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March/April 2024 & A rborists
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From Boy Scouts to Arborist Professional ROOTED IN PASSION
From Quaker Lane Nursery School to running the fields of King Phillip Middle school, to my days at Westminster Church in the Boy Scouts of America, I have always been inspired and intrigued by the beauty of the larger properties in West Hartford. When I first started working landscaping, with help of a couple local friends, we mowed and mulched our way through the neighborhood. Walking behind a lawn mower and wheelbarrow and with more than my share of truck breakdowns, we SPRING HAS ARRIVED! Here at Trout Brook, we visit a client’s home two to three times a year to prune to keep up with the shrub growth. And since trees
gained mechanical know-how, insight and humility. Recognizing the constant demand from clients for pruning to avert or repair ice and wind storm damage, and also looking at winters when there was no work to do, was when I was first beckoned to become an “Arborist.” In 2013, I bought my first bucket truck and after two years of intense study, in 2015, I became a licensed arborist in Connecticut and Massachusetts. Many don’t know, but the Massachusetts arborists program is at the forefront of tree science, with a longstanding “odd couple” partnership of academics and tree climbers on their test review board. Armed with this credential and the help of loyal, long-term team leaders, Trout Brook Arborists took its form. Today, with 12 years experience and with a growing network of arborist friends across southern New England, we also deal with weather events that require an emergency response — its one of my favorite parts of the business. When a storm hits, we can be there within 12 hours removing trees. Assisting those in need gives me great satisfaction and is mutually beneficial for us and the homeowner. I keep a crew on standby for disasters, and we leverage homeowner’s indemnity insurance to provide recovery equipment and tree advice. The standby crew also donates to youth and spiritual organizations that foster our sense of belonging in the community with charitable projects once a month. If you have an organization in
12 years ago
and bushes can be pruned right after they flower, its a
need of savings on tree service, book an appointment on our schedule. For a residential pruning consult or lawn installation, or to remove a hazard tree before it causes damage, call or text us at (860) 888-8472 or email troutbrooktree@gmail.com
good time to call for a pruning consultation.
–Andrew Bachman CT Arborist S6222
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Bigfoot Is an Endangered Species!?
A WASHINGTON COUNTY’S UNIQUE HUNTING BAN
Most people don’t consider the legality of Bigfoot hunting, but in Washington state, it’s part of the law. In Skamania County, it’s illegal to kill the mythological ape. Should someone murder the creature, they’d face a stiff penalty. Bigfoot — sometimes called Sasquatch — is an elusive ape-like cryptid said to roam the forests of North America. It allegedly has reddish- brown fur, a gorilla-like body, and its namesake big feet. Some claim Bigfoot is the “missing link” between walking apes and our ancestors, who walked on all fours. Most scientists dispute the claim, saying that any ancestor this old likely would’ve adapted or gone extinct. Bigfoot was first spotted in California in 1958, and most sightings since occur in Washington state. Per every 100,000 people, 9.12 sightings are in the Evergreen State. That’s a third more often than its neighbor Oregon, the runner-up at 6.06. If there were a Bigfoot capital of the world, it’d be in Washington. On April 1, 1969, the Skamania County legislature enacted Ordinance 1969-01, the first law prohibiting the killing of Bigfoot. Anyone convicted of murdering the cryptid would be classified as a felon and imprisoned for five years. While modified decades later, it set an important precedent: Bigfoot is a protected species.
Tourism picked up shortly after that. Bigfoot mania officially hit the U.S. in the 1970s as directors released films like “Sasquatch, the Legend of Bigfoot.” New Bigfoot enthusiasts started to visit Washington in droves, hoping to be the first to find proof of its existence. While locals appreciated the influx of cash from tourism, they didn’t appreciate the influx of guns from Bigfoot hunters. County legislatures enacted a new
ordinance in 1984. It further clarified the regulations on Bigfoot and designated the ape as an endangered species. As such, hunting Bigfoot with the intent to kill is illegal. However, the ordinance softened the penalty for hunting Bigfoot, lowering the penalty for poachers to a year in prison or a fine of up to $1,000. Every law has some logic; no matter how frivolous it may seem, there’s a reason why lawmakers went through the trouble. While this law may seem unnecessary, it protects “Bigfoot” and the Skamania County citizens alike.
