When I heard that The Fundamentals was out of print a while back, I was heartbroken. This is the book that started it all for me. I contacted Jerry B. back in April or May of this year, with the intention of bringing it back. I wanted to release it as both a paper copy and an e-book. I just couldn’t imagine his life’s work fading away, unavailable to the younger generations.

Jerry donated a couple copies to me (mine is all full of notes, underlines, asterisks, exclamation marks…you get the picture). I needed a fresh copy for this project, plus I figured I should have a backup, just in case. I asked him to sign the one that would be scanned, so that every new copy going forward would be signed by the author (he ended up signing both copies, the signed “backup” is now my prized possession!)

I brought the copy to the print shop that I have used for the last 7 years for all of my business printing. They are a good print shop, with 10 locations across the province, so they had all the equipment at their disposal. I had them slice the spine off the book, then they scanned each page, front and back, by hand (the book is over 500 pages long!). The final product was a 112 MB, PDF file of the book.

Next we started making proofs, trying to see how it would look in print. The results were lackluster. After much back and forth with the print shop, I didn’t know what to do. They had made it very clear from the get-go that this was an experiment on their part, they had never tried to re-create an out-of-print book by scanning before (it was obviously an experiment on my part as well, I’m just a tree climber.) I chose about 10 pages, with and without images, for them to re-scan, using different settings. No luck. After trying 3 different ways of scanning the book, we were unable to get a satisfactory quality. There was always a problem either with the text or the pictures, but never with both at the same time. It tended to look good in the scans but then when it went to print it either looked grainy or blurry or washed out. I was disappointed to say the least.

At that point, I turned my attention to the e-book idea. I figured it was a hell of a lot better than nothing. I prefer physical books myself, but the younger kids would be thrilled with a digital copy! So now I was faced with the 112 MB dilemma. It was way too big to be a digital download. I figured it should be less than 30 MB to distribute. I also knew it would have to be searchable if we were going to sell it. This is where the project stalled for a few months. I had no idea how to get the file size down. I’m a nerd, and I tried all kinds of things. But it wasn’t working.

Then in October, the breakthrough happened. I found out about this type of text processing in Adobe Acrobat called ‘Clearscan’. I processed the book with Clearscan, and bam! It went from 112MB to 30MB, all without negatively affecting the actual images! Then I processed it with Optical Character Recognition software, to make it fully searchable. Now everything contained in 500+ pages is easy to find, you can just press CTRL-F and it instantly shows you where it is. Next I played around with file optimization, and eventually got it down to 23 MB. I knew I was onto something!

I messaged Jerry with the good news, and started working on a sales page. 6000 words later, the sales page was done. I want to completely overwhelm people with just how much content is in this book. Whether it costs $20 or $50 or $100, it really is a steal. The knowledge and wisdom in this book is a bargain, at any price. Seriously, if you actually read all the way to the bottom of that sales page, there is no way you aren’t going to buy Jerry’s book!

So now I had the file, but I had no idea about digital payment processing or fulfillment. This took a few more weeks. I eventually figured it out. The checkout process is seamless, and the book is delivered as a digital download via email after payment is completed. Jerry said we should sell it for $20, so that’s what I did. It’s a compromise for sure on the original plan of a physical book, but I couldn’t be happier with the final outcome, I’m very proud of it.

So, to make a long story short, the Digital Edition came on-line this past Wednesday, and the first person in the world to purchase a copy was my own apprentice James! Our plans for a physical copy of the book are on hold, for now. But in the meantime, The Fundamentals is back!

I want to thank Jerry Beranek for all the support throughout this process, and for pouring his heart into The Fundamentals all those years ago. You were my inspiration from day one! I have been of the opinion for a very long time now, that every new, up and coming arborist should read ‘The Fundamentals’. This project ensures that Jerry’s book will remain available for many, many years to come!

The book has been live for a month now and it has sold over 150 copies! We couldn’t be happier. You can check out ‘The Fundamentals of General Tree Work – Digital Edition’ exclusively on EducatedClimber. All the best!

 

Get your copy of ‘The Fundamentals’ here:
https://www.educatedclimber.com/beranek-fundamentals/

 

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Climb high, Work smart, Read more.

