Top 5 planting companies

donkeyrider · Post by **donkeyrider** » Mon Apr 19, 2010 2:36 am

There are dozens of planting companies in this thread and hundreds of planters who have different opinions about each one. Every website says the exact same stuff. Hopefully, without any bashing some experienced planters could simply list what companies they believe are the top 5 companies to get on with for an experienced planter looking for some change in the future. Furthermore, most posters will have some different idea's of what constitutes a "good" company so for simplicities sake make a judgement call round together pay, atmosphere, # of work days, managment, food and all that other jazz into a simple 1-5. Thanks ladies and gents hope this turns out to be a positive.

bush · Post by **bush** » Mon Apr 19, 2010 7:02 pm

tell you where al the gold is buried? no way. if you don't know by now, you never will. let's keep the good shit away from the shit flies.

The_Bearslayer · Post by **The_Bearslayer** » Wed Apr 21, 2010 6:42 pm

This thread is now about your five favorite breakfast cereals.

5. Cinnamon Toast Crunch
4. Life
3. Corn Pops (but not too many, otherwise the roof of my mouth bleeds)
2. Corn Flakes (with sugar and a tiny bit of salt)
1. Fruit Loops

Seabass · Post by **Seabass** » Wed Apr 21, 2010 7:01 pm

The_Bearslayer wrote:This thread is now about your five favorite breakfast cereals.

5. Cinnamon Toast Crunch
4. Life
3. Corn Pops (but not too many, otherwise the roof of my mouth bleeds)
2. Corn Flakes (with sugar and a tiny bit of salt)
1. Fruit Loops

5. Rice Krispies
4. Honey Nut Cherios
3. Oatmeal Crisp
2. Vector
1. Dorset Cereals (pricey little boxes but you actually get a lot in it and they all taste friggin' amazing)

Seabass · Post by **Seabass** » Wed Apr 21, 2010 7:02 pm

bush wrote:tell you where al the gold is buried? no way. if you don't know by now, you never will. let's keep the good shit away from the shit flies.

Seconded.

Post by **Scooter** » Wed Apr 21, 2010 7:35 pm

There can only be one .... Shreddies.

Although I admit that Quaker Harvest Crunch has a honey nut brand that is quite fantastic as a snack to carry in the truck, sort of like trail mix.

jdtesluk · Post by **jdtesluk** » Thu Apr 22, 2010 9:27 am

Bearslayer, best hijack EVER. Love it. I tip my hat to you. So Awesome.

...and now in no particular order

Good For You...swiss muesli type stuff
Kashi Granola Clusters
Nature's Path Raspberry Hazelnut Muesli
Optimum Cranberry Ginger
Plain old oatmeal with raisins, cranberries, and walnuts (hot cereals okay here yes?)

kingjames_2nd · Post by **kingjames_2nd** » Thu Apr 22, 2010 9:29 am

Scooter wrote:There can only be one .... Shreddies.

Although I admit that Quaker Harvest Crunch has a honey nut brand that is quite fantastic as a snack to carry in the truck, sort of like trail mix.

Oh fuck , I'm hooked on the Quaker Harvest Crunch Almond Raisin with un-sweetened soy Milk. I went for maybe 3 or 4 years with out ever eating breakfast cereal and now this is all I eat!

Regarding the companies, obviously the top 5 are (and in no particular order):

- Coastrange
- Summit
- Blue Collar
- Dynamic
- Unique

Thats it. Period.

Coaster · Post by **Coaster** » Fri Apr 23, 2010 4:20 pm

You guys are crazy and for the most part environmentally unconcerned. There's way too much packaging in most of those cereals!!

