Do you remove trees?

Yes, if the tree warrants removal and is relatively small. I will not remove your tree just because you told me to. For general removals, please call any one of the many, many companies in SW Michigan whose business is removing trees.

What tree warrants removal, you ask?

• The tree is high risk and cannot be retained safely

• The tree is growing in the wrong spot- into a fence, against a foundation, under utility lines, etc.

• Dead trees that are not appropriate to retain for habitat

• The tree is invasive or a defective species (bush honeysuckle, white mulberry, Bradford pear, etc.)

Do you plant trees?

Yes! I plant small trees (preferably less than 2’ tall and bare root) that are locally sourced. This means a good deal of planting right before bud break.

Trees grown large (5 feet or taller) in small, circular containers are less likely to grow well and/or survive, and are a warranty risk. I primarily plant native species in accordance with three basic principles - right tree, right place, right time of year.

Will you chip or haul this pile of sticks and brush?

No. I’m willing to help you make a dead hedge, hugelkultur bed, get a burn permit or hire a local tree service to create wood chip mulch for your landscape trees. I will chip clean branches that I myself have cut, with a rented chipper, and return that biomass to where it’s needed in your landscape. I do not haul away brush piles.

How far do you travel?

I try to stay within a 50-mile range of Kalamazoo - that translates to serving communities as far as Benton Harbor, Holland, Grand Rapids, Spring Arbor and Sturgis. For longer distances, digital communication and video calls can save both time and expense.

Do you do storm work?

If there is no electrical hazard, I’m willing to work with you and your insurance company to clear downed trees and get them off of your car and/or structure. I have a lot of experience in storm work, however I don’t currently own the equipment or employ the workforce to handle large amounts of timber and damage.

What is permaculture?

Permaculture is a global social movement centered around the grassroots training of a system of holistic ecological design. It aims to improve the lives of all people while conserving and regenerating ecosystems everywhere. The design system makes use of locational values, ecosystem models, and patterns in nature. It draws on traditional knowledge and modern science. Permaculture is also a personal practice of applying permaculture ethics and principles to one’s life, while exploring and sharing empirical findings about the natural and human worlds.

From the Permaculture Institute of North America (pina.in)

Do you do landscaping?

The extent of my landscaping services is sourcing and planting small trees/shrubs, followed by sheet mulching around them and other trees. I usually follow up with caging, staking (if necessary) and installing Gator Bags around plantings in dry/remote locations.

I firmly believe in lawn removal wherever possible and will help you come up with plans to safely and effectively eliminate yours, should you awaken to the wondrous ecological possibilities that lie beyond turf grass.

Do you grind stumps?

I will grind stumps if the grinding is part of my established work on the property. I will not make special trips just to grind stumps. I prefer to utilize alternative options for removing or using stumps, whether through fire, turning the stump into a planter pot, flushing it to use as a platform or inoculating it to grow edible mushrooms.

Another great option is to have your stump carved into a sculpture. Check out https://www.thechainsawcraftsman.com/ to see the incredible work of Kalamazoo’s Aaron Stinson.

How much do you charge?

Like snowflakes, every tree is unique. As is every estimate. Below is a list you can use to help in budgeting. I know times are tough, and tree work is expensive.

I am willing to work with your budget by working in phases to ensure you can get tree work done, especially if the tree pose a serious hazard. I am also open to motivated, capable, DIY-minded homeowners and/or helpers assisting on the ground* to shorten the job time and lower their final invoice total. Many hands make light work.

• Travel fees: $80/hr to and from the job site (includes hauling equipment and/or material)

• Rental fees: Depending on the job, I will rent a chipper, grinder, lift and/or trailer through Goggin or Sunbelt, depending on availability. Fees vary based on equipment, and include the cost to rent, refuel and transport the equipment.

• Initial consultation: $100 for initial hour., $80/hr. after (billed in 15-min increments)

• Tree Assessment- site visit, phone & email follow-up: $125-$250

• Tree Report- emailed copy with phone call follow-up: $80-$400

• Ground-based pruning/support installation**: $100/hr., 2-hr. minimum

• Aerial pruning/cabling**: $180/hr., 1-hr. minimum

• Removal: priced per/tree based on risk, access and condition

• Stump grinding: $12/in. diameter - only offered as part of a removal job

• Permaculture planting design:

  • Initial site assessment: $100 for up to 1hr., $80/hr. after

  • Site mapping and design: varies based on site size, complexity and options

*Please note that helping out on the ground requires signing a waiver that protects me from a lawsuit due to damage or injury sustained by the property or homeowner due to fault of said homeowner.

**Materials used in both aerial and ground-based support systems will vary greatly in price, depending on options.

Who do you recommend in the area?

For quality arboriculture work, I recommend Mark and the crew at Arborist Services of Kalamazoo. They are highly qualified and equipped to handle any tree job in our area, and do it to the best industry standards. For removals, there are dozens of companies that can make a tree disappear.

Are you insured and bonded?

I carry general liability insurance.

I am not bonded as I don’t take on municipal jobs or jobs so large that I risk the possibility of not finishing.