CBC doc
Tonight I watched a new CBC documentary on tree planters called “One million trees” and I wasn’t disappointed. In 44 minutes the film painted a pretty good picture of a tree planter’s life.
I used to regret not travelling up north as a student to try tree planting. As a university student, I needed a summer job; and being in clear-cuts close to forests would have been great for a student of physical geography. Alas, I talked to too many former tree planters and I ultimately rejected the idea. Instead, I travelled to southern Saskatchewan to work at an Eastend motel so I could collect plant specimens for my plant systematics course in the fall.
Now, many years later, I get my fix by planting trees, shrubs, flowers and bulbs in urban landscapes.
Out in the clearcuts
I laughed when I noticed the similarities between tree planting and landscaping. First, there is the obvious physical output required to put in long hours in all sorts of weather. Bending over to dig holes and plant seedlings all day can’t be easy, especially when your supervisor rejects some of your plantings.
Like in landscaping, the quality must be there. Poorly planted plants suffer and may die. Then who pays?
Incidentally, last fall I worked briefly with a former tree planting supervisor and she got offended when I checked on the quality of her cedar planting. Oh, well, I was responsible for the installation. But it was comical.
Second, according to my day-job boss, landscaping is young people’s game, and after watching the documentary, it looks like tree planting is the same. Or is it? We meet many experienced veterans in the film.
Downer
Landscaping is rewarding and so is planting thousands of tree seedlings in clear-cuts. But many tree planters eventually question their roles. Yes, they make cash when they get good at it but the trees they’re planting will one day get logged again. Who knows what will happen in one hundred years.
Another downer is the lack of protection for female tree planters. It’s clear that some men take liberties out in the middle of nowhere in what is a male-dominated setting. I knew about the parties, sex, alcohol and drugs before this documentary.
But for me the creepiest aspect is the seedlings covered in pesticides before getting shipped to the woods. I also can’t see myself jumping into helicopters.
The rule
Still, we have to follow rules. Logged areas must be replanted so there will always be demand for tree planting laborers. If you’re considering tree planting, this documentary will paint a nice picture for you.
I respect all of the tree planters. It’s heavy labor in all sorts of weather and the pay is 10-35 cents per seedling, assuming your planting is correct. We need to cover the ugly clear-cuts as soon as possible.
“One million trees” is a good documentary!
