4 ms·
Sometime in the past (maybe 10 or 15 years ago?) someone had the idea of using the downwash of helicopters hovering over the cherry trees to blow th
by emblematic 8y ago
Sometime in the past (maybe 10 or
15 years ago?) someone had the
idea of using the downwash of
helicopters hovering over the
cherry trees to blow the branches
around and shake the water off
the cherries.
There is nothing normal about that idea.
I bet paying a pilot, who operates at price to cover their own expenses, fuel and a paycheck, is still less expensive than the partial loss of any harvest that receives this coverage, and crop dusting pilots are technically an equivalent operation, but I’m thinking that there are better ways to keep cherries dry, and that rain showers aren’t the only thing water log a cherry tree, right?
- HeWhoLurksLate 8y ago> There is nothing normal about that idea. For whom? I think anyone who'd been near an operating helicopter and thought "gee, I need a really big fan once in a while" would've eventually put two and two together. > * there are better ways to keep cherries dry, and that rain showers aren’t the only thing water log a cherry tree, right?* Think about the plus sides- the grower doesn't have to buy a bunch of fans, deal with maintenance, or do any other number of things, and the helicopter pilot gets "guaranteed income" (though, like all growing is, that depends a lot upon the season), flying hours, and can so other things in the waiting time. Maria, the author of the blog post, mentions elsewhere that she makes jewelry in her waiting time, which she can then sell or do whatever with. It's a big different from your standard 9-to-5 job, but personally, I think it's a beautiful symbiotic relationship.
- HeyLaughingBoy 8y agoWell you can bet all you like. I'll bet that the people who are economically affected by this have run the numbers and decided otherwise.