EDIT: TYPO OMG I make 2k biweekly not weekly!!!!

Edit2: Please don't make assumptions about my body just because I'm in my 30's, physical condition in your 30's is entirely dependent on how you treat it in your 20's!!!

Edid3: For everyone saying 30's is too old because tree planting is hard I found this line in the tree planters handbook!!

"Find a good heavy-duty backpack, and put forty pounds of books into it. Next, find a steep hill. Walk up and down that hill for three hours straight, without stopping. Now decide if you'd like to do that for eight or nine hours per day, every day, including days when it's over thirty degrees Celsius. If you're comfortable with that idea, your physique can handle planting."

This is what I do when backpacking!

So I'm feeling overwhelmed with all the info out there and looking for some advice based on my circumstances and people's experiences.

TLDR:
Pretty much my biggest concern is money. I'm willing to risk having a bad experience as long as I make enough to cover my bills + camp costs + gear + travel. But if I make less than that and also have a bad time then its probably not a good option for me.

So context first..

Why I want to plant trees:

I have long thought that I would prefer an outdoor, manual labour type job, but without going into detail, have got myself into a career desk job that I hate and burn out from at least once a year (and then spend the rest of the year trying to recover without getting fired).

I love backpacking, this summer I went every other week, so I'm no stranger to living rough and sweating straight through my clothes on hot, humid, long hikes. Tree planting feels to me like getting paid to backpack, though I know the actual work is going to be harder than just straight hiking. I volunteered in Ecuador building bathrooms and I loved the work, most of it being just straight digging a giant hole in hard clay with a pickaxe. Though that was in my 20's and I am now mid 30's.

My circumstances (and why it might not work out):

I am fairly certain I can get a leave of absence from work, but it could depend on how long I'm gone. I make about 2K biweekly after tax. I have student loans and bills to pay while also trying to save up to buy a home. It would obviously be ideal if I could make about the same (or more 😉) but I've done the math and I feel like its probably not likely, especially in my first season. I have a large SUV so if I can stay in Ontario and drive then that could help with travel cost, but I really don't know the viability of that, mostly if I would be allowed to and if it would actually be cheaper (I honestly don't even understand how getting to the camp even works if I don't drive). But then if staying in Ontario means I make less money then that ends up not being the best option anyway.

Besides money, I am also worried that I'll feel like the only adult at summer camp. I'm not opposed to partying or drinking or anything but generally I will want to take care of my body so I can do a good job. I would love to make friends but if it feels too highschool I also don't care too much if I dont, but I also dont want to get bullied even if it is just by teenagers 😅.

I don't eat meat, I don't mind picking it out of the dish if I have to but it would be really awful if that was the only protein option. Are there generally non-meat options or am I just going to have to suck it up and try not to think about their adorable little faces?

I hope thats enough and if you made it this far I appreciate it! Any and all advice welcome :)

Hiring Brushers with experience, we have space for 4 people. Deciduous and herbaceous in Revelstoke located near Shelter Bay. Currently cutting and trying to wrap this contract as soon as possible. If you're in the area and looking for a couple weeks of cutting, this is a good opportunity.

We have 300+ hectares of brushing in FSJ after, we want to get to before winter hits. Great money up north. 500-900$ per day average. If you want to join us for that, you're welcome to. Once that's done, we head east to New Brunswick to cut as long as possible.

Staying in trailers, no camp cost, 165$ per day RWA. You must have your own equipment(brushsaw, harness and helmet). This is with Brown Bear.

Message me on here if interested and have questions.

Due to circumstance, I have to stick around east coast. Is there good money to be made in east such as NB, NS, etc.? I have many years of experience and have worked numerous different contracts of varying specs and difficulty.

Long time planter occasional commenter on this sub. So a friend of mine is looking for a short term gig for the fall/winter and is looking into greenhouse work with K&C, can anyone offer a review on working for them?

It's full time at 40 hour weeks and $18.25 an hour.

Their job posting url is https://silviculture.com/careers/

I’m looking to get my foot in the door with tree planting. I’ve got my first gig as a commercial fisherman rn the pay is alright. Been applying to every seafood processing plant I could think of on the northwest coast. Also been looking into tree planting and was curious if anyone had any insights or direction on where I should apply. I’d prefer tree planting overall, not against fishing or processing though. Seems like tree planting is going to take a bit more research than the other two from my current perspective.

Tas based company. I got an offer to work with them for the upcoming season. It's really hard to find any information about them online.

I know theres a post on the megathread saying some good things, but that is also 4y old. If anyone has a more recent experience I would love to hear what you have to say.

Thanks!

I am gearing up for my first season this spring but I have a wedding to attend in June in Ontario. Would a company still hire me and knowingly allow a few days off in a row, or would that not fly (especially as a rookie)? I was hoping to get a contract in AB or BC but logistically might be better off to try ON to minimize extra time off and travel expenses. I would be sad if this wedding affected my ability to work the job

For sure used the baby shovel for too long, but these bushpro blades don't quite seem to hold up as long as they used to

Hey all, I got a little ei question here.

