r/treeplanting Jan 27 '24

ANNOUNCEMENT Rookies/New Members READ HERE BEFORE POSTING

20 Upvotes

NOTE: This is NOT a subreddit for gardening/planting trees on your property. This is a subreddit about Industrial Silviculture Tree-Planting where we plant seedlings and get paid per tree that we plant in mass quantities across Canada and the globe. Please visit r/gardening r/trees or r/marijuanaenthusiasts for your questions about planting trees on your property. This is not the place and your post will be removed.

Please see the tabs at the top of the subreddit to see if you can find what you're looking for before posting. For rookies consult the Rookie Tab and see if you can find an answer there, or use the tree planting archive to search for the New Planter/Rookie question flair to see if the question has been asked already in the past month.

The Company directory tab leads to companies ranked into three different tiers and each title is a hyperlink that should lead to their company website (note that some companies do not have websites). We have also compiled all the threads discussing these companies which you can also visit and read about. Feel free to make new posts asking for reviews on a specific company you are thinking of working for. It is highly encouraged to do so as this helps planters understand how a company currently is, old reviews could be inaccurate.

We also have a MEGATHREAD for company reviews. It is linked in the directory, but the megathread is also a valuable resource for finding the inside scoop on companies from years past.

The resources tab is useful to members who might be trying to decide whether to go planting. It contains many resources and documentaries on Tree-Planting.

We do not tolerate bigotry, hate speech, doxxing etc. in this subreddit and users who engage in such activities will be banned.

Also please try to use the appropriate flairs when you make your post. It creates more work for the mods if you do not. If you have a suggestion for a needed flair please reach out, we will consider it based on the need for it.

If you need to reach out to the mod team, please do so. We appreciate having you all here and hope we can effect some change through our discussion here.

Cheers,

Mod Team


r/treeplanting May 22 '25

ANNOUNCEMENT Before You Drop $24 on a Guide, Here’s What Planting Actually Pays

206 Upvotes

HELLO, curious scrollers (especially our new friends from south of the border).

We’ve noticed a recent surge in international traffic to the subreddit—hi, Americans—and along with it, a wave of curiosity about tree planting as a profession.

Let’s address the root cause: a certain Instagram account (no, we’re not giving it a plug) that’s selling a dream—and a hefty $24 guide—about making $80K CAD in four months, living in luxury, and pocketing $500–$800 a day in the woods.

Yeah. About that.

This post is here to gently dismantle those fantasy figures and offer a realistic perspective on the job.

THE MONEY TALK

Realistic Daily Earnings: There are no official stats, but most planters report around $300–$400/day. Ontario, the Maritimes, and coastal BC generally trend lower; Alberta and BC’s interior can be higher.

Camp & Company Variance: Some Ontario gigs? Brutal—$200–$250/day. Meanwhile, certain BC camps average $600+. The spread depends on company overhead, terrain, and experience levels of veteran planters.

Minimum Wage Baseline: Let’s do some math. Minimum wage in Canada (depending on province) works out to about $180–$200/day for an 11-hour shift—the typical planter’s workday, portal to portal. So yes, most planters are earning more than minimum wage… but not necessarily by a massive margin.

And for a job that involves daily physical punishment, remote living, gear costs, and 6,000-calorie workdays? You’d hope the pay would blow minimum wage out of the water. If this industry wants to attract and retain quality workers, the compensation needs to match the grind. Right now, it’s often flirting with the line between noble labour and underpaid masochism.

$800/day or higher? Could it happen? Sure—for the top 5–10% of planters. These folks are cranking out trees like machines though. It’s possible, but it’s not typical.

EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE (EI)

Yes, some planters collect EI in the offseason. That’s legal—if you’re actively looking for work. If you’re just chilling at home, mixing beats in your bedroom and calling it a job hunt, you’re gaming the system. It doesn’t reflect the reality for most of us.

THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS

This part Instagram definitely leaves out: Gear: You pay for all your equipment—bags, shovels, boots, the works. Expect to drop $1,000 per season, unless you’re thrifty.

Travel: You’re footing the bill to get to the worksite.

Camp Costs: Planters usually pay $25–$30/day for food, shelter, and heat. That’s right—you pay to live in a tent while doing this job. There’s no cushy per diem like other remote workers enjoy.