1-5 Nature's Path Multigrain Oatbran in the Eco-Pack

Planting companies;

1 - Osprey
2 - Workgame
3 - Coast Range
4 - Golden Spruce
5 - Sinclair Services

jdtesluk · Post by **jdtesluk** » Fri Apr 23, 2010 5:50 pm

Ha ha ha ha
Coaster, you're going to drive all of the poor ambitious newbies out of their minds as they sift through the local directories trying to find Workgame.
Mwaaaaaaaah ha ha ha ha ha ha. I love it.

pabllo · Post by **pabllo** » Sat Jun 05, 2010 7:05 am

Coast Range....Summit GOD NOOOOOO you for real man ... Dynamic Yes

pabllo · Post by **pabllo** » Sat Jun 05, 2010 7:09 am

Sinclair as in Bill Sinclair......wouldn't thrust him as far as I can throw that guy.

DustyJ · Post by **DustyJ** » Sat Jun 19, 2010 11:53 am

bush wrote:tell you where al the gold is buried? no way. if you don't know by now, you never will. let's keep the good shit away from the shit flies.

....please, give me a break. Stop pretending like there's some kind of big secret to hide from all the newbies. Any proper company out there won't hire inexperienced planters anyway so what are you lifers worried about ?

donkeyrider, as you said yourself you will find that many people will have differing views on what the top five companies may or may not be, but in the end the best and most reputable aren't that hard to find, just do some research, make some calls. Companies that don't advertise, who are relatively small and are full by January is a good place to start. good luck buddy.

r0ckMachine · Post by **r0ckMachine** » Thu Feb 10, 2011 8:57 am

Kashi is own by Kellogg... big corp, avoid them!
oh yeah and list of company? It's hard for everyone to answer this question because there is so many!! And there is no way you have try them all!! I think the best company are the smaller one for ambiance and price ... A few good one in my opinion:
Hawkeye
Sitka
Timberline
Impact
And please dont eat fruit loops....

kingjames_2nd · Post by **kingjames_2nd** » Thu Feb 10, 2011 1:52 pm

r0ckMachine wrote:Kashi is own by Kellogg... big corp, avoid them!
oh yeah and list of company? It's hard for everyone to answer this question because there is so many!! And there is no way you have try them all!! I think the best company are the smaller one for ambiance and price ... A few good one in my opinion:
Hawkeye
Sitka
Timberline
Impact
And please dont eat fruit loops....

Whats wrong with fruit loops?

r0ckMachine · Post by **r0ckMachine** » Thu Feb 10, 2011 2:47 pm

high-fructose ... and crap too

Gingerplanter · Post by **Gingerplanter** » Mon Feb 21, 2011 9:06 am

1.Khaira
2.Batlang
3.Rock Reforestation
4.Bryan Adams
5.Osprey

My personal Favourites. And nothing beats a cigarette and a coffee for breakfast.

ModderDubber · Post by **ModderDubber** » Mon Mar 21, 2011 11:36 am

Dual post:

1- Sinclair Sylvic - Rice Krispies (both full of air)
2- Coast Range - No Name Fruit Loops
3- Fleetwood - Mini Wheats ...
4- Kairah - Honeycombs
5- Any Qc, Ont, Alta company - Cheap 40 pounder Costco made in China imitation Corn Flakes

In a more honest manner:

1- Whiskeyjack
2- Triple AAA
3- M&L
4- Mountain Top
5- O&G

jamisnewsham · Post by **jamisnewsham** » Thu Dec 29, 2011 12:03 pm

STEPHAN CONTRACTING
RAINFOREST
NOOTKA
SITKA
CANYON
in no particular order
speaking from experience!
These are where you will find the highest prices in TREEPLANTING.
LOW OVERHEAD=HIGH TREE PRICES.

PatrickB · Post by **PatrickB** » Wed Oct 03, 2012 10:28 pm

Vector
Oatz
Fruit Loops
AlphaBits
Shreddies

:D

East · Post by **East** » Sat Mar 02, 2013 9:36 pm

ModderDubber wrote:Dual post:

1- Sinclair Sylvic - Rice Krispies (both full of air)
2- Coast Range - No Name Fruit Loops
3- Fleetwood - Mini Wheats ...
4- Kairah - Honeycombs
5- Any Qc, Ont, Alta company - Cheap 40 pounder Costco made in China imitation Corn Flakes

In a more honest manner:

