Photo by Cameron MacD

Andrew Alastair Robinson planted seven years and a day in B.C. and Alberta, then finally learned how to relax – by writing a novel about it.  It’s underway already in serialized form on his blog.  Follow the progress of protagonist Tony and his buddies in the instant classic: “TREES”

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Photo by Hugh Stimson

Here is what we know about foreign applicants and tree planting.

Photo by Jaya

WSCA forecasts provincial planting program to drop to 150 million seedlings in 2010.

Preparing for this year's critical WSCA silviculture sector strategic summit we have used the harvest billing system to predict the likely demand for sowing request for 2009 and the subsequent planting program for 2010. Our conclusion is that the steep decline in in industry and government reforestation work will continue into 2010 dropping to 150 million seedlings that year. This amounts to about a 40 per cent decline in the provincial planting program over the next two years with 2009 planting season estimated to be under 200 million seedlings. This year the number planted is estimated at 250 million. See our attached report for more of the details.

Photo by Charlton

Planting Tales... is a project to collect the stories of one of the greatest unsung heroes: the Treeplanter. Whether it's horror stories of planting nightmares or tales of the wildest bush parties known to man or woman this is the place to share your planting yarns. Just send your stories to plantingtales@gmail.com and we will collect them and publish them here on this blog. Our ultimate goal is to publish a multi-authored work of short stories based on the lives of treeplanters.

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Photo by Hugh Stimson

I’ve never planted a tree.

Not in my back yard.  Not as part of a class project when in elementary school (at least, to the extent that I can remember that far back).  Not as a Boy Scout, or as part of a community renewal undertaking nor a river reclamation project.  And certainly not in the middle of a part of Canada that God — but not God’s flying, biting, buzzing creatures — forgot.

And yet, I do have a sense of the passion that exists for tree-planting, of the large-scale variety.  You see, while I am myself an aging Boomer who has come to enjoy the Creature Comforts, I have a son who has invested a few of his summers in the pursuit.  I know that he has not told me all of the stories of what is involved.  No parent could honestly expect that.  But he has told me with his words, and with his eyes, enough for me to know that there is a distinct allure to the job.

My name is Kim Kenyon. I have worked in the planting industry for 5 yrs now, been a foreman for one, planted 4 coastal seasons...I have worked with three different companies, one in which a supervisor stood out above everyone I have worked with. This is a sad nomination to the Hall of Fame that I can’t type out fast enough... for a tragic accident took the life of this beloved supervisor.

Jabez Kruithof worked with Brinkman for many years beyond what I can count. Leading coning crews, brushing crews, and planting crews (he led many other projects as well).

Unknown Photographer

The Guide was developed for tree planters and their supervisors by FPInnovations – Feric Division (http://www.feric.ca/) in response to concerns about musculoskeletal injuries suffered by tree planters. It is based on a very detailed ergonomic study of 135 planters working in different locations and conditions in BC and Alberta. It is published in a format (Infoflip) that facilitates its use by the planter in the field.

By John Betts Executive Director

Western Silvicultural Contractors’ Association

In early June of this year (2008) the silviculture industry celebrated British Columbia’s six billionth seedling reforestation milestone in a series of community and media events covering all quarters of the province. Not since the then deputy minister of forests Mike Apsey hosted the first billionth tree celebration in the early 80’s have tree planters actually been officially invited to participate in this symbolic exercise. So maybe it was time for the silviculture sector to claim the celebration and in taking a little credit for the accomplishment share it with the communities who depend on the forests now and into the future. At a time when the mood in forestry is largely funereal it was a positive reminder that we are good at growing seedlings and planting them in this province.

Tree-planter.com was emailed by Lana, the mother of a former treeplanter named Andrew who was killed in Vancouver by somebody with a head full of drugs. Many of you will have worked with Andrew so here is a little something else for you to help remember him by.

Several articles about tree planters and hardhats.