Resources for a Journeyman Arborist to expand

T

TrunkMonk

Location
Perth
G'day folks,

So I'm an Arborist with four years experience and the intent of a long and fruitful career in Arboriculture.
However in my estimation I have holes in my knowledge in relation to what trees need. That is to say, I am competent to remove a tree in most every situation as I've yet to fail to execute a job professionally or need to walk away. I also have an OK knowledge of pruning necessities and carry out maintenance jobs well.
However, the folk who trained me and the crews I've worked with, have been as a whole, sub par in comparison to how knowledgable and competent one could be in this trade.

I carry the title of Arborist because I equal or exceed my peers who I work with and have relevant qualification, though I know full well my training wasn't up to the standard it should be (I imagine it's more comprehensive in other parts of the world?!) and I intend to bridge the gap so that I can be a TRUE and deeply knowledgable professional.

So far, I read Shigo and Beranek and generally look to the internet and other Arborists I work with for practical improvements.
Though there's so much to understand and absorb in regards to the system, health and habits of trees.

What can you recommend, for someone ready to vigorously absorb informative content?

Cheers
 
Lots to do indoors when it's -35 DegC out there . . . . .
For the next online classes (current one is full) - they use the same book:
http:// umanitoba.ca/faculties/afs/arborists/ (remove the spaces for the URL to work)
Tree Climbers Companion - Jepson
Knots at Work - Jepson
To Fell a Tree - Jepson
Professional Timber Falling - Douglas Dent
A Guide to Good Climbing Practice - www.trees.org.uk - The Arboricultural Association (just for a look at how others do it across the pond)
Best Practices for Rigging in Arboriculture - TCIA
Best Practices for Crane Use in Arboriculture - TCIA
Best Practices for Stump Grinder Operations in Arboriculture - TCIA
Technical Rescue Riggers Guide - Rick Lipke (there's a newer 3rd edition now I think)
Working Climber DVD Series - Beranek (really really good info)
Schultz Effect - Laurence's videos on SRT
Educated Climber - Youtube - also links to online copy of The Fundamentals of General Tree Work by Beranek, now out of print
Climbing Arborist - Youtube
Please watch the SRT, dDRT and Rescue Webinars put onto YouTube by TreeStuff - good content to watch and mull over in your climbing style evolution
Last one I'll add is On Rope - https: //www.mec.ca/en/product/0505-248/On-Rope-2nd-Edition

Enjoy and Stay Safe Out There
 
Arboriculture by Harris, Clark, and Matheny

CODIT Principle by Dujesiefkin and Liese

Anything by Schwarze for some light reading.
 
Last edited:
"Trees of Delhi" by Pradhip Krishen.
15489704407908618679550430810417.webpAn excellent field guide to help you fill a pesky hole in your global body of knowledge.
 
Woohoo
Thanks folks, this will atleast be a great start.

I'll need to investigate wether or not the ISA can provide an exam date for an Aussie(?)
Study study study...
 
TrunkMonk said:
Woohoo
Thanks folks, this will atleast be a great start.

I'll need to investigate wether or not the ISA can provide an exam date for an Aussie(?)
Study study study...
Click to expand...

I think you Aussies have separate exams from the ISA that are more important for you to take in order to advance in Australia. @Stihlmadd is in Adelaide and may have some words if he didn't get adelaided in the head during y'alls heat wave.

As far as your own education, just pick a topic and surf Treebuzz and YouTube. I was looking around yesterday for information on grafting large crossed limbs together.

I also think it's important to read American national standards institute A300 and Z133. It is really dry, but very authoritative in terms of legality, and also usually in terms of quality of service provided. I'm sure you all have the equivalent there.

Thanks for posting. I think you're the first person I've seen here from Perth! Had to google where that was, lol.
 
I just checked and Australia has 2 (two) ISA Associate Organizations. You should link up with them, they'll be the ones who can really get you plugged in.
 
colb said:
I think you Aussies have separate exams from the ISA that are more important for you to take in order to advance in Australia. @Stihlmadd is in Adelaide and may have some words if he didn't get adelaided in the head during y'alls heat wave.

As far as your own education, just pick a topic and surf Treebuzz and YouTube. I was looking around yesterday for information on grafting large crossed limbs together.

I also think it's important to read American national standards institute A300 and Z133. It is really dry, but very authoritative in terms of legality, and also usually in terms of quality of service provided. I'm sure you all have the equivalent there.

Thanks for posting. I think you're the first person I've seen here from Perth! Had to google where that was, lol.
Click to expand...

I’d love to see this video ...
 
alright I dragged myself out of the fortress of solitude,

pretext I started doing Tree work coming on 16 years ago so some things have changed and some are still relevant.

TrunkMonk said:
I am competent to remove a tree in most every situation as I've yet to fail to execute a job professionally or need to walk away. I also have an OK knowledge of pruning necessities and carry out maintenance jobs well.
Click to expand...

Trunkmonk - you carry yourself as an intelligent person so Im am working on the you have a reasonably think skin principle when addressing your queries,

Job ads for a full time in house climber generally run with the line must have minimum 4 years rope and harness experience , arb cert 3 , MR truck license etc.
so what level of certificate are you currently holding ?
Have you climbed for more than one company or are you still with the same company that you started with?
could you please expand on the bit about walking away for me please ?
 
