NJ Tree Foundation and volunteers to plant trees this Spring!

April 8, 2016New Jersey – This spring, the NJ Tree Foundation will plant over 200 trees in urban communities with help from city residents and community volunteers.

Trees are an important part of a city’s infrastructure. They assist with stormwater management and improve air and water quality. They also offer a number of social benefits. Trees provide shade for people to sit outside on the sidewalk in front of their homes, add beauty and nature to cities, increase property values, and some tree species provide fresh fruit. The NJ Tree Foundation has seen trees unite neighbors as its community-based tree planting events are initiated by local residents who also care for the trees after they are planted.

“Any resident of Camden or Newark can apply to us to receive a free street tree,” Franzini explains, “We plant in other cities of need, such as Gloucester City and Jersey City, as our funding allows. Anyone that doesn’t mind getting dirty can help us by volunteering to plant trees. We plant rain or shine. It is always a lot of fun.”

During spring 2016, the NJ Tree Foundation will host six community-based planting events in Camden, five in Newark, and one in Bayonne. The media is invited to attend all events. While many volunteers are still needed, some events are full and cannot accept additional volunteer groups. Please check our volunteer pages for more information and RSVP in advance to Jessica Franzini for Camden events, jfranzini@njtreefoundation.org or (856) 287-4488 and to Elena López, elopez@njtreefoundation.org or (609) 439-1755 for Newark/Bayonne events.

11265123_10153499822273273_437537869514375131_nEvents are held rain or shine. Come dressed for the weather in clothes suitable for getting dirty and wear closed-toe shoes. The NJ Tree Foundation will provide all tools needed for planting. A meeting location and directions will be provided upon RSVP. See you on the street!

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Jersey City TreeKeepers!* May 7th, 10am-3pm

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Saturday, May 7, 2016, 10AM – 3PM

William Dickinson High School Auditorium, 2 Palisade Ave., Jersey City

Registration & coffee from 9:30 to 10AM. Program starts promptly at 10AM.

*Space is limited to 75 Jersey City participants – RESERVE YOUR SEAT NOW by emailing LSimms@njtreefoundation.org
Topics include:

  • Basic Tree Biology and Tree Identification
  • Tree Planting, Pruning, and Maintenance Techniques
  • Recognizing Tree Hazards and Tree Disease
  • Understanding Environmental Impacts of Trees
  • Tools and lunch provided!

 Four Continuing Education Units for Community Forestry Management Plans. 

For more information or to sign up, please contact Lisa Simms: LSimms@NJTreeFoundation.orThis TreeKeepers Training is made possible by a partnership with Sustainable JC and the JC Parks Coalition and is sponsored by the Jersey City Municipal Utility Authority with trees donated by the Jersey City Department of Public WorksGoldman Sachs is the Jersey City Parks Coalition’s “City of Trees” 2016 Education and Engagement Sponsor. Host William Dickinson High School is a National Wildlife Federation ECO School

Download a cool flier here!

 

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FREE Right Tree Right Place Workshop! – Registration is closed.

Registration for this seminar is closed. We have reached capacity. Thank you for your interest! There will be more of these seminars in the coming months.

The New Jersey Tree Foundation and Public Service Electric & Gas are offering a FREE seminar on Planting the Right Tree in the Right Place, the Right Way on Friday, March 25th at the Edison PSE&G Training CenterPlease RSVP by Friday, March 18, 2016 to Lisa Simms LSimms@NJTreeFoundation.org

Topics include:

  • Planting the right tree, in the right place, the right way
  • The importance of utility mark-outs prior to planting
  • Emerald Ash Borer – It’s here!
  • Vegetation management policies to ensure the safe and reliable delivery of electric service
  • Grant opportunities

 Who should attend? Mayors, Freeholders, DPW Supervisors, Environmental & Shade Tree Commissioners, County Officials and any other interested parties. Space is limited. First come first served.

Date: Friday, March 25, 2016

Time: Registration begins at 8:00am. Program starts promptly at 8:30 am and runs until Noon.

Place: PSEG Edison Training & Development Center, 234 Pierson Ave., Room 254, Edison, NJ 08837

A continental breakfast will be served.

