The TreeCare Bros

We are Julian, Jonas and Anadi, three Auroville youths that run Tree Care, an arboriculture business. In case you are wondering what arboriculture is, let us tell you: arboriculture is the synthesis of tree science (biology), physics, chemistry, physical coordination, strength, heavy machinery, and of course some yoga to stay calm and focused throughout technical and dangerous procedures, or as Google would define it: the cultivation of trees and shrubs. A typical day at work consists of climbing trees to prune, rig and fell them with professional gear. The afternoons are dedicated to office work, site visits and preparation for the next day’s job.

When did you come to Auroville?

Julian: I came to Auroville when I was seven years old. After finishing future school, I joined Tree Care in 2009 with the hopes of doing a fun job and working outdoors. Little did I know that I would be running it in the years to come, it was the start to a journey of discovery.

How was it for you to grow up in Auroville and what made you choose to stay here rather than pursue a career in Europe?

Jonas: Growing up in Auroville was a dream come true, with all the outdoor freedom I could imagine and the possibility to cycle throughout Auroville was so liberating. I couldn’t imagine a better way for a kid to grow up, in the wild, dirt, health, love and protection of Auroville. I chose to move back, after completing my masters in Economics in Aberdeen, UK. Travelling between the UK and Auroville every year, I was exposed to two different ways of living, two different cultures and two different philosophies on life. After self-reflection I could clearly see two versions of myself, I could observe how my ideals, ambitions and life goals would slowly change and adapt to the environment I was in. In the end it was an easy decision to make, as I could compare the two ‘versions’ of myself and decide who I wanted to be, and how I wanted live my life. I am forever grateful for the possibilities and opportunities that Auroville has given me, and I look forward to a life of self-reflection.

What advantages did you get from growing up in Auroville?

Anadi: I don’t know if I got it from Auroville or my parents - most probably both combined, but I would say a sense of resourcefulness, and definitely the ability to be great at bargaining, but that’s more from being in India. All jokes aside, a big advantage was the freedom to be myself and make my own mistakes and to learn to be responsible.

How is it to run Tree Care with your friends and how do you resolve disagreements?

Julian: I would not do it any other way than working in this industry with friends and people I trust completely. Any disagreements we have, we talk about frankly and try to understand where we can come to an agreement and move forward from there. When there is clarity, respect, understanding and trust, it’s just a matter of expressing oneself in order to settle anything.

Anadi and Jonas: We agree we wouldn’t have it any other way.

Jonas: It’s an experiment as well, and we learn as we go and adapt when we need to. Just because something is easier doesn’t make it better.

Where do you see yourself in the future?

Jonas: Education and training is key to creating an industry. The arboricultural industry is just starting in India, so training is a huge part of the future.

Julian: We need to teach arboriculture and proper tree care. In that way, tree-workers can safely accomplish working at height.

Anadi: We run tree care with the goal of providing a great place for other youth to learn a unique skill set, and to gain a practical and theoretical knowledge that they can work with almost anywhere in the world.

How do you think Auroville changed in the last 10 years?

Julian: That’s a tough question, I think more than Auroville changing, India and the world in general has changed and subsequently Auroville is struggling to keep up.

What are some of the biggest challenges you have running Tree Care?

Julian: I would say attaining professional equipment and gear. The majority of our gear comes from Europe and the west and it all costs a lot, so when you’re turning rupees into euros, it can be challenging.

Jonas: Growing the company fast enough to stay ahead is one of the biggest challenges, for me. This industry is rapidly expanding, and staying at the forefront of innovation and international standards is difficult.

What do you consider a great accomplishment for Auroville?

Anadi: All the trees we planted and the reforestation that is going on is definitely at the top, the way Auroville was transformed from a desert into a forest. We might have been a bit below par in regards to other aspects, but community and forestry are up there for sure.

Do you feel that Auroville as a community appreciates and supports your work?

Julian: Yeah for sure, we have a lot of support and positive feedback from individuals.

Anadi: It’s definitely challenging to build up a successful unit in Auroville. There are a lot of hurdles to jump over and scurry around, and the fact that businesses that have just started must contribute the same percentage as established businesses doesn’t make it easy to grow fast. Regardless, we definitely feel supported by Auroville.

How many people work in TreeCare?

Anadi: We are 6 to 10 people, us three, Bagirath, Sasha, Gopal, Bir, Bahadur, (make up the core team). Then we have volunteers and apprentices who come and go.

What is it like working in TreeCare?

Jonas: The nature of the job is dangerous and technical, so firstly a sense of composure and responsibility is paramount. Creating an environment of trust, communication and technical knowledge is fundamental in ensuring a safe worksite. It is a lot of fun once that foundation is set, and everything runs like clockwork. And like with most things, the more challenging and difficult, the greater the satisfaction once you achieve it. What inspires me the most is, knowing that we can have a profound impact on an entire nation. Currently, arboriculture is not a recognized profession, and there are no industry norms or safety regulations. With the Tree Care Climbing School, we hope to change the approach to tree work in India, to educate and provide the hands-on experience necessary to take care of the beautiful trees and nature all around us.

Julian: It’s a great experience and we strive to keep it a workplace and learning opportunity that runs on principles of honesty, fairness, self-improvement and other positive qualities. Working in that kind of environment is awesome and motivating.

Anadi: There is a lot of trust amongst our team, and when we carry out jobs that are particularly challenging or risky, that trust is necessary to complete the job safely, and it bonds us together like brothers.