1- Whiskeyjack
2- Triple AAA
3- M&L
4- Mountain Top
5- O&G

Wait is there actually a company called whiskyjack? Badassery

Post by **Scooter** » Sat Mar 02, 2013 11:24 pm

In a more honest manner:

1- Whiskeyjack
2- Triple AAA
3- M&L
4- Mountain Top
5- O&G

I think that at least four of those five are no longer operating. Not sure about the fifth. I also thought that it was Triple 8. I haven't heard that name in a few years.

sghyselincks · Post by **sghyselincks** » Sun Mar 03, 2013 2:23 am

- Outland
- La Foret des Dindes
- Irving
- Khaira
- Charity

WHATWHAT · Post by **WHATWHAT** » Wed Mar 06, 2013 10:33 am

Best companies I have planted for:

Rainforest

SOS

Backwoods (different name now)

Zanzibar

Hawkeye

Tnalp · Post by **Tnalp** » Wed Mar 06, 2013 3:22 pm

what's backwoods name now?

Nate · Post by **Nate** » Wed Mar 06, 2013 4:03 pm

Tnalp wrote:what's backwoods name now?

Corsair.

They are top 5 for withholding pay maybe.

jdtesluk · Post by **jdtesluk** » Wed Mar 06, 2013 4:18 pm

Backwoods is still Backwoods, owned by Bill holdyk, based out of Smithers, works mostly in Alberta now. Corsair does have a Backwoods origin, but is a separate offshoot. I think it's run by Jason Lorraine, out of Williams lake.

I have never planted for either, but have interacted with them in other capacities. However, Backwoods certainly enjoyed some heydeys in the 90s (and perhaps a bit onward), when they had some famously good work, and a very long season with brushing and other jobs. I would submit that Backwoods, in its day, was challenging many of the other companies considered among the best.

Mike · Post by **Mike** » Wed Mar 06, 2013 7:04 pm

Corsair does have a Backwoods origin, but is a separate offshpot.

I heard otherwise (that is indeed just a renaming) from a Cosair planter last summer. Will try to confirm.

dreamofcream · Post by **dreamofcream** » Thu Mar 07, 2013 1:16 am

Corsair is run by a former partner of Backwoods named Jason Lorraine, who left to incorporate under the name Corsair and exclusively owns the company. Backwoods still exists but no longer is involved in planting. And yes, it is a really good place to work, at least it was when I was there

bryanwright · Post by **bryanwright** » Tue Apr 23, 2013 12:37 pm

Best I've worked for in no paticulat order:
Allstarts silvicultre
Caliburn
Timberline

others that I've heard are good:
Nootka
zanzibar
blue collar
hawkeye

East · Post by **East** » Wed Nov 06, 2013 8:38 am

Thanks for all of the serious answers.. like it's not already hard enough to pick a best fit company for next season

Cyper · Post by **Cyper** » Wed Nov 06, 2013 6:11 pm

It's tough to get on with the best companies unless you have tons of experience or live nearby or have a level 3-1st aid ticket. You'd be better served by knowing who to avoid. Follow the 2014 bid results thread and avoid any of the obvious lowballers. It would be great to have lists of the companys that don't pay on time or everything they're supposed to. Beware of companies like Corsair or Torrent who are aggresively expanding and might not have the cashflow to pay you. Companies with letters instead of names like AKD or BD. and Osprey never

steve · Post by **steve** » Wed Nov 06, 2013 8:50 pm

Cyper wrote:It's tough to get on with the best companies unless you have tons of experience or live nearby or have a level 3-1st aid ticket. You'd be better served by knowing who to avoid. Follow the 2014 bid results thread and avoid any of the obvious lowballers. It would be great to have lists of the companys that don't pay on time or everything they're supposed to. Beware of companies like Corsair or Torrent who are aggresively expanding and might not have the cashflow to pay you. Companies with letters instead of names like AKD or BD. and Osprey never

Re: Torrent

since we pay every 2 weeks (as all companies are required to by law) there is nothing to worry about. we did nearly as many trees last year so we are not exactly 'aggressively expanding,' and everyone has always been paid.

