- Location
- Halifax, Nova Scotia
This is pretty cool: last week I received a phonecall from a regular client whose son (twelve years old) had to submit a school
project on "Unsung Heroes." When I think of unsung heroes, I think of doctors, nurses, teachers, those that help the elderly,
those who defend our nations, relief workers, etc. This kid figured that arborists had been left off the list! Well I couldn't say no to
a filmed interview, as I was completely blown away. I am a Certified Arborist and as well as climbing and pruning, I'm also heavily
involved in jobs requiring forest management, cleanup by chainsaw and manpower, without heavy machinery; returning as much of
the branches and mulch to the earth to encourage natural regeneration and to keep moisture and nutrients in the soil. I've been
very fortunate to have had excellent mentors over the years, having given me experience in all sectors of the horticultural,
arboricultural and forestry industries in North America, Europe and Africa.
The youngsters came out to my jobsite last weekend where I'm clearing an eight acre lot that had been demolished by Hurricane
Juan in 2003. Due to the Brown Spruce Longhorn Beetle Ministerial Order the spruce wood cannot leave the zone surrounding
Halifax, Nova Scotia; and since the trees have been down for over a year and a half, rot is creeping in such that milling the wood,
would be a losing battle and for someone, a huge loss of money. I am cutting all the wood into 3 to 7 foot lengths (cringe!!!) and
mulching the brush by saw on site to get everything low to the ground, and it will remain there to break down and hopefully prevent
a forest fire within the next few years when this would be a serious concern.
Anyhow, one of the lads asked me questions with regards to arboriculture, forestry and the environment while the other did the
filming with his newly acquired digital camera (a Christmas gift). I am pumped not only because I hope to have gotten a small
message out there, but moreso because these guys had the audacity, motivation and thoughtfulness to get out there and get
their own point across. They also mentioned that it was awesome that I would take time out of my day to spend some time with
them and make plants and their interaction with the environment easier to understand.
Thought I'd pass this along because it really made my week!
Cheers and climb safely in the slippery conditions.
Kevin
aka Flinger.
project on "Unsung Heroes." When I think of unsung heroes, I think of doctors, nurses, teachers, those that help the elderly,
those who defend our nations, relief workers, etc. This kid figured that arborists had been left off the list! Well I couldn't say no to
a filmed interview, as I was completely blown away. I am a Certified Arborist and as well as climbing and pruning, I'm also heavily
involved in jobs requiring forest management, cleanup by chainsaw and manpower, without heavy machinery; returning as much of
the branches and mulch to the earth to encourage natural regeneration and to keep moisture and nutrients in the soil. I've been
very fortunate to have had excellent mentors over the years, having given me experience in all sectors of the horticultural,
arboricultural and forestry industries in North America, Europe and Africa.
The youngsters came out to my jobsite last weekend where I'm clearing an eight acre lot that had been demolished by Hurricane
Juan in 2003. Due to the Brown Spruce Longhorn Beetle Ministerial Order the spruce wood cannot leave the zone surrounding
Halifax, Nova Scotia; and since the trees have been down for over a year and a half, rot is creeping in such that milling the wood,
would be a losing battle and for someone, a huge loss of money. I am cutting all the wood into 3 to 7 foot lengths (cringe!!!) and
mulching the brush by saw on site to get everything low to the ground, and it will remain there to break down and hopefully prevent
a forest fire within the next few years when this would be a serious concern.
Anyhow, one of the lads asked me questions with regards to arboriculture, forestry and the environment while the other did the
filming with his newly acquired digital camera (a Christmas gift). I am pumped not only because I hope to have gotten a small
message out there, but moreso because these guys had the audacity, motivation and thoughtfulness to get out there and get
their own point across. They also mentioned that it was awesome that I would take time out of my day to spend some time with
them and make plants and their interaction with the environment easier to understand.
Thought I'd pass this along because it really made my week!
Cheers and climb safely in the slippery conditions.
Kevin
aka Flinger.
