Take a look at our March newsletter!
MARCH 2021 T ree C are
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March Is the Time for Investing in the Future This year, I put a big emphasis on reinvesting in the company. We are funding the education of the four additional arborists, and we’ve also taken a close look at the condition and life span of our large equipment. This winter we purchased two new high-tech trucks, which you will see around in the coming weeks. We also bought a taller spider lift, which at 92 feet allows us to access the big backyard oak and pine trees from the safety of the lift basket. With the lessons of the past year, now is the right time for you to be thinking about investing in your own future , and creating your own resilient life. REINVEST IN YOURSELF THIS MARCH By March, many people give up on goals from their New Year’s resolutions. It can be a downer time of year, but I look at March as a time of rebirth and renewal. It also happens that my birthday is this month, so every March for me, is opening a new chapter of life. I encourage you to take on that kind of mentality. Look at who you want to be next year, and put aside the things you can’t control. Focus on your health, your family, your finances, your home — anything you have direct control over. One reason why people give up on their goals by March is because they lack self-belief and they choose to focus on the uncertainty instead of the solutions.
WHAT IS AN ARBORIST? Education Means More!
In the last edition of our newsletter, I mentioned that several members of our team are working to become certified arborists. One of my big initiatives is education — both making sure our team is educated and that our community is informed. Part of that education, at least as far as our team is concerned, is emphasizing the importance of arborist certification. We already have a couple on the team, myself and Rick, a tree crew leader, but we’re thrilled that four more will soon be joining our ranks. But what does it mean to be a certified arborist? WHAT IS AN ARBORIST? In short, it’s a person who is certified by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA). To become certified, an individual must pass the ISA exam — and they must have at least three years of full-time professional experience working in tree care. They have to demonstrate that they understand not only tree care, but trees themselves. Part of the exam includes tree biology, in addition to tree care best practices. Anyone who is a certified arborist knows trees. It’s something to look for when you’re hiring tree care professionals to take care of the trees on your property. There are other forms of arborist certification as well, and you can actually see our certification on our website at TroutBrookTree.com/ license-and-certificate . As a reminder, if someone claims to be certified, they should be able to back it up. If they can’t, that’s a red flag.
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The Most Popular Tree in America Doesn’t Grow Here
Did you know there is a tree that can supply youthful energy and vigorous excitement to people on a daily basis? This tree needs a very specific climate that’s not available in our part of the world, yet it is sold on every street corner in America. Many people are not aware that coffee comes from a high-altitude, tropical tree! But climate is not the only thing that affects this magical cherry as it goes from crop to cup. Genetics also play a very important role. There are two main species of coffee: arabica and robusta. Robusta is the type you get at Dunkin’ Donuts, and it is cheaper and easier to grow because the plant is very “robust” and resistant to disease. Many people mask its inferior taste with milk and cream. Arabica, named after its initial cultivation on the Arabian Peninsula, is the specialty coffee of the world. Many regions, known as “origins,” in coffee language, grow this superior
bean. Mocha, Java, or Columbia are just some examples.
Mountain” that is grown between elevations of 3000–5000 feet. In the Blue Mountains of Jamaica, this bean achieves a unique fruity sweetness and buttery smoothness when roasted and brewed properly. It is easy on the stomach and won’t give people the jitters or even heartburn. So where do you try this amazing coffee variety you might ask? The answer: from Trout Brook’s very own, Ian Fay. Ian, a salesperson for our company and a lover of trees, found a connection to the Blue Mountain variety because his wife’s family actually lives in Jamaica. Through visits to plantations, he established grower connections — and through personal investment, he founded Ovelle , a West Hartford-based Blue Mountain coffee company. This spring, Ian is offering a free Blue Mountain roasted bean sample for clients who meet him for a tree estimate . Enjoy, Tree Lovers! Check out OvelleCoffee.com, and ask Ian about the sample when you see him.