Cyper · Post by **Cyper** » Thu Nov 07, 2013 9:27 am

steve wrote:
Cyper wrote:It's tough to get on with the best companies unless you have tons of experience or live nearby or have a level 3-1st aid ticket. You'd be better served by knowing who to avoid. Follow the 2014 bid results thread and avoid any of the obvious lowballers. It would be great to have lists of the companys that don't pay on time or everything they're supposed to. Beware of companies like Corsair or Torrent who are aggresively expanding and might not have the cashflow to pay you. Companies with letters instead of names like AKD or BD. and Osprey never
Re: Torrent

since we pay every 2 weeks (as all companies are required to by law) there is nothing to worry about. we did nearly as many trees last year so we are not exactly 'aggressively expanding,' and everyone has always been paid.

was torrent operating under another name last year? your name does not appear on a single government tender result for 2013 but you bid on many jobs for 2014. torrent has close to 3 million in williams lake alone. torrent is registered as a small company with the safety council. that means they were operating with less than 25 planters unless they were fraudulantly registered?

fluffer · Post by **fluffer** » Thu Nov 07, 2013 8:58 pm

I had the numbers (as of christmas '12) for Torrent's '13 season. 2.75 mil spring trees and .75 summer (3.5 mil total). Far as I know they were running 2 crews of 11-12 planters a piece. ~24 planters, 3.5 mil trees, ~70 days planting. I saw them around Wells and I think they spent a good deal of time planting from there.

East · Post by **East** » Wed Nov 13, 2013 9:51 am

I hired a band of scientists and after years of research have found some top companies

Zanzibar
Artisan
Dynamic
Blue collar
Wildwoods

newb · Post by **newb** » Wed Nov 13, 2013 2:23 pm

East wrote:I hired a band of scientists and after years of research have found some top companies

Zanzibar
Artisan
Dynamic
Blue collar
Wildwoods

Based on the list that you provided, I would Re Hire another band of scientist OR tell them to keep researching.

East · Post by **East** » Wed Nov 13, 2013 6:54 pm

newb wrote:
East wrote:I hired a band of scientists and after years of research have found some top companies

Zanzibar
Artisan
Dynamic
Blue collar
Wildwoods
Based on the list that you provided, I would Re Hire another band of scientist OR tell them to keep researching.

I am good with calculation

bhappy · Post by **bhappy** » Mon Apr 07, 2014 7:51 am

Scooter wrote:
In a more honest manner:

I think that at least four of those five are no longer operating. Not sure about the fifth. I also thought that it was Triple 8. I haven't heard that name in a few years.

Triple 8 is long gone - somewhere along the line I think it became M&L and then eventually Nootka Reforestation

dirtpenetrator · Post by **dirtpenetrator** » Fri Apr 03, 2015 8:41 am

Tnalp wrote:what's backwoods name now?

Backwoods still exists actually. But they just produce blunt wraps.

fields · Post by **fields** » Fri Apr 21, 2017 10:38 pm

dirtpenetrator wrote: ↑Fri Apr 03, 2015 8:41 am
Tnalp wrote:what's backwoods name now?
Backwoods still exists actually. But they just produce blunt wraps.

two points

TripleS · Post by **TripleS** » Tue Mar 03, 2020 10:35 am

5. Fieldstone since Hawkeye is no longer in the game.
4. A&G
3. Leader
2. Zanzibar (East)
1. Rainforest

jdtesluk · Post by **jdtesluk** » Tue Mar 03, 2020 10:57 am

All solid choices. It's worth noting that the Lauriaults (Hawkeye) packed it in last year. They provided top notch work for many decades.

TripleS · Post by **TripleS** » Tue Mar 03, 2020 1:26 pm

Too bad about Hawkeye, always liked Steve, although he is probably stoked to have more time for his music. I worked for Mountain back in the day and they were solid too.

_I3^RELATIVISM · Post by **_I3^RELATIVISM** » Mon Dec 21, 2020 9:57 pm

Shouldn't Nootka be included in this list, I have hear more experienced planters speaking pretty highly of off it, I guess people might want to keep it under the radar.