TreeHaven100

TreeHaven100 is a simple idea to find 100 spots in New Haven that need a tree and to reach out to organizations that plant those trees to make it happen. This was posited as an idea after our #SWFORCE meeting at the New Haven Mayor’s office as one my ideas for ACTION not DISCUSSION continuing from #swct . The tree canopy in many urban areas is insufficient for resident quality of life, to support wildlife or to provide much needed shade and oxygen. Several organizations currently strive to successfully identify locations in need of a tree, pair that tree with a “parent” that agrees to water it, and to get that tree in the ground. Frankly, it was a nebulous idea, a simple suggestion, that turned out to be well received.

In an example of “be careful what you wish for,” just days after mentioning and posting this idea, with little support (Thanks Julia!!) a woman named Margaret Carmalt from Urban Resources Initiative was knocking at the door to my home asking “may we plant a tree here? and would you water it?”  I responded I’d like to plant 100 in New Haven, to which she replied that she wanted “to plant 500 this season.”

And just like that, #TreeHvn became a reality. Our mutual goal is 50 trees in the Hill and 50 trees in the Fair Haven area, planted and “parented.”  On my initial foray into the Hill area, I identified 142 areas that need a tree planted and am curently working on pairing these trees with “parents” that will commit to watering these trees with 25 gallons of water per week for 10 weeks.

We have- Trees, planting teams, concrete cutters and SOME water bags for trees.

That’s right we HAVE trees AND people to plant them, already!!

We need spots identified that need trees in Fair Haven, people who will commit to watering them (preferably resident’s near tree) and people to meet with and encourage the planting teams, thanking them, sharing water, stories, etc. If the Mayor would like to be involved, we could use help watering 100+ trees that are making New Haven a truly “Livable City.” We also need help getting the word out, blogging, recognizing URI, the Planters and Parents, geo-tagging planted trees, etc.

Want to be involved? It is Easy as 1, 2, 3

1)  Speak UP!! email, twitter, phone your desire to be involved.

2)  Find homes for trees- we can cut concrete, fill existing sidewalk holes, etc.

3)  Pair trees with “parents”, get them planted and keep watered

Hey GOOGLE! Your #GoogleHaven should be sustainable and 100 Trees in 100 days is another example of why New Haven is #GoogleHaven’s home