education pays.

[TheTreeSpyder]

WOW!

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

Who was that masked man!

 

[kutnkru]

The saga still continues ...

Darin I just thought I might throw in two worthless six pence here.

I too am of the belief that those of us who learn more by doing than by reading can and will continue to work many under the table ,,, for now.

However. The drawback to this mentality or stubborness is that some day our backs will give out ~ hopefully later than sooner LOL!!! It is with this in mind that I have begun to re-edumicate thyself thru an on-line course of study that requires minimal travel to the school.

We all need to be versatile and educated enough so that when this dreadful day comes, we can then hang the shingle over our shop doors and work from within the confines of the office walls sucessfully to continue managing that which we have worked so hard to build with the blood of our hands outside in mother natures office.

Education is important. Extremely important IMHO - so much so because someday Treeman82 will be the "sage" contractor and if people are not themselves adversed in dealing with business men/women like him, and have not educated themselves properly, they will surely lose their livelyhood.

I think that 82 is doing what he sees is the correct path for success and I hope that those of you out there "Trimming The Tree Not The Customer" will also continue to educate yourselves and your Industry.

Just my .02
Kris

 

[limey1]

i'm doing a degree in scotland and i can see both sides of the arguement. a degree is not a ticket to say "i am a genius, I can do anything and everything" a degree is like a driving license for tree managers. It says "I've shown I can learn and can do, and have an understanding of the principles. I have apptitude". you gain your drivers license, learn from mistakes, and become a better driver. You gain your degree make a few cock ups, learn on the job and read at home. Some climbers are excellent but have no idea why they do target pruning, in worst cases is the person who has no idea. i.e. the general public. with a degree i am not ignorant. What is the difference between an ISA certification and a degree: its content. Everyone learns but for some reason someone who can quantify their capabilities is begrudged their degree.

I can climb. I finished top of the class at college and with more experience I believe i could climb with the best of them. But i have also been guided in what to learn academically, rather than wasting time and money buying and reading books that are no use. Back to the driving license analogy: is it easier for some to tell you the pedals or for me to research and find out which does what?

 

[TreeKingService]

Education will pay

I too believe that education will pay off greatly for arborist work.
I'm 15 and I find this type of work very interesting and I would like to go to college to learn more about it. But as of now, I don't mess with this type of work because I know absolutely nothing about it. It's too dangerous and risky to try without any knowledge. For lawn work, you basically just run a mower, not too difficult, but it too can have it's challenges, how to kill weeds and not kill the whole lawn, how to get rid of pests and insects, etc. etc.

All types of work require some skill and knowledge, and a good education and lots of work experience is the key to success.

Hank

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

It is not only risky, but one can ruin a treee without proper knowledge.

 

[TreeKingService]

Exactly, there are too many things that can go wrong. That's why I joined this forums....to learn.

Hank

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

Best time. If you learn now yuou wont be busted up like I am at 36 .

 

[treeman82]

In the past, and present I have told people who come work for me for a length of time that I would much rather they work with their brain than with their back. That is of course if they show a lot of promise for the future. If the worker is some person off the street who has a problem even with digging ditches then he/she will continue to do so until his back gives out on him.

Several people have told me in the past "Work smarter, not harder."

Another wise man told me "Get your education so you can make your money off the backs of those who are uneducated."

Oh, and Hank.... I take offense to what you said about turf being easy to work with. I would love to see how long you could manage a golf green for.

 

[Sudo Tsuga]

82 i too am getting my degree and see where you are coming from with saying that people look for the paper on the wall, but field traing is also needed. as for some who say that a degree means desk job my boss, john paul mcmillan, climbs and works in the field right along with me and the hispanics that we are all lucky to have. he graduated from paul smiths college and the only time i see him sitting behind a desk is to eat his lunch.
both sides of the argument have good and bad points. the thing is the guys out there without a college degree are woried that us edjumicated folk are going to come along and be thier boss when we graduate. ha ha ha ha!

 

[treeman82]

Hey Mike, long time no see. Where have you been hiding? And where is that old JPM? I am headin back to school tomorow morning to put in another semester. When did you start?

 

[autumn ash]

who needs education? I do

alright guys, I would seriously like to learn to climb trees. I have always done ornamental trees and kept my feet on the ground. I have always had people/customers wonder how can I do what I do. I went to the Paul Bunyan show in Nelsonville,Oh in October and for the first time entered a few saw competitions and did extremely well, except for the fact that I removed my fingers off the beam to soon on one round. I had been before, and always wanted to do it, but thought I did not have the guts because I was a woman and wondered what everyone might think. My son Kyle (10) years old kept saying "come on mom" and finally I said ok. I really had alot of fun and it was a real rush. Anyways, I would really like to have a chance to learn to climb, and make the larger trees look as awesome as the smaller trees that I have been trimming. I know that their are schools out there, but where and how much do have to know about climbing before you can go. I have never climbed a day in my life, but am really interested in finding out how and when I can get started. ......Educate me.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

Hay Jac! Learn to climb and show those sonnyboys that woman can do it!

Get "the tree climbers companion" by Jepson, it is the best book out there on a $:$ basis. Most suppliers carry it, and Darin will probibly be hawking it soon since we tout it so much here (direct link to the sherrill.com with a click through payment?) Less then $15 it is a steal.

Start climbing in the small trees you you work now, and a little bigger. Use the rope and saddle for body positoning and hands free working. Learn to limb walk on a crab or low Norway maple. Once you learn to trust your gear, it comes quick. Girls have it easier the boys woth the balancing part.

If you prune properly already, you have the hard part down!

 

[D]

Good idea, John!!! Very innovative!