The New Guy
 Lectures and slideshows only take you so far," says Patrick Boyle. "Where you really begin to learn is out with the crews.
"For someone just out of school, Hartney Greymont is an incredible experience. Almost everyone here is a master, but they treat me like a peer. They will answer any question and, believe me; they can provide a level of detail that's amazing.
"For example, they taught us pruning techniques at UNH. At Hartney Greymont, though, they have different techniques for literally every kind of plant, from ornamental shrubs to big trees. This one has to be more linear, that one more elliptical. Here's why we make the cut in this place and here's how.
"Every client call is an intense education, and there's a lot of variety. One day, you might be cabling, bracing and rigging. Another day, you might be the "third man" and responsible for explaining the job to the client and relaying her ideas to crew members working in the tree.
 "I like going back to the same properties later and seeing how the work that I've done is progressing. It's satisfying. The culture at Hartney Greymont is based on open conversation and constant education. Every Monday, for example, we have a safety meeting and really get into specifics of how to do a certain job right. There's a lot of discussion. The arborists here have made observations over many years and they can teach you subtleties you won't learn anywhere else.
"My next milestone is to become a certified Massachusetts arborist by passing the exam next April. I'm studying for it on my own, but I'm also getting practical lessons constantly from some of the best teachers anywhere.
"Ultimately, I can't really tell you what it's like to be 60 feet up in a silver maple doing very precise work with a chainsaw. Just that I'm very glad to be there."
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