Spring Tree Planting Successes

From volunteer tree plantings to contract work, the NJTF worked with dozens of amazing partners to plant “the right tree for the right place” in NJ cities and towns. Check out the accomplishments of our three largest programs:

phone pix 682Green Streets, a fee-for-service re-entry program providing work for men in transition, planted 406 trees in Haworth, Red Bank, Liberty State Park, Glen Rock, Bergenfield, Metuchen, Asbury Park, Bound Brook, Seer Farm, Vineland, Montclair, Bloomfield, and Newark. Among these plantings was an exciting event in Presby Iris Gardens with the NJ Devils and a “Pass the Shovel” ceremony with the SuperBowl Host Committee.

10277055_10152479156118273_6556965790406886440_n-2The Camden Urban Airshed Reforestation Program, a community-based street tree planting program, planted 116 trees at six events with help from 347 volunteers. Partners included Acelero Learning Center, Harry Sharp School, Joseph’s House, the Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority, the Center for Environmental Transformation, Capital Academy, and St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. Thanks to United Water Camden and MAFCO for donating offloading services and mulch.

IMG_3142The Newark Renaissance Trees Program, also a neighborhood-based street tree program, planted 117 trees at five planting events with help from 275 volunteers. Partners included Newark Science and Sustainability, the Pedal Farm, Green Revolution, the Forest Hill Community Association, Oliver Street School, and Garden Street residents. Special thanks to Newark’s Department of Sanitation for assisting with tree off-loading and clean up, and to Tree Tech Inc. for grinding out old stumps.

These tree plantings were made possible with the generous support of American Forests, Calpine, Campbell Soup Foundation, Community Foundation of South Jersey, the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, NJ Devils & PwC, Rutgers Water Resources Program, TD Charitable Foundation, USDA – US Forest Service, and the Victoria Foundation. Want to help plant trees? Please consider making a tax deductible donation to help reforest NJ in the fall. 

Call for Burlington County Fall Projects

1391825_10152046503083273_390712233_nThe NJ Tree Foundation, with support from a corporate sponsor, is accepting applications for fall tree planting projects in Burlington County, NJ. Do you know of a park, community space, or planting strip in Burlington County in need of 10-15 beautiful trees? Are you eager to organize your neighbors and town officials to plant trees where you live, work, or play? Great! Before applying, there are a few things you should know.

Only one project can be selected. That project will receive 10-15 free 2-2.5″ caliper trees, planted by-hand with community volunteers and staff from the NJ Tree Foundation in the fall of 2014. A mid-late September planting date is preferred. Your town or community group will be responsible for maintaining the trees (weeding, watering, mulching, protecting) for a minimum of two years. Additional project criteria can be found in the application. Please read and fill it out thoroughly.

Download the Burlington Co. Tree Application.

Applications are due by Friday, June 20th at 5PM to Jessica Franzini via fax at (856) 422-2601, email at jfranzini.njtf@gmail.com, or postal mail at PO Box 1221, Camden, NJ 08105. Questions can be directed to Jessica at (856) 287-4488 or jfranzini.njtf@gmail.com.

Super Community Tree Planting with Bay Head ES, Verizon Green Team & Super Bowl Host Committee

2013-10-16 12.59.49On a beautiful day, we planted 37 trees and 40 shrubs/perennials to reforest Bay Head Elementary School. The entire school came out to plant and mulch their new trees and landscape. Verizon Green Team members and Super Bowl Host Committee staff helped guide the students in the planting. Click on the links below to see pictures and video of this Super Community Tree Planting Event.

Tree Planting event in Bay Head, New Jersey

Asbury Park Press article and video

Photographer Anthony Quintano’s beautiful pictures 

Exceptional Spring 2013 Volunteers in Newark

Every season we meet new dedicated volunteers that make our plantings possible.  We cannot express our gratitude enough to these hard-working groups and individuals who spend their time planting trees with us. This spring, the Newark Renaissance Trees Program worked together with over 200 volunteers to plant 112 trees. While all of our volunteers were spectacular, there were 2 groups that stuck out for their hard work and enthusiasm: La Casa de Don Pedro, and Whole Foods Milburn-Union.

IMG_2132La Casa de Don Pedro   is an organization dedicated to community development in Newark. Their profound passion for making Newark a better place was immediately evident when they arrived at our plantings. Elsa Cipriani, La Casa’s Health Services Manager, described volunteering as an “opportunity to give back to our Newark community, beautifying public spaces, and also learning about community plantings.”  La Casa brought a group of lively volunteers to three of our plantings this spring.

