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TERI RUCH
SPECIAL TO THE MEMO
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| Fir Ridge Campus student Carla Toledano installs a Friends of Trees watering bag at the base of one of eight fruit trees planted at the Fir Ridge Campus garden. COURTESY ANNA SOMMO |
When she learned that the school's principal, Ron Knight, was stepping down, and that he'd wanted trees at the school for many years, she decided it was time to plant. Because of Friends of Trees' bargain prices, she had enough grant money from the school's garden project to order eight fruit trees.
“A big bonus of planting with Friends of Trees is that not only do you get the trees, but you get help planting them,” says Sommo.
Led by a trained crew leader, Sommo and some of her Fir Ridge colleagues and students planted the school's eight trees as well as trees at other locations in the Mill Park neighborhood this past March.
“It was great to be on a crew that planted trees in the Mill Park neighborhood,” she said. “It was a pretty rainy day, but it was really fun.”
Now the school's garden has two plum trees, two cherry trees, two pear trees, and two apple trees. This summer Sommo taught a month-long class that integrated science, gardening and cooking, and part of the class involved taking care of the trees.
“We've been watering them, and we even have Friends of Trees watering bags on them,” she said.
In addition to fruit, the trees offer these benefits:
• Conservation. Tree shade can help cut your energy costs by 35% during the summer.
• Health. Trees clean our air, water, and soil for an all-around healthier city.
• Community. Tree-lined streets calm and slow traffic. This creates safer neighborhoods and happier people.
• Money. Each tree in your front yard or planting strip can increase the price you'll be able to sell your house for by $7,000.
You can sign up now for trees to plant at your home during FOT seasonal schedule for the planting of new street trees. The deadline for purchasing trees in the Lents and Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhoods is December 13 for a planting January 15. For Centennial, Hazelwood and Mill Park the deadline is December 20 for a January 29 planting. For Argay, Parkrose, Parkrose Heights, Russell, Sumner and Wilkes the deadline is February 7 for an early March planting.
It's simple and fun. Just go to FriendsofTrees.org/BuyTrees and add your name to the growing list of people who want trees!
The non-profit is offering property owners in these neighborhoods the chance to purchase “site-appropriate” trees (that should not interfere with overhead wires or uproot sidewalks) for their parking strips for prices ranging from $35 to $75 a tree depending on the species and the neighborhood, far below commercial rates.
FOT will also provide required permits and volunteer crews to plant the trees. In return the property owner must pledge to water and care for the saplings for at least two years. FOT is also seeking volunteers to help with the plantings. The more ambitious can take training classes to become crew leaders and oversee the work. For more information, call Friends of Trees at 503-282-8846 or visit www.friendsoftrees.org.
Terri Ruch is Communications Director for Friends of Trees.
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