Jill Berry
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About Me
Originally from Nova Scotia, I planted my first year out East and another in Saskatchewan before I started with Summit in 2009. I’ve made Vancouver Island my home ever since. Planting was a way to pay for school and ended up being a lifestyle that I love and a career that I’m proud of. In the winters I work as a social worker and I’m currently training to get licensed as a log scaler (apparently, I don’t see enough trees during the summer). Otherwise, I’m cooking up a storm, playing disc golf, and hauling up crab traps with my partner, our dog and two cats on our “island off the island”. |
Industry history
This will be my 14th year in the industry. After 5 years of planting trees I worked as a checker: pay plotting and taking care of camp. The last 3 years I worked as an assistant supervisor and learned from one of the best how to run a camp (hats off to you Bryn). Tree planting has taught me two major life skills (among many): how to prioritize tasks and time, and how to problem solve constantly. Being required to adapt and learn on the go – no matter how much experience I have – is what keeps me coming back. That, and the awesome people I’ve connected with along the way.
Goals and Expectations
Safety is number one for me and I expect it to be number one for everyone in my camp. A quote that always comes to mind when I think about the responsibility we have to ourselves and to each other is, “Dying is one hell of a way to make a living”. If we don’t make it home safely at the end of the day there is no point in doing what we do. After that, I expect a good attitude and good communication. Tree planting is one of the worst jobs I’ve ever had and the best job I’ve ever had. It’s the respect and camaraderie I have with my co-workers that makes the distinction. If those expectations are met, I can do my job and make sure people have lots of land and trees - and money in the bank at the end of the season. I know a season is successful when people are stoked they made their goals and sad to leave at the same time.
This will be my 14th year in the industry. After 5 years of planting trees I worked as a checker: pay plotting and taking care of camp. The last 3 years I worked as an assistant supervisor and learned from one of the best how to run a camp (hats off to you Bryn). Tree planting has taught me two major life skills (among many): how to prioritize tasks and time, and how to problem solve constantly. Being required to adapt and learn on the go – no matter how much experience I have – is what keeps me coming back. That, and the awesome people I’ve connected with along the way.
Goals and Expectations
Safety is number one for me and I expect it to be number one for everyone in my camp. A quote that always comes to mind when I think about the responsibility we have to ourselves and to each other is, “Dying is one hell of a way to make a living”. If we don’t make it home safely at the end of the day there is no point in doing what we do. After that, I expect a good attitude and good communication. Tree planting is one of the worst jobs I’ve ever had and the best job I’ve ever had. It’s the respect and camaraderie I have with my co-workers that makes the distinction. If those expectations are met, I can do my job and make sure people have lots of land and trees - and money in the bank at the end of the season. I know a season is successful when people are stoked they made their goals and sad to leave at the same time.