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Liz Dugan, a member of the Whole Foods Market Green Mission Team, described the experience with the Tree Foundation as a “perfect fit.” The Whole Foods team came out to volunteer and enhance the community; they enjoyed the experience so much they came back to another planting. Their entire group, reaching upwards of 10 volunteers, arrived with energy, eager to learn and work. Another Green mission member, Le’Nisha Rogers stated, “We really felt involved and that we weren’t just planting trees, but we were showing those around us that by planting just one tree, we can make a difference.”

Thank you again to all of our spectacular Spring 2013 volunteers, we hope to see you again in the fall!

 

July Camden TreeKeepers Dates

July 2013 Schedule
Sign up today for our Camden TreeKeepers Workshops! All sessions come with a free tool, educational materials, and a light dinner. Attend all four sessions to become a Certified TreeKeeper! Camden residents attend for free. Non-Camden residents can attend for $20/session. All participants earn 1 CEU per class. Workshops will be held at the Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority @ 1645 Ferry Avenue in Camden.

536830_10151177194078273_543232655_nDATES
Wednesday, July 10th from 6-7:30pm
Basic Tree Biology and Tree Identification
FREE Trees of NJ book

Wednesday, July 17th from 6-7:30pm
Proper Young Tree Planting, Pruning, and Maintenance
FREE hand pruners

Wednesday, July 24th from 6-7:30pm
Recognizing and Preventing Tree Hazards and Disease
FREE gator bag

Wednesday, July 31st from 6-7:30pm
Understanding Environmental Issues and Your Tree
FREE pruning saw

TO SIGN UP: Please contact Jessica at 856-287-4488 or jfranzini.njtf@gmail.com.

Thank you to this year’s TreeKeepers sponsor, the Alliance for Community Trees!

For more information, please click here.

State Arbor Day Planting in Asbury Park

15262_10151671335898273_1450030002_nOn Friday, April 26th, the State of NJ celebrated Arbor Day in Asbury Park by planting 40 large trees at Liberty Square Park and with the Boys & Girs Club. These trees will re-shade areas strongly impacted by Hurricane Sandy. The NJ Tree Foundation was proud to be a partner, along with NJ Community Forestry, and would like to extend our sincere thanks to the tree professionals who volunteered their time! See more photos here.

Volunteer in Camden this Spring!

Every spring and fall, hundreds of volunteers join forces with the NJ Tree Foundation and our community partners to dig holes, plant trees, lay mulch, and have fun at Camden planting events. Why not add your name to the list? Check out Camden’s Spring Volunteer Schedule and choose a planting date that works for you! To sign up, simply contact Jessica at jfranzini.njtf@gmail.com or 856-287-4488.

All tree planting events are held rain or shine.  Volunteers are asked to arrive no later than 9am, though you can come as early as 8:15 am to help set up for the event.  Plantings are typically finished by noon. Please dress for the weather, wear sturdy shoes, and wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirty.  Tools, gloves, water, and planting instruction are provided by the NJ Tree Foundation staff. Volunteers should sign up in advance.

Interested in volunteering in North Jersey? Stay tuned for our Spring Newark Tree Planting Schedule, COMING SOON!

NJ Recovery Fund – Environmental Projects

Who has a shovel-ready project and would like to partner with us? We are submitting a Letter of Intent to the NJ Community Foundation/Dodge Foundation – NJ Recovery Fund. It is DUE 2/25/2013. Guidelines are:

Priority #4: Environmental Protection and Restoration Projects
The protection and restoration of natural systems and environmental infrastructure is essential to the long-term health, prosperity and resiliency of New Jersey and its communities.

A portion of the New Jersey Recovery Fund will be directed to projects that showcase and demonstrate environmental protection and restoration as a resiliency strategy, including:
• Green infrastructure solutions to storm water management and neighborhood flooding;
• Restoration of critical wildlife habitat, stream banks, wetlands, riparian corridors, and natural areas;
• Improvements to public access to open space;
• Research, modeling and data collection to prioritize and inform projects.

Overall preferences: Priority will be given to projects in the Delaware Bayshore, Raritan Bay, Meadowlands, coastal region, Pinelands, Barnegat Bay, and urban centers.

If you have a project, please email me ASAP at: njtf1@juno.com
~Lisa

Reducing Invasives, Retaining Our Trees Workshop

This exciting Stewardship Workshop will be held at Duke Farms on February 20, 2013 from 12:30 – 4:00 pm.

The workshop covers best management practices of public trees and forests for control of invasive species (including deer) and for storm risks while preserving our important tree canopy.  The target audience is municipal and public works officials, foresters, arborists, engineers, planners, flood plain managers, landscape architects, environmental and shade tree commissions, and other interested people.   Continuing Education Units will be offered.

Register today! Reducing Invasives, Retaining Our Trees

Contact Sara Malone at sjmalone@ejb.rutgers.edu