Davey Tree Flipbooks

A Day in the Life of a Consulting Utility Forester I n the story below, Davey Resource Group's Robert Herrick illustrates a typical day on the job as a consulting utility forester. A day in the life of a consulting utility forester can range from mundane to exotic. We are in an industry that challenges us with any number of tasks. Some days we are caught shuffling paper in the office. Other days we man a storm room, dispatching calls for tree work and line clearance to restore power coming from, in some cases, the entire state. Much of the time we spend our days out on the system working with landowners and town officials. Still, other days are spent with our boots on the ground making sure that contracted trimming crews complete their work to a satisfactory level and the rate payers get what their hard-earned money paid for. On the good days, we address—and solve—multiple problems and concerns that homeowners, landowners and town officials have regarding trees near power lines. On these days, we meet or exceed the needs of our clients. For me, a good day means I am able to help someone. I give thanks that I have a challenging and satisfying career. I can honestly say that I enjoy my work. Photo: Carl Koehler I just wanted to go on a walk." Carl Koehler, urban forester for Davey Resource Group (also known as "He-finds- trees"), wanted to be a writer from a young age. His passion for trees and the outdoors ultimately sparked the theme of his original book, Talking Trees & Spirit Trails. In 2004, Koehler had knee surgery. While looking for a way to get his strength back, he began hiking. He quickly decided to hike the 800-mile Finger Lakes Trail from east to west. On his hike, Koehler discovered Indian trail and decided to hike it. During his visit to the trail, he came across a peculiar L-shaped tree. "I thought it would be the only one I would see in a lifetime," Koehler says. But during other hikes, he started encountering more similar trees—rooting a passionate journey to find even more distinct specimens. After 10 years of course study and research, Koehler realized these unique trees did not acquire their shapes by accident. Native Americans had culturally modified the trees to signal important pathways, waterways and safe or sacred places. Native Americans began bending trees long before the 1800s as landscape markers, or "forest signs," to find their way along the land. Koehler used this as inspiration for his book. The first part of its title, Talking Trees, refers to the language of the trees; where the trees signal travelers to go. The second part, Spirit Trails, "describes my own journey, from some- one who didn't know anything to becoming the keeper of that knowledge," Koehler says. Koehler is one of the only researchers Davey Urban Forester "Talks Trees" studying culturally-modified trees in the U.S. "The art of bending trees is extinct, but the story should live on," he says. Koehler has joined book tours to lecture about his book and the history behind culturally- modified trees since it was published in 2012. Talking Trees & Spirit Trails can be purchased at www.amazon.com. Carl Koehler finds a culturally-modified tree while hiking with his dog. '' 6 | May/June 2015

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