THE PHYSICAL REALITY

Tree planting is no joke. As I said before, we’re talking 6000+ calories burned per day, rain or shine, bugs or blisters. It’s an endurance sport, not a weekend wellness retreat. Planters often suffer from tendonitis, bruising, allergic reactions, trench foot and plain old EXHAUSTION while planting 500-6000 trees PER DAY depending on the terrain. So yeah—the pay is solid. But we earn every cent with sweat, soreness, and the occasional soul-crushing plot.

FOR OUR NON-CANADIAN FRIENDS

Thinking of hopping the border or crossing an ocean to join our merry gang? First off, welcome. Second, a reality check: You must have a valid Canadian work visa to be hired. No exceptions. No, companies will not sponsor you. Tree planting companies already deal with enough chaos (weather delays, bears, broken trucks, etc.)—they’re not equipped to navigate immigration paperwork too.

If you’re serious about coming here to work, sort out your visa situation before applying. Otherwise, you’re just clogging up inboxes and disappointing everyone, including yourself.

WRAPPING IT UP

If you’re genuinely curious about becoming a tree planter—awesome. You’ll find real guidance and camaraderie right here on this subreddit.

But please, don’t make life decisions based on the shiny promises of an Instagram influencer selling a dream for $24.

Also, all the best advice? It’s already here. And it’s free. In the sidebar, and existing guides like this one.

I’ll add supporting links in the comments later.

Stay safe out there folks.

Cheers,

Orlock & the Mod Team (still not planting in luxury condos)


r/treeplanting 13h ago

Employment PLANTERS WANTED Alaska winter trees

10 Upvotes

69 cents a tree

Snow screef, auger, fertilizer, flagger.

Big trees maybe 17 per bag up if you're a Chad.

3 per plot.

Salt and pepper.

Fill plant.

Unprepped.

Walk ins only.

The parties are lit tho.

Who's down?


r/treeplanting 1d ago

Industry Discussion Looking for interviewees for an article for CIC’s Open Canada Journal

11 Upvotes

Looking for treeplanters, foremen, etc. to go on the record for an article in the CIC.

I’m a journalist and am on assignment to write about summer contracts in silviculture and forestry. If you are knowledgeable and experienced and willing to be interviewed, please comment and I will reach out with my information. This article will be published in the CIC’s Open Canada journal. This is not an exposé — it is a feature. Below are the details of the pitch.

Hook: Summer tree planting contracts are in decline. Contracts expected to last months are ending earlier than expected, at increasing rates, leaving thousands of contract workers out of work. For the workers that remain, planting specs have grown more specific over time, making putting in high numbers which translate into high income, that much more difficult. Starting with Canadian forestry and silviculture, U.S. tariffs have begun to significantly threaten the North-South trade corridor between Canada and the United States whilst rising temperatures exacerbate preexistent geopolitical tension between the two nations.

Climate angle: Rising temperatures directly impact Canadian forestry and silviculture by forcing contractors to adjust to dryer soil, soaring spring temperatures, and changing work conditions whilst attempting to work within a profit margin that is growing increasingly narrow.

Tariffs angle: U.S. lumber tariffs have slashed Canadian mill profits — Canada has responded by providing multi-billion dollar loan packages and subsidies to the Canadian forestry and silviculture industry, and is in talks about diversifying their trade partners, looking particularly to the UK to fill the gap.

This is a working hook and angle — open to feedback based on verifiable information. My hook and angle are based on interviews I’ve conducted on background — if you think I’m missing something or looking in the wrong direction, please let me know.

Thank you for reading!


r/treeplanting 1d ago

Dreams of Escape resume help

3 Upvotes

foreman's of the treeplanting world, what does your resume blurb look like?


r/treeplanting 1d ago

Financial & Legal finished my season july 5, starting school september 7, should i bother applying for ei?

