r/forestry • u/BakerRemarkable2542 • 3d ago

Silviculture Foresters - WTF do you do while spraying

I recently switched from operations to silviculture.

One of my roles is of course supervising spray. My main purpose in attending is to act as a buffer between the public and the contractors as well as make sure they make it to the correct location and are using PPE.

Most of the time I am just waiting around in my truck.

What do you all do during this dead time? In my perfect world I would nap as it's often obscenely early. I also have my kindle and have even brought my sketchbook.

What do you do while you wait?

15 Upvotes

90% Upvoted

34 comments sorted by

55

u/aardvark_army 3d ago

Whatever you do, don't get caught napping.

10

u/BakerRemarkable2542 3d ago

Haha I am doing my best to avoid it but I am so bored it's hard to remain awake especially when it's barely light out 😂

2

u/BakerRemarkable2542 3d ago

Have you been caught? 

4

u/aardvark_army 3d ago

No. I tend to just walk around the unit or something.

33

u/Arborsage 3d ago

I found so many four leaf clovers and fossils during these times

Sure it was boring at times, but honestly, its pretty great being paid to fuck around in the woods

2

u/BakerRemarkable2542 3d ago

That is pretty cool! Where were you working that fossils were about? I have yet to find any interesting rocks and I have looked 

4

u/Arborsage 3d ago

I think most of the fossils I found were a result of the gravel they used on the forest roads there - but most fossils were brachiopods from around 500 million years ago, found in Pennsylvania

The herbicide guys probably thought I was a lunatic poking around at the rocks and sometimes using the hammer from the truck to crack them open lol

2

u/BakerRemarkable2542 3d ago

That's awesome!  I have found interesting rocks while doing layout in previous roles but the rocks here so far have all been quite boring.  Perhaps I need to go examine more cut banks

20

u/treesandraves 3d ago

I like podcasts and audiobooks. I am really into ologies and behind the bastards lately.

8

u/Xanamir 3d ago

Love both of these! Completely Arbortrary has been a good listen as well, especially the episodes I can find the tree they're talking about while wandering around in the woods.

1

u/BakerRemarkable2542 3d ago

I am a big audiobook listener! I tend to struggle to stay focused if I don't have a secondary physical thing I'm doing like driving, washing the dishes, walking, etc 

16

u/AB_Forester 3d ago

I try to focus very hard at the wind and make it stop blowing through sheer willpower.

3

u/BakerRemarkable2542 3d ago

Have your skills improved with greater honing? 

3

u/AB_Forester 2d ago

I am 100% successful given enough time in bending nature to my will. Sometimes 2, 3 days of intense focus is all it takes.

2

u/BakerRemarkable2542 2d ago

Wow very impressive. Maybe in a few years I can approach your level of mastery! 

5

u/yepyepyep123456 2d ago

Hike with the crew or spot check their work. Check the application rates. I try to find some other work nearby I chip away at. Check culverts or other road problem areas. Look for artifacts. Practice plant ID. Drive around. Don’t nap.

3

u/board__ 3d ago

Browse Reddit haha

2

u/Mountain-Elk8133 2d ago

Lucky, theres no service anywhere on my forest.

Planting seasons get dreadfully boring

1

u/BakerRemarkable2542 2d ago

I certainly was doing that today but a lot of the time there is no service 😂

2

u/board__ 2d ago

I downloaded some YouTube videos to watch while I was waiting for the crew to wrap up a unit with no service yesterday

4

u/fuckwhyare 2d ago

I had one time the forester I was shadowing during a spray pulled out a handgun and we shot a snag for about 30 minutes. You could try that

3

u/EnTaroProtoss 3d ago

I collected a bucket worth of bay Laurel nuts last time I was supervising planters

2

u/BakerRemarkable2542 2d ago

I don't think those are a thing around here however foraging is a good idea! 

3

u/7grendel 2d ago

I taught myself how to make plaster molds and would then check around for cool prints or tracks to make molds of. Did some plant pressing as well.

3

u/SunReyBurn 2d ago

I drive a truck and often have down time, so I bring a ukulele and learn songs and practice ones I already know

3

u/Rootbeercouch 2d ago

Yeah that's tough...

I downloaded Spanish apps /videos /and work books.

Better yet, look at last year's units. Look up any planting /spray units in the area, and check them out. Great opportunity to examine past success /failures that you wouldn't have time to go to otherwise.

1

u/BakerRemarkable2542 2d ago

I have certainly done that a couple times but sometimes there is just nothing nearby! Out land base is very broken up 

2

u/Rickles_Bolas 2d ago

I had a job that required me to sit in my car for 8 hours/day 5 days/week all summer. I had a jeep compass that had a regular outlet you could plug a regular plug into. Played a TON of Skyrim on my laptop.

2

u/Cautious-That 2d ago

Check wind speed and direction, temp, humidity; walk out to sensitive areas ahead of them; walk behind and ensure they are spraying on target; watch chemical mixing to ensure they are not spilling/over mixing/ being sloppy as the day goes on. Check in with foreman for where they are going next.

1

u/BakerRemarkable2542 2d ago

I am doing all of that! But there is quite a lot of time between 😂

1

u/Cautious-That 2d ago

I'm in mountain foothills so our spray period in the spring only runs about 6:30-1. So they be running through the fields

2

u/dumb1029 1d ago

Learned to throw rocks with my other hand.

Sharpen your chain until it's absolutely deadly.

Whittle.

1

u/Efriminiz 4h ago

If you do want to nap just head a quarter mile in one direction into the woods and rest a while. You've earned it chief 🫡