XXIX

Welcome to the Twenty-Ninth Edition of Forestme!

Greetings, Nature Navigators! It's time for another exhilarating voyage through the green realms of our planet. This week, our newsletter is your ticket to an immersive exploration of nature's wonders.

From the towering majesty of trees to the intricate ecosystems they support, we're diving deep into the heart of the natural world. Expect captivating tales, eye-opening insights, and practical tips to deepen your connection with Mother Earth.

Whether you're a seasoned eco-warrior or just dipping your toes into environmentalism, there's something here to inspire and engage you.

Welcome aboard, fellow adventurers, as we embark on another week of discovery in the green world of Forestme!

Buzzworthy Banter

Sebastião Salgado, a globally celebrated Brazilian photographer, alongside his wife Lélia Deluiz Wanick Salgado, transformed a barren land into a flourishing forest in Brazil.
Follow the link below to find out more.

The Ultimate Tree Planting Hustle

There’s a growing trend in the commercial landscaping scene. Small tree-planting businesses sprouting up all over the place. This trend is unlikely to slow down.

Here’s why…Contract planting businesses have some unique advantages, they:
Don’t supply any raw materials.
Have workers on demand.
Pay piece rates rather than traditional hourly wages.
Basically, they’re labour-hire with a twist. You see, planting businesses price work on a per-tree cost. And planters don’t require any special qualifications.
With this simple pricing trick, they make heaps more on each planter compared to labour hire. And there are a few other benefits to using a piece rate system.

Let’s break it down…

Labour vs piece rate explained.
The first scenario — Labour sloths
A great labourer will make you the same money as an average one. You charge 40 bucks and hour and pay pay them 30, you make 10 bucks an hour per labourer.
So, in 8 hours a labourer can make a business ~$80. And it doesn’t really matter if labourers go the extra mile.

Now, tree planting is slightly more complicated. It’s not just labour; it feels more like a dirty 8-hour workout in the mud. So, if you’re paid the same to plant 200 trees or 2000 trees, 99% of people will (understandably) choose the very reasonable former option.

Scenario number 2 — Piece rate machines
Now take those same labourers, but tell them they’ll get 20c for each tree they plant. Then get outta the way of stampeding planting animals.
Why? Because the stakes have gone into orbit! Whereas a planter could make 320 bucks (before tax) for a day's work, they can now make upwards of 700, finish at 2pm and hit the beach.

This simple trick has a profound effect on planters and the businesses they represent.

Let’s start with the planters. They get to make great money for a day's work that was going to be tough regardless. Now, with a little more effort, they could technically make a week's wages in one day. Trust me, that feeling is addictive. The work’s tough, but with such great pay and flexible hours, this type of work resonates with young people. And let’s be honest, they’re the only ones capable of doing it anyway.

Businesses are fired up too! Instead of ~80 bucks a day gross profit from 1 planter, they can get upwards of 300 dollars a day with piece rates.
Planters buy their equipment and transport themselves to job sites, which means low overheads. A business with low OPEX and high GP certainly gets my juices flowing!
And it doesn’t stop there. Because more plants go in every day, projects are completed sooner. Allowing businesses to chase more work to feed their hungry planters and repeat the process.

And clients are happy because nothing makes a contractor happier than a project completed on time and within budget.

But alas… it’s not all sunshine. There’s risks you should be aware of before you round up a crew.

Not all planters are created equal. Underperformers could end up costing the business money. So, finding the right people is a must.

Tree planting can be a tricky industry to nail. Being one of the last tasks of commercial landscaping, timing is often a nightmare. Jobs are often “pushed back” for a number of reasons: site preparation, weather, and employee inductions, to name a few. And like any services business, cash flow can be a real a***hole!

So be adaptable and remember: “Everything is negotiable.” (You can thank me later for this one)

Delays also mean you’ll have to be some disgruntled employees, so make sure you have other work lined up for them. And never lie, they’ll know. Just be honest and learn to manage expectations.

My advice — always have slightly more work than you can handle. But be careful. This is a delicate balancing act. Not enough work puts you in a cash crisis, but too much work and you’ll be disappointing someone.

But if you can successfully manage the risks, an army of shovel-wielding maniacs can make you some decent money.

Happy planting! 

Green Guardians

Picture this: vast stretches of Australia's landscapes, once lush and teeming with life, now grappling with the harsh realities of deforestation and habitat loss. That's where Greening Australia steps in, armed with a mission to turn the tide and restore these precious ecosystems to their former glory.

So, what's their playbook? Think of them as the green guardians, tirelessly working to conserve and restore Australia's natural landscapes through tree planting, habitat restoration, and sustainable land management practices. Whether it's reviving degraded farmland, replenishing native forests, or protecting vital habitats for wildlife, Greening Australia is on the front lines, fighting to ensure a greener, healthier future for generations to come.

But it's not just about planting trees—it's about creating thriving ecosystems that support biodiversity, capture carbon, and safeguard the resilience of our planet. With a diverse range of projects spanning urban greening initiatives, rural revegetation programs, and large-scale conservation efforts, Greening Australia is leaving an indelible mark on the landscape, one tree at a time.

So, here's to Greening Australia, the unsung heroes of conservation, who remind us that with a little green love and a whole lot of dedication, we can turn the tide and nurture our natural world back to life.

Want to learn more about Greening Australia? Click here to see what they are all about.

Read it. Share it. Spread the good vibes!

Reach out here.

Until next time,

Cheers from the Forestme Team, Hazar!!!