Highballer Tips And Tree Planting Tech - So You Want To Go Treeplanting AGAIN?

[@withdirtybags]

Great video, I planted 24 seasons on the coast, it’s been ten years since. On a nostalgia trip here. I never understood why people used D-handles vs. a staff shovel. I planted much as anyone, usually the most, at a really good company. And always shook my head at too short, too light, wrong grip D handles. I’m half opening my next hole from upright position, a half step still away from the spot , with the weight of the shovel doing a lot of the work, which I kind of begin loading up for, right after back cutting the last tree, by raising and aiming the shovel. Holding the shovel part way down the staff, I half throw and release the shovel, re-grabbing it near the top of as it sinks in. Cranking it open with ease, more leverage, again often near upright as bending down to plant, sliding my shovel hand down to the optimum height for the spot, could be a spot at up to waist height, could be a spot below my feet as I would bend down over slash in to spots that little D-handles don’t reach. As for the impact of hitting rocks and root, I kept that to a minimum which the throw and re- grab, if it was a tough spot, I would kick it home, so much more power in the leg, than the arm. My technic was always described as fluid and efficient, when I tried with a D-handle that barely reached the ground when standing. It felt frantic, wasteful in movement and hard on the wrist, and at times hard on the shoulder being locked into one height only, despite the varying height of the spot.

[@caseykrieger6524]

That was an odyssey of a explanation

[@withdirtybags]

Really Casey? It was a paragraph with a couple run on sentences. 24 seasons on the coast, that was an odyssey.

[@mamal8810ifyify]

i met a planter who taped rocks to the shovel to make the shovel heavier. Also I bought a full metal welded shovel from a guy on kijiji a few years ago. bike tape works good for the grips too. love the foam padding idea tho.

[@thubprint]

The extra momentum on the thrust really does help!

[@xursed7990]

I taped a strip of yoga matt to my shovel in my 2nd or 3rd season. Called it the rock buster. It's a game changer but I've gotten lazy and the rocks don't hit like they used to.

[@simonascough4898]

did 3 seasons in BC, late 1980's. All spades had a heavy head with the footplates at the top. The heads were also much more heavy duty, the one in this vid was more like for flower beds by comparison, and that weight really helped throw the head deep into the soil. The handle was what I believe is known as a D type handle. There's a flow to using it. Whilst you're planting a tree you make your next spot, screef it to reveal a square foot of soil, then throw the spade into. The spade was at least 6 inches longer than the one in the vid, and the D-handle makes it easy to raise the spade before you throw it into the ground. As you position your feet you're lifting the spade to throw it into the ground, follow through to kick the spade deeper whilst reaching back to the bags to get a tree. kick the hole shut whilst making the next spot then go and screef it. Do people still screef these days? When I did it I'd do about 1000 a day, and that was considered the line at which you'd be considered a highballer.

[@jameshodgson3656]

Tree prices haven't reeeaally changed in decades, about ~0.13 in alberta now. So to make any money you have to do about 2000 a day. 3000 is a Highballer IMO

[@pierre-nicolassaumur4614]

People plants 3000 a day rookie season

[@simonascough4898]

@@pierre-nicolassaumur4614 Hi pierre, not sure what the ground is like where you are but 3k was unheard of in BC in the mid/late 80's, and there were very fit non-stop planters there, day was around 10 hours. Ground was very rough, covered in fallen trunks, and you had to get the spacing right otherwise forestry guy would enforce a replant. He would do random samples on an area, put his shovel in the ground and if I remember correctly, attach a 3.99m wire to the spade as the radius of the circle in which there had to be I can't remember how many trees, perhaps 12? If people are planting 3k are they just planting furrows? Most I ever did in a day was a rush end of season job where no screefing was required and my best day was 1775 trees. So, does anyone still screef? Does screef magazine still exist in the digital age? Anyway, I'm an english guy and tree planting in Canada was one of the amazing experiences of my life and I worked my ass of so's I could travel on to the next country, I never slackened , so something must have changed for todays highballer to be a 3k a day planter. Thanks for the replies guys, I'd love to hear more, maybe something from BC?

[@aidancullen2939]

broooo I watched all your videos years and years ago, lost that yt account. I'm so glad I've found it again!!!!!!!

