First of all i’d like to apologize for my short entries. It’s tough to write a comprehensive report on a crazy week in 15 minutes. I have a lot to talk about and do nothing but think all day but it really is hard to remember it in a rush. First let me talk about this week.

We worked for one day this week and then we had a day off due to the fact that half of our tree’s were frozen. It sounds amazing to have a day off but it means no money that day. On top of that, we ended up working an extra four days afterwards! So this six day week wasn’t much fun but we did get to finish early on some days and explore a cave at an active volcano and go swimming on top of a mountain. And today we spent four hours in a swimming pool/hot tub/steam room and we are all ready to go to bed!

As of now my summer is really up in the air. It looks like spring plant will extend to July 1st which would great and then who knows?!? Summer plant is an option. I hated it last year but the extra 1000$ might be really nice. And I could always go do other work for the company and make some quick cash. I really want to be out of here by mid-july so that I can go spend a few weeks by the beach but I really need money.

My body is falling apart. I’ve lost a lot of weight and i’m much more toned but I can barely open my left hand, my legs are cut up, i’m limping from a giant cut on my right toe, I rolled my right ankle and I have some sort of internal injury in my left ankle. It’s going to be a tough summer.

 

So again, this will be a short one. But apreciate it because on my day off I ran all over town looking for internet access to write this.

What a week! It started off with two trucks that got stuck in impossible mud. One of the trucks didn’t get unstuck untill 3pm(it got stuck at 9am) The past two shifts have been insane when it comes to trucks breaking down or getting stuck. Literally every day it’s happened at least once.
One the way home from that block we saw 6 bears in 15 minutes including 3 cubs!

The physical damage to my body is insane. On the second day of our week we had a really rocky block and by the end of the day my wrist needed to be bandaged up and both my hands were bleeding! And the weather has sucked aswell. Yesterday it rained so hard and I had no rain gear. I spent a good 30 minutes under my tarp shivering and wanting to cry and go home. Regardless, in the past two days i’ve made more money than a 2 week paycheck back home.

Our last block was all burnt and creamy and we all beat our personal best’s! I planted 2315 tree’s in one day! My goal is to hit 3000 by the end of the year, although 2500 would do aswell.

On a final note, a tree planter near our old camp last year was killed after her truck rolled and she was trown out. Fucking scary. Fingers crossed for a safe year for us.

 

First of all…two complaints. 1: It’s so fucking hot here! 2: I forgot my journal full of things to write about so this entry might be a little short(I also only have 10min to write it)

So our first shift is over and what a shift it was. It feels nice to be back and it’s great that there are so many familiar faces and the new ones are really nice. Our camp is really small this year with only 48 people.
It’s been really rough planting wise. I was really cocky and expected to just pick up from last year and kill it but that is not how it turned out. I’ve been hitting 1200 tree’s every day but everyone else is already past 1500. Regardless, the money will be coming in and i’ll be making much more than last year. Oh…and my plots and tree quality are perfect so that helps.

I also cannot believe how unprepared I am this year. I didn’t bring a warm coat, sunscreen or bug spray and i’m freezing at night! The upside, sort of, is that it is so much warmer this year. Last year when we would wake up our tents would be covered in ice and your hands would freeze is exposed. This year it’s been so warm and the nights are much more bareable.

So this week…it rained for 2 days straight and on the second day our ATV broke down and 5 trucks got stuck in the mud including our only 2 trucks. On day 3 our SUV ran out of gas in the middle of the woods and two trucks broke down on the highway(one lost it’s breaks) and yesterday our SUV got stuck in the mud again. This the joy of tree planting. If it’s not the bugs(which are out already)
it’s the trucks and if it’s not the trucks it’s the weather, etc, etc.

This is it for now, I promise a longer update in 4 or 5 days.
 

This is it. The new season is almost here. I fly to Prince George tomorrow, spend what will be a wonderful night at the Camelot, take my last shower for the week and on Sunday we drive to Quesnel and set up camp and we start planting on the 12th.

It’s been an interesting year and I wasn’t sure if i’d go back but the thing with tree planting is that if you don’t go back for at least a second year it’s a waste of time and money. By the second year you’re much more experienced and you will make tons more money. At least that is what i’m hoping for.

I was thinking of everything i’m going to miss while i’m away and i’ve reassured myself that most of it is superficial crap that doesn’t matter anyways such as certain TV shows, my laptop and the internet. But I am going to miss my friends and I am going to miss a warm bed, my bike and not having an aching body every morning. And I am going to miss cooking and baking but hopefully like last year, i’ll even find the time for that.

So the plan is that I will be blogging throughout the summer. I will try my best to update every day off but sometimes time just doesn’t allow it. Please check this blog every couple of days, leave comments, send me emails and give me some feedback. Here’s to a good summer…

From a victim to a friend
Don’t ever let them in
Keep your scars on your sleeve
And your heart in your hands
All the whores with their wars
Their gaping mouths want more
All of them choke on regret
We sit in silence
Dead or dedicated
Alive or medicated
A coward queen or harlot heart
It’s up to you.
This world owes you nothing
This world owes me nothing
This world owes us nothing
But a hard road to walk
These mountains that we climb
Is everything they’ve lost
This world owes us nothing
But a hard road to walk
These mountains that we move
Are everywhere we look
It’s all up to me and you – Converge

Maybe it’s the 2 hour nap I took this evening(my first nap in months) or maybe it’s the lack of food or The Deadliest Catch on Discovery, but I have a sudden energy surge and I decided to bake, once again.
I love, love, love baking. I’ve realized that I am at my happiest when i’m surrounded by flour, sugar and various goodies. I am also at my happiest when I can share my creations. When John, Dave and I find an apartment in August I plan on making a huge Costco trip to buy all the essential ingredients I would need to bake and cook. I also plan on hosting ridiculous amounts of dinner parties.

Times like these don’t help me in terms of figuring out my future. One of my dreams is to open up a vegan cafe/bakery and venue. I’d get to work for myself, bake tons of vegan goodies and host a punk rock venue. I know I could do it and I know it would be successful but i’m not sure if it’s what I want to dedicate myself to. Oh well…until then…here are some of my recent creations:

Vegan Pumpkin Pie Brownies:

Vegan Chocolate Chip & Peanut Cookies: