Month: December 2015

Our Green Streets program hires ex-offenders to plant trees across New Jersey. The Crew learn skills that will help them obtain and maintain employment, reducing their chances of going back to prison.

Ishmell’s story: “Working with the Tree Foundation was a very good learning experience. I learned things that will stay with me throughout my life. Trees are a very important part of the environment. I loved meeting new people and learning that so many are willing to plant and save trees. This experience is something I will never forget. My eyes will forever be open.”

Ishmell wasn’t the only Crew member who had a great season. Danny, who worked for Green Streets for two seasons, said, “I was really motivated seeing the hundreds of trees we planted last year looking good and healthy. I felt love from people who were happy to see us in their communities planting more trees.”

Men in this program are shown love and respect and taught skills that can lead to a promising career that will help them achieve a higher standard of living. Green Streets provides this for men who need it most, giving them hope for a better life.

We are hours away from December 31st and meeting our goal of raising $10,000. Please make a contribution today so we can continue to inspire hope through trees in 2016. Thank you to everyone who has already donated! Happiest New Year wishes to all.

Please enjoy our 2014-2015 annual report!

The NJ Tree Foundation works with urban youth each year to inspire the next generation of environmentalists by planting trees! We started planting fruit trees in the City of Camden in 2012. Fruit trees bring fresh, local food to families across Camden and now produce over 100 pounds of fruit annually! The youth of Camden love them.

At the Ferry Avenue orchard, teenage farmers eat pears and plums directly from the trees as they ripen. “[Our teens] were able to taste different kinds of fruit. Pears were a first time for many of our students,” explains Dean of the Center for Environmental Transformation, who owns and maintains the Ferry Avenue Orchard.

At the Cooper Sprouts Garden, grandparents and grandchildren are coming together to harvest peaches and pears. “I never knew I had such a green thumb!” explains Marian Roberts, 14-years old.

The Lakeshore Drive Community Garden’s plums are yielding the highest fruit counts for our program. “If it weren’t for the NJ Tree Foundation, I wouldn’t know how to take care of these trees and grow my own fruit,” explains Joseph Travis, lead gardener.

A contribution to the NJ Tree Foundation can help provide more peaches, plums, pears, and other fruit trees to community gardeners. Thank you to those who have already donated! You can help us reach our goal of raising $10,000 this December by donating today. It will make all the difference.

Last May, our Renaissance Trees Program planted fifteen new shade trees at the Quitman Street Community School, New Salem Baptist Church, and along their connecting streets.

When the truck pulled up with the large trees, Reverend White of the New Salem Baptist Church was intimidated. The trees stood taller than him! He was so pleased with the outcome as students, teachers, residents, and the church’s youth group dug holes to transform the area with a variety of beautiful trees.

That day, the students learned the importance of being urban forestry stewards. This meant protecting their trees from harm and feeding their trees 20 gallons of water each week. The students enthusiastically agreed to this new responsibility! Over the weekend it rained heavily. A teacher received a text message from a concerned fifth grader, “Do we need to go put umbrellas over the trees so they don’t drown?” The student was assured that rain was good for the trees, and the trees would be happy when the students returned to school on Monday.

The NJ Tree Foundation is seeking to raise $10,000 by December 31st so we can continue important urban forestry work, including cultivating the next generation of tree stewards! Will you please donate today to help us reach our goal?