost forgot about that /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif!

RD