Get To Know Leaf & Limb: Meet Patrick

This month, we meet Patrick, a thoughtful and introspective crew leader who is a champion for the community, the planet, and people.

Introduce yourself

I am Patrick Kelly, and I have worked at Leaf & Limb since September 2021. I have been a crew leader since spring of 2024.

Why Leaf & Limb?

I didn’t necessarily choose Leaf & Limb, it chose me. I was volunteering with Triangle Land Conservancy when I met a super-enthusiastic volunteer who wouldn’t stop talking about trees. At one point he mentioned Leaf & Limb. Later that day I checked out the Leaf & Limb website—amazing photos and captivating design. I’ve always been attracted to values-driven companies. In reading the Leaf & Limb mission statement I realized my previous company, Whole Foods, shared similar values and work culture. I was fully bought in. I spent the next few hours writing and submitting an application. I got the job! I had been working at Leaf & Limb for a few days when I realized the man I met talking about trees was an owner of Leaf & Limb and author of ‘From Wasteland to Wonder,’ Basil Camu.

So, what originally drew you to this kind of work?

I grew up in a socially conscious home, and some of my earliest memories are going to protests with my mom. My childhood was infused with values of service, justice, and environmental stewardship. With that background, I have always been drawn to workplaces that have altruistic values. I was an international relations major in college and worked on political campaigns. I lived and volunteered for a year in East Africa after college. Leaf & Limb was a natural progression of my journey.

At the shop there are large posters that state our mission, purpose, and values. In the past several years I have thought a lot about how to honor these statements and the values that go with them; to thirst for knowledge, to be kind and compassionate, and to maintain a culture of psychological and physical safety. My colleagues and I earnestly embrace this culture. We are all curious. We generously share knowledge and safety practices. There are no barriers to learning. We strive to exceed expectations.

What was the most surprising thing about the job when you first started?

I’m inherently anxious. So doing potentially dangerous things professionally rather than hiding from them requires me to be courageous and swim in the waters of discomfort. Many times, early on, I turned to people in my cohort and asked “What did we get ourselves into? Is this for real?” I still ask myself that question, three years later.

I climb trees with chainsaws in the hot sun and plant trees in the freezing cold. I operate heavy machinery. I perform complex tasks like rigging with serious consequences if I make a mistake. As a crew leader, people are counting on me to keep them safe and do quality work that exceeds expectations. It’s hard to believe this is my life.

I am most surprised that I'm still here, and that somehow, I made it through all the tough days. The constant challenges of learning to climb, of making mistakes, countless frustrations of blood, sweat, and many tears. Saying it out loud, I am realizing how much I have changed. I have experienced tremendous growth. I've surprised myself.

What's your favorite thing about Leaf & Limb?

I have to solve complex problems every day. Recently, I had a challenging climb where I had to go far out over a house to cut a heavy limb with a small landing zone. The crew and I carefully lowered the limb to the ground, placing it in the narrow section of the side yard. When I see that I can solve a big job in the field, it lessens my anxiety. And I know I can solve other challenges in everyday life.

Is there a book, film, or person that has had a significant influence on your life?

Carl Sagan and his widow Ann Druyan have had a profound impact on my character. They viewed Earth and humanity from a cosmic perspective.

“Our planet is a lonely speck in the great enveloping cosmic dark. ... The Earth is the only world known so far to harbor life ... it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another, and to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we've ever known.” — Carl Sagan, Pale Blue Dot

I honor Sagan and Druyan’s perspective through living Leaf & Limb’s purpose: “We care for trees because we love our planet.”