Benefits of Trees

FREE Camden Street Trees: Apps Due Jan. 31

Beth Kwart Benefits of Trees, Success Stories

The NJ Tree Foundation is working on two amazing tree planting projects in Camden, NJ! Both projects offer opportunities for Camden residents to adopt FREE street trees in front of their homes.

tree2Trees for Trails is an exciting project that will plant 75 trees and 300 perennials along the Camden Greenway! The Camden Greenway is part of the Greater Philadelphia’s regional trail network known as the Circuit, which will have over 650 miles of trails upon completion. Please click here for a list of streets/communities in Camden that are eligible for FREE trees through this project. Click here to apply for trees. This project is made possible with the generous support of the William Penn Foundation. 

image0Rain to Roots is an innovative pilot project that will demonstrate the value of enhanced tree pits in urban communities! This project will plant 6 trees total – 3 in standard tree pits and 3 in enhanced tree pits. The enhanced tree pits will absorb up to 10x more water than a standard tree pit, which will help reduce flooding and combined system overflows while helping the trees grow strong. The NJ Tree Foundation is looking for a Camden school, park, or non-profit facility with wide sidewalks (8’+) and a building set at least 20′ back from the street. Click here to apply for trees. This project is made possible with the generous support of the Environmental Leadership Program and the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation.

The application deadline for both projects is January 31st, 2015. Questions about these projects can be directed to Jessica Franzini of the NJ Tree Foundation at (856) 287-4488 or jfranzini.njtf@gmail.com.

FREE Fruit Trees for Camden Gardeners

Beth Kwart Benefits of Trees, Just for Fun

10410560_10152764090123273_1419526935680910404_nPhoto: Mia Roberts harvests pears at Cooper Sprouts Garden in 2014!

Attention, Camden* gardeners: Whether you grow food in a community garden or in your backyard, you could be eligible for a FREE fruit tree (or trees) in the spring of 2015!

Trees are free of charge to Camden residents in exchange for your commitment to water and care for the tree(s). They provide fresh, healthy food. The NJ Tree Foundation will teach you to care for and harvest your fruit trees.

Don’t delay! Fruit trees are first come, first served and our supply is limited. Please complete the Fruit Tree Application (on page two) and return it via postal mail, email, or fax to:

Jessica Franzini, Program Director
Phone: (856) 287-4488
Fax: (856) 422-2601
PO Box 1221, Camden, NJ 08105
jfranzini.njtf@gmail.com

*A limited number of trees are also available for Pennsauken and Gloucester City residents.

 

Green Streets Program Plants 472 Trees!

Lisa Simms Benefits of Trees, Good Landscaping, Pictures, Success Stories, Tree Care, Urban Tolerant Trees

Our Green Streets Tree Planting Crew was busy this fall! James, Jamario, Shawn and Michael planted 472 street trees and created four rain gardens with Rutgers Water Resources Program staff. They also helped plant 70,000 dune grasses in Lavallette and constructed 2 Firewise gardens!

See our tree plantings in pictures: Neptune, Asbury Park, Jersey City, Red Bank, Parkside Garden, Lavallette, Highland Park, Glen Ridge, Rain Gardens, Metuchen, Firewise Gardens, Asbury Park Tree Giveaway,  HoHoKus, Haworth, Springfield, Liberty State Park.

Did you know you can hire our Green Streets Crew to plant trees, create rain gardens, remove stakes and guys from trees, water your street trees? Go here to find out more.

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Trees for Trails: The Circuit, Camden

Beth Kwart Benefits of Trees, Good Landscaping, Just for Fun, Pictures, Plant One Million, Success Stories, Tree Care, Uncategorized, Urban Tolerant Trees, Volunteers

Have you heard of The Circuit, an extraordinary trail network connecting Pennsylvania and New Jersey? When complete, it will provide pedestrian and bicycle access from the Appalachian Trail to the Atlantic Ocean! If you live in Camden, chances are that parts of The Circuit touch your community. From North Camden’s Erie Street to Cramer Hill’s Harrison Avenue to the soon-to-be-opened Gateway Park along Admiral Wilson Boulevard, there are pieces of The Circuit throughout Camden, and this network of trails is known locally as the Camden Greenway.

The NJ Tree Foundation is proud to kick off our Trees for Trails project with the support of the William Penn Foundation! This exciting project will plant 75 trees and 300 perennials in Camden along the on-street interim trail network connecting green spaces and existing trails. We’ll also host two exciting trail awareness events (more info coming soon!) and release an Opportunity Analysis of Gateway Park, exploring ways to best manage and enhance the park’s forest.