Grow Your Green Thumb This Spring
A Spring Gardening Guide
three months to germinate. Radishes are cool-season vegetables you can start indoors and plant outside after the last frost. Other vegetables can also be started from seed indoors in late February to early March. Try cabbage, kale, broccoli, cauliflower, onions, leeks, endive, and lettuce. Later, in mid to late March, you can start peppers, tomatoes, eggplant, Swiss chard, and tomatillos indoors. Wait to plant your seeds and seedlings in the ground until two weeks after the last frost. Some early cold-tolerant vegetables, like cabbage, broccoli, and head lettuce, can go in the ground early to mid-March. Heat-loving plants like peppers, okra, and eggplant that grow slowly can also be planted in March. Tomatoes are the stars of many gardens. It is best to wait until early April to plant them, though. They are like Goldilocks and prefer everything just right — not too cold or hot.
We can’t talk about gardening without giving a few helpful tips for adding color. Plant hydrangea, aster, pansy, sweet peas, garden mums, and Oriental lilies in the spring to invite pollinators and provide blooming color throughout the summer. Spring bulbs, like crocus and daffodils, are the first to bloom. Sometimes, they will even bloom when there is a bit of snow on the ground. But it is best to plant bulbs in the fall so they have time to settle in their roots. A gardener’s best friend is the USDA Hardiness Zone Map. Since most states include three different growing zones, it is a handy resource to choose the best plants for your area. The website at PlantHardiness. ars.usda.gov has a wealth of information, including tips for easy maintenance. So, grab your gloves, get your seeds, and enjoy watching your garden grow!
Spring is in the air; the chirping birds and warm air call you outdoors. It’s the perfect time to start your garden. Even as a beginning gardener, you can find plants and flowers to bring you joy throughout the summer. Carrots and radishes are quick, easy, and grow well in most areas. Carrots are versatile veggies great for snacking and cooking; even your dogs will love them! They need to be planted early, though, as they take about
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A brown lawn ridden with weeds is not appealing. When planning to install or spruce up your lawn, you’re presented with an important decision: Should you seed or sod it? And what about hydroseeding? Why choose sod? With the pattern of monsoon rains every week for the last year and a half, new seed sort of floats to the top of the mud like Rice Krispies and then pools or runs off. Choosing sod provides an instant lawn option that requires less tending by the homeowner, and honestly less cost of repeated erosion events. Particularly useful for slight slopes, sod eliminates seed runoff and only needs watering once a day, as opposed to twice a day with seed. Sod can also be laid at any time throughout the year, whereas grass seeding only can be done in limited windows in spring and early fall. Sod can be used after the first two weeks, unlike seeded lawns, which require safeguarding against foot traffic or wildlife for five weeks Why choose seed? On the flip side, seeding can be cost-effective alternative to sod, especially for large areas, flat yards where the savings of labor could be significant. However, seeding is limited to one month in spring and seven weeks in fall due to soil temperatures. After April, the long sunny days of heat stifles and kills baby grass seedlngs before they establish, and the hot soil favors weed seeds. Seeding in summer can just end up with a weed-infested lawn. If you have partial shade in the afternoon on the proposed seeding area, an April lawn seeding can work well, otherwise we recommend Aug. 25 to Oct. 5 as the best time to seed a lawn. Hydroseeding can also improve the chances of lawn establishment in spring, and is similar in cost to hay and hand seeding. Hydroseeding uses a crushed paper pulp to mix the seeds and fertilizer in a tank. It is then sprayed from a trailer by hose to the lawn area, which was previously prepared. The colored pulp “medium” keeps the seed moist and cool by absorbing water and delivering nutrients directly to the seedling, in a similar fashion as a natural bed of partially composted forest litter mulch. At Trout Brook, our approach to lawn installation involves first removing the old weedy sod with a machine bucket, then leveling the yard with a top layer of fresh screened soil and light compost. We texture the ground with rakes to accept the new grass seed or sod roots. This process is typically completed in a day and sets the stage for a vigorous growth. The next day we finish the job with either seed or sod and then set you up with a fertilization program to ensure long-term success of your investment. Environmentally gentle weed control and watering programs are also outlined and recommended, resulting in a finished lawn that enhances the appeal of your home. For a quote on seed or sod, please reach out to Ian or myself. You can call or text us at (860) 888-8472 or email troutbrooktree@gmail.com Elevate Your Curb Appeal Seed Vs. Sod