This seminar is worth 3 Continuing Education Units for towns with a 5-year Community Forestry Management Plan.

Please RSVP by Friday, March 18 to LSimms@njtreefoundation.org

If you would like send a representative(s), please include their names and contact information (email address).

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NJ Tree Foundation Thanks 2015 Partners

The NJ Tree Foundation is starting strong in 2016 thanks to our 2015 partners and supporters. We are so appreciative of everyone who donated to our Annual Appeal. In the end we were just short of our $10,000 goal. Thank you to everyone who helped us start strong in 2016 by donating!

We would like to thank Ground Swell, Inc., who recently completed an email migration to put the NJ Tree Foundation staff email on Google Apps. This important switch brings us into the cloud, keeping our records safe from computer crashes and improving our connectivity.

Ground SwellGround Swell logo w QRCode is a managed service provider headquartered in Egg Harbor City, NJ. They are a small business providing locally outsourced IT for other small and medium-sized businesses across New Jersey. If your business is losing time and money to IT issues we recommend contacting Ground Swell to see how they can help you improve your infrastructure and move your business forward. The in-kind services Ground Swell provided the NJ Tree Foundation saved us enough money to purchase 25 trees at least ten feet tall!

“The NJ Tree Foundation had a great experience working with Ground Swell. They focused on what would improve our organization’s IT, which ultimately was a cloud-based system since we work from multiple places,” explains Lisa Simms, Executive Director of the NJ Tree Foundation. “Not only did they do a great job with our email migration, they were also friendly and easy to work with.”

Additionally, the NJ Tree Foundation was awarded several grants in December 2015, helping us start 2016 strong. These include:

– The Watershed Institute, Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association grant of $9,500. This funding will be used to provide TreeKeepers workshops in Camden and Newark, as well as create and print new tree care booklets for all tree recipients, increasing public knowledge of trees as green infrastructure and the public’s ability to care for street trees.

– Campbell Soup Foundation grant of $25,000. This funding will be used in the City of Camden to plant 50 new fruit trees through a volunteer planting event and fruit tree giveaway. Fruit trees will increase public access to fresh, affordable produce and improve quality of life.

– Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation grant of $20,000. This general support funding for the NJ Tree Foundation will help the organization with all projects in 2016.

– The Victoria Foundation grant of $15,000. This funding will allow the NJ Tree Foundation’s Renaissance Trees Program to remove concrete and plant trees in the Ironbound Neighborhood in the City of Newark, increasing the tree canopy and improving watershed health.

The NJ Tree Foundation would also like to thank its major in-kind supporters in 2015, including: City of Camden, City of Jersey City, City of Newark, MAFCO Worldwide Corporation, Spruce Goose Farm, Smith’s Ace Hardware, and United Water Camden.

Here’s to another great year, improving New Jersey’s tree canopy one tree at a time!

FREE Right Tree – Right Place Seminar

The New Jersey Tree Foundation and Public Service Electric & Gas are offering a FREE seminar on Planting the Right Tree in the Right Place, the Right Way in a post-Superstorm Sandy world on Wednesday, September 9. 2015. Please RSVP by Wednesday, September 2nd to Lisa Simms njtf1@juno.com

Topics include:

  • Planting the right tree, in the right place, the right way
  • The importance of utility mark-outs prior to planting
  • Emerald Ash Borer – It’s here!
  • Vegetation management policies to ensure the safe and reliable delivery of electric service

Who should attend? Mayors, Freeholders, DPW Supervisors, Environmental & Shade Tree Commissioners, County Officials and any other interested parties. Space is limited. First come first served.

Date: Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Time: Registration begins at 8:30 am. Program starts promptly at 9:15 am and runs until 12:30pm.

Place: Moorestown Municipal Building, Council Chambers, 111 West Second Street, Moorestown, NJ

Light refreshments will be served.

This seminar is worth 3 Continuing Education Units for towns with a 5-year Community Forestry Management Plan.

Please RSVP by Wednesday, September 2nd by emailing Lisa Simms at njtf1@juno.com

If you would like send a representative(s), please include their names and contact information (email address).

