Green Streets Crew revives North Camden trees

August 10, 2015Camden, NJ – Trees in North Camden are looking beautiful thanks to the New Jersey Tree Foundation’sGreen Streets Crew. The Crew, comprised of men under parole supervision, GS crew groupspent part of July and August weeding, mulching, and pruning trees block-by-block in North Camden. Their work is one component of a Neighborhood Revitalization Tax Credit (NRTC) grant awarded to Camden Lutheran Housing earlier this year.

“The NJ Tree Foundation has planted about 700 trees in North Camden through our Urban Airshed Reforestation Program, which provides free trees to Camden residents,” explains NJ Tree Foundation Senior Program Director Jessica Franzini. “As part of the sustainability of our Program, residents care for the trees we plant. Sometimes the care the trees need goes beyond resident capability. That is where the Green Streets Crew helped out this summer.”

The Green Streets Crew educated residents on what a properly maintained tree pit and tree should look like through weeding, mulching, and pruning. Green Streets is the contract-based arm of the NJ Tree Foundation. Its purpose is two-fold, first, to give ex-offenders an opportunity to learn a trade they can use after they leave prison, and second, to raise money for the NJ Tree Foundation’s inner-city free tree programs. Men on the Crew are trained in tree planting and maintenance from NJ Tree Foundation staff then given seasonal jobs to help themtransition back into society.

Trees with gator bagsCities and towns can hire Green Streets to conduct tree planting, tree maintenance, and other green infrastructure work such as creating rain gardens. The North Camden summer work through the NRTC grant extended the season for the Green Streets Crew, whose temporary positions usually end after tree planting contracts are complete in late May or early June.

“It was great to keep the guys on longer this year. We had a really good crew. They are proud of the work they accomplished in Camden. We want to do more projects like this in the future,” said James Cunningham, NJ Tree Foundation Green Streets Crew Supervisor.

Camden Lutheran Housing applied for the NRTC grant to support elements of North Camden’s neighborhood plan. Planting new trees and increasing the neighborhood’s capacity to care for existing trees are both goals of the neighborhood plan. Any NJ DCA NRTC approved neighborhood plan in the state of New Jersey could potentially apply for NRTC funding. If the approved plan includes tree planting or care, the NJ Tree Foundation is available to implement those elements of the plan.

“This was a great partnership,” Ms. Franzini said. “Trees make such a big difference in a city, both environmentally and socially. The work of the Green Streets Crew got residents excited about their trees again and brought pride into the neighborhood. Some of the tree pits were really overgrown and now they look so beautiful!”

This fall, the NJ Tree Foundation will be planting more trees in North Camden as part of Camden Lutheran Housing’s NRTC grant. Volunteers will be needed to help plant the trees. Check back on our Volunteer in Camden page if you would like to be involved!

NJ Tree Foundation plants trees along the Camden Greenway

May 2, 2015 – Camden, NJ – When a large volunteer group informed the NJ Tree Foundation they could no longer assist with a tree planting event along Erie Street in Camden today, Senior Program Director Jessica Franzini put out a call for help. And that is exactly what she received – as more than 50 people came together to plant 40 trees to beautify the Camden Greenway. Within the next week, 100+ shrubs will be added to today’s planting locations.

“I am so grateful for all the volunteers that are here today. TD Bank and Adventure Aquarium both sent large groups,” explained Franzini, “This planting is special because it is part of our Trees for Trails project funded by the William Penn Foundation. Through this project we are planting 75 trees and 200 shrubs/perennials along the Camden Greenway.”

The Camden Greenway is part of the Greater Philadelphia Regional Circuit Trail Network. When complete, the Circuit will have more than 750 miles of bicycle and pedestrian trails connecting Philadelphia to Camden and the surrounding region. As it stands about 300 miles of this trail network are completed.

The volunteers had a great time learning about the Camden Greenway while digging holes and planting trees. The new trees will create habitat for wildlife and assist with decreasing stormwater runoff. In preparation for today’s planting, 640 square feet of concrete were removed to make space for the trees. This will allow an estimated 30,000 gallons of stormwater to filter naturally on an annual basis, rather than ending up in Camden’s combined sewer system where it contributes to flooding.

