April 2015 – New Jersey Tree Foundation

NJ Tree Foundation Celebrates Earth Day and Arbor Day

Beth Kwart Just for Fun, NJTF in the News, Volunteers April 21, 2015

April 21, 2015 – New 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.

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

Beth Kwart Benefits of Trees, NJTF in the News, Pictures, Volunteers April 16, 2015

April 16, 2015 – Camden, 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 15^th. 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 13^th. Throughout the week nearly 3,000 Campbell Soup Company employees will volunteer for more than 90 community projects. “The 600” Campbell Soup MADW Community 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.