- Location
- Gulfport, Mississippi
Hey guys, Russell here. I have been down in South Mississippi since Katrina taking the non-profit route.
Why I post here? Because I need to find an income, at least short term.
My experience:
I have been climbing trees professionally since my humble beginnings in '99 in Seattle. In 2002, I moved to the northeast where I worked for Spanner tree care where I acquired my ISA Certification. I then took a job with some friends at Action Tree Service until Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Gulf Coast of the US. After that I worked in MS as a volunteer leading inexperienced crews of volunteers cutting through impossible nests of trees with only my climbing gear, rope and some saws that I borrowed from Action Tree.
Somewhere toward the end of '06, when most of the nasty trees had been dealt with, I began working tree preservation with some of the larger live oak trees down here, mostly vertical mulching and such, with great success, this was also as a volunteer. When the materials and opportunity dried up, I went on to work for a local non-profit dealing with the fact that through annexation, their historic community was being systematically erased by industrialization, deforestation and pollution. I worked this job as a volunteer until November'07 at which time I was offered a salary.
I then moved out of the tent that I had been living in for two years, rented a house in town continued my work. I have had the great fortune to work with local groups doing some urban forest restoration, invasive species control, Clean Water Act enforcement as Turkey Creekkeeper, community agriculture and I've even had the pleasure of taking local kids into the woods for the first time to learn about plants and critters and even canoeing. Its amazing how disconnected folks can be from their natural environments in today's world.
Anyhow, it seems that now, at least temporarily, we are in a funding lull and our modest salaries have been temporarily suspended pending the receipt of more grant monies. I feel that I have invested a lot down here and would hate to discontinue my work, because I feel that would be too easy and a cop-out.
Rather, I thought that I would appeal to all or any of you who could use a well seasoned, hard working climber with his own gear and saws for a few weeks. This would help me to build up some savings so that I can pay rent a few months in advance, have money for fuel and food, thus enabling me to preserve all the work I have been trying to accomplish here until funding again makes itself available.
I require only a fair wage, safe working conditions and someplace nearby to pitch a tent and shower (like a state park or something).
Thanks for your time,
Russell Freeman
Why I post here? Because I need to find an income, at least short term.
My experience:
I have been climbing trees professionally since my humble beginnings in '99 in Seattle. In 2002, I moved to the northeast where I worked for Spanner tree care where I acquired my ISA Certification. I then took a job with some friends at Action Tree Service until Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Gulf Coast of the US. After that I worked in MS as a volunteer leading inexperienced crews of volunteers cutting through impossible nests of trees with only my climbing gear, rope and some saws that I borrowed from Action Tree.
Somewhere toward the end of '06, when most of the nasty trees had been dealt with, I began working tree preservation with some of the larger live oak trees down here, mostly vertical mulching and such, with great success, this was also as a volunteer. When the materials and opportunity dried up, I went on to work for a local non-profit dealing with the fact that through annexation, their historic community was being systematically erased by industrialization, deforestation and pollution. I worked this job as a volunteer until November'07 at which time I was offered a salary.
I then moved out of the tent that I had been living in for two years, rented a house in town continued my work. I have had the great fortune to work with local groups doing some urban forest restoration, invasive species control, Clean Water Act enforcement as Turkey Creekkeeper, community agriculture and I've even had the pleasure of taking local kids into the woods for the first time to learn about plants and critters and even canoeing. Its amazing how disconnected folks can be from their natural environments in today's world.
Anyhow, it seems that now, at least temporarily, we are in a funding lull and our modest salaries have been temporarily suspended pending the receipt of more grant monies. I feel that I have invested a lot down here and would hate to discontinue my work, because I feel that would be too easy and a cop-out.
Rather, I thought that I would appeal to all or any of you who could use a well seasoned, hard working climber with his own gear and saws for a few weeks. This would help me to build up some savings so that I can pay rent a few months in advance, have money for fuel and food, thus enabling me to preserve all the work I have been trying to accomplish here until funding again makes itself available.
I require only a fair wage, safe working conditions and someplace nearby to pitch a tent and shower (like a state park or something).
Thanks for your time,
Russell Freeman
