Small World Tree Co. Company Profile

hen you choose a tree care company, do you know what to look for? Or what to watch out for? Some consumers found out the hard way—by choosing the wrong company first. Then they became a customer of Small World Tree Company in San Anselmo CA. Maria of Larkspur appreciated Small World's competitive pricing, but she also was relieved that Small World Tree Company owner Jim Cairnes was a fully licensed arboriculturist who knew how to work with diseased trees. Jim didn't just come through with a chain saw and flatten all of Maria's ailing trees, as another tree service had suggested, "Jim cared about the trees that were cut down and he had a process for injecting the soil to save the trees that could be saved. He knew about the ecology of the area, and he really took expert care of the trees."

Another Small World customer, Margaret of Corte Madera was especially pleased about Small World's timeliness, "They responded really quickly, took care of every single thing they needed, and they didn't drag it out over weeks like some of them do." Other customers were surprised that Small World was so prompt about cleaning up all the debris (tree work can be a messy job), and surprised that with their high level of service, their prices are very competitive. Fred of Corte Madera, who's used Small World for six years, remarks, "James is accredited in the UK and here, but his price is firm and fair. There's a lot of scamming in the tree business and he just doesn't do that. They're quick to reply and don't try to sell you more than you need."

The Small World Approach
Jim Cairnes grew up in Ireland and England, and just as he was preparing to take his college entrance exams (called A Levels in the UK), he crashed his motorcycle and ended up in a hospital ward next to a tree expert. As the two bonded, Jim became fascinated by the idea of working with trees, and when he left the hospital, he worked with trees for a year, and then obtained a 3-year National Diploma in Arboriculture through Merrist Agricultural College in the UK. Jim became a traveling arboriculturist, and worked in Germany, the UK, New Zealand, and the Australian Rainforest, where he helped erect a skyrail aerial tram system so that people could swing through the canopies without damaging the delicate ecosystem of the rainforest.

Jim arrived in the U.S. after winning a Morrison Biodiversity visa, and he worked with groves and forests in California, Alaska, and up and down the East Coast. He was also called down to North Carolina in 1996 by FEMA to help with the devastation caused by Hurricane Fran. In North Carolina, Jim met tree workers from San Francisco who invited him to work with them. After 8 months, Jim and colleague Natalie Carey moved to Marin County and started Small World Tree Company in San Anselmo.

A Full Service Tree Care Company
Jim Cairnes and Natalie Carey certainly know trees, and they provide every imaginable service, such as tree planting and transplanting, Japanese and European ornamental pruning techniques, intricate tree surgeries, and hazard reduction and land clearance. Jim is also working with the most up-to-date UC Berkeley treatments for the Sudden Oak Death epidemic that has ravaged California's Oak forests. While you might think that this kind of expertise would be expensive, Small World customers can attest that Jim and Natalie not only know trees, they also know how to run a business. Jim says that by staying small and focused, Small World can keep a close eye on the work and respond quickly to customer calls. How do we know? Customer after customer remarked about Small World's timeliness and affordability, even during emergency calls for felled trees and limbs, "Their prices are good, and they came out in a storm right away even though there was no rush," remarked Kathleen of San Anselmo, "They're always prompt about coming out for estimates, and they're totally reliable."

Understanding the Ecosystem
Many of Small World's customers talk about the understanding Jim brings to the entire ecosystem their trees inhabit, and many of them say they've learned a great deal from him. However, Jim has also learned a great deal about wildlife. As a volunteer for WildCare Marin, Jim uses his skills and equipment to help wild birds, owls, and orphaned chicks survive and thrive in the urban forest. Jim is now setting up a training program for other tree companies, so that they can do their work with as little damage to wildlife as possible.

The Small World Difference
Through their professionalism, affordability and expertise, the Small World Tree Company in San Anselmo stays on the cutting edge of arboriculture and customer service, and as their customer Barbara says, "Their work is impeccable. It's about their attention to detail, the care and knowledge they have about trees, and their concern about good ecology and environment. They're the best."