According to the United States Department of Agriculture, “Coffea arabica accounts for 60% of the world’s coffee production.” C. arabica takes seven years to mature fully, and it does best with 50 inches of rain throughout the year. The plant can tolerate low temperatures, but not frost. Commercial growers only grow them to about 15 feet tall, and they are frequently trimmed as low as 6 feet to facilitate harvesting. Two to four years after planting, C. arabica produces small, white, highly fragrant flowers that smell similar to jasmine . The flowers last a few days, and then berries begin to appear. Arabica berries are dark green before ripening to a glossy, deep red. Once ripe, they are called “ cherries ,” and are ready for picking.
Perhaps the most sought-after variety of arabica is the Jamaica “Blue
It’s That Time of Year! 2 Tips to Make the Most of Spring-Cleaning
In March, people tend to have a lot on their to-do lists, including spring- cleaning. It’s a yearly tradition most of us don’t get excited about, but it is important to declutter and organize. Still, that can be a lot of work. Here are a couple tips to make spring-cleaning a little easier. Clear the air. During the winter months, our homes accumulate more dust. Air circulation isn’t always the best, and a lot of people use wood-burning or pellet stoves to heat their homes in addition to central air. These heating methods produce and distribute a lot of dust in the air we breathe, and that’s not healthy.
If you have central air, clean the utility closet (or wherever the heart of your central air system is located) first. Clearing dust from this room can go a long way toward removing it from your entire home. Cleaning your ductwork can help as well, and don’t forget to change the air filter! Cleaning wood- or pellet-burning stoves can be a nightmare — and can put more dust and ash into the air. The safest and easiest course of action is to hire professionals, but if you want to do it yourself, a good shop-vac with an air filter can do the trick.
you own. This is in addition to sorting out old or unused items and donating them to charity or having a garage sale. Know what you have so you can better prepare for the future. You will undoubtedly come across items you want to keep and pass along to the next generation. These might include heirlooms you received from your parents or grandparents or things you have acquired throughout your life. As an added bonus, taking inventory can be hugely beneficial when it comes to insurance, should you need to file a claim following a flood or fire. It’s all about being prepared.
Take inventory. As you clean and organize, take inventory of what
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WEST HARTFORD’S CLAY SOIL SPAWNS A MAJOR INDUSTRY A BRICK HISTORY You have to believe that everything happens for you in life and that every setback is a valuable growing experience . If you persevere, and believe you are meant to handle this problem, then the amount eventually gained from each setback can be worth more than you lost. ... CONTINUED FROM COVER
As we all know, grass does not grow easily in many parts of West Hartford. This is thanks in part to our hard clay soil. But as annoying as it can be for homeowners, it was a boon for the brickmaking businesses of old. The brickmaking industry first got its start in the Hartford area in the 1630s. From there, the industry grew. As more people moved to Connecticut, demand increased in the decades to follow, and brickmaking businesses popped up in and around Hartford — including West Hartford. It wasn’t until the 1800s that the brickmaking industry really hit its stride. Technology caught up with brickmaking and pottery-making. Thanks to new railroads and newer brick-making techniques, the industry was able to thrive. It had a place to congregate. At the intersection of what is now Flatbush Avenue and New Park Avenue, there is a lot more history buried by the modern world than many people realize. In 1873, Michael Kane established a brickyard off New Park Avenue on either side of Prospect Avenue. The Kane Brickyard quickly became one of the leading brick- makers in the state, providing materials for projects such as Trinity College, the Travelers building, the Hartford Times building, the state library and the state capitol building. Brickmakers were also shipping their bricks wherever they were needed as New England rapidly developed. You can also look around near the intersection of Kane Street and New Park Avenue for hints of the past. There was a time you would see the workers of Kane Brick doing what they do best. Today, you’ll find a church — Our Lady of Fatima Church. But you’ll also notice a peculiarity on the property — a depression. It may look like a parking lot today, but it’s where Kane Brick harvested much of its clay for use in brick and pottery making. And, speaking of pottery making, if you follow the rail line south of West Hartford, you’ll arrive in Elmwood, which was home to Goodwin Pottery. Throughout the 1800s and into the early 1900s they made, as the name suggests, pottery. The pottery, of course, was made from local clay. Today, while these businesses are long gone, many of their products remain. If you ever see a brick stamped with “KANE,” you can be sure it’s a West Hartford brick.
