β ΒΆ Welcome to Talking Trees
Talking Trees with Lillian Jadd . Welcome to Talking Trees , your weekly overview of the world of urban forestry and arboriculture . This week we bring you a rich tapestry of insights . On Monday , we explore the intricate bond between soil , urban trees and the hidden microorganisms that fuel growth and defense .
Tuesday spotlights the role of the groundworker in arboriculture , inspired by Jeff Jepson's book Groundy , and reveals the daily challenges and rewards of working the land . Wednesday dives into lightning protection , from its surprising impact on tree evolution to practical strategies for safeguarding both nature and structures .
Thursday examines the emerging link between green spaces and cancer , reviewing studies that highlight nature's potential influence on our health . Friday celebrates a milestone with the 50th anniversary of arboriculture and urban forestry and introduces the global network of the International Society of Arboriculture .
And Saturday unveils the pharmaceutical promise of trees , exploring research on fraxinus and white willow for their anti-cancer , anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties . Join us as we uncover these diverse stories shaping the future of our urban forests . Welcome to Talking Trees of our urban forests . Welcome to Talking Trees .
Welcome back to the Deep Dive . This week we are going to be looking at talking trees .
Okay , sounds good .
And , as an arborist , I know your time is valuable . So we are going to be going through this week's episodes and picking out , like the the highlights yeah , the highlights , yeah , the important stuff that you need to know . So this week they covered everything from soil microbiology to lightning protection and even some new research on medicinal uses for trees .
That's right . So it's a lot to cover , yeah , so let's jump right
in . Okay , monday's episode really got down to earth , exploring the world of soil microbiology , and they talked all about the 2020 research of Miguel Anco Sierra Castellanos .
Right .
And it's really easy to forget about what's going on beneath our feet .
Yeah , absolutely , especially in urban environments . You know we are dealing with compacted soil , pollution , all sorts of stuff that trees don't really face in their natural habitats .
Yeah , and you know , what he found was that those little microbes living in the soil bacteria , fungi , the whole crew , all of them . They're essential for tree health . They're like the unsung heroes . Yeah , they aid in nutrient uptake , disease resistance .
Help them deal with stress . Yeah , it's pretty amazing .
And it really is like a symbiotic relationship .
The trees provide the home and the nutrients for the microbes and the microbes .
Help the trees thrive . Help the trees thrive .
Exactly yeah , and as arborists working in urban settings , it's like .
It's like a secret weapon .
Yeah , like this whole world that we can tap into . Yeah , for sure .
Yeah , so it's not just about picking the right tree , it's also about fostering that healthy foundation .
Yeah , the right environment .
So that makes me wonder is there any way to assess soil health in the field without running expensive lab tests ?
That's a good question .
Because you can't be doing that all the time . Yeah , you can .
Yeah , no , can't be doing that all the time , but there are a few things that you can look for .
OK .
Like you know . Look at the soil structure . Is it crumbly , Is it loose , Is it compacted ? Yeah , it's really compacted and dense .
Oh , okay .
You can also look for , you know , earthworms , beneficial insects .
Right .
Those are all good signs .
Good indicators , yeah , okay , so keep an eye out for that on the next site visit , for sure
β ΒΆ Groundy: Life as an Arborist
. Speaking of getting our hands dirty , tuesday's episode was all about Jeff Jepson's book .
Groundy . Oh yeah , I love that book .
I will admit I laughed a few times listening to this one .
Yeah .
It brought back some memories of my early days as a groundy .
It's a rite of passage ? Oh yeah , for sure , I think , for a lot of arborists .
Yeah , and it does a really good job of capturing the essence of that experience .
Totally the camaraderie , the hard work , the satisfaction of getting the job done .
Yeah , and it doesn't matter what you're doing that day . If you're hauling logs , if you're chipping branches , you feel good at the end of the day .
Tired , but yeah .
Yeah , Exactly , you feel accomplished and you know anyone thinking about becoming an arborist .
Yeah .
Should read this book .
They should . It's a must read .
Because it's a realistic look at what the job is actually like .
It really is .
Both the good and the bad . Yeah , and you know he also talks about a lot of the practical skills .
Yeah .
Like not tying safe chainsaw operation essential stuff , yeah , the basics . Yeah , and the safety .
Yeah , you know yeah .
Which is so important , huge , but he doesn't just like preach it at you , right , it's part of the story , so it's much more engaging .
It is , and he's got those other books , the one on tree felling .
Yeah .
And the one on knots .
Yeah , have you read those ?
I have . I have . They're out of print right now , which is a shame .
Oh , that is a shame .
Because they're considered classics .
I've heard that .
Yeah , so hopefully they'll reprint them at some point because Okay .
So Wednesday's episode got a little bit dramatic , A little bit Talk about lightning protection .