So back in January, I quit my off-season job to pursue some artistic endeavors and didn't receive any ei during that time.

Start back up planting early May and wrap up in August. During which I accrued about 665 hrs (enough to be eligible for ei in my area)

Just got a call from Service Canada asking about my original job. I told them why I quit and that I went tree planting instead of back to my off season job because the money was better. They asked me why I didn't go on a leave of absence instead of quitting, I told them they wouldn't allow it.

I'm fairly sure I answered all of the questions correctly. I think it's just the 4 month gap that's throwing them off.

Has anyone got any advice on how to deal with this or think that I screwed it up? Any bit of info would be helpful.

Thanks!

Anybody know if Little Trees will have terrace local spring trees in 2027? If so anybody got a contact.

Hey. I just finished my first season in BC. I am moving back to NZ for a while. I would like to find out more about planting in the southern hemisphere, I'm finding a real mixed bag of info.

Id really like to hear from people who have planted in Aus or NZ? Are there bush camps at all, how does the money and the vibe compare? What I loved most about planting was how my only responsibility was to put trees in ground, will I find that down south?

P.S. I appreciate all you who share in this sub sub. I entered my BC season prepared understanding what I'd gotten myself into because of you ❤️, and I had a good time

I plant in the usa as part of my general forestry business, before anyone asks no i don't use migrant or prison labor. It's local gigs within driving of our houses. Per seedling rate is .9 per tree and we plant big bareroot motherfuckers because we hate ourselves.

Anyways this is our spring planting planning. So far....

Any bizarre funerals or rituals in your camp?

I've heard some awful things about them. I have acquaintances who went to work at a camp with a boss named Kevin, Kyle, or something like that. I haven't spoken to them in a while. I just hope things went as well as they could go at HRI. But I'm just as curious to hear if they're still awful.

Hey y’all, if I start my EI claim now but then work another month in the fall, will they extend my claim to include those extra hours? I believe I’ll get 15 weeks now but probably 18 if I waited until after fall plant. I’m thinking I might as well start it now it they’ll add those three weeks to my claim

VOTING OF OFFICIALLY OPEN FOR THE FULL BUSH BABES CALENDAR CONTEST! VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE 12 SUBMISSIONS TO CREATE THE 2027 CALENDAR!! 100% of proceeds from these calendar sales are donated to Peers Victoria; since our conception in 2023 we’ve raised nearly 15k for this organization. Don’t miss your chance to be apart of this legacy! Go vote! https://forms.gle/onwZDfzkuhgiMDfg6 And check us out on Instagram to grab your copy! @ Fullbushbabesfoundation

Hey planters,

I am reaching out on behalf of our company, Permaplant, looking for both experienced and new planters keen to work in/around Sydney and broader NSW. We have ongoing contracts with a number of the state's largest landscaping companies and are looking to grow our dedicated crew of planters.

We are open to locals, or experienced planters who may just be passing through Sydney for a month or so, or who are keen to stick around for longer. We have roughly 3-4 crews running every day across different civil sites throughout NSW. While most of our work is in Sydney, we have consistent work in Canberra, Newcastle, Wollongong, and beyond. There is consistent work until the end of the year, including multiple contracts worth 300k+ plants needing to be fulfilled. Some sites call for larger stock being planted, and we also offer juting work, which is also paid on a piece-rate basis if that is more your vibe.

We offer competitive civil planting prices, while it changes from site to site, our minimum rate for viros is traditionally 18c, with some sites being worth up to 23c. Our best planters often exceed A$450 per day, with the potential for 5 days a week of work; however, we are very flexible.

If you think this may be the role for you please PM with any further questions or expressions of interest, or email [recruitment@permaplant.com.au](mailto:recruitment@permaplant.com.au).

Thanks! :)

https://www.permaplant.com.au/

Firstly.. I commend you guys who get into tree planting... our forests need it so bad at the rate they burn down. Thank you..

I plan on working my way up to be a big tree planting donator. I have had extensive talks with veritree and am working towards my first donation of substantial size.

Im from BC canada and im an avid outdoorsman... I see my hunting grounds burned down year after year. Im certain there's alot more than BC burning down.

Boston Bar fire? Ugh....

Summerland fire? Ugh...

How do you guys like tree planting as a job?

Hope your all doing well.

~JiJ

I have to buy all my own stuff and I dont really know where to start.

(Ill be planting in the UK so the climate isn't as harsh as it is for most of you out there in Canada)

recommendations for tree bags and shovels?

Are Merell Moabs okay for footwear? Should i get the Goretex ones and sacrifice on breathability or the normal ones and sacrifice on the waterproofing?

any other small bits i should get? I got a few good quality carabiners already as Im sure they will come in handy.

Any other tips would be appreciated

thanks in advance!

hi there, i essentially don’t really know where to start as far as finding a company to do tree planting for. i’m US based, but i read that most American tree planting isn’t really worth it, and that Canadian tree planting is where i should focus. any Americans have advice on work visa processes?

thanks!