Cook Forest Compilation.

Here is the recent footage from our Hemlock measuring project in Cook Forest State Park. Enjoy.

Cook Forest.

This weekend I along with several of my colleagues (Alan Krieg, Arch Authenreit, Rob Kruljac and Mick Stabile) had the opportunity to travel to Cook Forest State Park to measure trees via tape drop. David Rohm of Wild Excellence Productions had teamed up with us as well in order to capture footage for an upcoming documentary he is producing about the  park and how Hemlock Wooly Adelgod is affecting it.

We conducted 4 tape drops in the short day that we were there (averaging a tape drop every two hours), and although we had the opportunity to climb in a beautiful forest, we certainly didn't set any records. On a positive note, all three of the hemlocks we climbed and measured were free of any HWA infestation.

The findings:
White Pine: 134'11", 10' CBH
Hemlock: 127'1", 10'3" CBH
Hemlock: 119'7", 9'5" CBH
Hemlock: 118', 8'6" CBH

Our efforts were concentrated at the southern end of the park, in the middle of the fire tower road loop and behind the river cabins. Both areas were drainages in the 1500' elevation range. Although we were aware of superlative trees existing that had been measured in the past, our goal was discover something new, an unrealistic goal with only one day for measuring!

This park is beautiful and the forest here is mesmerizing. I can not wait to return for more exploration. Stay tuned for a video to follow.

Productivity.

I just read an interesting article about a corporate vp of marketing for a large company and how productive they have to be on a daily basis. The article touched on balancing the demands of the job with what someone can realistically handle. And of course how important it is to be organized and balanced.

And I immediately thought of production arboriculture. What can you handle on a daily basis, how much should you take on, how do you stay organized and most importantly, how do you keep clients happy?

It must be an ongoing conversation with oneself, this productivity thing. Of course, we want to be better arborists, we want to be productive every second of the contract, but there are so many variables. Injuries, life, cancellations, weather, all these things can affect how productive we are with a work schedule.

Here's a few things I think help my productivity:

Make a constant schedule, with regular hours, and commit to them. Keep a checklist of jobs to check off. Limit your time for doing business so that there is a good balance away from all things work. And feel a sense of urgency to get business done during business hours. Keep it realistic.

Keep a clean journal. I always detail the jobs I do, note specs, the tools I used, the tree and an average size. It's my idea that I'm creating something every day and it matters on a personal level to write down that legacy of arboriculture.

Understand what you're capable of. I'm sure everyone has made the mistake of thinking they are capable of unrealistic things. It hurts financially, and it also hurts mentally. Give yourself enough time  to enjoy the work you do. Rushing through things will almost always lower the quality. Poor quality is bad business.

Stay organized. Tools, taxes, finances, vehicle, insurance; be sure to have your ducks in a row. This way, there will be less surprises.

All in all, when you set yourself up to be productive, you will be. It must be that simple?

Process.

I'm pretty big on routine. Every morning, arriving at the job site, I receive a task and then I'm expected to execute. I guess I have mental checklist of sorts. It's from that mental checklist that I then create a list of tools that I will need to execute my plan. Then of course, half way through working a plan out, the plan changes because of an angle that I wasn't able to see from on the ground. Maybe a tweak in the plan, maybe a tweak in the gear. Reset. Rework. and the cycle goes on and on.

For me there is beauty in my process. Really it's just problem solving that never ends. It could be as complex as setting up a rigging scheme or as simple as needing a better angle on a branch collar with the pole saw. You could have all the tools and the gear in the world, but those things won't operate themselves. As arborists, we are problem solvers. And problem solving is all about process.

Breaking jobs down into small tasks and steps, as part of a bigger whole can reduce stress and lead to a more enjoyable work day. Sometimes there will be an intimidating list of chores to complete on a job site. The end is unforseeable. Don't worry, start with something that makes you comfortable, a simple crown raising, some swipes at deadwood. Accomplish one step of the plan and the move on to the next. Chip away at it, as they say. This is process: breaking larger schemes down into smaller goals to accomplish. Make the process artistic, make it unique, make it your own. Let your own personal style float. you through a plan and take pride in the artistic work we do. Don't just go through the motions. Keep the ultimate goal in mind, execute through teamwork, and really enjoy the sense of accomplishment when the task is finally fulfilled.