Last edited:
Yeah Stihllmadd, I carry a Cert 3 in Arboriculture, three of my four years are rope and harness years and my truck licence is open HR.

I've climbed for three companies thus far, my job which starts on Monday will make four.

What I meant by walking away is that I've not come across a job which exceeds my capabilities - while I'm sure that they exist I have been able to rise to the challenge. What that means is that my technical proficiency is adequate enough (because they still need improvement in all areas) to get the work done and what I really want to develop at this time is my intellectual understanding of proper Tree Care.

The mob I did my Cert 3 with were working out of Cairns and I had concerns while doing it that it wasn't as comprehensive as it could have been.
Six months after I finished certification they're business was shut down! Proof is in the pudding?

Would be really happy to hear your thoughts regarding education and climber advancement in Australia.

Cheers
 
Im looking at this from a point of where do you want to expand yourself into as your career ,
you have several pathway choices at this moment -

going down the consulting side of Arboriculture - doing more studies and gaining higher qualifications with an eye towards working for someone else or running your own office?,
which side - private sector or public sector?
eg local council etc

Starting your own company that does the physical side of aborist work ?
pruning and removing with possibly diverting into pest and disease management.

Becoming a full time contract climber with all your time and resources devoted to the art of the climb?

and then deciding which of these choices will provide you with the money at a level you are comfortable at.
it does come down to putting food on the table at the end of the day.

also are you currently single / in a relationship , have a loan on a house or any large debts on say a car
That's some factors will effect my next comments .

TrunkMonk said:
What I meant by walking away is that I've not come across a job which exceeds my capabilities
Click to expand...

Have you ever refused to climb a particular tree for safety concerns?
if you are at a place where none of the jobs are exceeding you capability how do you know what you are truely capable of?
or are you stagnating where you are because of the geography,
eg all the trees are the same species height etc so there is no real variation from one day to the next?
Im not being all judgy but knowing where your mind set is at will affect any advice I am willing to provide.
keep in mind Im partially playing devils advocate at this point with the benefit of hindsight up my sleeve.
 
TrunkMonk said:
What that means is that my technical proficiency is adequate enough (because they still need improvement in all areas) to get the work done and what I really want to develop at this time is my intellectual understanding of proper Tree Care.
Click to expand...

if you are looking at the academic side of the job then perhaps a stint at Burnley college of Horticulture in Melbourne will be the go?
Either that or you are looking at travelling overseas which is why I am asking about your finances and living status .

it will all break down into the near future and where that will lead onto anyways.
 
going down the consulting side of Arboriculture - doing more studies and gaining higher qualifications with an eye towards working for someone else or running your own office?,
which side - private sector or public sector?
eg local council etc

Starting your own company that does the physical side of aborist work ?
pruning and removing with possibly diverting into pest and disease management.

Becoming a full time contract climber with all your time and resources devoted to the art of the climb?
Click to expand...

I intend to focus on the Art of The Climb, aside from my interest in Tree life it is the main reason I got into this. I do toy with the idea of Contract Climbing, however for that to become a reasonable reality I have much to do in terms of production capability.
Running a Company doesn't presently interest me, working for and with crews is great for me.

And I'd like to enter the consulting or scientific end of Arboriculture "One Day"

also are you currently single / in a relationship , have a loan on a house or any large debts on say a car
That's some factors will effect my next comments .
Click to expand...

In a relationship, do have a debt that will take me approx 1.5 years to rid myself of.

Have you ever refused to climb a particular tree for safety concerns?
if you are at a place where none of the jobs are exceeding you capability how do you know what you are truely capable of?
or are you stagnating where you are because of the geography,
eg all the trees are the same species height etc so there is no real variation from one day to the next?
Click to expand...

I've passed on a Palm climb due to power line proximity though that ends it.
Have yet to work for an employer who even brings us to site expecting a structurally deficient tree to be climbed.
It is reasonable to say that my most previous employment didn't offer difficult enough trees to halt me as I'd worked in Broome for the past year and Trees only become medium at best in comparison to what North NSW grows.
Am here in Mandurah, WA for a few weeks and will surely be challenged and will then be heading to the Rainforest region of Northern NSW where I started the trade to spend a couple of years with the Girl and her work arrangements.
While I'm there I'm considering acquiring a Diploma of Arboriculture through Training for Trees in Brisbane.
Though mostly to work relentlessly at this craft.

Cheers
 
Well I would say keep doing what you are currently headed towards.
gaining that diploma will be a keystone in your future.
Keep the contract side of things open as an option for the short term and while you study then as you establish your business side make the move over to an consulting gig.
have a good in depth talk with your Girl to ensure that both your career paths aren't going to conflict in regards to time and take the opportunity to work overseas while you are still Child/House free,
its too late for past regrets once you are committed down that road.

I admire your passion for the profession if you are willing to accept that it may come as a detriment to your financial earnings.
but you can't take it with you and money isn't everything.
the Gentlemen above have listed about every study item that I would have suggested ,
my personal plug would be for The Schultz Effect cause Law is a good friend and a most excellent tutor.
but you can't fault Beranek either in written form or the video series.

Ben
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

New threads New posts

Back
Top Bottom