– TreeMuggs

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In light of the first snowfall here in London, Ontario, I wanted to look at some basic considerations for working in the winter. James had an eye opener climbing in snowy conditions today for the first time! Here are some things to think about for winter tree climbing:

1. Ropes
When you use ropes in the snow, they get covered in it, then they get warmed up from usage, which soaks the water into them, and then they freeze overnight. Then the next morning, they are… literally… useless. Don’t be the guy who tries to use a frozen rope – for anything. You need to get religious about drying out the ropes that you use on a daily basis: take them home, unpack them in the house, get them dry. For me, this means beside the wood stove. Regardless of how you accomplish this, it has to become a priority. Figure out a way to dry your ropes each night, and do it every time. This also means that I end up limiting the number of ropes that I use – one climbing rope, one main rigging rope, one tag line, and that’s about it. The more ropes you use each day, the more ropes you have to dry each night…

2. Hands
I don’t know about you, but when my hands get really cold, they are utterly useless. Imagine trying to do tree work with two frozen stubs where your hands used to be… yeah you get the picture. I don’t climb with gloves during the summer, but in the winter I can’t climb without them. Get some good insulated grippy gloves, and bring minimum 2 pairs to work each day. They have to be dry to be useful. Keep your backup pair(s) in the truck on the dashboard heater where they can get dry on the way to the next job. If you are working with a bucket truck, turn the heater on low while you are working and keep your backup gloves on the vents.

3. Head
If my head and ears get real cold, I’m pretty much done. Get a helmet liner, and get back to work.

4. Upper body
Get some good, insulated, long-sleeve base-layer shirts that are made for work. These can make all the difference on those cold days. These go underneath your regular work shirts. I also like a good quality work sweater with hood, the kind that doesn’t have a zipper. This will hold in a lot of warmth. Also consider a wind-proof outer jacket, this can be a game changer for working in the cold.

5. Lower body
Chainsaw pants are notoriously warm, it’s like we wear snow-pants all summer long! But when the cold weather comes back around, it might be time to re-evaluate your chainsaw pants. Grab a new pair that is free of holes, and all the wear and tear from the summer work. Your legs will thank you.

6. Socks
Get some good, thick, wool socks for the winter. Some people go with just wool, some put woolies on top of their regular socks. Bring a backup pair of socks to work each day, just in case. Cold and wet feet can wreck your day so fast… trust me on this.

7. Boots
I have made it a habit for the last 10 years to get a new pair of work boots as we get into the winter season. Snowy trees are slippery, and snowy ground is wet. Good quality, leather work boots are a necessity in the snow, don’t skimp on your boots!

 

So, what about you? What are your recommendations for working in the cold? Reply and let me know, I will add it to this article!

 

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Climb high, Work smart, Read more.
– Treemuggs (Patrick)

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I was talking to my friend Ben this morning about lanyard setups and the costs involved in moving from simplistic, old-school setups, to more modern setups, involving micropulleys, biners, hitch cords, etc. I was sensing some hesitation on his part, mostly due to the cost of getting all of this extra kit. It brought to mind an idea that has come up so many times over the years regarding the price of gear – you need to remember that gear makes you money! Spending money on this stuff is not the same as spending it on video game systems, or a night at the bar with your buddies. It took me a long time to realize that difference, but once I did, it was a game changer.

Good gear is capital. Now I know that people use the word ‘capital’ these days interchangeably with the word ‘money’. But capital is not money. OK, here’s a super-mega nerd revelation – I collect old dictionaries. Now I know what you’re thinking – you can just look up the definitions of words on Google right? Yes, you can. You can learn the current definition of words on Google. But many definitions have changed over the years, and ‘capital’ is one of them. The historical definition was “anything used in the production or distribution of goods and services.” And I would argue, by extension, that anything that is used in the production or distribution of goods and services, is not a cost, but rather an investment. If it speeds up production, or adds a layer of safety, or makes your life easier, then it is an investment, it is capital, and it is worth every penny. And if you end up using it over the long haul, it is not only worth every penny, it is actually incredibly cheap!

