I'm a municipal arborist, so I interact with residents constantly. Do you feel that people are more accepting of our profession and our opinions? Does being an ISA CA help that view on their part? Just curious what your impressions are.
Is our industry more accepted?
- Thread starter grizzly2
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John Paul Sanborn
Above average climber
It depends on where you go, and what you are doing. There are still a lo of people out there who do not understand that tree maintenance and cutting wood are not necessarily the same thing.
MonkeyMan_812
ArboristSite Operative
I also think that it depends on what part of the country you are in. In my neck of the woods, which is rural midwest, people dont value trees like they do in the city. We have more trees here than there and just about every redneck and their brother has a chainsaw. They think we are just another big dumb redneck with a saw trying to charge them a boat load of money to " Kut Sum Wood". :monkey:
tree md
Addicted to ArboristSite
I am not an arborist but I do read, study and try to do competent, ethical tree work. If I run into something that I have a question about or need an opinion on I have a non-climbing arborist that I consult with.
I believe that it does have a lot to do with location and education level of the client. I get some that ask very educated questions, a lot more so than I did 10 years ago, and want to make sure that they are getting quality tree work.
Then again I get a lot who could care less when you advise them on proper tree care. Case in point is what I experience a lot when trying to sell spikeless prunes or discourage some from "topping" a tree. Many will say that they don't care if the tree is spiked or not they just want a good price as well as some saying they don't care about what the book says, they just want their tree trimmed how they want it to be done. I still get calls from people wanting me to top their trees. I think availability has a lot to do with it to. I had a lot of calls during last years ice storm that I couldn't get to in a timely manner because of volume of work and deal with a lot of previously spiked trees now. Many people say they were more worried about getting their trees cleaned up that someone spiking them.
I believe that it does have a lot to do with location and education level of the client. I get some that ask very educated questions, a lot more so than I did 10 years ago, and want to make sure that they are getting quality tree work.
Then again I get a lot who could care less when you advise them on proper tree care. Case in point is what I experience a lot when trying to sell spikeless prunes or discourage some from "topping" a tree. Many will say that they don't care if the tree is spiked or not they just want a good price as well as some saying they don't care about what the book says, they just want their tree trimmed how they want it to be done. I still get calls from people wanting me to top their trees. I think availability has a lot to do with it to. I had a lot of calls during last years ice storm that I couldn't get to in a timely manner because of volume of work and deal with a lot of previously spiked trees now. Many people say they were more worried about getting their trees cleaned up that someone spiking them.
You've hit on a couple of the things I was curious about. If location is a factor (obviously it is) and are the customers more knowledgable? I wasn't taking into account that emergencies change goals of quality to those of speed. Good points.
John Paul Sanborn
Above average climber
tree md
Addicted to ArboristSite
I guess I should have said ISA certified arborist (yet). Got to watch what you say around here sometimes. Don't want to offend someone who has gone to the trouble to be certified. I do refuse to wear the label of "hack".
Hi Grizzly, I think it matters, I freelanced climbed for years in california and made a great living doing what I was paid to do. I got my cert. treeworker #449 in 1992 and changed my views and even turned down work. I failed to keep up on CEU's and went for my arborist cert and got it. I don't deal with residential work but I deal with clients that understand they are contracting with a company that adheres to ANSI Standards and have an ISA Certified Arborist on-site. I live in southern Ca., ISA certs mean alot here. I am going to take the test for Munincipal Specialist in August. Keep preaching and be patient.
Jeff
Jeff
Hack is somebody who does a bunch of things, but none of them well. I'd say you're an arborist. Just not certified, yet. I do feel that the whole certification thing has had a positive effect on the industry.
Rftreeman
Addicted to ArboristSite
I'm a hack, been hacking up lung flem for years due to smoking..........
oh wait, that's not the hack we are refering to is it?
I quit smoking five years ago.
oh wait, that's not the hack we are refering to is it?
