Get To Know Leaf & Limb: Meet Ian

Introduce yourself however you would like.

Sure. My name’s Ian Heaps. I’ve been in the arborist field for about six and a half years. I moved here from Asheville, where I was handling larger tree removals. After Hurricane Helene, I decided to move down here, and now I’m at Leaf & Limb, where I love it.

What originally got you into this kind of work?

Back in Asheville, I went to Warren Wilson College, which is a work college. Everyone who lives on campus has to work for the school to help pay for tuition. First, I started with recycling, which is where all the freshmen go, literally sorting through trash. Then I moved on to the landscaping crew, and finally to the sub-crew of the tree crew. That’s where I got my basics of climbing. I didn’t do any big tree removals, but that’s where I really got into arboriculture and climbing.

Did you go to school for arboriculture?

I did not. I actually went for photography and sculpture, but I really fell in love with my side job, we’ll call it, of tree work. And I had a friend, Elijah, who helped get me a tree job right after college. And I loved it.

And why Leaf & Limb?

That’s a good question. My dad actually found y’all through the New York Times, through an article about a tree care company that doesn’t cut down trees anymore. Of course, that was about Basil and Leaf & Limb. He sent that article to me a few years ago, before I started here. I was like, “Oh, that’s interesting.” And my partner at the time lived here. After the storm, we decided to move down here. And this was my first pick for a job, just because I was tired of, and honestly, pretty sad about the number of trees that I was removing. And I really wanted to get into the health and the pruning aspect of actual tree care.

What was the most surprising thing about the job when you first started, either generally or at Leaf & Limb?

Honestly, it’s going to sound corny, but just how nice and supportive everyone is. I was worried because a traditional tree company is very macho, often just showing your guns and what you got, and sometimes not really caring about other people. And it’s the complete opposite here. And while I was looking at the website, I had a feeling it would be a good company, but it was still a complete surprise when I got here. My old company was pretty good, but this is 10 notches up.

We do a lot of things at Leaf & Limb. Do you have a favorite task, and why?

I really like the big climbs. It’s a good way to support tree health and also to support my learning, physical activity, and physical well-being.

What do you find most rewarding or fulfilling in your day-to-day responsibilities?

Probably coming home every day knowing that I did something better for a small part of the world. Also, just for the community here, either teaching people as a crew leader, but also sharing my knowledge with clients. Also just helping support trees instead of cutting them down, and understanding the biology of trees, including what they can handle and how to help them.

How do you stay inspired and motivated?

Good question. Physical activity has always been important in my life. I connect physical activity with mental health. The combination of those two help me to do the best I can at work, and in my life.

Tell me a couple of things you’d like people to know about you.

I love to forage. I love spending time in the forest foraging for mushrooms and medicinal plants. I know more about mushrooms than I do about plants at the moment, but I love being able to go out into Nature and see what it offers us. On the one hand, I’m helping Nature at work by supporting tree health, and then Nature can come back and help me with medicinal herbs and mushrooms I can use to support my own health. I got good enough at foraging mushrooms to sell them to restaurants.

Is there a book, film, or person who has had a big influence on your life?

John O’Dell was one of the first people whom I felt like I really connected with at Warren Wilson. He taught me tree work. And he had 40 college students to mentor who were, honestly, all over the place. He was the most level-headed person I’ve ever met. And he never really got upset. He was also such a kind soul, always willing to share all his knowledge. I found that very valuable, and I’m trying to teach myself to be like that too.

Do you have any weird or funny stories that have happened on the job?

There was one time when I was up a tree, and I cut into a piece, and I don’t understand how it happened, but liquid just exploded out all over and completely drenched me. It was a bit scary because I had never even imagined something like that happening. In the end, I was safe, just grubby and soaking wet.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone just starting out in this field?

Be a sponge. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Be a squeaky wheel. That’s what John O’Dell taught me. Ask to do that climb, ask to do the hard things. Just keep asking, asking, asking. You may not get an answer, and the answer might be “no” every once in a while. But the more that you push forward, the more that you’re gonna get out of this industry and the more you’re gonna learn. Yeah. I think that’s the best thing that I’ve learned.