What are the best companies to work for?

[PlantGypsy]

What are the best companies to work for in which regions? I've heard to stay away from big corporations like Folklore and Brinkman, especially out west, and companies that you're lucky to work for include Northern Reforestation, Zanzibar, Wild Winds and Artisan. Then again Folklore's got a very honest appearance and some say that its great for rookies to start with Brinkmans. Who will give you the best per tree compensation, and what are some other things to consider in judging a company?

[mwainwright]

wild winds!

[Jimbo the Mook]

Yep, Wild Winds. Definitely! Great company to work for!

Good luck luck out there PlantGypsy!

[Scooter]

I feel that the Wild Winds legend will be repeated here for years.

To give you a serious answer, I think the best approach is to see who will hire you, and then try to figure it out as a choice between a few options. For instance, the chances of getting hired at Zanzibar, Wildwoods, or Artisan are about one in thirty-three million if you don't have documented appropriate planting experience. Some companies just don't even look at applications from rookies. If you're a rookie trying to apply at those companies that only hire vets, you're wasting their time, and you're wasting your own time.

Time is a precious commodity. Don't waste it.

[donkeyrider]

For your first season planting you will make more money in the Interior vs your other choices. There is no such thing as good or bad land only good or bad prices (or places for that matter). Doesn't matter if your being paid 40 cents a tree if you can only only 200-300. Or 8 cents if you can plant 2000. The interior is the best bang for you buck the first season. Learn quickly, work your tail off, use your time extremely efficiently, and you'll have your chance to make some good money. Maybe after a solid rookie season Wild Winds will even give you a shot...
Happy Hunting

[Scooter]

And by the way, please don't post the same question multiple times. It's annoying.

[PlantGypsy]

And by the way, please don't post the same question multiple times. It's annoying.

For the record, I posted two different questions; what are the best companies to work for and what region could you make the most money in.

[Scooter]

Ah, I didn't notice. I thought they were the same. Ok, so let's assume that this thread can answer both questions, since I deleted the other one.

[CalviNNatioN]

Im replying late to a lot of these but I planted in Northwestern ontario for Haveman Bros.

I made 9 cents a tree and the land on average was good enough to pound in a decent wages worth. I planted 95K first year.

My crew was almost entirely made up of rookies. I believe we had around 55 rookies and 10 vets. A good 20 of those rookies left though. It was terrible.

Our lowest baller planted probably 40-50 K so thats not super bad either. I wouldn't come back with that but they made money none the less.

Our highest rookie planted about 110K

Good company, great people and fun times!

[Scooter]

Not to sound critical, because I believe you posted in good faith about Haveman. And of the Ontario companies, I have heard that they are definitely among the best.

But to put things into perspective, I have four rookies in camp this year in BC/Alberta. Three of those four have already blown past 100k at an average of around 12.5 cents. And we still have ten more planting days, so at their current rate, the top three of my four rookies will average around 135k apiece, at an average price of 12.5.

I concede that these particular first-year planters are slightly better than many that I've seen, but not really any faster than the top three rookies that I had last year (although we have more days this year, and higher prices).

And by the way, Folklore is probably one of the middle-of-the-pack companies in western Canada when it comes to prices. We aren't in the top tier.

This is one reason why Ontario planters should consider planting in western Canada.

[zilla]

It's really about the contract, not the company. Good companies can have bad contracts, and bad companies can get good contracts. Follow bid prices, find out who gets direct award, but most importantly plant in and area that suits your type of planting. Faster slutty trees up north, and more technical dirt shot obstacle planting in the south.

[Scooter]

plant in an area that suits your type of planting.

Such good advice.

[Jangles22]

Not to sound critical, because I believe you posted in good faith about Haveman. And of the Ontario companies, I have heard that they are definitely among the best.

But to put things into perspective, I have four rookies in camp this year in BC/Alberta. Three of those four have already blown past 100k at an average of around 12.5 cents. And we still have ten more planting days, so at their current rate, the top three of my four rookies will average around 135k apiece, at an average price of 12.5.

I concede that these particular first-year planters are slightly better than many that I've seen, but not really any faster than the top three rookies that I had last year (although we have more days this year, and higher prices).

And by the way, Folklore is probably one of the middle-of-the-pack companies in western Canada when it comes to prices. We aren't in the top tier.

This is one reason why Ontario planters should consider planting in western Canada.

One thing you're forgetting about is season length while I agree with the points you made, keep in mind that most Ontario contracts are DONE by the beginning of July.. My shortest season(my rookie season) in Ontario was 43 days, which means not a lot of rookies hitting the 100k mark. That being said my longest was 57 days where 20 or so of the 40 rookies easily hit the mark.

If you can get outwest though I def say do it. I'm most likely making the switch this year, 5th year Ontario planter, needing a longer season..