Career Change to Arboriculture: Reality vs Romanticism

Speaking of romanticism, I wanted to do more phc and root zone work so I bought an air knife years ago. The first hour of using that thing made me think "I gotta hire someone to do this for me". Loud, dirty and uncomfortable. Still do it though.
 
I did it. I was past 40 when I did it, with no related experience, plus I'm 'just a girl', so, yeah, you can!

Some tips from someone who has done exactly what you're contemplating:

Don't expect to be a climber at first. Climbing is just the last part of the commute to the job site. I've met several young keeners who could get up a tree fast enough, but they didn't really have a clue what to do when they got there. You're ready to climb for money when you know how to prune properly and how to rig pieces of wood that are too large to throw. Watch people you respect to learn that.

Don't depend on YouTube. By all means look at all the videos you can, but be sure to read the comments. Treat this as background information to get a sense of things rather than a 'how to'. I tried learning footlocking from the internet and damn near killed myself or worse.

Have a 'can do' work ethic but don't let exuberance get in the way of being safe. You need to develop what I call 'field sense' in your first week. This means recognizing hazards and staying away from them until you know how to manage them... which often is still about staying away from them.

Be prepared to show up when it's hot as hell and when it's cold as, you know.

Bring your lunch.

Read things. The first three things to read are Gilman's book on pruning; the Tree Climber's companion and get a Sherrill catalog. Flip through that over and over as you get job site experience. You'll get little aha moments every time. Anyway, that's what I did starting week 1.
After a bit, get an ISA study guide. Learn everything in that. All of this is just a starting point.

Go to a competition just to observe.



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Frax said:
I did it. I was past 40 when I did it, with no related experience, plus I'm 'just a girl', so, yeah, you can!
Some tips from someone who has done exactly what you're contemplating:
Don't expect to be a climber at first. Climbing is just the last part of the commute to the job site. I've met several young keeners who could get up a tree fast enough, but they didn't really have a clue what to do when they got there. You're ready to climb for money when you know how to prune properly and how to rig pieces of wood that are too large to throw. Watch people you respect to learn that.
Don't depend on YouTube. By all means look at all the videos you can, but be sure to read the comments. Treat this as background information to get a sense of things rather than a 'how to'. I tried learning footlocking from the internet and damn near killed myself or worse.
Have a 'can do' work ethic but don't let exuberance get in the way of being safe. You need to develop what I call 'field sense' in your first week. This means recognizing hazards and staying away from them until you know how to manage them... which often is still about staying away from them.
Be prepared to show up when it's hot as hell and when it's cold as, you know.
Bring your lunch.
Read things. The first three things to read are Gilman's book on pruning; the Tree Climber's companion and get a Sherrill catalog. Flip through that over and over as you get job site experience. You'll get little aha moments every time. Anyway, that's what I did starting week 1.
After a bit, get an ISA study guide. Learn everything in that. All of this is just a starting point.
Go to a competition just to observe.
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Click to expand...
I don't just like the post ....................... I love it !

Frax is not "just a girl" ................................. she is the 3 year chair of "THE Charlotte TCC" !
That is one of my 3 best TCC's that I've ever been to.

When you have a little experience, go to a TCC. (you need to be able to recognize what you don't know, & know enough to ask questions.)
You will meet some REALLY first class people who are more than willing to share, see lots of equipment & techniques that you didn't know existed, lots of net-work, etc.
 
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Frax said:
I did it. I was past 40 when I did it, with no related experience, plus I'm 'just a girl', so, yeah, you can!

Some tips from someone who has done exactly what you're contemplating:

Don't expect to be a climber at first. Climbing is just the last part of the commute to the job site. I've met several young keeners who could get up a tree fast enough, but they didn't really have a clue what to do when they got there. You're ready to climb for money when you know how to prune properly and how to rig pieces of wood that are too large to throw. Watch people you respect to learn that.

