It’s your day off, and you and a bunch of your planting friends are headed into town for a well-deserved break. You’ve made some good money in the past few weeks and worked harder than you ever imagined possible, and it’s time to reward yourself.  You’re looking forward to a night at the pub, a motel room with a full-sized bathtub, and maybe a trip to the thrift store.  

The same plan plays out for thousands of planters around the province each day off, and locals see colorful crowds of tree planters flooding into their town for relief repeatedly through the summer.

Good relationships with local communities are critical for the industry and both workers and communities can benefit from workers visiting on their days off. Here are ten things that we can do to maintain harmony and keep planters as welcome guests.

1.       Don’t take over!

If you meet up with your crew at a local pub or restaurant, be mindful of the regulars. If there’s a line of people waiting for the pool table, try not to dominate it all night and consider sharing with others. Laugh and celebrate but remember that other want to enjoy their night out too. You don’t have to grovel for space, but be mindful. Same goes for laundromats and other businesses – try not to spread your stuff all over the place or crowd shared areas in a way that makes others feel unwelcome. 

2.       Be polite!

Tip your waiter and waitress, and don’t leave a mess. Say please and thank you. These little details will be remembered. Locals don’t know one crew from another – they just see tree planters, so we set examples for everyone else. Give the person at the till, behind the bar, or waiting in line the impression that planters are great. If you’re going to spend four hours in the café, maybe order more than a coffee and not take up a large table on your own.

3.       Don’t shoot off your mouth!

This is not about manners but about how you talk about your job. If you hit a personal best or have a big day, don’t go around telling the world. There have been cases where planters have been heard bragging about their earnings in the local bar, only to have some local go and talk to the local forester about what they heard, and the forester has used that information to pressure for reduced tree prices the following season. Consider that there are hard times in many small towns with recent mill closures, and a local may not understand that your $700 day is just one point in a short season, nor properly understand how hard you worked toward that achievement.

4.       Support small business!

When you’re looking for a place to eat or buy stuff, try to support small businesses when you can. Walmart and MacDonalds don’t need your money, but some little café or hardware shop does. Chances are they serve better food and offer better quality products too.

5.       Support thrift stores!

This one is complicated. Planters rely on thrift stores for many things, but sometimes planters clean them out entirely, and leave nothing behind for needy locals. When your season is finished, consider donating any good quality items you don’t need to the local thrift stores. Lighten your load for the trip back home.

 6.       Keep the party respectful!

If you’re staying a motel, don’t expect them to welcome you back if you keep other guests awake or damage the property. “No Tree Planters Allowed” signs have been put up in some motels because of such behavior.  Finding good accommodations is already hard for many motel-based crews, and it only gets harder (and more expensive) if some of us spoil it for everyone else. It’s also good taste to leave a tip for the cleaners if that service is provided at a motel you stay at for several weeks.

7.       Don’t litter.

This is a no-brainer. If you’re cleaning out the crummy at a gas station, make sure your trash goes in the trash. And if you use the washrooms, don’t shave in the sink or leave any other kind of mess for others to clean up. Garbage flying out the window of a truck is often quickly traced back to the company that owns it.

8.       Drive safely!

This is particularly important for mornings where you pass through communities. We’re not the only ones that leave at 7am, and nobody wants a cloud of dust in their yard or their kids put at risk on the way to school. On your way home, slow down through busy areas and around farms where there may be animals.

9.       Fundraising!

Back around 2005-2006 the Tree Planters Ball in Merritt established a great habit of donating the proceeds from the door-charge to local charities. This resulted in many businesses recognizing Tree Planter Appreciation Day! Believe that! I remember getting a discount on my breakfast one day just for being a planter. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a coordinated give-back day raised over $100,000 for food banks and other charities across BC. These kinds of things don’t just go a long way in shaping how people view workers, but they also feel good for the giver.

10.   Get to know the community!

This should start with learning about local First Nations (there may be multiple), their history on the land, how to pronounce their name, and other considerations. An entire separate article is needed to do justice to this topic. However, on a basic level, learning about the history of an area and the people that live there can lead to a deeper appreciation for the community and fascinating conversations.

Most importantly, smile and say hi. Be friendly and expect friendly back. Hold doors open and help a senior with their groceries. This is the stuff of getting along and a universal language for good relationships. You never know, you just might fall in love with a small town and want to move there some day. This has happened to a lot of us.