“Today, we are trying to do two things. We want to increase the tree canopy in Camden to improve the city’s water and air quality,” Franzini remarked, “And we also want to connect local residents to the beautiful resource of the Camden Greenway. Put on your sneakers or get on your bike. Come out and enjoy the trees along the trail!”

To learn more about The Circuit and see its completed, under construction, and proposed trails, visit www.connectthecircuit.org/.

NJ Tree Foundation Celebrates Earth Day and Arbor Day

April 21, 2015New Jersey – With Earth Day and Arbor Day only two days apart, this is an exciting week. We hope you are able to get involved with a community greening, clean up, or other Earth-friendly event to celebrate.

Starting on Monday April 20th, the NJ Tree Foundation’s Green Streets Program is planting 630 trees and 170 shrubs and perennials in Madison, NJ. This large-scale project will help restore a 20-acre tract of land to it’s natural state. Madison has one of the only fresh water wetlands in New Jersey.

On Tuesday April 21st, New Jersey Tree Foundation staff are joining Camden City Mayor Redd and the Camden SMART Team to kick off Earth Week at the Yorkship School in Camden City. They are planting a downspout planter box with the students and giving out Environmental Hero Awards.

On Wednesday April 22nd, celebrate Earth Day!

On Friday April 24th, celebrate Arbor Day!

Wrapping up this week on Saturday April 25th the NJ Tree Foundation’s Newark Renaissance Trees Program and Camden Urban Airshed Reforestation Program are planting trees in Newark and Camden. The Newark event, in partnership with the Ironbound Community Corporation, will plant 12 trees to improve air and water quality. The Camden event is a Broadway beautification project that will plant 10 trees.

newark for earth:arbor day post

 

Enjoy celebrating Earth Day and Arbor Day. Come out to plant with us this spring as a NJ Tree Foundation volunteer!

 

 

NJ Tree Foundation, Campbell Soup Company plant fruit trees in Camden

April 16, 2015Camden, NJ – The spring weather was beautiful as Campbell Soup Company volunteers joined New Jersey Tree Foundation staff to plant 10 fruit trees at “The 600” Community Garden in Camden City on Wednesday April 15th. This planting, funded by the Campbell Soup Foundation, is part of a New Jersey TreeFoundation effort to bring more fresh fruit, and trees, into cities.

“The majority of Camden is considered a food desert,” explains NJ Tree Foundation Senior Program Director Jessica Franzini. “This means most low-income residents live more than one mile away from the closest grocery store. Without a car, that makes grocery shopping extremely difficult. Camden City has many thriving community gardens – we are working with them to bring fruit trees as another option for fresh food.”

The planting brought cherry, peach, pear, and plum trees to “The 600” Community Garden. Campbell Soup Company provided volunteers for the event as part of “Make A Difference Week,” Campbell’s annual week of service that began on Monday April 13th. Throughout the week nearly 3,000 Campbell Soup Company employees will volunteer for more than 90 community projects. “The 600” Campbell Soup MADWCommunity Garden planting had 15 volunteers including seven Campbell Soup employees from the Camden City world headquarters.

The volunteers had a great time digging holes, planting trees, and creating garden beds. One Campbell Soup employee volunteer explained how rewarding it was to “help get good food to the families.” The fruit trees are expected to bear fruit within one year.

The day’s events also included a fruit tree giveaway hosted by the New Jersey Tree Foundation. The giveaway provided an additional 32 fruit trees to community gardens throughout Camden City. Community gardens had to submit an application to receive the free trees, which came with planting and care instructions.