Want to experience The Circuit yourself?
Visit Connect the Circuit‘s website and plan a trip today!

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TD Tree Days Take Root

Beth Kwart Benefits of Trees, Good Landscaping, Pictures, Success Stories, Volunteers

10.14_Camden trees stockton parkIn October 2014, TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank®, the Alliance for Community Trees (ACTrees), and the NJ Tree Foundation partnered to plant 238 trees throughout three New Jersey communities, made possible by ACTrees TD Tree Days grants.

As a component of TD Forests, the bank’s environmental initiative to expand urban forestry throughout the footprint and enhance community and economic development, TD Bank and ACTrees partnered with various community organizations to host TD TreeDays in communities from Maine to Florida throughout October. The trees planted will provide health, environmental, and recreational benefits, including improved air quality, shade for buildings and can help mitigate the effects of climate change.

The NJ Tree Foundation was fortunate to work with TD Bank and ACTrees to provide new trees in Camden, Neptune, and Liberty State Park in Jersey City. Planted in public locations at parks, playgrounds, and schools, the new trees will be enjoyed by many individuals. The trees were planted by 200 TD Bank employees who volunteered their time to beautify their local communities. Since 2010, TD Tree Day events have planted over 135,000 trees. This year’s plantings were part of ACTrees’ National NeighborWoods® Month – an annual campaign to plant and care for trees during October.

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10.14_td volunteers camden

 

 

 

 

 

Visit the NJ Tree Foundation Facebook Page to view more photos of the October 2014 TD Tree Day events in Neptune’s West Lake Avenue Neighborhood, Camden’s Stockton Park, Jersey City’s Liberty State Park, and Camden’s Reverend Evers Park.

FREE Right Tree – Right Place Seminar

Lisa Simms Benefits of Trees, Good Landscaping, Hazardous Trees, Success Stories, Tree Care, Tree Pests, Urban Tolerant Trees, Volunteers

The Right Tree, Planted in the Right Place, the Right Way – Living With Trees Post-Superstorm Sandy

The New Jersey Tree Foundation and Public Service Electric & Gas are offering FREE seminars on Planting the Right Tree in the Right Place in a post-Superstorm Sandy world. Topics include:

  • Planting the right tree, in the right place, the right way
  • The importance of mark-outs prior to planting
  • Tree pests, Community Forestry Management Plans
  • Vegetation management policies to ensure the safe and reliable delivery of electric service
  • The importance of species diversity& proper maintenance
  • Funding & programs
Who should attend? Mayors, DPW Supervisors, Environmental & Shade Tree Commissioners, County Officials and any other interested parties. Space is limited. First come first served.
 
Seminar information
Date:  Friday, November 7th
Time: Registration begins at 9:00am. Program starts promptly at 9:30  am and runs until 11:45 am
Place: Secaucus Public Library, 379 Paterson Plank Road, Secaucus, NJ.
Light refreshments will be served.
This seminar is worth 2 Continuing Education Units for towns with a 5-year Community Forestry Management Plan.
Please RSVP by Friday, October 24th by emailing Lisa Simms at njtf1@juno.com
If you would like send a representative(s), please include their names and contact information (email address). 
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Asbury Park Free Tree Giveaway – A Tree For Every Yard!

Lisa Simms Benefits of Trees, Good Landscaping, Pictures, Uncategorized, Urban Tolerant Trees, Volunteers

The NJ Tree Foundation, in partnership with American Forests, is giving away 200 trees to residents of Asbury Park. A Tree For Every Yard will help increase the City’s tree canopy, beautify homes, and help create cool, shady yards. If you would like a free tree for your yard, please fill out this survey.

This giveaway is being held in partnership with the Asbury Park Environment & Shade Tree Commission. Trees must be picked up on Saturday November 8, 2014, between 9:00am – 12:00pm at Sunset Lake Park on Bond Street (Park is located at Sunset Ave. & Bond St.). All trees are 3 feet tall in a pot and will easily fit into any sized vehicle! There are 100 White fringe trees and 100 Black gum trees available through this giveaway. We will do our best to fill your first request, but please be prepared to accept either tree. Thank you for your participation in our effort to reforest Asbury Park!

Available trees are:

White Fringetree

 

 

 

White Fringe tree (Chionanthus virginicus) – Easily grown in average, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade.  Creamy white flowers in late May to early Jue. Tolerant of air pollution and adapts well to urban settings. Height 20′. Width 20′. 

 

 

 

blackgum

 

 

Black gum (Nyssa sylvatica) – One of the most attractive native trees around. Summer leaves are a dark green and fall foliage has many shades of yellow, orange, bright red, purple or scarlet. Grows 30′-50′ high, with a 20′-30′ spread. Prefers well-drained, acid soils, and full sun to partial shade.