Don't depend on YouTube. By all means look at all the videos you can, but be sure to read the comments. Treat this as background information to get a sense of things rather than a 'how to'. I tried learning footlocking from the internet and damn near killed myself or worse.

Have a 'can do' work ethic but don't let exuberance get in the way of being safe. You need to develop what I call 'field sense' in your first week. This means recognizing hazards and staying away from them until you know how to manage them... which often is still about staying away from them.

Be prepared to show up when it's hot as hell and when it's cold as, you know.

Bring your lunch.

Read things. The first three things to read are Gilman's book on pruning; the Tree Climber's companion and get a Sherrill catalog. Flip through that over and over as you get job site experience. You'll get little aha moments every time. Anyway, that's what I did starting week 1.
After a bit, get an ISA study guide. Learn everything in that. All of this is just a starting point.

Go to a competition just to observe.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice Frax. So far, my plan of action is:

1. Start attending horticulture classes at my local community college (EDCC)
2. Start networking (maybe at the upcoming PNW-ISA conference in Lynnwood), and hopefully identify some quality local arborists I could mentor with.
3. While working on classes to earn my Associates, start working part-time as a groundsman (in about a year)
4. Read as many books as I can on botany, tree care, soil management, climbing techniques, etc.
5. Eventually quit my current job and go full-time as a groundsman.
6. Hopefully start learning to climb and go from there.

Thanks again everyone.
 
So Frax, what caused you to change careers? What were you doing before tree work?

I am a very visual learner, so a lot of the things you mentioned have helped me get to where I am.
 
We have an employee of a little over a year now, who went to law school and was working for an environmental advocacy organization--he quit his job and started dragging brush for 15$ an hr at age 40. For what it's worth, he is learning to climb now, starting to acquire gear, and generally loving his life.
 
Treezybreez said:
So Frax, what caused you to change careers? What were you doing before tree work?

I am a very visual learner, so a lot of the things you mentioned have helped me get to where I am.
Click to expand...
I worked in oil and gas in Calgary as a geologist and then in various other capacities ending up in the trading room to design and build trading systems. I watched the whole Enron disaster from a front row seat and it soured me a lot.
Everything was changing and there were rolling layoffs. I was hoping to get my turn while the 'get lost' packages were still good. I got my wish and decided I never wanted to work in an office again.
A Shigo lecture I'd attended at least a decade earlier always stuck with me. It changed a lot of my thinking. I was also doing a lot of garden writing and teaching. Those things somewhat indirectly led me to tree work, and then to arboriculture proper.

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jesselangdon said:
Thanks for the advice Frax. So far, my plan of action is:

1. Start attending horticulture classes at my local community college (EDCC)
2. Start networking (maybe at the upcoming PNW-ISA conference in Lynnwood), and hopefully identify some quality local arborists I could mentor with.
3. While working on classes to earn my Associates, start working part-time as a groundsman (in about a year)
4. Read as many books as I can on botany, tree care, soil management, climbing techniques, etc.
5. Eventually quit my current job and go full-time as a groundsman.
6. Hopefully start learning to climb and go from there.

Thanks again everyone.
Click to expand...
That's a damn thorough plan!

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southsoundtree said:
Cracks can occur with snap cuts.

3 point limits this, as well as damage to bark.
Click to expand...
Lots of bad stuff can happen if you don;t know what you;re doing....

The three point cut causes saw snatch bro... not often but enough to kill your favorite climbing saw before it gets too old!


If you need to put an notch undercut in then do that..... The three point cut may not be so much a problem when pruning small limbs.. the problem is that people see it and learn it and then use it, at least the first two parts, on removals when the limbs are big enough to snatch your saw...
 
@jesselangdon the commute might really suck for you, but my groundie bailed on me (no call no show). I can use a hand on the ground for a few days a week, flexible hours, chill work environment, decent pay. I'm down with a temp basis or seeing where it may go. I think I sent you my phone number, so give me a call if your interested
 
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