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Right Tree Right Place Seminar

NJ Tree Foundation plants trees along the Camden Greenway

May 2, 2015 – Camden, NJ – When a large volunteer group informed the NJ Tree Foundation they could no longer assist with a tree planting event along Erie Street in Camden today, Senior Program Director Jessica Franzini put out a call for help. And that is exactly what she received – as more than 50 people came together to plant 40 trees to beautify the Camden Greenway. Within the next week, 100+ shrubs will be added to today’s planting locations.

“I am so grateful for all the volunteers that are here today. TD Bank and Adventure Aquarium both sent large groups,” explained Franzini, “This planting is special because it is part of our Trees for Trails project funded by the William Penn Foundation. Through this project we are planting 75 trees and 200 shrubs/perennials along the Camden Greenway.”

The Camden Greenway is part of the Greater Philadelphia Regional Circuit Trail Network. When complete, the Circuit will have more than 750 miles of bicycle and pedestrian trails connecting Philadelphia to Camden and the surrounding region. As it stands about 300 miles of this trail network are completed.

The volunteers had a great time learning about the Camden Greenway while digging holes and planting trees. The new trees will create habitat for wildlife and assist with decreasing stormwater runoff. In preparation for today’s planting, 640 square feet of concrete were removed to make space for the trees. This will allow an estimated 30,000 gallons of stormwater to filter naturally on an annual basis, rather than ending up in Camden’s combined sewer system where it contributes to flooding.

“Today, we are trying to do two things. We want to increase the tree canopy in Camden to improve the city’s water and air quality,” Franzini remarked, “And we also want to connect local residents to the beautiful resource of the Camden Greenway. Put on your sneakers or get on your bike. Come out and enjoy the trees along the trail!”

To learn more about The Circuit and see its completed, under construction, and proposed trails, visit www.connectthecircuit.org/.

NJ Tree Foundation, Campbell Soup Company plant fruit trees in Camden

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

Spring Tree Planting

The Tree Foundation’s Green Streets Crew is available to bid on your tree planting contract! Hurry! Our schedule is filling up quickly.

Services for hire include:
– tree planting and maintenance
– young tree pruning, mulching, and stake removal
– street tree watering
– rain garden & firewise garden installations

– landscaping and landscape maintenance
– garden planting and maintenance
– hands-on educational workshops for Continuing Education Units (CEUs)

For more information, check out this page.

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FREE Right Tree – Right Place Seminar in Somerset County!

The New Jersey Tree Foundation and Public Service Electric & Gas are offering a FREE seminar on Planting the Right Tree in the Right Place, the Right Way in a post-Superstorm Sandy world. Topics include:
Please RSVP by Tuesday, May 5th by emailing Lisa Simms at njtf1@juno.com
 
*Planting the right tree, in the right place, the right way
*The importance of utility mark-outs prior to planting
*Emerald Ash Borer – It’s here!
*Vegetation management policies to ensure the safe and reliable delivery of electric service
 
 Who should attend? Mayors, Freeholders, DPW Supervisors, Environmental & Shade Tree Commissioners, County Officials and any other interested parties. Space is limited. First come first served.
Date: Friday, May 8, 2015
Time: Registration begins at 9:00am. Program starts promptly at 9:30 am and runs until 11:45 am
Place: Bridgewater Municipal Building, 100 Commons Way, Bridgewater, NJ.
 
Light refreshments will be served.
This seminar is worth 2 Continuing Education Units for towns with a 5-year Community Forestry Management Plan.
Please RSVP by Friday, May 1 by emailing Lisa Simms at njtf1@juno.com
If you would like to send a representative(s), please include their names and email address.
 

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NJ Tree Recovery Campaign – NJ Community Forestry Program

NEW JERSEY TREE RECOVERY CAMPAIGN – Coordinated by the NJ Community Forestry Program

Free tree saplings for municipal officials! Superstorm Sandy left  our communities with many dead and damaged trees. Through the NJ Tree Recovery Campaign, you can help your community residents replant those missing trees. Sign your town up for the NJ Tree Recovery Campaign and you will receive up to 2,000 seedlings to distribute to residents for free.

The NJ State Community Forestry Program has free tree saplings for municipalities! Click here for all the information and the application.

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