1. SPRING HOURS
2. EARLY BIRD SPECIAL
3. FIDS AND FIBERS
4. TREE PLANTING
5. CHOCOLATE RAFFLE
6. ELM COORDINATOR UPDATE
1. SPRING HOURS
It doesn’t look like spring out there yet, but we’re dreaming of daffodils poking their buttery yellow heads out of the ground. Kevin and Meg are in the office, defrosting and polishing the workplace so that we will be ready to hit our full-time stride around mid-March. We have a waitlist of patient folks who are taking advantage of last year’s prices who we are excited to see this spring.
Since last year kept us busy right up until Christmas, we will need time to work through our waitlist. We are still excited to accept inquiries about new work, and are glad to offer you our early bird special (described below) in exchange for your patience. That said, if a job is an emergency, please get in touch with us and we will prioritize any acute work.
A handful of Woodpeckers are on duty Monday to Friday, from 7AM to 4PM in early March. We strongly recommend contacting us through our website if you have a question or a comment for us. We will update our website and social media once we return to full-time availability, around mid-March.
Stay tuned!
2. EARLY BIRD SPECIAL
Have a tree-related project you would like Woodpecker Tree Care to tackle? Get in touch with us before the end of April to take advantage of our early bird special, where we provide you a quote with last year’s rates.
Last year was our busiest on record, so we currently have a waitlist for spring work, but we are still eager to hear from you. We also have flexibility based on the level of urgency and geographic location, so it may be possible to fit you in earlier than you expect. If you have a tree (or several) you would like us to look at, please get in touch and we will get to you as soon as possible.
3. FIDS AND FIBERS
As climbing arborists, our ropes mean everything to us. They are our lifelines, our connection between the ground crew and the climber, and our indispensable tools. You would be hard-pressed to find a more hands-on rope splicing workshop than Fids and Fibers, hosted by Mark Pzekurat in his converted farmhouse in New Hampshire, and it would be even harder to find a more open and accepting environment.
Rory and John road tripped for 10 hours across the southern border to join 14 other rope splicing enthusiasts from all walks of life, and returned with renewed enthusiasm for the art of rope manipulation. This is John’s first time attending Fids and Fibers, and he returned fascinated by the people as much as the splicing techniques.
There was a mixed bag of folks from all walks of life including arborists, safety inspectors, and nuclear submarine techs, John told us over a “welcome back” lunch in early March. This was Rory’s second time attending the workshop, it was the soonest he could get back since this is the first time it’s operated since the outbreak of COVID-19. Rory was looking to refresh his splicing skills, especially since Hurricane Fiona cost him a few of his spliced ends.
Mark himself works hard to ensure that the workshop is a positive environment, being well aware of how toxic masculinity and the fear of failure can easily permeate a trades-based activity. Each morning begins with a group guided meditation, and each night ends with a meal prepared by one of the participants for everyone to share (Rory’s was pulled pork, John’s his old man’s famous spag-balls). On the final day’s meditation, Mark focused on gratitude and individually thanked each participant and appreciated their individual admirable qualities.
John and Rory returned triumphant, with a whole whack of newly spliced gear. Those ropes won’t stay shiny for long!
4. TREE PLANTING
The ground is still frozen, but before you know it it will be the perfect time to plant a new tree. Hurricane Fiona kept us too busy to do our usual round of fall planting, but if the weather allows we hope to provide planting services this spring. If the hurricane prompted you to consider the longevity of some of your favourite trees, or maybe even cost you some, it may be time to consider planting a replacement. We offer consulting services if you need help picking the right tree for the right place, or you can consult our website which has tips for choosing the right sapling.
If all goes according to plan (looking at you, any pending extreme weather events), we will team up with Charlie the Tree Guy in Old Barns, NS to bring high-quality saplings straight to your doorstep. Charlie is hoping to open up by May 1st, so if you place an order with him before the last week of May, we’ll pick it up for you and deliver it for a small freight fee. If you would like us to get the tree in the ground for you, let us know and we would be happy to accommodate.
5. CHOCOLATE RAFFLE
On the 15th of every month, we draw from our subscriber list and give away some delicious goods from Peace By Chocolate, from Antigonish NS.
To make up for the winter months, we have selected three winners for December, January, and February. Check your inboxes!
6. ELM INOCULATION UPDATE
Elm inoculation season is just around the corner, and now is the time to add yourself to our DutchTrig list. If you have an elm you love on your property, or know of an elm in your local community that could use protection against Dutch Elm Disease, get in touch and our elm coordinator (Meg) will happily assist you.
We injected a record number of elms last year, just over 50, and are hoping to increase that number in 2023. If you had an elm inoculated in 2022, Meg has already contacted you or will soon to see if you would like to protect your tree again this year. DutchTrig is an annual treatment and is only effective if provided once per year, similarly to a flu shot.
Stay tuned to hear about local elms in need, our list of sponsors, and updates about Dutch Elm Disease preventative treatment technology.