I remember doing my very first side job. I borrowed my buddy’s spurs to do it, and then I took every penny from that job and went and bought my own set of spurs. They cost me $500, which at the time seemed insane. But you know what? I still use that same old pair of spurs, and they are still kicking ass. So what seemed super expensive to me at the time, was actually cheap as shit – think about all of the money those spurs have made me over the last 9 and a half years! It’s insane! So that is how I view gear and kit. If it makes you money and it is durable and long-lasting, then it is actually very inexpensive! Seriously. Most of this stuff didn’t even exist a few years ago! Do you realize how fortunate we are to be able to buy a 5000 lb, triple-action biner for $20-$30? Or a 24 strand, 6000 lb rope for a couple hundred dollars? We are literally living in the future! This stuff is amazing, it’s being produced on a massive scale, and we are so, super lucky to be able to get it through any one of dozens of suppliers. Gratitude, my friends. Seriously!

This is not to suggest that you throw your hard earned cash at every shiny piece of kit you see. Money is tight, trust me, I know. You need to carefully evaluate each purchase beforehand. It’s only expensive if you buy one of everything, all willy-nilly, because you will end up with a bunch of stuff that you don’t even end up using. This is why it pays to hang out with other people in the trade. Make friends with climbers from other companies. Go to industry get-togethers. Check out the tree climbing competitions. Watch trusted sources on Youtube. Be informed on the new gear. Evaluate as many options as you can, before making the purchase. The marketplace around this trade has exploded over the past 15 years, and I know it can be thoroughly overwhelming. Learn as much as you can, don’t just go out and buy kit. But don’t make the mistake of thinking that this stuff is way overpriced. Because, quite simply, it isn’t.

 

Continue Reading: Gary Vaynerchuk’s 10 Rules of Success

 

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Climb high, Work smart, Read more.
– TreeMuggs

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photo courtesy of linkedin.com

“I influence anybody who is able to get through the chaos of my first impression.”
– Gary Vaynerchuk

Gary Vaynerchuk was on my radar for a few years before I ever actually listened or watched his material. I did not like his style at first. He seemed brash and egotistical, not at all what I was expecting. But I stuck around for a few longer podcasts and then it clicked. His message was the opposite of most of the so-called “gurus” out there. Vaynerchuk is an actual practitioner – he runs ‘actual’ businesses, not just ‘online’ businesses. He is not making money online by selling courses that show people how to make money online. You can’t buy his “Hard Work” e-book.

Gary Vaynerchuk was born in the Soviet Union, in Belarus. His family emigrated to the US when he was 3. A born entrepreneur, he is a pioneer in online retailing, social media storytelling, and branding. Clients of his $100 million digital ad agency VanyerMedia include Fortune 500 companies such as General Electric, Anheuser-Busch, and PepsiCo. In addition to his business acumen, Gary is a highly sought-after public speaker, 4-time bestselling author, and an angel investor in dozens of Silicon Valley startups, including Facebook and Twitter. And in his spare time, Gary is a social media influencer with millions of followers, operating under the nickname GaryVee. In other words, Gary Vaynerchuk works harder than you and I do.

So, what does Gary Vaynerchuk have to say about success in life and business in the 21st century? Here are 10 of his go-to themes that have made a big impact on me personally over the last few months:

1. Hustle!

As Gary Vee is fond of saying, “Hustle is the number-one controllable factor of personal success”. You might not be the best looking, or the smartest, or the strongest, but you CAN outwork your competition. As Napoleon Hill famously said, “Create a definite plan for carrying out your desire, and begin at once, whether you are ready or not, to put this plan into action.” Don’t have time? Get up earlier. Don’t play Call of Duty. Don’t veg out on Facebook. Time is not something to be ‘found’ – nobody ‘lost’ it. Time is something to be made. You will make time in your life to accomplish everything that matters to you. You can take that one to the bank.

2. Bet on your strengths. Triple down on what you’re good at and ignore the rest.

Self-awareness is one of the keys to life. Since ancient times, the phrase “know thyself” has had a profoundly important meaning and role in the lives of people trying to better themselves. You can’t be good at everything. When I was young I often heard people use the term ‘jack of all trades, master of none’ in endearing terms, as if this was something to strive for. But in this modern world of information overload, that has all changed. The people who have the biggest impact and the most success these days are the ones who zero in with laser focus on one thing and become the best at it. Do you actually think that LeBron James gave a crap about organic chemistry? Know thyself. Don’t try to be something you’re not.

3. Patience! It’s a marathon, not a sprint.

You have to play the long game. Thinking long-term changes everything. So many other people go on about shortcuts and ‘hacks’, trying to sell ebooks and courses to jumpstart your success. Gary Vee’s message of just putting your head down and working, day in and day out for years before you can even expect success, might seem frustrating at first, but he’s right. Just as anything worth learning is going to take years to learn, so to, anything worth building is going to take years to build.

4. The market, is the market, is the market.

You don’t get to decide what is good or successful – the market does. If everyone else thinks that your stuff is crap, then it’s crap. Sorry. Maybe you are just a unique visionary, a once-in-a-generation genius, but let’s be honest – that probably ain’t the case. Everyone loves to think that they are a unique snowflake…….you however, are not (and neither am I). Look, I get it. Everyone wants to feel special, but really, you’re not Thomas Edison, or Benjamin Franklin, you’re just…well…you. So get over it, and get to work.

5. Ideas are shit. Execution is everything.

There I was, playing road hockey with a tennis ball. I must have been 9 or 10 years old. At some point that summer, it struck me like a flash – I had an invention. I imagined a road hockey puck with wheels so it could slide along the street, I thought it would be awesome! It would need 3 wheels to balance. I was really onto something! Then, about a year later, I saw that exact product in the store. Damn, that was my idea! Do you know how many people claim to have the next great app, or product, or world changing idea? And yet how many of them will actually execute on that idea and make something of it? One out of a thousand? Probably far less than that. Forget about being all secretive with your ideas – share your ideas and be an open book. Become an idea machine and then share the wealth. After all: ideas are shit, execution is everything.

6. Jab, jab, jab, right hook. (Give, give, give, ask)

Before you ever ask for something, you need to give freely of your time, energy, knowledge, and skills. It is the mark of an amateur to try and close the deal on the first interaction. You must build trust, and trust takes time. When trust is involved, it becomes so much more than just a financial transaction. You must always provide more in value that what you are asking in return. This is how you play the long game. You leave money on the table now, so that you can win in the end. Zig Ziglar famously said “You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help other people get what they want”. Deploy empathy, see the world through the other person’s eyes, and help them get what they want.

7. When you give, with expectation in return, you lose.

You know the person I’m talking about. The one who seems to keep score of everything. The one who always feels they are owed something. Or the one who does a favor for you, just so they can ask you to do something for them. Don’t be that guy. It might work for you in the short term, but over time people will eventually catch on and they will resent you for it. As Gary Vee loves to say, “I have zero expectations of others, and that is the reason I’m happy 24/7/365.”

8. The biggest ‘tell’ that someone is a loser – is complaining.

Complainers have the unique ability to suck the life out of a room. When was the last time that you walked away from an interaction with a cronic complainer and said “Wow, that was great. So glad to see that person again!”. Yeah, that’s right, never. You are the average of the 5 people that you spend the most time with, so don’t waste your time with complainers.

9. Ignore the Opinions of Others

Most people are being held back by others. Often times it’s not explicit. Your mom isn’t going to come to you and say that she will lose respect for you if you fail. But in your imagination, that is exactly what you think will happen. So you make excuses. “Well, I would go for it, but what about all the ‘I told you so’s ‘ if it doesn’t work out?”. “I don’t want to look like a fool”. “I can’t do ‘x’ because I need to pay the bills today, and the crappy job that I have is already doing that for me”. So, what? You’re going to stay in that crappy job for another 15-20 years just because it pays your bills for the time being, or just because your mom gets to tell her friends that her kid has a ‘nice, steady job’? Stop caring about what everyone thinks about you, or wants for you. Grow up and do what’s right for you. You can’t please everyone, and why would you want to? You just do you, and the rest will work itself out.

10. Legacy matters. Who will be at your funeral?

How you make your money is far more important than how much money you make. The internet is full of slimebags who make a ton of money in shady ways. But you know what? If you were at a party and you met one of these people and you asked them, or their significant other, how they make a living – they would be embarassed to tell you. And why is that? Because they should be. If you generally care deeply about how history will look back on you, I guarantee that you will put more thought into the actions and decisions that you take, in business and in life.

 

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Well, there you have it. The bar has been set high. If you have plans and ambitions and lofty goals, it’s time to stop watching inspirational videos. It’s time to stop reading business and self-help books. Stop waiting for all the stars to align, for all the lights to be green. Just start working. Start from where you are, with what you have. Conditions are never going to be perfect. Right action, combined with honest intentions, coupled with empathy and gratitude can take you where you want to go. Your job…is to put in the work. Got it?

