Kirsten: Initially I was inspired to create this group by the amazing women that I met when I attended the Women in Arboriculture Weekend Retreat a few years ago. It was filled with women from all corners of the arboriculture field: from tree climbers to the Minnesota Society of Arboriculture Executive Director, to tree care company owners. Not only was this a great networking opportunity to a budding forester/tree lover as myself, but it was such an inspiration to see the diverse positions in which women can hold in this field.

Secondly, to be completely honest, I recently found the instagram handle @womenintimber, and had stars in my eyes for this virtual world. These ladies were sharing stories and images of themselves driving skidders, cruising redwoods, and scaling timber. I wanted this feeling of community to be a reality. It felt so good to see girls like me out of the field rocking Carharrt, and undoubtedly regretting wearing those bibs when realizing how many layers have to come off to go pee!

I just want a place where we can come together and talk about ways to overcome underrepresentation in our field. I also know there is a great group of ladies in the twin cities area and on the St. Paul campus, and I want to know really badly...what we can get done together (I bet it’s a lot)!