Spreading the word re: Arboriculture Industry

Don't forget that arborist work is not only up above the ground, but below, too.

In addition to interesting stories, you might collect images and information about what real arborists are doing.

Some climb
Some transplant
Some teach classes
Some plant trees
Some speak at seminars
Some inject

Many people stereotype arborists, and would probably think about getting up in a canopy to get the feel of what it's like to be an arborist.

But that would just give the feel of what it's like to climb.

Everything that arborists do, give a glimpse of what an arborist is.

If you don't know all that an arborist is, then you won't even know what you are researching.
 
I appreciate your comments and am becoming so much more aware of how little the average homeowner knows about arboriculture and arborists and, yes those tall brown things with brown sticks and leaves. I am one who is only 'getting to know the place.'

Appreciating anything begins with something that is easy to understand and/or easy to do. Recreational tree climbing is an avenue to consider because it's a fun and unique activity that anyone can do.

If you get me close to the trees and I have fun, I might want to have fun again. Maybe I might consider listening the next time I hear a story on trees or increasing developments that are taking a good portion of a certain region's natural beauty away for good. If MY tree that I climb is impacted, I will care.

WITHOUT SOME SMALL STEP TO INTEREST THE AVERAGE PERSON:
If I have no reason to be near a tree, I have a very limited chance to spend time thinking about trees and what they are and what they do and offer. And when I see folks in the trees, I think that I'm glad I don't have to climb way up high to earn a living.

I used to think this way! I was someone who was (still is as far as my paycheck states) a business woman in marketing and public relations and suited up for meetings and paperwork. The most I climbed were the stairs from my garage to the first floor or the stairs to the second floor. And arborists? Just like art, I don't see any real information available to my boys who are currently in school regarding trees-their value et all.

Is it hard to push this information forward? Sometimes. Will I fail? That's not my goal. And it's because of you folks and your passion that gives me reason to offer a little interest to the common man (or woman) just like me and my boys.

Just like so many of you who wish someone would at least try to spend the time informing and educating folks about arboriculture or really just that a tree is a good thing and does not need to be cut down, Tobe Sherrill has allowed me to investigate any and all opportunities to interest, excite and or encourage people to get close enough to trees to see that there's some fun to be had in those canopies.

For now, I check my global reporter inquiries daily. Today, I'm not making a difference that you can see. I so wish I were. And it can easily stay this way if I am not willing to use any/all connections I have, research, listen to folks like you and help folks get off the sofa and out into nature. It's not as bad as I try to play off to folks. I don't dare want some of you to know just how cool I think you are in the trees.

The next time you pick up some groceries, go down the spices aisle and get a little jar of mustard seeds. It only takes the faith of one to make a difference. So, let's work on that little mustard seed for today.
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The next time you pick up some groceries, go down the spices aisle and get a little jar of mustard seeds. It only takes the faith of one to make a difference. So, let's work on that little mustard seed for today.
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Good example of growth.

Earlier today, I added a similar thing to my redwood web page.

A redwood tree begins with a seed. There are about 123,000 redwood seeds per pound. A redwood like the Lost Monarch in my avatar has about 42,000 cubic feet of wood, and each cubic foot of it weighs roughly 26.1 pounds.

That redwood is 134,832,600,000 (trillion) times heavier than it's original seed weight.
 
Gillean.

From what you've written I'm sure you'll do a good job. My role is Devils advocate.

The purpose of my posts are to encourage an eye to the bigger picture that needs the same attention in equal measure; the industry needs to meet the public's expectation with professionalism.

Thats not your department, but I take every opportunity to highlight it.

I do dread the thought of turning Arborists into celebrities though. If climbers focused more on the tree's care and appearance rather than their own 'cool factor', the industry would be in much better shape.

Which is also what worries me about rec climbing - it won't be the trees that benefit. Prime trees could become targets the same as prime rock climbs are; the surrounding vegetation gets a pounding from constant visits, and the route gets polished. The trees used for climbing practice over 40 years at a famous UK college, are polished so much that the branches have grooves and the bark is like glass. And, of course, they are in decline. I can accept that as a cost of training professionals to maintain a safe and healthy urban tree environment. Because those same arborists were taught as much about tree physiology as they were climbing practice. What recommendations do you propose to ensure rec climbers act responsibly? Is there a rec climbers code of ethics? A club they can join or professional they can contact to teach low impact techniques, and what lives on the trees that must be respected?

I don't mind the idea of encouraging people into trees to appreciate them and their ecosystems. BUT it must be done very responsibly. From what I've heard about some rec climber schooling, low impact techniques are a low priority.

As professionals, we may be lucky enough to visit the same tree once every three to five years - plenty of time for it to recover if basic techniques are used (which the vast majority of climbers do). With rec climbing likely to explode in popularity as more people attempt to return to nature, trees could receive far more attention than what is good for them. Those little shoots on the inside of branches that help form good taper to trunks and boughs, will get kicked off routinely, bark will get polished or scuffed off on thin barked species such as Scots Pine. We've all seen trees in fields with grazing livestock - well thats how I see the future of rec trees.

