Everyone seems to have either an opinion or story about tree planting and wants to share it when they discover why I've been traveling to Prince George. Anyone who has lasted longer than a season will say is a horrible and wonderful experience. Anyone who didn't last a season will look at me and tell me blankly that it is horrible and then wish me luck. These words always follow brief summaries as to why they had a good or bad time in the bush. Charlotte Gill tells a story with all the grit; from being a soft rookie to being an experienced planter. To the parties to the bugs.
When my grandfather picked me up at the airport Thursday night he greeted me with a big smile, wide eyes, and a book he had heard about on CBC. It's title was Eating Dirt and the author Catherine Gill was doing an interview about her experience as a planter (20 years!) and what made her want to write about it a few hours before he was due to meet me. Impressed by Gills words and those of the planters who called in to relate their own perspectives he picked up the book on his way to the airport. I think he believed that reading another person's experience may save me from the shock from what I'll go through in the upcoming weeks.
Though I don't believe any number of books will do so, I think he has bought me a treasure. Eating Dirt is beautifully written, spinning a striking image of tree planting that is certainly not creamy.
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