I find the title interesting, since my first reaction was actually "meh". I realize that this is someone who spontaneously decided to do it all themself, but still - those are rookie numbers. For...
I find the title interesting, since my first reaction was actually "meh". I realize that this is someone who spontaneously decided to do it all themself, but still - those are rookie numbers.
For context, I've spent 5 years working as a professional treeplanter. By my second year of planting, 2000 trees is what I plant on a bad day. My personal record in a ten hour work day is several times what this person is vlogging about, and even that pales in comparison to what's been accomplished by the real crazy ones - treeplanters are their own version of nuts.
Part of the reason you don't hear about it is because it's an industry that largely takes place in remote parts of Canada. There was a time when I was considering making it into a competitive sport to bring more publicity to the world of silviculture - I even made a promotional video for it - but I never managed to rally up support from my friends so the idea never took off. I figure I'll post it here for your enjoyment: footage of me planting really fast starts around 0:30.
Back in the bush the next day, Stephanie still couldn't crack 2000 trees, even with her modified shovel. She cornered Rob in the cook tent, "I know you aren't telling me something," she said. "I know there's a secret. Tell me the secret."
"There isn't any secret," said Rob.
"Of course there's a secret," said Stephanie, her voice almost hoarse with desperation. "Tell me."
"Okay," said Rob. "Listen, there is a secret. The secret to planting more trees ... is to plant more trees."
...
Stephanie thought that she had been working hard all along. Watching Rob, she wasn't so sure. He didn't listen to music. And he didn't rest or talk to people when he bagged up. And he didn't take an hour at lunch.
...
"When it's time to plant," she read [Rob's note], "plant. When it's time to eat, eat. Whatever you're doing, just do it. When it's raining, you can worry about the rain all day or you can plant and make money. The rain will pass. And then it'll be dinner and then it'll be time to go to sleep. And like the rain, the night will pass too, so better that you just shut up and sleep. As for tomorrow? Tomorrow," read Stephanie, "doesn't even enter into it."
Stephanie hit 1900 trees the next morning. Morning after that, she pounded in 2000. Two weeks would pass before she'd break the magic 2500 mark.
This quote represents the lesson from planting, to me. It was an incredible lesson in the difference between working and "working". Without any experience in piecework forms of employment, people...
This quote represents the lesson from planting, to me. It was an incredible lesson in the difference between working and "working". Without any experience in piecework forms of employment, people tend to consider any hours logged in a workplace as time spent on task, more or less. People tend to optimize around making those hours logged as comfortable as possible, but unless you really believe in what you're doing then it's rather easy to forgo a certain amount of productivity without experiencing any consequences - wage work enables this sort of behaviour in a way that something like agriculture does not.
Having spent years planting trees, I've gained a deep understanding of what I'm capable of and how much my time and energy is really worth. I am someone that knows how to put close 100% of my attention on the task at hand, but the problem is that I basically can't work for anyone because I know they're either not going to compensate me adequately or use my work for things that I consider immoral. This is why I'm a freelancer / contract worker now.
FOREST UPDATE 2023: In August of 2021 I loaded up my old ute and old trailer with 1440 trees, bundles of long sticks, a hand of bananas, pogo-stick-planter, dirty swag, slippery tin of sunscreen and a pair of bespoke gumboots lined with running innersoles. My aim was to plant a tree a minute for 24 hours. I did it, just, plodding away with the final trays of trees as if I was wounded. In the film ‘A tree a minute’ my final text said ‘I’ll make a follow up film in two years’. So here I am, as promised, revisiting the small 2.5 acre plot on my good friends block to see how this old creek, once cleared, is getting on as a newly fledged patch of forest.
FOREST UPDATE 2025: In 2021 I planted a tree a minute, for 24 hours, on my mates farm. It was freakin hard work, but also one of the coolest, most rewarding days I’ve ever had. I made a film about the project and promised folks I’d return every two years to show off the plot and see how the trees and bushes are going. This was a special day because I really felt like the project had landed. I had a cup of tea in the new forest, from water boiled on a fire made from the forest itself. It’s perhaps the most profound cup of tea I’ve ever had.
IMO, Beau Miles is an absolutely amazing human being, and I highly recommend that you check out some of the other adventure/challenge videos on his channel. One of the most impressive being his...
IMO, Beau Miles is an absolutely amazing human being, and I highly recommend that you check out some of the other adventure/challenge videos on his channel. One of the most impressive being his Africa by Kayak: 2000km around the southern tip of Africa. It's bloody insane.
Could not agree more, I always crave a new Beau Miles video. My personal favorite of his was the Human Bean where he ate is body weight in beans over 40 days. The marathon in a day video actually...
Could not agree more, I always crave a new Beau Miles video. My personal favorite of his was the Human Bean where he ate is body weight in beans over 40 days. The marathon in a day video actually inspired me to build a table. No one else in my life is as excited by Beau so it's great to see him pop up on here!