[@thubprint]

Oh, nice! Well thank you for helping me get to where I am today, and welcome back 💙

[@if131]

If you learn to use your kinetic energy you dont need the weights. I believe in bagging big, so if youve got 50-75 lbs on top of your mass and your moving it you have a lot of kinetic energy you can put into the tip of that shovel, instead of a few grams, 250lbs. All it takes is a flick of your wrist to lift the head of the shovel and then the weight does all the hard work for you. Be sure to come in to the strike with a flexible wrist and soft grip to prevent tendo.It is best to leave your shovel as long as your leg at the hip, it makes it ergonomically natural and helps make your spacing naturally perfect too.

[@thubprint]

This guy knows what’s up!!! Thanks for the help 😊👌

[@africabalderson8636]

An underrated tool - and I’ve never understood why - is the long handled staff. More comfortable for tall planters and never, ever any wrist tendinitis. Just slide your hand up and down the shovel. I planted nearly half a million trees with mine and still have it. Only replaced the handle once.

[@jackpotdigger834]

Cool video and looking funner then i expected

[@thubprint]

It’s a good time!

[@nathanradke6034]

I finished the season last year planting in shorts :D This year I'm gonna rock 8" boots with slightly oversized pants... No duct tape.

[@thubprint]

That’s probably cheaper! Finishing in shorts though.. funny how the nightmare fuel at the start of the season is just business as usual at the end!

[@adriennegonzales2636]

Reminds me so much of the beer sales pros at Nascar. I sold beer one time and no one clued me in to anything. I had a miserable day, lost money and time...... guess it just makes a good story lol

[@thubprint]

Dang, really?? That sucks! Why would they put you out there and not tell you how to do it? Management fail for sure.

[@adriennegonzales2636]

thubprint eh I think the veteran slingers had fun watching us struggle lol I had chafed thighs from the ice melting down my legs while hiking up and down the stands all day. They basically got free labor for the day.

[@henrikh.4843]

Hey Thub, thank you for the tips, and let me say, thank you for planting all those trees, that means so much for our already so much worn out World. Warm Greetings from Luxembourg.

[@KuuntZilla]

The trees are crop trees that are planted on cut blocks and woodlots to be harvested 30 uyears later, and good thing because its the basis of our economy

[@thubprint]

I mean you’re right that the trees we plant are only restoring what was cut, and yes they are there for profit, but you wouldn’t have much of a tree to cut after 30 years. These companies plant trees for their grandchildren to see mature

[@KuuntZilla]

@@thubprint They certainly can and do harvest pine after 30 years and when you speak of peoples grandchildren I guess you are talking private woodlots people keep in there family to harvest evry generation. Planting is not an environmentalist activity its an industrial economic activity, its the only reason they pay for your planting camps and parties to get you wretches to slug them in

[@kylejulius9596]

Nice. Blue collar from 2002-2006 and RDI, Osprey on the coast for a couple years after that. Great times!

[@canadianexec1703]

Great vid. Thanks

[@roberttaylor3594]

I like the flag Tupperware and the foam thing for the bags. I always liked the shoulder straps to distribute the weight better. In cycling you never want your leg fully extended, so I’m not so sure about the shovel length-arm extension thing...

[@thubprint]

Fair point, could be bad for the knees.

[@tidefallmusic]

Long live the planter gang. Amazing video, guys. Jordan Firstman vibes at the beginning. Love the tips on the shovel. Picked mine up, never realized how heavy and long the thing is! Subbed :)

[@thubprint]

Thank you so much!! I wanted to make this one for awhile but I always ended up doing more of a vlog collection of short clips.. I learned that when you’re out planting you can make videos or make money, but you can’t do both lol. I don’t expect to make any more planting videos unless I go again, but I appreciate the sub! I think the scrap life can be interesting and entertaining, so hopefully you still enjoy what I’m creating ☺️

[@tashicameron123]

Try leukotape for keeping those bits onto your shovel. If that tape doesn't wanna come off my arm after a couple shifts, I'm sure it wont wanna leave the shovel

[@thubprint]

Nice! I’ll look that up, sounds promising 👌

[@ErynQuentery]

Did 4 years in BC 96-99 with Silvaram & Quastuco

[@xursed7990]

If you have an extra flagger pouch (the old Velcro ones) they make good dividers for your back bag. I often have my phone + portable battery in my back bag charging my speaker/phone.

[@Neprow3000]

Very well done!

[@keatonsergent4826]

Put a hose clamp over the weights after you tape them that should help hold them better

[@connoragnewmusic]

Here in the uk we have to wear super clunky and stuffy rubber waterproof overalls and gloves (think marigolds). I wish we could just plant in shorts and leggings though, looks much comfier 😅 the handle cushioning seems like a great idea though. Deffo stealing that next season.

