ISA offers a variety of educational materials and products to help arborists improve their arboricultural knowledge and experience. Every month we will feature a product or group of products. This month ISA is featuring Groundie by Jeff Jepson.
Ideal for beginner tree workers, Groundie walks readers through a typical day of production tree work and covers the skills necessary to becoming a successful ground worker.
”This book is written primarily for the arboricultural ground worker, or as the title suggests: the groundie. It takes the reader through a typical day of production tree work—at the shop, on the road, and at the job site,” Jepson said. “Almost all the fundamental skills necessary to be a successful ground worker are covered.”
Although the book was written to help entry level tree workers, Jepson said that anyone who works on the ground can benefit from the book.
”In other words, anyone working on the ground, even for a short while, is in practical terms a ‘groundie’, even if that’s not their official designation, and therefore can benefit from this book,” he said.
Jepson, a tree worker and employer of ground workers for more than 35 years, said he the inspiration for the book came unexpectedly from a friend and fellow arborist who was working for a tree company in Colorado training tree workers and came to realize that there is a real need for such a resource.
“He asked if I had ever thought of writing a book devoted specifically for the ground worker,” Jepson said. “Frankly, it never occurred to me to write such a book. But the more I thought about it the more convinced I became that the book had to be written. Four years later, the idea became ‘flesh’ in the form of bound paper and ink.”
Groundie provides detailed information on operating and maintaining chain saws; techniques for safely driving on the job site; identifying job site hazards and obstacles; installing climbing and rigging lines; operating a wood chipper; and many other topics.
Jepson said that he hopes readers will come to understand how essential ground workers are to tree care operations.
“Groundies do a lot,” he said. “Their role in tree work is incredibly diverse. Perhaps more so than the climber. If you don’t believe me read the book.”
Additionally, Jepson said there are four unique features to the book.
“First, one of the unique features of this book is its abundant use of side bar articles and pull quotes to compliment the topic being discussed. Just by reading them alone one could acquire a good education about tree work. Secondly, there is a strong emphasis in the book about building character, a sound work ethic, and team work skills—all the things an employer desires in an employee and a tree worker needs to acquire. Thirdly, included in the books appendix is a wonderful story written by Sharon Lilly about how she got started in the tree care profession. She shares some of the unique challenges women face upon entering the profession and offers encouragement to those who might consider it as a career. Finally, for what it’s worth, of the four books I’ve written, this one is my favorite. It is the kind of book I would have enjoyed reading when I first started as a tree worker 37 years ago."
Purchase Groundie Today!