 

“If you’ve lost your hustle, it’s because you aren’t in tune to why you’re doing it”
– Gary Vaynerchuk

 

Check out Gary’s bestselling books for a shot in the arm of entrepreneurial savvy and timeless, practical advice to take you from where you are, to where you want to be in the 21st century world of business.

Crush It! Why Now Is The Time To Cash In On Your Passion

The Thank You Economy

Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook – How To Tell Your Story In A Noisy Social World

#AskGaryVee – One Entrepreneur’s Take On Leadership, Social Media, and Self-Awareness

 

To learn more about Gary Vaynerchuk, check out the links below:

Website:	garyvaynerchuk.com
Youtube:	youtube.com/user/garyvaynerchuk
Podcast:	GaryVee Audio Experience
Facebook:	facebook.com/gary
Twitter:	twitter.com/garyvaynerchuk
Instagram:	instagram.com/garyvee
Medium:	medium.com/@garyvee
Wikipedia:	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Vaynerchuk

 

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Climb high, Work smart, Read more.
– TreeMuggs

I would love to hear from you. Please send all comments/questions/hatemail to patrick@educatedclimber.com

 

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“There is nothing new except what has been forgotten.”   – Rose Bertin

The year is 1917. Woodrow Wilson is President of the United States. After more than 2  1/2 years of intense fighting, the Great War rages on, and the food supplies of Europe are at a critical low. Farms have long since been stripped of their male workers, and the farms of so much of France and the low countries lay in waste. Rationing isn’t enough. With large swaths of Europe on the verge of famine, creative solutions are being sought.

Charles Lathrop Pack (1857-1937) was a successful 3rd generation timberman, and one of the 5 wealthiest men in America prior to World War I. He served as president of the American Forestry Association, one of the principal advocates of the early forest conservation movement, and later founded the American Tree Association, contributing some of his millions to further research in forestry and forest education.

In March of 1917, some weeks before the US entered the war, Pack organized the US National War Garden Commission, to encourage men and women on the homefront to contribute directly to the war effort by converting urban spaces into productive gardens and mini-farms. This is the story of the movement he founded.

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From the first chapter:

“The war garden was a war-time necessity. This was true because war conditions made it essential that food should be raised where it had not been produced in peace times, with labor not engaged in agricultural work and not taken from any other industry, and in places where it made no demand upon the railroads already overwhelmed with transportation burdens.

“Before the people would spring to the hoe, as they instinctively sprang to the rifle, they had to be shown, and shown conclusively, that the bearing of the one implement was as patriotic a duty as the carrying of the other. The idea of the “city farmer” came into being. The creation of an army of soldiers of the soil presented much the same difficulties presented by the creation of any other army. First of all there was the matter of recruiting. This was a purely volunteer movement and all recruits must come through voluntary enlistment. Then it was necessary to point out the importance of the work and to create enthusiasm for gardening. Next, it was necessary to train the recruits. Intelligent instruction had to be furnished, for many of these new soldiers of the soil had never before handled a hoe or a garden fork. So unexpectedly great was the response to the campaign that it proved essential to turn attention to the matter of food conservation, to the preservation of surplus products which the garden campaign had brought into being.”

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Initially referred to as War gardens, the name was changed to Victory gardens after the conflict had ended. This name was resurrected with the onset of World War II when, once again, food production would become critical to the war effort.

It is my sincere wish that this volume will be of help once again, in these times of growing uncertainty. Detailing both food production and food preservation methods, part narrative and part instruction manual, this classic little book is as timely now as it was 100 years ago. Learning the skills of food gardening at home is a worthy and meaningful undertaking for both adults and children alike. Putting these skills into practice gives one a sense of empowerment, independence, and, maybe in some small way, a measure of control over our circumstances.

Together, let us channel that pioneering spirit of a bygone era, and each do our part, by growing our own “Victory” gardens.

Will you have a part in victory?

Patrick Masterson
H.A.F. Publishing
April, 2020

 

Free Ebook available below:

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The War Garden Victorious by CL Pack – HAF Publishing – No Coverx

Download as PDF

 

source: archive.org

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Climb High, Work Smart, Read More.
-TreeMuggs

I would love to hear from you. Please send all comments/questions/hatemail  to patrick@educatedclimber.com

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