He “felled” his first tree at age 14.
Note, he “felled” the tree. He did not fall from out of the tree. Rather, Matt Klinkenborg climbed to the top with a chainsaw and “cut” his way down what was a 75-foot tall tree in four-foot sections.
Klinkenborg said he started his business two weeks later encouraged by the confidence he gained in the successful taking down of that pine tree.
“I just fell in love with this work,” he said. Pardon the pun.
The term “fell” as applied to a tree is one used by arborer’s, landscape managers and timber professionals in reference to the process of knocking down or taking out a tree.
It rolls off Klinkenborg’s tongue with authority as he, the owner of Paradise Grove Landscape Tree and Property Management of Palm Coast, talks confidently about his work ascending the area’s oaks, palms and pines that have gotten too big for their current location.
He admits that he somewhat enjoys taking a few moments to look around once he gets to the top of a customer’s tree that is soon to become lumber and or sawdust.
“Sometimes, I just look around for a bit. Depending on the height of the tree, I can be as much as 130 feet in the air,” Klinkenborg said, noting that unlike many other people, he obviously isn’t scared to climb to that height. He’s been climbing up trees ever since he can remember and much more before he started bringing cutting equipment along for the journey. “It’s pretty cool to be able to see a lot of the area of Palm Coast and Flagler County from that high. I like to take a moment and enjoy one of the highest points in the area.”
Klinkenborg finds other satisfaction in his work.
With 17 years of experience in the landscape management business, he still likes being able to help his clients eliminate worries they may have about their property.
When asked what he finds most rewarding about his work, Klinkenborg said, “Honestly, it is that I get to change somebody’s landscape and make them be able to relax and not have to stress about their property. Some of these trees can weight up to 20 tons. During hurricane season, that’s a lot of weight to potentially hit someone’s house and cause millions of dollars in damage or potential death.”
From removing trees that have suffered wind damage and threaten to fall on a house or a shed or a child’s play equipment to other vegetation that has outgrown its space, Klinkenborg said his work helps him carry on the generations-long legacy of investing in Flagler County that his family has.
Both sides of his family have deep roots here dating back at least 150 years to the mid-1850s. His maternal great-grandmother was part ing back at least 150 years to the mid-1850s. His maternal great-grandmother was part of one of the first pioneer families to settle in Bunnell. His great-grandfather was a train operator when the Lehigh Railroad was first established in Flagler County. His family had many farmers in it, but also architects, bankers, and a sheriff. He loves that when he drives by the water plant on US Highway 1, he sees his grandfather’s name on it. With an appropriate joy, he makes mention of the scholarships given annually in his grandfather’s name that help area students pursue higher education and vocational training.
“I take a lot of pride in my work, not just because of my own work ethic,” Klinkenborg said. “But because I can take pride in being able to bring value through my work to this slice of paradise that my family helped build.”
— Amy Armstrong of one of the first pioneer families to settle in Bunnell. His great-grandfather was a train operator when the Lehigh Railroad was first established in Flagler County. His family had many farmers in it, but also architects, bankers, and a sheriff. He loves that when he drives by the water plant on US Highway 1, he sees his grandfather’s name on it. With an appropriate joy, he makes mention of the scholarships given annually in his grandfather’s name that help area students pursue higher education and vocational training.
“I take a lot of pride in my work, not just because of my own work ethic,” Klinkenborg said. “But because I can take pride in being able to bring value through my work to this slice of paradise that my family helped build.”
— Amy Armstrong