And even if your setbacks are hard to bear, what you gain in humility and spirit as you move forward will be a blessing to others.
I wish you a happy March , and as always, if you need Trout Brook’s experienced tree experts to evaluate your trees, we’re just a phone call away at (860) 888-8472.
–Andrew Bachman (860) 888-8472
Asparagus and Smoked Mozzarella Pizzettes
Inspired by EatingWell.com
Ingredients
• 1 lb prepared whole- wheat pizza dough, divided into 6 equal portions • 12 oz asparagus spears, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces • 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil • 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 cup shredded
smoked mozzarella cheese
• 1/3 cup scallions, thinly sliced • 2 tbsp walnuts, toasted and chopped • 1 sprig of fresh mint leaves, torn • Zest of 1 orange
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 500 F and ensure there are two racks in your oven. 2. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper, stretch each piece of dough into a 7-by-3-inch oval and arrange evenly on the pan. 3. On a second baking sheet, toss asparagus with oil and 1/4 tsp salt. 4. Place dough on top rack and asparagus on bottom and bake for 3 minutes. 5. Remove both trays from the oven, sprinkle cheese over the dough, then top with asparagus and scallions. 6. Return pizzettes to oven and bake until the crusts’ edges are golden, about 8–10 minutes. 7. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with walnuts, mint, and orange zest before serving.
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MARCH 2021 T ree C are
INSIDE
THIS ISSUE
1 What Is an Arborist? | Investing in the Future 2 The Most Popular Tree in America Get More Out of Spring-Cleaning 3 Building West Hartford One Brick at a Time Asparagus & Smoked Mozzarella Pizzettes 4 Don’t Let Today’s Technologies Pass You By — A Book Recommendation
‘The Future Is Faster Than You Think’ by Peter H. Diamandis and Steven Kotler BOOK RECOMMENDATION — DON’T GET LOST IN THE FUTURE!
Technology is a wonderful thing, but it’s easy to get lost in it all. There is just so much tech, and it’s constantly changing. It can be hard to keep up. In the book, “The Future Is Faster Than You Think: How Converging Technologies Are Transforming Business, Industries, and Our Lives” by Peter H. Diamandis and Steven Kotler, the authors slow things down just enough for the rest of us to catch up. As part of the “Exponential Technology Series,” “The Future Is Faster Than You Think” is a forward-thinking look at the current advances in technology and what’s happening around the world. On the surface, we see things like new smartphones, laptops, and
TVs every year. We see advances in electric vehicles and contactless shopping. But there is significantly more going on behind the scenes — and many technologies that get incorporated into everyday objects that we don’t even think about. Sometimes, we don’t realize how quickly things are advancing because we’re living in it. Consider where we were in 1921. The very first passenger planes were just getting off the ground. The pop-up toaster had just barely started to find its way onto the market. We were still refining the radio. The list goes on. Today, we have things like artificial intelligence, robotics, 3D printing, and virtual reality that are changing the way we live and work. In “The Future Is Faster Than You Think”
the authors talk about how these technologies are coming together and how they will define our future. It’s a great read if you want to know more about what’s going on in science and technology. It lays out current developments and looks at where those developments are likely to go next — especially as they converge. And converge they will — just like the camera, computer, and phone converged into the smartphone. Though many technologies develop separately, they have a habit of coming together, and when they do, they often change our world. “The Future Is Faster than You Think” is a great way to “catch up” with the technological world, and it’s a great conversation starter, too!
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