I know this, because I was one of the climbers who helped polish the college trees.
 
Gillean, getting the "once bitten, twice shy" feeling?

So far your requests have garnered little but fear that the wrong thing will be said.

On my top ten list and if I'm paraphrasing some of the other posters correctly, would be, "An arborist will approach a client's tree with a holistic attitude, looking at the whole system to understand what if anything can or should be done to tend to the tree. A hack will have a simplified approach, top or prune or cable or remove it."


Arborists will take a more consultative approach with their client's, asking what the client's motivations and goals are with regard to the trees they are looking at."

Hacks will usually go along with whatever the client asks for. Give a price and go for the close. After all, they are in business to make money not look after trees.

Arborists apply safe workpractices as a matter of choice and professionalism, hacks only as an imposition if at all.

Arborists look down as much as up when assessing a tree, hacks look at the bottomline.

Hope that's at least a start.
 
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When reporters don't get it right:

http://bostontreeclimbers.ning.com/profiles/blog/show?id=1501095%3ABlogPost%3A2041

There are hack journalists and there are hack tree cutters. Be careful who you associate with.

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That wasn't a hack journalist; that was a clever journalist with a vendetta. By their cross referencing to high profile city associates, it is clearly a political attempt to put pressure on stopping what they see as illegal activity. Thats possibly to do with fear of the unknown, and worrying that the trees that are a precious heritage are being abused. But it seems to me, its more about some people wanting to control those they see as not fitting the mould of good society, doing what they want without jumping through a few officious hoops.

Looking at the BARC website, it is obvious that they are very pro-active in promoting responsible tree climbing activity.

If the fear, like mine, is abuse of trees, targeting these groups is completely the wrong approach - its those that don't climb responsibly that are the worry. I think controlling activity in city parks is sensible. And the best way of doing that is liasing with groups such as BARC.
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I think we hijacked the thread
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I think all of these comments rock and have extreme value. I am thankful for some actual 'Top Ten' sound bites. Please send others!!

OK. Here's the 'sitch.' As a former reporter and as someone who is like a bull dog (fortunately or unfortunately some in your industry know this to be true) not ready to give up until all the fight is stripped from me, I hear each and every wonderful one of you who are out there TRULY taking care of trees.

I'll play devil's advocate to the devil's advocate. The average consumer's knowledge about trees, tree care, what trees actually do/offer may be close to nothing.

If someone doesn't introduce the average consumer to the trees, the status quo stays the same. The consumers can't learn any less about the trees than they know today!
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So, it is with great pleasure that I listen to each and every one of you!

Do I want trees to suffer or be abused? Not at all. This is why I am speaking with you. This is why I am asking you to tell me how to help inform consumers about the difference between tree care givers and tree mutilators.

Sherrill has allowed me to prepare a list of recreational tree climbing locations across the globe. Would I like each and every one of you to go to the rec site home page and click onto 'recreational tree climbing' which will take you to a list of recreational tree climbing providers? Yes! If you know about an rtc company, let me hear from you!
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The goal is to introduce or maybe re-introduce the idea of appreciating the outdoors and lowering the need for TV vision in many kids everyday lives across America.
The goal is to introduce rtc with specific details expressed:
--Recreational tree climbing done properly uses rope-assisted methods so that no harm will come to the tree.
--No spikes allowed!

Safely enjoying recreational tree climbing means -
--you do not climb alone - ever!
--you always climb with a well-versed, certified arborist whose focus is the long term care of trees and not just a few bucks to help folks climb a tree.
--You climb with proper equipment and gear.

We can try to help educate folks and do this the right way, with all of your help or we can talk about folks like me who have no clue about one type of tree from the other.

I kind of think there is some great knowledge to be gathered. Soooo, bring it!

If you could inform consumers about one important aspect of tree care, what would it be?
Why do you care about trees?
What is the biggest misperception about trees and tree care?
What is the biggest misperception about arborists?

I'll stand by my laptop and be taking notes and learning from each of you. Oh, I am meeting with a national consumer reporter who writes for SEVERAL consumer publications in two weeks. Now is your chance to make sure I get it right. Tell me what folks need to know!!
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Okay, I'll contribute a few items:

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Why do you care about trees?

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Trees are vital to sustaining life on this planet.


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What's the biggest mispreception about trees and tree care?

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I encounter A LOT of mistreated trees and this is what I hear from the owners: 1) "Oh, I planted that tree 10 yrs. ago and then forgot about it." or 2)"I didn't know it would get SO big! or 3) "I didn't know trees need anything."


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What's the biggest misperception about arborists?

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Believe it or not this was a response said to me recently: "What's an arborist?" = they don't even know what the word is referring to!
 
I think one of the biggest misconceptions about tree care, is expecting to plant one and have it grow optimally, without eradicating all of the serious problems in it's habitat.

A congressman in Oregon, prior to a hearing on something else, asked me why so many trees die in cities - he was really ticked that so many perish.

I mentioned that city governments often REQUIRE trees to be planted, and REQUIRE the right size in the a certain space, but that the cities DON'T require the contractors to protect the soil from compaction.