Right .
And I think we can all agree , this is
β ΒΆ Lightning Protection for Trees
so important . It is when you think about the damage a lightning strike can inflict not only on a tree , but on structures and people .
Yeah , nearby . Yeah , it's a big deal yeah .
And what was interesting about this is they presented like two contrasting views . They did , but doesn't really help me protect my client's oak tree from lightning strikes . Yeah , you need something a little more practical . Yeah , so then they shifted to a practical discussion . Okay , and they looked at guidelines for assessing the lightning risk .
Okay , and implementing some preventative measures . Like , what kind of stuff are we talking about ? Well , they talked about the different types of lightning protection systems grounding techniques , even pointing strategies to help reduce the risk of a strike .
Okay . So even if you can't install a full-blown system , there are things you can do to minimize the risk . That's good to know .
So Wednesday's episode was a lot of good information there .
Yeah , for sure .
Thursday's episode was really interesting , talking about the connection between green spaces and cancer
β ΒΆ Green Spaces and Cancer Research
risk .
Oh , wow .
Which is a really big topic , right ?
now yeah , especially in public health . Yeah , exactly yeah .
And they featured two studies .
Okay .
One was a Spanish study that looked specifically at breast cancer Okay and proximity to green spaces Interesting and the other one was a 2022 systematic review .
Okay .
That looked at the impact of green spaces on a variety of different cancers .
Okay , so broader .
Yeah , much broader approach and variety of different cancers . Okay so broader . Yeah , much broader approach and it's all still really ongoing , yeah , but I think it highlights the potential of trees to contribute to human health .
Yeah .
In ways that we haven't really considered before .
That's amazing , really cool .
It's not just about aesthetics and air quality anymore it's .
It could be about health .
Yeah , it could be about public health . So let's celebrate a milestone . Friday's episode marked the 50th anniversary of the Arboriculture and Urban Forestry Journal .
Wow , 50 years .
That's amazing , big one .
Huge .
β ΒΆ Arboriculture Journal's 50th Anniversary
Yeah .
Yeah , what a publication .
And it's gone through a lot of changes , wouldn't you say ?
Absolutely . It's evolved right along with the field itself .
Yeah , and one of the biggest changes has been the shift to open access .
Yeah , that's huge for making that information accessible Exactly To everybody .
So arborists around the world who may not have been able to access that information before .
Right Students , researchers .
Yeah .
Like anyone can get access to that now .
That's fantastic . And , of course , you know we've got to acknowledge the International Society of Arboriculture . Of course , the ISA , the ISA , yeah , they're the ones behind the journal , yeah .
And they do so much for the field of arboriculture . It's unbelievable .
Well said , yeah Okay . Saturday's episode we went on a deep dive into the potential medicinal properties
β ΒΆ Medicinal Properties of Trees
of trees .
Oh , now we're talking , right . I love this stuff .
So we always focus on the ecological benefits .
Right .
And the aesthetic benefits Of course , yeah . But they also have this long history of being used in medicine .
Yeah , intradenal medicine .
Yeah , and modern crisis started to back that up .
Yeah , and figure out why .
Exactly .
What are the actual compounds that are responsible for these effects ?
And they focused on fraxinus .
Ash .
Ash and salix alba .
White willow .
White willow . So the freshness research was interesting .
Yeah , what did they find ?
They found that it has compounds that could be anti-cancer .
Wow .
Anti-inflammatory .
Really .
Antioxidant effects .
Oh my gosh , so many things .
Right .
That's incredible .
A tree that we see every day .
Yeah .
Could be the key to fighting diseases .
That blows my mind .
I know Right .
Yeah , that's so cool , it's pretty wild . I'm curious like how , how do they , how do they even study this stuff ?
Yeah , that's a good question .
Like how do they know ?
I don't really know anything about the chemical composition of trees .
Right , it's like how do you even start with something like that ?
The whole other world .
It is .
But that's something I'd like to learn more about .
Yeah , me too
β ΒΆ Call to Action and Closing
actually .
So , as we wrap up this deep dive , I want to challenge our listeners to take action . Okay , I like it what resonated with you the most from this week's episodes .
Yeah , what are you going to do differently ?
Exactly . Maybe it's trying a new pruning technique or conducting a soil test , or even just taking a few minutes to really appreciate the beauty of a tree .
Yeah , just that simple act of observation .
So let's go out there and be advocates for trees , share our knowledge , our passion and our commitment to protecting them .
Well said .
Thanks for joining us and until next time . Happy tree climbing .
Thank you for joining us on this week's Talking Trees journey . If you enjoyed our exploration of soil , urban trees , lightning protection , health and the pharmaceutical promise of nature , be sure to subscribe to the full episodes at wwwheroherocom . Stay curious and keep exploring Until next time .