Wilderness Reforestation Ltd.

[replant]

This thread is devoted to gossip and discussion for employees and stakeholders of Wilderness Reforestation Ltd.

This company is believed to work predominantly in Ontario.

Their last known contact information is:

36 Montreal Ave.
Wawa, Ontario
P0S 1K0
Phone: (705) 856-2799
FAX: (705) 856-1365
Email: tree@wilderness.on.ca

[Scooter]

This company has a website at:

http://www.wilderness.on.ca/splash/newsplash.html

[Ryan]

For anyone who hasn't heard, Wilderness and Broland are not charging camp costs this year, the following is an explanation from Grant Trevor and Peter.

We are receiving a lot of inquiries regarding our FREE CAMP COST initiative. Here is a brief explanation to the rationale behind it.

Wilderness has decided to change the tree-planting industry in Ontario. There are costs associated with camps that have been traditionally passed along to the planters, i.e. food, cook's wages, camp setup etc. This is the way it has always been, and I'm not really sure as to why, as no other industry charges their employees to stay in a remote location. We believe the time has come for a change.

How will we pay for this? We have asked our clients to increase our rates to help offset some of the added costs. For the most part, we have had an excellent response from them; however, we have lost some jobs to very low pricing from our competition. We are not in the business of being the lowest bidder. We are also anticipating an excellent return ratio because of our decision not to charge camp fees. This should increase our average daily production, which will help lower our operating costs per tree. We are also hoping to attract other experienced planters, which will further increase our production.

Our objective...a 100% experienced crew...high production with a low overhead operation, better equipment and vehicles. Fewer people will eat less food, require fewer vehicles, less supervision, and plant more trees. If our entire organization doubled the average trees per day, we would require 1/2 the number of people to complete our projects...from 500 down to 250...the amount of overhead associated with 250 people will more than cover camp fees.

Finally, the tree planting industry is hurting, and it has been for a long time. The prices our clients have agreed to pay have not gone up in ten years, while our costs have. The land is harder to plant and has less access. We can either sit back and do nothing, or we can take a leadership role and make changes. How many other industries charge their workers to sleep in a tent on the worksite?? NONE. Wilderness is a veteran tree planting company, and has planted over 300 million seedlings. We are fully aware of the problems in this industry. If an organization like ours does not step up to the plate and try and make some changes, change will not happen.

Wilderness hopes to become the company at the end of the day that the planters will continue to work with. This will give us an advantage over our competition, or force them to follow our lead. But we need the support of veteran planters to make this work. It is that simple...no catch.

There are people out there and on the web that are questioning our approach. That is good. It means we have their attention. There is no scam, no rip off, no hidden agenda. We are maintaining our piece rates at a MINIMUM of 8 cents site prep and 9 cents no site prep. The food and the camps will be at the same high standards they have always been. The bottom line is FREE CAMP COSTS!

[Gabe]

I used to plant for wilderness reforestation. This camp cost deal thing they are offering this year is a good deal.

[Ryan]

Hello all,

Just a quick note to all of the experienced planters to send in your returning planter info, spots are filling up quickly!!!

If you don't have a returning info sheet i put them on our website under employment.

http://www.broland.ca

[Ryan]

Broland and Wilderness ar offering FREE CAMP COSTS again for the 2006.

Experienced planters be sure to send in your forms, spots are filling up quickly.

Check out our wbsite, http://www.broland.ca

Does anyone have photo's from last years plant? Send them to me ryan@broland.ca

[mblackfly]

For anyone who hasn't heard, Wilderness and Broland are not charging camp costs this year, the following is an explanation from Grant Trevor and Peter.

We are receiving a lot of inquiries regarding our FREE CAMP COST initiative. Here is a brief explanation to the rationale behind it.

Wilderness has decided to change the tree-planting industry in Ontario. There are costs associated with camps that have been traditionally passed along to the planters, i.e. food, cook's wages, camp setup etc. This is the way it has always been, and I'm not really sure as to why, as no other industry charges their employees to stay in a remote location. We believe the time has come for a change.

How will we pay for this? We have asked our clients to increase our rates to help offset some of the added costs. For the most part, we have had an excellent response from them; however, we have lost some jobs to very low pricing from our competition. We are not in the business of being the lowest bidder. We are also anticipating an excellent return ratio because of our decision not to charge camp fees. This should increase our average daily production, which will help lower our operating costs per tree. We are also hoping to attract other experienced planters, which will further increase our production.

Our objective...a 100% experienced crew...high production with a low overhead operation, better equipment and vehicles. Fewer people will eat less food, require fewer vehicles, less supervision, and plant more trees. If our entire organization doubled the average trees per day, we would require 1/2 the number of people to complete our projects...from 500 down to 250...the amount of overhead associated with 250 people will more than cover camp fees.

Finally, the tree planting industry is hurting, and it has been for a long time. The prices our clients have agreed to pay have not gone up in ten years, while our costs have. The land is harder to plant and has less access. We can either sit back and do nothing, or we can take a leadership role and make changes. How many other industries charge their workers to sleep in a tent on the worksite?? NONE. Wilderness is a veteran tree planting company, and has planted over 300 million seedlings. We are fully aware of the problems in this industry. If an organization like ours does not step up to the plate and try and make some changes, change will not happen.

Wilderness hopes to become the company at the end of the day that the planters will continue to work with. This will give us an advantage over our competition, or force them to follow our lead. But we need the support of veteran planters to make this work. It is that simple...no catch.

There are people out there and on the web that are questioning our approach. That is good. It means we have their attention. There is no scam, no rip off, no hidden agenda. We are maintaining our piece rates at a MINIMUM of 8 cents site prep and 9 cents no site prep. The food and the camps will be at the same high standards they have always been. The bottom line is FREE CAMP COSTS!

who are you... where have you been my entire career??? you actually CARE about your planters? :

[steel8909]

Can anyone tell me about the spray technician job that they're offering on their website. Is it 40hrs a week? Worthwhile?

[Gabe]

no trees for wilderness this year, maybe they'll be planting in 2010 (or "when the industry stabilizes" - from their website)