Seed Cone Collecting

[Treewolf]

Hi Fellow climbers, Does anyone have experience with cone collection for CalFire or any other agency and are willing to share about it? Thanks! Eric Treewolf

 

[ConeCollector]

I’m familiar with the USFS cone collection program. What in particular are you curious about?

 

[Treewolf]

Great. I am curious how the bids are structured, what is required in terms of climbing procedure, bringing a ground helper, response times and potential earnings. What do you consider the plusses and minusses?

 

[Chris Schultz]

Great. I am curious how the bids are structured, what is required in terms of climbing procedure, bringing a ground helper, response times and potential earnings. What do you consider the plusses and minusses?

My experience was the USFS gave a very detailed (stacks of paper) “briefing” of quantities, locations, elevations/aspect, health, proximity to other species, condition, level of maturity etc.... This was in south west Colorado BTW. We ended up not bidding on the job because of WAY too many environmental variables out of our control, and limited access to the areas.

 

[SeanRuel]

Go to the treehouse forum, www.masterblasterhome.com

Message @BURNHAM. Many years of PNW forest service experience including cone collecting. He's been retired for a bit but could probably point you in the right direction

 

[ConeCollector]

Great. I am curious how the bids are structured, what is required in terms of climbing procedure, bringing a ground helper, response times and potential earnings. What do you consider the plusses and minusses?

There are a few steps to get into federal contracting system. You will need a DUNS number then sign up for alerts from Sams

SAM.gov

beta.sam.gov

This is we’re the all federal contracts are posted.

when we are reviewing contract packages we are looking at past performance, price and technical proposal.

In general cone collecting is a logistical challenge. For example: a silvicultureist will probably have the trees identified that they want cones are Scion material from. They will be monitoring the development of the cones closely and will then alert the climbers of the window to harvest the cones. So you may have to be on call or call when needed for a few weeks.
It will be easier if you had a ground person to help you but may not be required. It would state it in the solicitation for bid.

In the western Sierra we mostly collect blister rust resistant sugar pine cone. Every tree we collect from has been identified by a geneticist. They are very tall and very pitchy and have a whole suit of techniques to get the cones.
All trees get climbed with a non invasive technique.

If you have any addition questions feel free to PM me.
Good luck!

 

[Treewolf]

Thank you very much, that is great information. I will follow up on the leads and see what develops. I used to have a tree crew, but am now a free-lancing contract climber/ sole operator. I prefer to have ground help, but would rather not carry payroll and worker's comp if I can avoid it. I am experienced with SRT non-invasive climbing in big trees, so it sounds right up my alley.

 

[Basswood]

Man I’d love to be a part of something like this. Is there much of this in the north east?