Spreading the word re: Arboriculture Industry

Mr. Vaden, Are you a climbing Arborist?( just a curiosity) Why are you trying to shut down, what seems to me, a good thing for us.

"...a journalist similar to others we have encountered." Not me, Gillean has done more than just read the daily press release, drive to a sight, grab anybody in the crowd and "bank and regurgitate" what was said. I've seen, firsthand, the effort made. Maybe I'm wrong here but why not get some positive exposure.

I do love trees and anything that might even remotely get Joe Homeowner to not top or remove his/her tree because the leaves are a nuisance, I'm willing to support.

Thanks Gillean.
 
http://www.treesaregood.org/findtreeservices/TCSHome.aspx

There is some good stuff at the ISA site, but it is far from the be-all and end-all. I hope Gillean can put something together that can be adopted by the ISA site.

Tree owners must be convinced in minutes that it is worth hours to learn more.

Steph is right--if the elephant with her truncate some straw, she'll like it enough to look for more.

[ QUOTE ]
One thing to suggest to home owners trying to select a person/company to work on their trees is to talk to them. If the person(arborist) knows what kind of tree it is (Latin name, common name, quirky facts, stories related to the tree, common pest/diseases, cultural problems etc..) than that person is likely a very good arborist who actually cares about what they do. If all they can say is "It's some kind of oak" or "it's got bugs" they may want to keep looking.

[/ QUOTE ]

Gillean, treegazer gave you a very good start. And,

1. References and insurance certificate are musts. Certifications are great, but their lack should not be a deal-breaker.

2. Ability to identify species,

3. Familiarity with pests and other influences on condition,

4. Awareness of the importance of the bottom half of the tree (the roots and the earth around them).

5. Ability to formulate a long-range prognosis for the trees, based on different management options. Can they think in "tree time"?

6. Awareness of standards (including safety) and BMP's.

Never mind the equipment and the uniforms. It's not how they look, it's what they know and do that counts.

Is that closer to what you are looking for?
 
From Mario:
In reviewing this thread, instincts seem to tell me that you post question after question to channel and corral arborists to support a super-structure that you have already preconceived.

My reply:
I have no pre-conceived method of corralling anything or anybody. If you don't trust me, then please discontinue offering non-information but only opinions that do not assist in helping me educate myself so that I can help better educate national consumers through national media resources. For the last time, let's move on. If you don't have anything to contribute, go play in another sand box!

What I am offering is an opportunity for industry folks to offer his/her 2 cents on how to help educate homeowners and people of all ages about trees, the importance of true tree care, while also understanding that tree care is something that must be maintained.

Scenario:
You are the only expert available to answer questions from the general public. What you say and how you say it can finally give the masses some general direction. (ISA and TCI are great resources. I just happen to think that arborists all across the country have some amazing stories that could point out and make the reasoning to hire a professional hit home.)

ONE -What do arborists do? Don't they just get up in the trees to take away dangerous limbs and/or cut down trees in the way?

TWO-Can you give me an example of a homeowner you worked with who had previously been working with someone who didn't understand what they were doing until they ran into you?

THREE-Arborists and trees aren't necessarily top of mind in daily news. Should it be? If so, why and what would you want people to hear if they heard NOTHING ELSE?

FOUR-If people participate in activities that place them near trees instead of on the couch with the PlayStation, do you think this would increase the interest and possibly the value of trees? Or should we just keep folks away because they could harm trees and it's better that they don't get too close?
 
This is helpful, indeed. Actually many of you have helped me realize that homeowners simply don't know that trees are important to take care of and that there are actually a set of qualified and competent tree care professionals available to them.

So, what I am garnering is the great secondary bits of information.

The harder 'climb' is informing folks that something is important but they just don't know it! It's like the first time I presented an orange popsicle to my son. He squinted up his face and very shortly after proceeded to enjoy and slurp and make quite a mess.

What I continue to notice is that there are some amazing and caring and extremely intelligent people who care about trees. 8 months ago, I would have considered this group 'into their own thing.' I am fortunate to have access to key people within your industry. So, how do you create an importance of trees to the average homeowner...average person (kids, 50+)? It's hard to complain about not getting 'the job' if so many homeowners don't even realize arborists -skilled professionals who know the science behind trees and what is really going on with a tree after examining the tree.

It's the missing link. Folks don't know things are important until they are told or informed that a certain something is important. And folks don't care unless it matters to them or impacts them. So how do we impact them and give people cause to see what tree care professionals see? We can't invite them to a lecture. Finding a reason to bring people to the trees to benefit them, their families...this, if done with care and safety in mind is something to consider.

Have you helped save a homeowner lots of money because you knew what you were doing? Will the homeowner talk to me about this savings?

Are you involved in the public school system at all to help educate the little ones who are curious about everything? Are you willing to share your program from beginning to the level of appreciation and understanding these kids have now?

Lots of ways to educate. It's all about making it meaningful to the reader, listener, viewer.

I want to hear your stories that no one would ever know about but that could help open the eyes of others who had no idea that trees may be worth a bit more than one ever imagined!

I leave you with a quote that continues to urge me to want to help the general public appreciate trees and the men and women who are so determined to take such care of each and every one of them for all the people who still have no clue of their importance or of yours.

"Few, if any greater misfortunes have befallen America...than the coming of what are known as professional 'Tree Men' in all their ignorant and nefarious frauds, of cutting away the tops of trees. Nature does not form those beautiful and health-giving tops of shade trees to be cut to pieces to furnish 'Beer Money' for a lot of Tree Fools."

John Davey - 1907
 
[ QUOTE ]

Are you involved in the public school system at all to help educate the little ones who are curious about everything? Are you willing to share your program from beginning to the level of appreciation and understanding these kids have now?