[@ShiniiPipsFX]

I was wondering if highballers hid bundles of trees as a way to hit the highballer numbers and this video has given me closure lol

[@farroshus003]

Stashing is an immediately fireable offence. If you include planted trees that you know will never grow, sure everyone has stashed, but stashing bundles is low. A tree costs way more than the 10-20 cents you’re paid to plant it, so it’s like you’re stashing 50 dollar bills for $2 pay. I believe highballers (the vast majority) are above it.

[@tanakakokilovad1594]

Thanks you planting trees for our planet earth 🌱🌎🌱🍃🌿🌲🌲🌲🌲🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🕊

[@dylansmith3628]

Pool noodle for the foam might work better?

[@romabubyakin6086]

Wow man! You are incredibly awesome!! Thank you for the video Also I would by your stuff if it's possible, so think about own products for tree planting ;)

[@kevink.2719]

Keep doing the thing

[@narendranadreddychintalapu2916]

Good job

[@thubprint]

I love doing planting videos 😊

[@beauhume9325]

Put the weights in the handle when you cut it down

[@richardbodine7256]

I did 15 Seasons as a tree planter mostly in the South some in Minnesota and Wisconsin. We used a tool called a hodad

[@localguy5523]

I would like to know what is another name for heavy shovel for planting. Is it a highballer spade? I got the speed spade

[@montyholland3357]

Great video

[@randystone6781]

If you found a really big sinkhole, you could stash a few thousand trees a day and become a Canadian Woods Legend... 🤣

[@powellwilliams4758]

So many stories from the 70s of guys taking whole chashes and dumping em

[@-Yeti-]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/r4OncmSvo9d7irc

[@thedude5599]

Trust me you will get caught,. it is easier to just plant the,m

[@edwardmacnab354]

@@thedude5599 I've tried both-- its easier to just plant them--have seen older highballers lose their creds and career over finally getting caught- they know which area is yours so if ever checked- BINGO--they know !!

[@C1azed]

Dam I wanted to show this ti my rookies but I think it would make them to crusty :)

[@johnmcdonald2090]

Have you thought about a garbage bag around the foam incase starts to rain and ruin the foam? Nice tips

[@julesclouet8539]

Great video, I'll try to upgrade my bags for next season, this looks x1000 comfier. I can't find the sealed foam you're talking about, does it have a name/where do we usually find this thing? And for the velcro did you use a special glue or the velcro itself already had a sticky side on it when you bought it? Thanks for the advices!

[@julesclouet8539]

I have a friend who is into larp and stuff like that, he told me I can try to spray the foam with something that will seal it and then with something like plasti-dip (synthetic rubber spray), he does that to make his swords/stuff like this. Would be curious if it can work for planting, not sure it can last and be comfortable. Is wet foam really that bad? (slippery?)

[@thubprint]

The Velcro has a sticky side already, I think the closed-cell foam would be easier to stick it to. Workwizer actually makes a closed cell foam comfort pad, that’s where I got the idea. The foam I used is just basic couch cushion style foam but the closed cell is the kind of stuff they make floor mats out of. The trick is finding it thick enough, so for that reason the workwizer one is probably the easiest 👌

[@thubprint]

I did that for a Halloween costume once! It would work but it would wear off too. Higher quality foam would be the way to go imo. Wet foam is fiiiiinnne, it’s just cold and really unmotivating to put on.

[@mariehebert9386]

Ahah! some good tips in there. I wonder if the litttle pounds make the shovel a lot heavier to carry around ?

[@thubprint]

It’s definitely heavier, but compared to a bag full of trees it doesn’t seem to make any difference. Not that I’ve noticed anyway 👍

[@montyholland3357]

What's with the Jeep behind you?

[@otsego306]

need more tips on stashing

[@thubprint]

😂

[@fnumusic]

I liked all this, except the stashing part...

[@zarinagerling512]

Heat shrink the weights

[@scrumtios0]

I’m gonna be new this year but I’m wondering if a really high snake boot would be good for tree planting???

[@benmann4299]

Janzen You want lightweight, durable mid- high cut boots. Snake would be big & heavy, drag you down. If you're goin that way corks are your best option🤟🏻

[@marioncharpentier8963]

How do you cut your shovel?

[@lordblazerpsx]

here's an idea. use the duc tape, while wearing gloves and put some of it on the parts you fingers you flex with. should need 3 different separate parts per finger. mayve it'l save you money on gloves?

[@santiagoromero6279]

I've tried that and it works alright, but just like anything in the bush it'll wear with time so you'll have to be replacing it often.