AQUAMARINE BASKETBALL BUTTERFLY CLOVER MADNESS SPRING TANGERINE WOMEN Chipotle-Inspired Chicken Burrito Bowl Inspired by EasyChickenRecipes.com DAFFODIL GREEN IDES LEPRECHAUN
Ingredients
• • • • • • • •
2 boneless chicken breasts
• • • •
1 cup canned black beans
2 tbsp olive oil 1 tsp paprika
1 avocado, cubed 1/4 cup sour cream
1 tsp cumin
1/4 cup shredded cheese
1/2 tsp chili pepper
1/2 tsp salt
For Salsa •
1/2 tsp pepper
1 tbsp chopped cilantro 1/2 tomato, chopped 1/2 onion, chopped 2 tbsp white vinegar
1 cup white or brown rice, cooked 2 cups shredded romaine lettuce
• • • • •
•
4 tbsp lime juice
•
1 cup canned corn
Salt, to taste
Directions •
Cut chicken into bite-size pieces. In a medium-size bowl, add chicken, olive oil, paprika, cumin, chili pepper, salt, and pepper. Mix until chicken is evenly coated. • In a skillet over medium heat, cook chicken for 7 minutes or until cooked through. Set aside on a plate. • In a large bowl, layer the rice, lettuce, corn, beans, and cooked chicken. • In a separate bowl, mix together salsa ingredients, then pour over the chicken mixture. • Top with avocado, sour cream, and cheddar cheese. Enjoy!
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69 TALCOTT RD. WEST HARTFORD, CT 06110 WWW.TROUTBROOKTREE.COM (860) 888-8472
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& A rborists
INSIDE
THIS ISSUE
1 Nature’s Call — The Evolution of Trout Brook Arborists 2 Why Bigfoot Is a Protected Species in Washington Bring Color and Joy to Your Garden 3 Instant Greenery — Seed Vs. Sod Chipotle-Inspired Chicken Burrito Bowl 4 Ian, Our Sales and Operations Manager MEET IAN The Operations Manager Behind Trout Brook’s Success
At Trout Brook, our crew members are the backbone of our success. We recognize the immense responsibility we carry to serve our clients with excellence while prioritizing safety at every step. That’s why we seek out and train the best team players, and Ian, our operations manager, exemplifies our team spirit. Ian has been an integral part of the Trout Brook family for six years now (although he’s been around since the beginning), and his dedication and expertise are truly
invaluable. Wearing many hats, Ian’s role encompasses managing the crew on jobs he has sold, ordering supplies, and handling logistics such as dropping off materials and equipment. His tireless efforts and attention to detail ensure that every aspect of our sales and operations runs smoothly. “About 12 or 13 years ago, Andrew was on a bit of a spirit quest while exploring the states out West. When he returned to West Hartford, he felt motivated to open up his own landscaping company. I had been introduced to him through a mutual acquaintance, and in need of some extra cash, I started mowing lawns with him,” Ian tells us. “Then, I decided to head off to college, but my brother was searching for a job. I linked him up with Andrew, and together, they helped Trout Brook take off. A few years later, I graduated with my degree in liberal arts and was struggling to find a job, so I started working with Andrew again, and the rest is history!” For Ian, the most rewarding aspect of his job is the freedom it offers and the opportunity
to embrace the outdoors every day. “I love that I don’t have to be stuck behind a desk,” he shares. “Every day brings something new, whether it’s tackling a challenging project or exploring different landscapes.” Ian Fay is also on the safety board and enjoys advocating for the crew and building team spirit and safety culture. The crew leaders are Rick Caldwell: tree pruning and removal foreman, and Slava Browning: the ornamental and hedge pruning specialist. Both have been with the Trout Brook Team for six years, just like Ian. Ian’s passion for his work and commitment to the team remains unwavering. Outside of the office, he finds solace in playing guitar, diving into a good book, and spending quality time with his loved ones, including his wife, nephew, and Boston terrier. Ian, we are incredibly grateful to have you as part of the Trout Brook team. Your dedication, hard work, and positive attitude are integral to our success, and we thank you for everything you do. Here’s to many years of growth and accomplishment.
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