[/ QUOTE ]I've done the attached activity for middle school classes. I have not tracked the kids to gauge the impact. They for the most part were into it at the time though.

Planting trees at schools; done over 100 of those with classes. Several cared enough to come by in the summer and water them.
 

Attachments

It's not that people don't have the time literally but, do they perceive a real value in investing the time they have to do the necessary checks and educating to make an informed decision. I have found through my experience dealing with all kinds of people that some will inform themselves to ensure they are getting the best value for their dollars and others will rely on others to give them that value.

What Gillean is asking for is really a piece of marketing that will prompt, daresay instill, people to invest the time to make what we know are important decisions to both them and their trees.

mdvaden, what got those people to come to your seminars? Free coffee and donuts? Um, threats from the gardening society of revocation of there membership and explusion from paradise? What did you reveal to these attendees that caused an epiphany for them about the wrongheadedness of not investing their time in making informed choices about hiring an arborist?

In any profession you will find the elite, the journeyman, the alsorans and the charlatans. But, without all those awards, certifications and degrees we'd be even further in the dark about which ones are which.

If you really wish to contribute to this endeavour of Gillean's maybe you could check your cynicism at the door.
 
[ QUOTE ]
In any profession you will find the elite, the journeyman, the alsorans and the charlatans. But, without all those awards, certifications and degrees we'd be even further in the dark about which ones are which.

[/ QUOTE ]

Most impressive RG.
 
I am grateful for your assistance in helping me to obtain whatever I can to begin to build a communication bridge between different target markets and what will click with each target to make them more prone to care about trees. I am taking all useful tidbits and beginning to develop some information.

I am not of the industry and respect the interest in making sure my intentions are truly to be respectful to the arboriculture industry.

What I am doing is taking what I have so far and then I will ask for what I do not have. I can easily say what I don't have is/are:

contacts from homeowners who, without knowing/being educated about what/who an arborist is wouldn't have known how to go about hiring someone who would take the best care of his/her trees.

Someone already shared connecting to the real estate industry (DUH!) Where was my brain. This is, of course very smart and if I were an arborist looking for business, I would connect with some of the large realtor companies to offer a 'tree facts' sheet with my contact information so tht the realtors could possibly provide this to potential homeowners.

Haven't investigated what realtor folks would say. Would have to come up with something that benefits realtors to pass the information out.

Thanks again, for your assistance.
 
My brother is a realtor...My work gives "curb appeal" to his clients which helps to sell the home. Also, trees add to property value. They help to reduce cooling cost in the summer (shade). A lot of his clients appreciate well kept, mature trees.
 
[ QUOTE ]
if I were an arborist looking for business, I would connect with some of the large realtor companies to offer a 'tree facts' sheet with my contact information so tht the realtors could possibly provide this to potential homeowners.

[/ QUOTE ]Yup, 9 a.m. tomorrow I assess a big tree so the house seller can provide a statement on the tree's (hopefully) good condition.

This goes against a rule in the realtor biz, not to spend one thin dime on a home for sale.

O and yeah Mangoes that was downright poetic wasn't it?
smile.gif
 
That's perfect! You are so right! What arborists do, have a lasting value on your home. And yes, the heating and cooling stats and so on are also great. Curb appeal! Thanks so much! Great angle!! Do you have photos of your work that ended up assisting in proving that a home was worth more based on your work with the trees?
applaudit.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]

From Mario:
In reviewing this thread, instincts seem to tell me that you post question after question to channel and corral arborists to support a super-structure that you have already preconceived.

My reply:
I have no pre-conceived method of corralling anything or anybody. If you don't trust me, then please discontinue offering non-information but only opinions that do not assist in helping me educate myself so that I can help better educate national consumers through national media resources. For the last time, let's move on. If you don't have anything to contribute, go play in another sand box!



[/ QUOTE ]

I indicated several times that more time may be required, but you wrote to the contrary, not far back in the replies, about people not having time.

Then I noticed on another arborist forum, where you asked a question in reply to Moss, about if there was a fine opportunity to to be in a position to instruct people, what would happen.

So on the internet, something in your replies seems to be going cross grain.

That's my reply to you.

Here you say in reply to me that people don't have much time. Then you take the same idea that you resisted here, and present that on another forum - proceeding from you to others.

So stow your sandbox comment for some homeowner who doesn't want to invest time.

In my case, I've already donated 6 years service to homeowners by serving on the Oregon landscape board: at a cost of thousands of dollars worth of lost income to myself. To protect and educate consumers, and assist the horticulture industry.

So the sandbox is the last place I've been. If you don't want to undermine what you can glean, keep in mind what you don't know. Because the users on this forum go a lot deeper than what you are reading. What is visibly seen here, is a small percentage of the audience.

To other arborists here, I offer that the best options for education the homeowners, is you. You - the arborists. And by article, seminar or class to which it's your hands on the steering wheel.

From what I've seen the past few years, trained arborists who are good speakers and writers, really leave the longest lasting impression. They have the skills and understanding that is really needed to orchestrate a seminar or weave the tapestry of an article.
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
In any profession you will find the elite, the journeyman, the alsorans and the charlatans. But, without all those awards, certifications and degrees we'd be even further in the dark about which ones are which.

[/ QUOTE ]

Most impressive RG.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks Kev...


And it's not up to the realtor to spend the money though some I have known do. Many now advise that the vendor have an inspection done themselves to assess where they may be able to make an investment to ensure they get the maximum value for there home.

Maybe some before and after shots of homes that have had there trees trimmed and the impact it had on the marketability of the home.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

New threads New posts

Back
Top Bottom