All About Tree Planting

Planting is one of the most gratifying jobs – physically and mentally – that you will ever have. Planters work in all kinds of weather, from rain and snow, to 35-degree heat. The work itself involves strapping on planting bags full of trees (10-25lbs.), grabbing a shovel and covering your land, planting every six to ten feet. Planting techniques vary from site to site. Some planting is done on site-prepared land, where machines clear debris away from the soil. This makes planting easier but also lowers the tree price. Other work sites require more  work: screefing (kicking away debris to get down to the topsoil), hill climbing, log jumping and all around effort. The great thing about planting is that you are often working on a different block every couple of days.  Each planter is responsible for covering their assigned piece of land, planting the correct density and using proper techniques in planting and handling seedlings. When work is done improperly, planters are required to replant and fix their land before they are given a new area. HRI employs quality control supervisors for each contract who will review quality continuously. Although it will take some time to develop the technique, good planters know how to plant a tree properly and quickly the first time, and don't have to spend their valuable time digging up yesterday's work. Replanting or filling in missed areas is a very frustrating waste of time and money.

Each planter works as fast or as slowly as they want.  When a planter finishes their bag of trees, they head back to the “cache” (where the trees are stored) to get more, maybe grab some water or a sandwich, and head straight back into their land. Mornings are usually cold. it can be hard to get out of a warm van, bag up with wet trees and put on heavy, damp bags, getting your hands wet and cold. But soon the sun heats up and the bugs come out. This is where bug repellent and/or a bug jacket becomes very useful in order to repel mosquitoes, black flies and horseflies. Throughout the day, you’ll get very thirsty and hungry. It is important, regardless of your enthusiasm to get back out working, to drink lots of water continuously throughout the day. Most planters fuel up on fruit and water keep their stomach light but maintain their energy. At the end of the day, you grab your day-pack and head down back to the trucks/van. Everybody stinks of sweat and is pretty dirty. You'll tell you crewboss how many trees you planted that day and fall asleep on the drive back to camp. By this point,  you will finally understand what planting is really like: a gruesome yet extremely rewarding experience. 

There are numerous aspects of planting that may bring you down; bur remember that there’s always the beauty of the landscape, the reward of being camp highballer, or the thought of a heavy paycheque to take you away from your misery, even just for a moment.