Announcing New Supporters

The NJ Tree Foundation is very excited to announce several new supporters for our 2014-2015 fiscal year. We have recently received grants from the following agencies:

  • The Environmental Endowment of New Jersey is supporting our Newark Renaissance Trees Program to improve the Passaic watershed through street tree plantings and resident education.
  • The MKM Foundation has committed to funding our Camden Urban Airshed Reforestation Program for two years!
  • Alliance for Community Trees has provided funding for three TD Tree Day events. These events will reforest parks in Camden City, Neptune City, and Jersey City’s Liberty State Park.
  • The Campbell Soup Foundation is supporting street and fruit tree plantings in Camden City and educational workshops for our fruit tree farmers.
  •  New Jersey American Water has provided funding for our Camden TreeKeepers workshops and a street tree planting in East Camden.
  • Prudential Financial, Inc. has provided funding for street tree plantings in Newark City through our Newark Renaissance Trees Program.
  • The William Penn Foundation is supporting street tree plantings along the Circuit Trail Network in Camden as well as resident education on the impact of trees on watersheds.
  • Adventure Aquarium in Camden is sponsoring a street tree planting to beautify the North Camden neighborhood.

We look forward to working with fantastic partners to make this year’s projects successful. Thank you to our funders for your commitment to improving New Jersey communities with tree plantings!

NJTF_Camden_Liney Ditch DemoTD Tree Day volunteers from 2013 watch and learn during a tree planting demonstration.

NJ American Water Supports Camden Trees

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.

 

Pucks for Parks

On Thursday May 29th, the NJ Tree Foundation had its first planting through an exciting partnership with the New Jersey Devils and PwC US. This new initiative, Pucks for Parks, will plant two mature trees in a New Jersey park or green space for every Devils win! Representatives from the New Jersey Devils, PwC, Essex County, Presby Iris Memorial Gardens and the NJ Tree Foundation planted 30 trees at the Presby Memorial Iris Gardens in Upper Montclair, NJ to kick off the multi-year program.

Here are a couple photos from this great event. Check out more on our Facebook Page!

pucks for parks 1 pucks for parks 2 pucks for parks 3

Environmental Endowment for New Jersey, Inc. Provides Grant to NJTF

The New Jersey Tree Foundation has received a $12,000 grant from the Environmental Endowment for New Jersey, Inc. to plant trees in Newark! This funding will allow the Newark Renaissance Trees Program to improve the Passaic watershed by removing concrete and planting trees as a form of green infrastructure.

Newark borders the Passaic River and Newark Bay, so city pollution from things like vehicles and pesticides have direct access to the Passaic watershed. Removing concrete t0 plant trees reduces the amount of polluted stormwater runoff that enters the watershed. Stormwater is able to drain directly into the ground rather than run across concrete where it collects pollutants and the roots of trees help to filter pollutants out of stormwater runoff. With this funding from the Environmental Endowment for New Jersey, Inc., the NJ Tree Foundation will improve the Passaic watershed while beautifying Newark with street trees!

newark river

 

 

 

 

 

Photo credit: http://newarksriver.wordpress.com/

April Brings Trees to NJ Communities

This April, the NJ Tree Foundation (NJTF) worked with dozens of amazing partners across NJ to reforest cities and towns in need of trees! At these exciting community planting events, hundreds of volunteers joined the NJTF to dig holes and plant “the right tree for the right place in the right way.” Check out our list of awesome April tree planting events!

10152406_10152493355493273_1486028197348935566_nCamden, NJ:
Acelero Learning Center
Harry C. Sharp School
Joseph’s House for the Homeless
Ferry Avenue and Webster Streets
Read more about our Camden program.

Newark, NJ:
Pedal Farm and SAS
Fruit Tree Planting
Forest Hill Community Association
Read more about our Newark Program.

10325366_10152488848273273_4809332432604534827_nVineland, NJ:
Landis Park Earth Day Event

Bloomfield, NJ:
NY/NJ SuperBowl Host Committee
Passing of the Shovel to AZ
at Brookdale Park

In addition, our Green Streets Crew was hired to plant trees in Glen Rock, Bergenfield, Liberty State Park, and Red Bank this month. Read more about hiring Green Streets to perform landscape services in your town.

Please consider supporting NJTF’s tree planting efforts across NJ as a volunteer or donor.