tree planting/cherry picking?

[Courtney]

for those of you who have done it
how hard is it on a scale of 1-10?
10 being excruciating

[tiedye]

Well, I have an extensive history of physical labour experience so take that into consideration. I've done both and I find tree planting to be the tougher of the two. Perhaps a 6/10. Cherry picking is rather easy as long as you wear a wide brimmed hat (I just wore a bandana and it was brutal by the end of the day) and keep plenty of water on you. It gets excruciating if you don't prepare yourself for 12 hours in the sun. I'd say cherry picking is a 3-4/10. The most strenuous part of the job is simply keeping yourself going for long periods of time. The trick is not to stop moving for as long as you can and then take a break.

Just for a reference point, I've landscaped for years of my life and I'd say it's an even 5/10 when you're laying sod. I've also worked in a steelyard and chemical shipping yard for the oil rigs. My job at those were definitely 8/10s because they involved 12h shifts of hand-bombing 100lbs bags of chemicals @ 50 per palette (2 metric tonnes per palette) and rolling lengths of pipe and steel off of racks with your legs.

I think that treeplanting and cherry picking will seem easier than it is to you though because you can smoke bud all day and have a lot of fun conversations to keep your mind off of the work.

Where/when are you thinking of doing this?

[Courtney]

ok thanks....
im not sure problyl july/august in the okanogan ??
havent really looked into it to hard yet
im pretty lazy so i might not be cut out for it lol

[tiedye]

Well let me know where you're considering whenever you do research it. I've hitchhiked all over BC, the Okanagan especially, and fruit picking and the like were a great source of food/income. Chances are I'll have worked there.

In fact, I might just embark on another adventure like that this summer.

[cinist]

can you wake up early in the morning? cuz i went with jeremy and kyle and sarah and them when they went and i had a hard time getting up when they'd COME HOME from a day of cherry picking

[cinist]

go to jasper or banff and work in a hotel for a couple months

[tiedye]

Oh haha, right. I forgot about waking up with the sun. I had been doing that the entire trip so it didn't make a difference.

[robyn]

there's a lot of french canadians, is that what you want

[LLaaUUrrYYn]

I think that tree planting would bring such satisfaction!!

Every year over one hundred million trees are cut down for JUNK MAIL.


But I agree with cinist - go work the summer months in a resort (Kamloops/kelowna/jasper/banff) Any of those areas are going to need extra housekeepers (which honestly isnt a terrible job - it's great excersise, you get tips, and most large resort offer pretty good benefits.)

Good luck!!!

Originally Posted by LLaaUUrrYYn

I think that tree planting would bring such satisfaction!!

Every year over one hundred million trees are cut down for JUNK MAIL.


But I agree with cinist - go work the summer months in a resort (Kamloops/kelowna/jasper/banff) Any of those areas are going to need extra housekeepers (which honestly isnt a terrible job - it's great excersise, you get tips, and most large resort offer pretty good benefits.)

Good luck!!!

You can work at the Hotel Vancouver downtown for $17 an hour doing housekeeping.

[mojo]

It's hard. when i did it though i was 14 and fat and didn't like doing hard work.
Apparently there is dec. money to be made if you are an efficient worker and don't mind the conditions....and like to get stoned all the time.

[Jonny Dubbs]

cherry picking sucks - trust me you dont want to do it - they pay is awfull compared to the work you put in

i have a few hippy firends who plant trees, they really like it and make some real good $. hard work but good for the soul

[Phrenetic]

cherry picking sucks so much, plant the trees, most of the time you just stand around. with picking cherries you have to keep moving

[LLaaUUrrYYn]

Originally Posted by Avana

You can work at the Hotel Vancouver downtown for $17 an hour doing housekeeping.

I wouldn't doubt that!

I was under the impression that she was hoping to get out of town.. and spending the summer in the okanogan would rock!

[Filo]

don't do it courtney!

[tiedye]

Originally Posted by Phrenetic

cherry picking sucks so much, plant the trees, most of the time you just stand around. with picking cherries you have to keep moving

Wtf are you talking about? When you tree plant you are constantly crouched and moving. The whole idea is that you're planting as many trees as you can in a day. Most outfits only pay $0.15 per tree so no, you are NOT standing around most of the time. Have you ever actually done either?

Originally Posted by LLaaUUrrYYn

I wouldn't doubt that!

I was under the impression that she was hoping to get out of town.. and spending the summer in the okanogan would rock!

I think that was exactly what Avana was getting at.

[Chewy]

anyone want to work on my moms unkles friends cousins blueberry farm??

[tiedye]

Yeah, Darren. I'm down. Will they give me a place to stay if I make the trip?

[tiedye]

Wicked chain of relations, btw.

[Chewy]

Originally Posted by tiedye

Yeah, Darren. I'm down. Will they give me a place to stay if I make the trip?

doubt it,

[Chewy]

Originally Posted by tiedye

Wicked chain of relations, btw.

haha, i might be wrong on thechain, it was more of a geuss

[crackdragon]

good luck getting a job tree planting... season starts early may for most companies and I have been trying to find one and I have been unsuccessful so far. They have already done all there hiring or are looking for experienced planters to fill the few spots they have open. Some companies do planting in August and September though.

[tiedye]

Actually, there are still companies up north looking for planters, Crackdragon. I'll talk to my buddy who works in the industry a little higher up the chain and see what he can dig up for you. If I find anything, I'll PM you.

[tiedye]

Originally Posted by Chewy

doubt it,

No? Where is it?

[crackdragon]

Originally Posted by tiedye

Actually, there are still companies up north looking for planters, Crackdragon. I'll talk to my buddy who works in the industry a little higher up the chain and see what he can dig up for you. If I find anything, I'll PM you.

That would be greatly appreciated :)