In biology, that term ‘culture’ is defined as: To maintain (tissue cells, bacteria, etc.) in conditions suitable for growth.

Some people understand a horticulturist grows plants, or understand when a microbiologist does a tissue culture. In both disciplines, they center around ‘culturing’ something--keeping something else alive. 

Students of those fields understand why certain biological processes happen in the organism they’re culturing, and what those processes do. They know all of the variables, and they know which symptoms indicate what problems. Understanding of all of the vital requirements to keep something alive and healthy takes years of study and field/lab work. I mean, even knowing some aspects is awesome, let alone most of them.

Someone who is a student of arboriculture is called an arborist. Arboriculture is the study and care of individual trees. Whereas forestry examines entire forest ecosystems. There is plenty of crossover between the two studies though.

It is difficult to wrap my brain around trees not being the standout element wherever I go. I am always looking at trees, and I can remember learning how to identify my first few tree species. My life was forever changed. What were once just tall green things in the background, now had names and unique forms, and are now the foreground of my life.

My title as an arborist is something I cherish and take seriously as something I’ve earned. It isn’t my certifications or degree that give me the right to call myself that. Being an arborist is bigger than that--being an arborist to me means a great trust is given to me to make long lasting decisions with trees. Being an arborist is a mindset. Everyone benefits from trees; birds, fungi, you, me, trees are everyone’s. And I will not fail this most sacred task.