3 Upvotes

this was my first year planting and i’m considering applying for ei before school starts but will it even be worth my time if it doesn’t come in until august or later?? if i didn’t make a TON of money especially will it be worth my time? seasoned planter/ei riders/students lemme know your thoughts <3


r/treeplanting 2d ago

Gear/ Planting Paraphanelia Better shoulder straps

3 Upvotes

I need some better shoulder straps that the stock bushpro ones. What are some options I could get and where can I acquire such a thing that will work with the bags.


r/treeplanting 4d ago

Treemes/Photos/Videos/Art/Stories This is what I do when it’s too hot to plant, music synced up flawlessly

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114 Upvotes

r/treeplanting 4d ago

Employment PLANTERS WANTED Hiring Post Alberta Summer Trees

14 Upvotes

SPOTS ARE FILLED THANK YOU

Looking for an extra hand or two to wrap our contract near Pincher Creek AB this weekend. After we have 3 or 4 days working in Slave Lake AB. Sort of a long drive from Pincher, if you want to leave your PV at our secure yard near Calgary you can do so and ride in a company truck to save gas.

Pincher base 18c (most has been around 19c-20c). Slave will be 21c because we're planting 512s.

Perfect Storm Reforestation (I'm the owner). Ask any questions you want!

Experienced vet average wages around 550$

Very over grown - summer, ofc.

Near Pincher we're not using flagger due to responsible land use. In Slave Lake we'll have flagger.

Crew motels or airbnbs. No camp cost. Paid weekly. 50$ Meal allowance if your motel doesn't have a kitchen.

Need someone for Pincher ASAP.


r/treeplanting 5d ago

Industry Discussion Driving to camp

5 Upvotes

Hey folks,

So I got a contract out in BC and I will need to drive my personal truck to camp which is on a maintained FSR. I have a truck properly equipped for driving on bush roads and I've been working long enough in the industry to know how to drive it properly, calling my kms and whatnot and have a radio installed too, but my employer keeps insisting that they don't want me to take my personal truck as they would be liable for any incident since I'm on company time and I wouldn't be paid for the drive from the office to camp if I would be to drive it there.

This is kind of odd since it's not the first time I've done this and I've never had issues with this before, anyone care to pitch in here? Cheers


r/treeplanting 7d ago

Industry Discussion Another Mill Closing

18 Upvotes

This time it's the Northwood pulp mill in Prince George. Yet another in a long string of mill closures over the past handful of years, and especially over the last two years.

It's a tough time to be in the forestry sector.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/canfor-mill-closes-9.7270420


r/treeplanting 7d ago

Safety Two dead in helicopter crash on B.C. coast

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10 Upvotes

r/treeplanting 9d ago

Safety Would remote northern camps pay for on-site physio/RMT services?

11 Upvotes

I'm exploring the idea of starting a mobile physio/RMT service that travels to remote camps (tree planting, forestry, wildfire crews, mining, etc.) for a few days at a time.
The goal would be to provide injury treatment, rehab support, and education to help workers stay healthy and reduce time lost from injuries.
For anyone who works in or manages these camps:
Would this be a service people would actually use?
Would companies pay for something like this?
What would be a reasonable rate for a physio/RMT to come to camp for a few days?


r/treeplanting 12d ago

Rumor Mill What's been some camp drama this year?

48 Upvotes

Retired planter here, working a desk job and I miss the bush life. Would love to hear what shenanigans or fuckery went down this year.

I remember a time when one guy passed out under the lunch prep station on a weeknight. I was making a sandwich in the morning for lunch when he crawled out from under the table. He let us know he was awoken in the night to a bear licking his face, but then promptly went back to sleep under the table.


r/treeplanting 12d ago

On the Block Big Visitor & A Killer View

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30 Upvotes

r/treeplanting 12d ago

Camp/Motel Life When It’s Windy But You’re All Hungover 😂

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154 Upvotes

It got cleaned up. Eventually.


r/treeplanting 13d ago

On the Block Guess that price

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53 Upvotes

r/treeplanting 12d ago

General/Miscellaneous Pound for solidarity and support 7th Generation Rising!

0 Upvotes

The Tree Worker’s Industrial Group is announcing our second solidarity fundraising drive.

As primary industry workers in Canada, it is important that we recognize our connection to the displacement, dispossession and genocide of indigenous peoples upon which all resource extraction industry in Canada is built. Every citizen of Canada is sadly bound to participate in the continuation of this legacy, but as resource workers our connection is direct as we witness first hand the ravenous appetite of capital devouring the Earth. Thus, TWIG believes it is our responsibility to use our voice to promote and solicit support for grass-roots decolonization, mutual aid, and indigenous sovereignty direct action. This season, we will be planting some of our trees to support the efforts of 7th Generation Rising, and we are asking our fellow planters to do the same.