I also love the concept of rewilding agricultural land, particularly watershed corridors. It's always amazing to watch Beau in action, and while I know it would take some of the 'just go do it' magic away, I would have loved to see how they planned the plantings. I did appreciate his short explanation with the wet, less wet, dry infographic. Nature naturally tends to have a sensible layout, so while I appreciate the choice of plants it would have been interesting to see how they decided distribution. I cannot wait for the follow up video.
To all the Tilderinos, if you have land in the US, Agro-ecology is a burgeoning field in traditional agriculture and the USDA is finally starting to put real funding behind it. Feel free to reach out if you want more info about how to unlock those dollars.
My personal favorite is his Africa by Kayak video that I already linked to. But his kayaking and walking to work videos are close seconds. They do a fantastic job of illustrating just how much we...
My personal favorite is his Africa by Kayak video that I already linked to. But his kayaking and walking to work videos are close seconds. They do a fantastic job of illustrating just how much we take cars for granted when commuting, but also how they tend to destroy our appreciation (and treatment) of all the land in between our homes and work.
p.s. IMO it's great that he is finally doing some smaller, more bite sized adventures now, so he can actually release more than just a few videos a year. I really hope he continues with the trend, since I can't get enough of him and his adventures (no matter how small). :P
Yeah, Beau is great! I think in real life he might be a bit overwhelming, since he's type A to the max and I'm the opposite, but I still love watching his videos. :P
Yeah, Beau is great! I think in real life he might be a bit overwhelming, since he's type A to the max and I'm the opposite, but I still love watching his videos. :P
I find the title interesting, since my first reaction was actually "meh". I realize that this is someone who spontaneously decided to do it all themself, but still - those are rookie numbers.
For context, I've spent 5 years working as a professional treeplanter. By my second year of planting, 2000 trees is what I plant on a bad day. My personal record in a ten hour work day is several times what this person is vlogging about, and even that pales in comparison to what's been accomplished by the real crazy ones - treeplanters are their own version of nuts.
Part of the reason you don't hear about it is because it's an industry that largely takes place in remote parts of Canada. There was a time when I was considering making it into a competitive sport to bring more publicity to the world of silviculture - I even made a promotional video for it - but I never managed to rally up support from my friends so the idea never took off. I figure I'll post it here for your enjoyment: footage of me planting really fast starts around 0:30.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ca2cTl51rI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiYPGsvPNi4
From Stuart McLean's Vinyl Cafe:
This quote represents the lesson from planting, to me. It was an incredible lesson in the difference between working and "working". Without any experience in piecework forms of employment, people tend to consider any hours logged in a workplace as time spent on task, more or less. People tend to optimize around making those hours logged as comfortable as possible, but unless you really believe in what you're doing then it's rather easy to forgo a certain amount of productivity without experiencing any consequences - wage work enables this sort of behaviour in a way that something like agriculture does not.
Having spent years planting trees, I've gained a deep understanding of what I'm capable of and how much my time and energy is really worth. I am someone that knows how to put close 100% of my attention on the task at hand, but the problem is that I basically can't work for anyone because I know they're either not going to compensate me adequately or use my work for things that I consider immoral. This is why I'm a freelancer / contract worker now.
Well that was a really fun watch! Eagerly awaiting his follow up in 2 years :D
Ask and ye shall receive. Update video:
I planted a forest two years ago
New update video:
I planted a forest four years ago
IMO, Beau Miles is an absolutely amazing human being, and I highly recommend that you check out some of the other adventure/challenge videos on his channel. One of the most impressive being his Africa by Kayak: 2000km around the southern tip of Africa. It's bloody insane.
Could not agree more, I always crave a new Beau Miles video. My personal favorite of his was the Human Bean where he ate is body weight in beans over 40 days. The marathon in a day video actually inspired me to build a table. No one else in my life is as excited by Beau so it's great to see him pop up on here!
I also love the concept of rewilding agricultural land, particularly watershed corridors. It's always amazing to watch Beau in action, and while I know it would take some of the 'just go do it' magic away, I would have loved to see how they planned the plantings. I did appreciate his short explanation with the wet, less wet, dry infographic. Nature naturally tends to have a sensible layout, so while I appreciate the choice of plants it would have been interesting to see how they decided distribution. I cannot wait for the follow up video.
To all the Tilderinos, if you have land in the US, Agro-ecology is a burgeoning field in traditional agriculture and the USDA is finally starting to put real funding behind it. Feel free to reach out if you want more info about how to unlock those dollars.
Thanks for the share!
My personal favorite is his Africa by Kayak video that I already linked to. But his kayaking and walking to work videos are close seconds. They do a fantastic job of illustrating just how much we take cars for granted when commuting, but also how they tend to destroy our appreciation (and treatment) of all the land in between our homes and work.
p.s. IMO it's great that he is finally doing some smaller, more bite sized adventures now, so he can actually release more than just a few videos a year. I really hope he continues with the trend, since I can't get enough of him and his adventures (no matter how small). :P
I am addicted to his videos and personality, such a fun guy to watch.
Yeah, Beau is great! I think in real life he might be a bit overwhelming, since he's type A to the max and I'm the opposite, but I still love watching his videos. :P