It's sort of like expecting to feed people, and expect them to be healthy, while they have paper bags over their heads with a few pin holes for fresh air.

The misconception is that a bunch of big growing trees can be planted "half-[bad word]" and expect a lot more great canopy cover.

That's part of the puzzle.

In our area, businesses and the public probably wouldn't buy-into the solution. It would take a similar solution to how we protect or roads form damage.

In April, studded tires must come off the roads. And in October, studs can go back again.

Here in west Oregon, a lot of heavy equipment, would need to come off the soil in October when rain returns to lubricate soil particles, and in April (or May) the equipment could return to the soil when the compaction problem was much less.

There are a few alternatives, but in general, that's what it would take.

The equipment also floods the sewer / drainage system. By compacting the already slow draining soil, local heavy equipment damages soil here in a fashion that virtually doubles the run-off to the storm drains.
 
Maybe combining inspection with rtc. Take up a hand lens and see the stomata and the lenticels and the microflora and fauna. Get introduced to the ecosystem in the crown of a tree, which reigns over the terrestrial ecosystem. That is the real story.

You ever climb a tree, gillean? Are you in Gboro?
 
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If you could inform consumers about one important aspect of tree care what would it be?

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Here's the scenario:
I live in a rural setting and each property has its own well. My new neighbor is a businessman from an urban setting. One day he said to me, "I'm getting a chainsaw. I've got to take care of these trees." I looked at him and said,'What do you do when your well stops working?" He said, "Oh, I call the well guy."
Now this is an intellect successful man but why do two situations requiring professional skills elicit two different responses?
And it's not just a question of industry equipment being available to consumers. This mindset happens in the purchasing and planting of trees. Trees inappropriate for the site or root-bound are selected by a homeowner. Then the trees are planted too deeply or still with cricling roots. If the tree survives it often has problems that eventually may even make it a hazardous tree. Then the owners move and the new owners "inherit" the tree problem.


What is essential to inform the public about trees is that they are complex living organisms closely tied to their environment. Their care and/or removal involves extensive knowledge and is often dangerous work. Therefore, a qualified professional is required.
It sounds so blatantly obvious yet the mindset remains.
 
From Boulder, Co's website, "Trees remove air pollutants such as ozone, carbon monoxide and particulates through photosynthesis. The filtration provided by Boulder’s trees is valued at approximately $730,000 per year. "


How's that for value?
 
Or this about NYC,

"Factoring in the costs associated with planting and upkeep, New York City’s street trees provide an annual benefit of about $122 million, according to the Parks Department. The study concludes that New York receives $5.60 in benefits for every dollar spent on trees."
 
I have tried to climb. I only got as far as below the branch that I wanted to stand on.

I am hoping to try to climb later this month with a really cool person who I have the pleasure of meeting for the first time 5/20. Then, I am making it mandatory that I get out of the office and let an arborist and experienced trainer take the reins and allow me to be the student and LISTEN well and often!

There will be some video prepared with the help of a cool group in the Greensboro area.
 
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Safely enjoying recreational tree climbing means -
--you do not climb alone - ever!
--you always climb with a well-versed, certified arborist whose focus is the long term care of trees and not just a few bucks to help folks climb a tree.
--You climb with proper equipment and gear.


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GEE - if the rec world followed these rules not many of us would climb.

most rec climbers climb SOLO. thus without a certified arborist. I know just as many certified arborist that do not climb as those that climb. was there an arborist at the nc rec climb you visited?

also thou most of us IF NOT ALL, climb with proper equipment. I have NOT seen a knot police or rope sheriff in any trees that I have been in lately. IF those rule apply in a controlled environment such as a tree climbing park then ok - BUT NOT IN MY BACK YARD.
 
gillean, I just want to say you rock . I have been doing tree work for 17 years and have a lot of stories but none are on film or anything but I am trying to join the rest of the world and get some digital gear so I will be happy to try and put together something you might use.
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I understand your position on this. You know what you are doing. You feel comfortable climbing alone or with friends. However, if one has not ridden a bike before, it's a good thing to utilize some basic safety guidelines. There has to be a way to instruct and teach the average consumer about the value of trees and HOW to climb without harming trees. I don't think you would respect any information that suggested that all families should take to the trees. Please know the information that I am working on is like a beginner's step/guide for consumers to take their first steps up a tree, do it safely, with proper instruction and gear and NOT by themselves.

Does this make sense?
 
I greatly appreciate any positive comments. I am working with a videographer and have submitted some rough video clips to 3 well-known folks within the industry. I am asking for overall feedback so that we do not offend or come across as disrespectful to arborists, rec climbers and/or the arboriculture industry in any way shape or form. I am interested in 'cool factor' photos of climbs, championship climbs, work climbs that have a chainsaw shooting out sawdust, if you will from the tree to make a cool visual photo. There is no concern to offer proper credits regarding who provides what. Just send me low res. so you know that I won't take any advantage of anything to gillean@thekingsenglish.com

It is you who rock. I am just looking up at the canopy in anticipation for the couple of weeks just ahead!
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