Changing courses

chris25 · Post by **chris25** » 27 May 2008, 11:36

Spoke earlier in the year about this, basically I'm currently in the first year of an environmental based course (sounds great) but I have been very unstimulated, have found my enthuaism for the course non-existent, have struggled with exams recently (some have gone very badly) and I am now re-examining my route.

My course would lead me down the conservation route not the water/utilities/alternative energy route that are becoming vital in this world. Conservation tends to occur in the age of economic surplus, and is mostly sponsered by grants from lottery, charities and local government and will most likely face the chop when times get tough.

Another issue I have is; as much as I love and live for nature and the environment, I find conservation increadibly boring.

So I am after a much needed change. After giving this course a go, things have not improved as I intended for them. I am now finding myself looking at something I have really wanted to do since the age of 13 and recent events are opening up the oppurtunity, I just need some opinions on this.

I have always loved trees and always loved walking around woodlands. When I was a young teen I remember seeing foresters work in the woodlands not too far away from me, and it inspired me as the dream job.

I even did work experience in forestry when I was 15 but afterwards I got pushed towards college and the university route, as forestry seemed a dieing industry and if I entered that route I would find it very hard to get a good job and a good salary.

So a few years past, I find out about Peak Oil but I thought (even last year) that it was still years away (15-20 years) and now its hit us, its here.

Timber demand soars. Wood-fuel power stations kick off. CO2 offset. Worries about the UK's timber supply. Re-localization of resources. Reduction of cheap foreign wood supplies. Wood sustainability issues. All issues that have occured since I made my decision.

I'm now thinking about the future and how important skills will be, and how I need to get qualified in something specific.

So this is what has pushed me to do a two year course in forestry.

I think I'm gonna go for it. Only problem is the 60-mile round commute, that could certainly bite by the second year if oil prices continue to rise.

Any thoughts?

SunnyJim · Post by **SunnyJim** » 27 May 2008, 11:59

Great plan. I had a friend who did Forestry at Aberdeen Uni. He's now managing a small estate in Cornwall. House provided. Grows veg for his family and the family in the 'big house'. Has a really nice life there.

snow hope · Post by **snow hope** » 27 May 2008, 12:39

Forestry sounds good to me. Wood is very important as a CO2 sequestor, for beauty, fuel of course and can be used for all sorts of useful products. Hopefully you may learn something about biofuels and renewable energy and maybe some permaculture, general vegetable growing etc. as well?

Miles better than a desk-bound job in my books!

RenewableCandy · Post by **RenewableCandy** » 27 May 2008, 13:18

Good plan. Commute's a pig, mind.

Is there somewhere you could stay during the week (friends, camper-van, bribed random people?) Some distance-learning parts (tho' I guess the whole point is that most is hands-on)?

Keela · Post by **Keela** » 27 May 2008, 13:30

Sounds like a plan to me.

Best wishes with it. I have a friend who set up in tree surgery in the '80s. Things are going well for him now and he has expanded into making wooden furniture too. He employs quite a few folk now too.

Post by **mikepepler** » 27 May 2008, 14:16

Sounds good to me! We've found it hard sometimes, learning as we go along with our woodland. Perhaps you can come and give us a hand if you're ever in the area!

chris25 · Post by **chris25** » 27 May 2008, 22:00

Thanks for the support guys

RenewableCandy yes the commutes a bastard but I have thought of several ways of minimising costs significantly.

I noted the other day that if I drive my car at 2,000RPM (enough to provide the minimum amount of power in order to get somewhere without labouring the engine) then I can get at least 55MPG, which would cost me ?10 a day (when the oil price hits ?2 per litre, which it is likely to do) to get to college and back. Bad news- no more going above 52mph!!!

Another alternative is to buy a Honda XR 125 4 stroke which gets 100mpg but its simply not pratical and wont keep me dry, so thats really a last resort.

If I were to use public transport it would consume 5 hours of my day, so thats definetly off!

amused_dude · Post by **amused_dude** » 28 May 2008, 14:54

I'm going through something a bit similar. Last year I was doing my AS year and was considering going to university to do some useless academic course. But this year I've really hated college and the thought of more classroom learning makes me feel nauscious. Also, I want to prepare for the crash and learn to live sustainably.