I quit smoking five years ago.
tree md
Addicted to ArboristSite
I personally think the certs are great and a good thing for the industry as a whole. I plan to finally get mine in the next couple of months.
I don't know of any industry where if you don't continue to educate yourself you remain to be very effective. Just my .02
I don't know of any industry where if you don't continue to educate yourself you remain to be very effective. Just my .02
That's a good point about being an industry where you don't have to educate yourself regularly. I've definitely worked for guys that only do things the way they learned it decades ago. Education is a good thing, public education is awesome.
Without the certs-- we would not be in business--- I am on a hiring mode because people care, I need good guys and they hard are to find here. I need to e-verify and clean DMV. We meet expectations and are a force to deal with in Southern California! Urban Tree Care is here!
Jeff
Operations Manager
Overall, I think our industry is seen as unskilled and unprofessional as the bad side of the industry is seen more than the good side. For most of us, we go about our jobs day in and day out and it is rarely noticed by the general public. Most people do not appreciate the hard work that goes into taking big trees down without tearing anything up. And when they do see it they think it is reckless even though great care has been taking to rig a tree down with ropes. I am proud of what I do and I love what I do. I do not appreciate dealing with customers who do not appreciate my knowledge and tell me how they want their trees pruned. I feel like I bring a skill to work with me every day and I carry out my business as professionally as I can. I am not perfect but I do feel we are not truely accepted as professionals and skilled despite the fact that I know I am.
Some of my customers know the difference but most could care less, just cut the tree and give me the lowest price.
Some of my customers know the difference but most could care less, just cut the tree and give me the lowest price.
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OLD CHIPMONK
ArboristSite Guru
We have created a regulated monster- "The Tree Care Industry". Federal intervention and laws that attempt regulation without conference from industry members. The laws were created to serve and protect a select segment. Mostly larger companies and their crews. The little mom and pops got thrown into this equasion. Relative operational costs have soared. Safety is welcomed by all, as I still appreciate comming home in one piece. California Emmissions are the strictest of all states, as their air quality is among the poorest.The Fed's. should have made them create commuter train lines and mass transit busses. Safety is great, but not when inappropriately mandated by Federal Law. Tree care and safety should be the concerns of individual owners and operators. Employee training and the use of proper personal protection will insure our survival. A strong leadership within each company should mandate employee safety. Future training and industry updates should become the accepted standard. Regulated fines by OSHA don't begin to pay it's administrative overhead. Just another taxpayer subsidized entity.
Don't feel sorry for me. I am only stating the facts of our industry.
I think it is great that you do not have to deal with less than professional companies in your area that drag you into the mud. The fact that we are professional gets us a ton of work. But overall, I would say our industry is not seen that way.
I am out there every day fighting for my industry. I try to educate people on good tree care and combat against "topping" and unsafe work practices.
If you took my message wrong, I am sorry. Let me elaborate. For every 1 or 2 professional and skilled companies (especially in my area) there are 8 or 9 guys out there that will take any risk to make a buck and top any tree without even trying to talk the customer out of it. I feel because of this fact, the true professional arborists and tree cutters do not get the respect they deserve.
If you don't like my opinion that is fine. Last time I checked, I can say what the #### I want to anytime I want to, and to anyone....so there
I think it is great that you do not have to deal with less than professional companies in your area that drag you into the mud. The fact that we are professional gets us a ton of work. But overall, I would say our industry is not seen that way.
I am out there every day fighting for my industry. I try to educate people on good tree care and combat against "topping" and unsafe work practices.
If you took my message wrong, I am sorry. Let me elaborate. For every 1 or 2 professional and skilled companies (especially in my area) there are 8 or 9 guys out there that will take any risk to make a buck and top any tree without even trying to talk the customer out of it. I feel because of this fact, the true professional arborists and tree cutters do not get the respect they deserve.
If you don't like my opinion that is fine. Last time I checked, I can say what the #### I want to anytime I want to, and to anyone....so there
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