Volunteer day in urban orchards, 10/17
Earthworks has one last open volunteer day to clean up the orchards and put them to rest for winter.
On Sunday October 17th from 10am – 1pm Earthworks will be working with volunteers to help to pick any last fruit lingering on trees, cleaning up in and around the orchards, taking down summer pest control management, and making sure that the trees are lovingly tucked away for winter.
DEHC volunteers will be focusing on the several Dorchester orchards, so if you are interested in helping out for an hour or so, please call 617.442.1059 or email info@earthworksboston.org to RSVP, and specify you’d like to help out in Dorchester.
Plant a Tree, for Almost Free
by Davecito
DEHC has been giving out gardening tips from the Boston Natural Areas Network at the Codman Square and Ashmont/Peabody farmers’ markets. While discussing the benefits of community gardening and talking about the TNT-Elmhurst Park Patrol’s work this summer, some Dorchester residents expressed interest in planting their own trees.
If you’d like to plant your own tree, here are two sites that give out (almost) free trees by mail:
- The Arbor Day Foundation will mail you 10 free trees of your choice, suitable for your area with a $10 membership. The membership also includes The Tree Book, a gardening and tree planting guide.
- Free Trees and Plants will send you two trees of your choice for $7.95, including shipping and handling. Free Trees employs workers with disabilities to save high-quality surplus plants that otherwise would have been destroyed. Read reviews of Free Trees here.
When planting your new trees, keep in mind that the City of Boston has collaborated with Boston’s Urban Forest Coalition to start Grow Boston Greener, an initiative that aims to plant 100,000 new trees in Boston by 2020. Join the effort by reporting a tree that you’ve planted here. You can also recommend a spot in Dorchester you think could use a tree on their online form.
If you’d like in-person instruction on planting your new trees, the Elmhurst Park Patrol teens will host a tree planting workshop early this fall. Check back for the date.
CityRoots Supporting Four Dorchester Organizations
Now entering its eighth year, Urban Ecology Institute’s CityRoots program has engaged 32 neighborhood and community groups and over 700 individuals of all ages in projects of ecological restoration and urban regreening, fostering community engagement.
Four Dorchester organizations will receive CityRoots support this year:
- Boston Project Ministries-TNT Green Space Alliance – Plant 20 trees through their Park Patrol (co-sponsored by DEHC), and advocate to key stakeholders for increased tree planting in the Norfolk corridor.
- John McCormack Civic Association –Develop the Russell School lot to install and maintain a new outdoor classroom space and add new elements to the “Paul’s Triangle” park, the creation of which last year led to decreased car break-ins.
- United Neighborhood Association – Improve greenspace, sustainably landscape private yards, and install a green roof on the Claybourne Street Community Garden tool shed.
- Upham’s Corner Westside Neighborhood Association – Strengthen and maintain social connections among neighbors through soil quality education, community-wide testing, and by planting trees, shrubs, and installing raised beds in the neighborhood.
Arbor Day event at Franklin Park
On Friday, April 30: Arbor Day Celebration & Tree Climbing Contest!
The City of Boston and the Massachusetts Arborists Association will join together for the city’s official Arbor Day celebration. Seven major tree companies with over 30 arborist volunteers will participate in the event.
Spectators will get a firsthand look at the arborists’ tree pruning expertise including tree climbing, bucket work, and crane work. In addition, participants will also help to eradicate one of New England’s most invasive plants, the Glossy Buckthorn.
Check the Franklin Park Coalition’s website for more information.
