Jackson Bonn, residing in Belleville, Ont., shared his firsthand experience of being a tree planter. On a clear morning with a hint of smoke from nearby wildfires, Bonn gathered his team of tree planters and conducted a safety briefing. Throughout his 12-hour shift, he oversaw the planting of spruce tree seedlings in a recently clear-cut area, ensuring each planter had the necessary supplies and was planting accurately.
Despite his supervisory role, Bonn managed to plant some trees himself that day, likening his actions to those of an Olympic freestyle swimmer, aiming for fluid and natural movements with each shovel strike. As a seasoned tree planter, Bonn highlighted the annual reforestation efforts essential due to logging and fires impacting Canada’s forests.
Typically, tree planters like Bonn plant between 1,500 to 5,000 trees daily, receiving payment based on the number of trees planted. The job’s physically and mentally demanding nature makes tree planters proud of their work, with many considering their time away from planting as the “off-season.” Despite enjoying the camaraderie in the bush, Bonn acknowledged that tree planting is primarily a job for him, not a lifelong career.
In 2025, Bonn opted for a break from tree planting, reflecting on his identity beyond the job and exploring other ambitions. However, as a seasoned planter, he eventually returned to the bush to lead his crew and introduce new planters to the job. Beyond personal growth, Bonn sees tree planting as a quintessentially Canadian experience, uniquely tied to the country’s landscape and the challenges posed by climate change.
For Bonn, being a tree planter is a source of pride and community, offering a profound connection to nature and fellow planters. Despite his evolving ambitions, Bonn plans to continue his love affair with tree planting, deepening both his literal and metaphorical roots in the Canadian wilderness.