7th Generation Rising is an indigenous youth led mutual aid group based in Saskatoon. They gather each Sunday evening to provide around 300 warm meals, clothing, essential resources and human connection and care to those in need in their community. With your support, 7th Generation Rising can continue the excellent mutual aid work they have been doing, healing at least a few of the innumerable wounds caused by settler colonialism.

Remember that every penny counts and no donation is too small to matter. Promoting their work through your own networks is a helpful alternative.

Each tree in the ground can become toothpicks, toilet paper, particle board, maybe even a few 2x4s if you plant a real good one! But it will also become your breakfast, your gas, your home. And it can also become one small piece of healing for someone in your greater community who has none of those things.

Pound for solidarity and support 7th Generation Rising!

You can donate to 7th Generation Rising at the link:

https://donorbox.org/7thgenrising?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQPOTM2NjE5NzQzMzkyNDU5AAGnNJNsO3aOuyAk8D7lHRK84t45YqHqrfuTJrbAkwhmO39vSB0W_lip1K4pBRc_aem_qcWwZVv5lTNigmBLKcnyWQ


r/treeplanting 13d ago

Planter Inspiration/Struggles/Mental Health Vulnerable

16 Upvotes

Hello, I am a rookie planter and want to share some of my season here to get some insight on how it went. I just feel pretty alone and would like some objective feedback on my rookie year from the community.

Three days out of the season I stayed home. One of them was because my friend was sick and I wanted to support him at the clinic and the other two were mental fatigue and a lack of discipline/motivation.

I stayed at around 600-800 trees for my first few shifts and then finally hit 1000 on some nice mounds and then kicked up to 1350 on some reaaally nice land. I stayed consistent with 1350 for a whole shift. Then we moved to a terribly steep fill plant with so much vegetation and I didnt even break 400 trees those days. That land was so confusing and the vegetation reached over my head.

Since that plant, we moved to help with a pretty tough contract, tougher than what I’d been on, and I was again all over the place - 600, 800, 900, 1000. Just really inconsistent. We came back from that tough contract and I kicked back up to 900, 1240, 1100. Then I went down to 840 on a really hot day.

My consistency is all over the place, and I know thats my main hurdle. I love planting and some of my experiences have really destroyed my confidence. I feel like I’ve really disappointed my crew and my foreman and I understand if I have. That disappointment in me has also really affected my morale and I feel like they discount me. I understand why they do but it does suck. Its stupid but I feel stupid even trying harder, which I know is so backwards.

I want to know, is it possible to come back from it? How does one stay consistent? I think the answer is probably just “by staying consistent.” I’m assuming its trial by fire. I really love planting and want to come back. I’m not entirely sure what I’m asking. Ive just felt a bit alone for the past few shifts and I’d really like to end the season strong. I’m scared maybe planting just isnt for me and I really want it to be for me. I love planting. Not sure. Anyway thank you for reading.


r/treeplanting 14d ago

Treemes/Photos/Videos/Art/Stories Charging exorbitantly more in the short-term, pissing off your long-time customers, and opening yourself up to future competition because of it doesn't seem like a clever business move to me, but what do I know I just plant trees.

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132 Upvotes

r/treeplanting 15d ago

Industry Discussion "Is it okay if I bring my drone to the block?"

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1.1k Upvotes

r/treeplanting 17d ago

Planters Seeking Work Costal fall plant?

3 Upvotes

I'm looking for a job this fall planting costal. It's my forth season. Any recommendations for companies and is it too late to apply?


r/treeplanting 17d ago

Industry Discussion Camp costs

1 Upvotes

Is it customary among companies to charge gst on top of camp costs?


r/treeplanting 21d ago

Industry Discussion Canadian tries to set world record for most trees planted in 24 hours — again

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439 Upvotes

r/treeplanting 21d ago

Industry Discussion Contract questions

8 Upvotes

Hi, I’m curious if there’s like a public database for contracts handed out to companies from clients... I’m sorry if the questions inane, this is my first year planting.

I’m currently working on a Tolko contract, and my crew lead’s sent the contract in a group chat but I wanted to know if they’re publicly available. I’m interested in how theyve shifted over time (tree price tree amount type of ground etc)

Is there such thing?