NOT Delica Related, but need advice/imput

[nvanadm]

My wife and I are looking to move back to BC for the summer to do some tree planting. She's an elementary school teacher and I'm back in college studying Medical Radiation Technology. I'm 30 and she's 27 (not that it really matters but may be helpful for advice ).

We all drive our Delica's for more or less the same reasons...we are all unique, but similar in MANY ways. Because my wife and I want to tree plant, I know for sure that some of you may have done this too (that's what I'm hoping anyway).

Let me also point out that we realize that this isn't a glamorous job. It will be very hard work, tiring (mentally and physically), dirty, wet, cold...and I'm sure the list goes on...we know that.

So, we were just wondering if you HAVE tree planted...

What company/companies have you worked for? Would you recommend them?
What was your overall experience like?
What would a rookie expect to make (approx/realistic) for the first time?
Not really sure what else to ask, but please feel free to add anything that may be helpful.

Thank you!
p.s. Can't wait to get my Deli to CVI for a spa day and maybe it'll come out with a new stainless steel side exhaust too!
Adam.

[White Mule]

http://www.tree-planter.com/

Good Luck.

[nvanadm]

http://www.tree-planter.com/

Good Luck.

Is that the company you worked for? Did you like them? Would you recommend them?

We've visited MANY websites, including http://www.tree-planter.com and have looked at all the "companies" listed and have gathered all the vague info we could but now we're contacting people we know for personal experiences. www.tree-planter.com has 19 listed companies and it's kind of hard to decide which ones to apply for.

Any personal experiences you can add would be great!

[Paule]

I have a friend who did several years with Forest Craft. He never really had any complaints about them... But that was over 10 years ago...

http://hardcoretreeplanters.com/treepla ... anies.html

[CloudMountain]

I was a rookie at 31. Worked for Silverado Silviculture. On average I got payed about 12 cents a tree and after about 40 days of work I was putting in 1500 tree's a day. That was back in 2003. This site has a good list of companies that may be hiring rookies. http://hardcoretreeplanters.com/treepla ... anies.html

Rookies can expect to make $150-$250 per day, once you know what your doing.

Wished I had a Delica back then instead of a Pontiac Firefly, the extra clearance would have been welcome.

[Dingus]

I've a fair bit of experience with this, working for other companies as well as running my own company for two seasons. This is a bit dated as the last year for my company was '97, at that time I was paying 10 to 15 cents a tree. This all depends on the contract bid, and for dependent on the terrain. Pay is one of the first things you need to get straight before you sign on, not sure about now, but there were a few unscrupulous companies out there at the time.

You are right; it is hard, dirty, nasty work. The obvious will be that you are at the mercy of the elements; hot/cold, wet/bone dry (watch your open flame and ash. Smoking... be very careful, you're reforesting not deforesting ). The less obvious might be that you will be in logging cut-blocks, and these are not nice places to work. Climbing over snags and snarls of logs to plant your tree in the "right" spot. Lots of standing water and disturbed earth, so bugs will be everywhere, mosquitoes being the worse. Bring lots of bug dope, DEET is your friend. Wash with unscented soap, do not use deodorant, and eating bananas (you sweat the potassium which attracts them) no lotions or scented anything.

A proper planting shovel and bag are essential. Make sure the shovel is the proper length for you and your wife; too tall is hard to maneuver in the bush, too short will give you a sore back. I suggest a bag with shoulder straps to help distribute the weight, unless you have Superman hips. Rain poncho was probably the most forgotten piece of gear I saw, and a long day of hard work is only made worse if you are soaked to the bone.

This reply sounds a little foreboding, but if you are physically fit and expecting the worse (weather, bugs, etc.) it can be a very fun and rewarding venture. Best of luck, and enjoy the bush!

[nvanadm]

Great!! Thanks for all the useful info guys.

Any more info/experiences are welcomed.

Thanks again!