Courtland community comes together after ammonia leak kills pear farmer
COURTLAND, California –
A poisonous chemical leak has claimed the lifetime of an area household farmer whose orchard has been in business for greater than 150 years.
The annual pear harvest on the Greene and Hemly household orchard started on Monday, simply someday after 47-year-old Matt Hemly was killed in a weird accident on the farm that his household has owned because the gold rush days.
“He was kind of an anchor out here,” stated Matt’s spouse Sarah Hemly. “He was one in a million.”
She stated her husband and his sister Virginia are the sixth era of members of the family to work these fields, and Matt was devoted to carrying on their farming legacy.
“He loved his trees and he loved his kids,” Sarah stated.
Matt and Sarah have two boys — 11 and 13.
Fire crews had been known as to the farm final Sunday after gallons of ammonia started leaking from the orchard’s chilly storage facility. A hazmat crew responded to the scene and stated it seems Matt was overcome by the poisonous fumes.
“We’re trying to figure out what happened, but he was doing what he does and making sure that harvest could go on the next day,” Sarah stated.
It’s a giant loss for the small city of Courtland, which is holding its annual Pear Fair this coming Sunday. Community members have been providing nonstop assist to the household.
“Everybody just came out for us,” Sarah stated. “It’s amazing.”
The produce grown on this delta farm has fed generations of individuals throughout the nation.
“They’ve fed your parents, your grandparents, your great-grandparents, and they’re continuing on in that way,” Sarah stated.
And regardless of the lack of Matt, the Hemlys vow to proceed operating the household farm.
“Every single one of us is going to do what it takes to keep this going, especially for him,” Sarah stated. “There’s no stopping us.”
This is not the one loss this 12 months for the household. Matt and Virginia’s mom, Cathy Hemly, died in April. Their father, Doug, is usually retired and nonetheless lives on the farm.