I've just started a practical conservation course with BTCV- NVQ Level 1 Land-Based Operations (plus chainsaw use). I quite enjoy it, but conservation isn't really where my heart lies. I'm also interested in forestry and will look into this.

I heard coppice plots are currently dirt cheap and think that it might be a sensible decision to start coppicing before wood fuel becomes economically viable for the first time in centuries.

Mike, did you and your wife take up a coppice plot?

emordnilap · Post by **emordnilap** » 28 May 2008, 15:17

chris25 wrote:I noted the other day that if I drive my car at 2,000RPM (enough to provide the minimum amount of power in order to get somewhere without labouring the engine) then I can get at least 55MPG, which would cost me ?10 a day (when the oil price hits ?2 per litre, which it is likely to do) to get to college and back. Bad news- no more going above 52mph!!!

52 mph will get you everywhere.

Get sign made (like new cars used to have - "running in - please pass") saying something like "burn extra fuel - please pass" or "I'm getting 55mpg - please pass".

Any other suggestions? They have to be very few words.

Post by **kenneal - lagger** » 28 May 2008, 17:15

"Running out - please pass"?

Sounds like a good move, Chris. Could you board nearer the college? Which one is it?

SunnyJim · Post by **SunnyJim** » 28 May 2008, 17:24

How about living in a ford escort 55? High mpg and can put a bed in the back. Get a Cob stove and use the local swimming pool for showers etc? Could be a good laugh in the summer months. Guess winter might be a bit grim.

Post by **kenneal - lagger** » 28 May 2008, 17:56

Is that four bunks in the back, Jim?

chris25 · Post by **chris25** » 28 May 2008, 18:22

SunnyJim wrote:How about living in a ford escort 55? High mpg and can put a bed in the back. Get a Cob stove and use the local swimming pool for showers etc? Could be a good laugh in the summer months. Guess winter might be a bit grim.

Is that four bunks in the back, Jim?

sounds like a brillant idea

Can you imagine the reality after saying to a girl- "so you wanna go back to my place?"

I have some dosh saved up so a tenner a day is no problems to me. 30 miles there 30 miles back entirely on rural roads should (hopefully) be no problem.

amused_dude Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 2:54 pm Post subject:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'm going through something a bit similar. Last year I was doing my AS year and was considering going to university to do some useless academic course. But this year I've really hated college and the thought of more classroom learning makes me feel nauscious. Also, I want to prepare for the crash and learn to live sustainably.

I've just started a practical conservation course with BTCV- NVQ Level 1 Land-Based Operations (plus chainsaw use). I quite enjoy it, but conservation isn't really where my heart lies. I'm also interested in forestry and will look into this.

I heard coppice plots are currently dirt cheap and think that it might be a sensible decision to start coppicing before wood fuel becomes economically viable for the first time in centuries.

Yes, yes good on you! The people who are going to university to study engineering, renewable energy, physics, medicine etc will come out with a post oil world asset but 80% of courses will be useless. No real asset can be gained from courses such as leisure and tourism, sociology, philosophy, fine art, drama and most other uni courses.

Here is an exampe of a vital post peak course- http://www.uclan.ac.uk/courses/ug/bsc_hm.htm

Forestry, farming, fencing, electricians, plumbing, engineering, metal work, carpentry and other specific skill based essentials that can be obtained without a degree will be vital.

I was in the same situation as you were, so I just went to uni because I thought it would be ok. Turned out pretty awful, especially being PO aware.

SunnyJim · Post by **SunnyJim** » 29 May 2008, 09:13

kenneal wrote:Is that four bunks in the back, Jim?

None of us are big in this family, but four in that might be pushing it a little bit. I've got an old type 2 camper (with high top) that isn't road legal, but if we end up loosing the house then we could always live in that for a bit.

Catweazle · Post by **Catweazle** » 30 May 2008, 08:24

Firstly, well done for realising something that many of us don't - it's important to choose a career that you enjoy.

Secondly, your timing is good. As you noticed, for years forestry has been fading away as a viable business. Now there is a lot more interest in home grown timber for fuel and construction, meaning that big business is investing in forest, which means work for foresters. I believe that the demand will increase further once the fuel prices bite harder (gas is expected to rise another 25% this year) and the construction industry gets to grips with new methods ( see http://www.in-wood.co.uk/projects.htm for ideas).

All in all I think it's looking very healthy for UK wood producers, especially as young talent like yourself is getting interested.