Urban Forestry

Tree planters needed in SE Portland on Saturday, Dec 13th!  All are welcome!  We'll be planting more than 250 (!) large 8-12' - trees in several neighborhoods -- and need your help!

We'll be planting in the neighborhoods of Brentwood-Darlington, Mt. Scott-Arleta, Woodstock, Brooklyn, Sellwood-Moreland, and Eastmoreland.

Please arrive by 8:45am to register and be assigned to a crew. The planting starts promptly at 9:00am. We provide gloves and tools, so all you need to do is show up dressed for the weather and wearing sturdy shoes or boots. No experience necessary. We'll also have light breakfast refreshments and coffee / hot chocolate available. Following the planting there is a warm potluck lunch provided by the hosting neighborhood groups to all volunteers -- we hope you can stay for it!

RSVPs are not required (although we do ask you let us know in advance about groups larger than 5 members). Please contact Jenny or Randi at 503-595-0213 if you have any questions or need more information. We look forward to seeing you out there!

To see all our planting events, please see (and feel free to bookmark!) our online calendar.

Local governments have struggled with the best ways to promote and protect trees that add diverse benefits to their communities, including stormwater runoff reduction, carbon sequestration, wildlife habitat, and cleaning the air.  Often regulations that require mitigation for tree cutting are seen as unfair and punitive, and can actually motivate clearing of urban forests before development. 

The City of Tigard, collaborating with diverse stakeholders that included homebuilders, developers, arborists, planners and Tualatin Riverkeepers recently adopted a new urban forestry code that prevents clearing before development and encourages steady growth of tree canopy in the city.

Using Tigard's approach as a model, Tualatin Riverkeepers with the support of numerous sponsors is hosting a workshop to help local governments improve their urban forestry policies and regulations to motivate steady growth in tree canopy.  We are holding a workshop on November 18 for planners, developers, homebuilders, arborists, community members, and others interested in effective urban forestry codes and programs that increase the benefits of trees in our communities.

Lunch provided.
 
Sponsors: Tualatin Riverkeepers, Oregon Department of Forestry, Oregon Community Trees, Clean Water Services, Teragan and Associates, Homebuilders Association of Metropolitan Portland, City of Tigard, The Intertwine Alliance, Bullitt Foundation and Meyer Memorial Trust
 
Audience: City planners and staff dealing with urban trees or ordinances, elected officials, local developers/home builders, grass-roots organizations, and local NGO's.

Click to Register.
 

Friends of Trees is seeking new Crew Leaders for the upcoming October-April planting season! Being a Crew Leader is a great way to meet people, develop valuable leadership skills and, of course, learn how to plant trees the right way.

Crew Leaders are one of our most important volunteer roles as they help teach our volunteers how to plant trees and work together as a team. During our planting season, each crew leader commits to guiding small groups of planters at four Saturday morning plantings throughout the planting season. We have almost 70 public planting events scheduled this season.

Click here to register for a training.

You'll wear a Friends of Trees vest at weekend plantings and receive the respect and admiration of the volunteers on your crew, as well as receive a coveted Tree Team t-shirt and great food (a hallmark of all of our planting events).

Join this fun and energetic team by signing up for a required one-day training. To register for the training, or for more information, express interest in this opportunity and we'll follow up with training date details!

Jenny and Ian
Volunteer & Outreach Program
volunteer@friendsoftrees.org

Traditional and Contemporary Native American craft demonstrations from Western Oregon and the Columbia River region will be shared by Grand Ronde Tribal member Greg Archuleta.  Activities will include traditional basketry and carving exhibited and demonstrations on the uses of materials such as Western Red Cedar, tule, cattail and other natural materials will be provided.  This event is appropriate for all ages. For more information or questions, call 503-636-9886 x225.

Please arrive around 8:45am to be registered and assigned to a crew. The event will start promptly at 9:00am. We provide breakfast snacks and hot chocolate/coffee, as well as gloves, tools and guidance. Please come dressed for the weather and wearing sturdy shoes and get ready to have fun!

Looking to volunteer as a group? RSVPs are kindly requested for groups of more than 5 people - click HERE to do so. RSVPs are not required for groups of 4 or less. Please contact Jenny or Ian at (503) 595-0213 if you have any questions or need more information. We look forward to seeing you out there!

Friends of Trees is excited to continue our partnership this season with the City of Tigard and Clean Water Services. This planting is part of the Tree For All campaign which strives to plant one million native trees and shrubs during the 2014-2015 planting season within the Tualatin River Watershed! Clean Water Services, Friends of Trees, thousands of volunteers, other non-profits, City partners, and private landowners will all be working together to make this happen!