[@neiszner23]

Legend has it that he's still a rookie...still not a person

[@thubprint]

😂 awwwe don’t be mean!!

[@darbstre2900]

i still am a rookie. dont worry, monday to friday 6am to 6pm thats how i get treated HAHA. its cause i missed planting last year. wont let me live it down haha

[@neiszner23]

No u

[@mathieulapointe7147]

nobody ever plant 4 k trees in a day anyway lol, that maded me laught hard, if you haven't pounded a single 4 k then you can't call yourself a highballer, did it twice on my second season without staching any tree and 4500 on my third one, I wish I could reach 5 k at one point but I got retired after my third unfortunatly :( these tricks are quite good thought, the key to make money is working with your head and never stop until the truck bell ring with angriness of the foreman

[@thubprint]

That’s definitely the trick, just keep planting. I never hit a 4k, I was proud enough to put 2k in a day! 😆

[@powellwilliams4758]

Ahaha so you wanna go again omg yes

[@thubprint]

It gets in your blood mang! Every year, I’ll never plant again... but then the snow starts to melt and you start to think it’s not that bad, and there you are in the trees again lol

[@darbstre2900]

Captain Duffshot merch when.....

[@damageinc.3695]

Put your thumb on top of handle.

[@halcooper3070]

The shovel length, and blade thing, you guys must screef a lot less than we did early 90s, you want the weight, and the place to step on it to get it in, a 35 cent tree cannot be planted with a thrust of the shovel.

[@thubprint]

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a 35c tree in my whole life haha, I might try a screef if that’s what they paid me!

[@halcooper3070]

@thubprint we used to have bare dirt, 6x6, no duff. I heard a couple years after I stopped that they'd decided the trees were getting baked in the sun, and air around the plug wasn't so bad, so they changed all that. But we had to get down low , shovel.alomst horizontal, if you wanted to take it off in one swipe. And we sharpened that side of the shovel, you had to. Same game in the end, I did it for 8 years, 3 planting, 2 foreman, supervised the last 3 years, I miss it!!! Am I correct in someone in some video saying 9-5? Labor laws finally caught up? ;)

[@jackpotdigger834]

Making fun of the new rookie is one thing i miss of team work

[@powellwilliams4758]

Shine guards just saying like for soccer that with gators you plow through any under growth. J.s

[@thubprint]

That would be a look! 😆

[@mehowshorts]

👍🙂👍

[@mollynakamori]

Don't you feel like you've been beaten with a stick and chewed by 100 puppies by the end of a day? I have done some brush clearance in the forest, but this looks brutal.

[@thubprint]

It certainly wears you down haha! The first week is the worst though, after that you just go robot mode and just eat a lot of food. Or quit. A lot of people bail their first year. Just part of the gig.

[@sebhus174]

Mhh I agree and disagree. Fun to watch tho!

[@boatman0]

weld the weight

[@thubprint]

That’s heckin brilliant 😮 If the shaft is stainless the weld will be more challenging of course

[@boatman0]

@@thubprint if you use a staff lots of wood to just drill into as well.. enjoying your vids. done planting i take it??

[@davidboyd2127]

Yeah bro your not from the UK. It's a kicker or your wrist will last one measly day. Even the pros stamp the shovel down.

[@edwardmacnab354]

About the gloves--who wears gloves ? just duct tape your fingers !!

[@halcooper3070]

Gloves? Tried them once. Nope.

[@sstonesful]

Gotta take off my bags to pee 😐

[@thubprint]

Ooooo, right. I take mine off as well, but I suppose I don’t *have* to

[@sstonesful]

@@thubprint Jealous of dudes in that respect

[@africabalderson8636]

Stashing and cheating not cool, not funny. Impressed with the bag pads but ...

[@thubprint]

Was intended as satire, did my best to make it obvious

[@scrumtios0]

I’m gonna be new this year but I’m wondering if a really high snake boot would be good for tree planting???

[@thubprint]

I don’t know exactly what a snake boot is, but boots are super important! Aim for comfort, ankle support, and ideally lightweight. If the boot you’re looking at has all that and decent tread, you’re probably good. Are they water resistant? Stumbling into a swampy patch and giving yourself a soaker can screw up a day and even the day after if you can’t get them dry. Same as rolling an ankle or getting blisters. Something to think about anyway. Personally I’ve always been happy with two pairs of cheap thrift store boots cuz I know I’m going to destroy them anyway, and having a backup can be nice. Congrats on your first season! Kick some ass out there 👌 and bring a good playlist!