 

 

 

 

Free Seminars for County & Local Officials

Lisa Simms Benefits of Trees, Good Landscaping, Hazardous Trees, Tree Care, Tree Pests, Urban Tolerant Trees, Volunteers

The Right Tree, Planted in the Right Place, the Right Way – Living With Trees Post-Superstorm Sandy

The New Jersey Tree Foundation and Public Service Electric & Gas are offering FREE seminars on Planting the Right Tree in the Right Place in a post-Superstorm Sandy world. Topics include:

  • Planting the right tree, in the right place, the right way
  • The importance of mark-outs prior to planting
  • Tree pests, Community Forestry Management Plans
  • Vegetation management policies to ensure the safe and reliable delivery of electric service
  • The importance of species diversity& proper maintenance
  • Funding & programs
Who should attend? Mayors, DPW Supervisors, Environmental & Shade Tree Commissioners, County Officials and any other interested parties. Space is limited. First come first served.
 
Seminar #1 information:
Date:  Friday, September 26th
Time: Registration begins at 8:30 am. Program starts promptly at 9AM am and runs until 11:00am
Place: Passaic County Public Safety Academy, 300 Oldham Road, Wayne, NJ.
Light refreshments will be served.
This seminar is worth 2 Continuing Education Units for towns with a 5-year Community Forestry Management Plan.
Please RSVP by Friday, September 19th by emailing Lisa Simms at njtf1@juno.com
If you would like send a representative(s), please include their names and contact information (email address). 
 
Seminar#2 information
Date:  Friday, November 7th
Time: Registration begins at 9:00am. Program starts promptly at 9:30 AM am and runs until 11:30am
Place: Secaucus Public Library, 379 Paterson Plank Road, Secaucus, NJ.
Light refreshments will be served.
This seminar is worth 2 Continuing Education Units for towns with a 5-year Community Forestry Management Plan.
Please RSVP by Friday, October 24th by emailing Lisa Simms at njtf1@juno.com
If you would like send a representative(s), please include their names and contact information (email address). 
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NJ American Water Supports Camden Trees

Beth Kwart Benefits of Trees, Fundraising, NJTF in the News, Pictures, Tree Care

On July 9th, New Jersey American Water presented the New Jersey Tree Foundation with a $10,000 check to remove concrete and plant trees in East Camden. The new trees are expected to absorb 15,000 gallons of stormwater annually which will help to reduce flooding and improve the condition of the Delaware watershed. The funding will also support tree care workshops free to residents of Camden City.

“We are so grateful to have this support from NJ American Water. The grant will allow us to work with East Camden residents and partners, such as St. Joseph’s Carpenter Society, to improve stormwater management while beautifying streets with large trees,” explains Program Director Jessica Franzini. “The TreeKeepers workshops we provide increase the sustainability of our tree plantings as residents learn proper tree care techniques and receive free tree tools for attending.”

The NJ Tree Foundation’s Camden TreeKeepers workshops are held on Wednesday evenings throughout July. The first session had 22 attendees including 10 children. The East Camden tree planting project will be scheduled for the fall.

Beth Kwart and Jessica Franzini of the NJ Tree Foundation accept the check from Katie Kulenich and Carmen Tierno of NJ American Water.
 

For more photos of the first TreeKeepers workshop please visit our Facebook Page.

 

Asbury Park Tree Planting with American Forests

Lisa Simms Benefits of Trees, Good Landscaping, Tree Care, Urban Tolerant Trees, Volunteers

This fall the NJ Tree Foundation, in partnership with American Forests and Asbury Park,  will plant street trees in the city. Over 100 trees are available for planting between the curb and sidewalk. Each tree will be 12-14 tall. Only small growing, ornamental trees will be planted under utility wires.

American Forests, the oldest national conservation non-profit in the country, has contracted with the NJ Tree Foundation to plant street trees in Asbury Park under their Global ReLeaf Program.  There are MANY social and environmental benefits to planting trees!

Benefits of trees:
Trees provide clean oxygen and naturally filter water.
Trees increase property the value by 5 – 17%.
An increase in urban vegetation reduces crime rates!
Trees reduce temperatures in cities by up to 10°F.
Time spent near trees reduces stress!
 
If you would like a free 12-14 foot tree, planted in the space between the curb & sidewalk, please send your name, address and email address to: njtf1@juno.com, or call 505-609-8032 and leave the above information on voice mail. Please tell us if there are overhead utility wires on your side of the street. If you are a renter, please ask your landlord if a tree may be planted at your home. 
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