California ReLeaf

CA Cities Run the Gamut on ParkScore

Ashley — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 21:03:22 +0000

Last year, The Trust for Public Land began rating cities throughout the nation by their parks. The index, called ParkScore, ranks the largest 50 cities in the USA based equally on three factors: park access, park size, and services and investments. Seven California cities were included in this year’s index; their rankings, anywhere from third to last, show the disparity of green space among California’s largest cities. Cities with the highest scores can receive a rating of as many as five park benches on a scale of zero to five.

San Francisco – last year’s first place winner – and Sacramento tied with Boston for third place; all came in with scores of 72.5 or four park benches. Fresno found itself at the bottom of the list with a score of only 27.5 and a single park bench. No matter where California’s cities fall in this year’s rankings, one thing is true for all of them – there’s room for continued improvement. ParkScore also pinpoints neighborhoods where parks are needed most critically.

Parks, along with the trees and green space they contain, are an integral part of making communities healthy, happy, and prosperous. We challenge the cities of California, whether they’re on this list or not, to make parks, green space, and open space a part of continued city planning efforts. Trees, community space, and parks are all investments that pay off.

General Tips for Watering Trees

Ashley — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 16:45:14 +0000

Young trees should be watered deeply on a weekly basis to encourage deep root growth. To do this, set your hose on a slow trickle for several hours at the base of the tree or use a soaker hose around the tree.

Mature trees should be watered deeply beyond the drip line (the edge of the tree’s canopy). Roots extend past this line. This table gives watering needs for mature trees.

Trees in or near lawn areas with frequent, shallow watering may develop surface roots.

Stewards of the Coast & Redwoods Hiring

Ashley — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 21:46:32 +0000

Position: Program Director

Open until June 13. Apply by email only.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTION: Stewards is seeking a highly qualified candidate to serve as Programs Director to oversee and manage the educational, interpretive, recreational and monitoring programs in Russian River area State Parks.

Stewards’ mission is to promote, restore and protect your state parks in partnership with California State Parks.

You can find the full job announcement here. Inquiries should be sent to gro.ncmnull@anulm.

A Walk in the Woods

Ashley — Thu, 30 May 2013 15:00:15 +0000

Last week, I had to walk a few blocks to drop off some paperwork at a downtown office. It was a lovely day, but it was made even better because of the beautiful trees in Sacramento.

There were lots of people out and about – enjoying their lunch breaks, taking walks with friends and coworkers. I wondered to myself how many of these people would be enjoying the afternoon outside if these trees didn’t shade the sidewalks.

Each one of those people, myself included, was experiencing increased well-being simply by walking through their urban forest. A walk downtown may not seem like a walk in the woods, but when you live in a city that values their street trees like Sacramento does, then that’s exactly what it is.

Ashley Mastin is the Network & Communications Manager for California ReLeaf.

Greening Cities Can Support Economic Growth

Ashley — Wed, 29 May 2013 15:00:45 +0000

The United Nations (UN) has released a report showing that greening city urban infrastructure can sustain economic growth while using fewer natural resources.

The report ‘City-Level Decoup-ling: Urban Resource Flows and the Governance of Infrastructure Transitions’ included thirty cases showing the benefits of having gone green. The report was compiled during 2011 by the International Resource Panel (IRP), which is hosted by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).

The findings show that investing in sustainable infrastructures and resource-efficient technologies in cities offers an opportunity to deliver economic growth, with lower rates of environmental degradation, poverty reduction, lower greenhouse-gas emissions and improved wellbeing.

Click here to read the entire article.

A Higher Purpose

Ashley — Mon, 27 May 2013 15:00:36 +0000

A tree can be many things: an air filter, a playground, a shade structure, a landmark. One of the highest purposes a tree can serve, though, is as a memorial.

Recently, through support from California ReLeaf, the Incredible Edible Community Garden (IECG) was able to plant 50 trees with such a purpose.

On March 23, trees were planted at the California State San Bernardino Veteran Success Center to honor and memorialize veterans past, present, and future. The Veteran Success Center provides programs and services that are unique to the needs of service members, including a room where student veterans can meet between classes, network with one another and hold study groups. The new Veterans Tree Garden will not only memorialize their service, but also give those same students another place to connect and reflect.

One of the volunteers that day, who is an Iraq War Veteran, noticed the change the newly planted garden was already making on her sister, an Afghan War Veteran. “It was so nice to see my sister smile again and enjoy herself.”

The Veterans Living Memorial Garden will provide that kind of relief to other veterans and students who use the area, too. Recent studies have shown that time spent in green spaces not only lessens brain fatigue, but also delivers significant benefits for mental well-being.

One participant said, “This may not seem like much, but for someone who needs a moment of quiet and reflection while on campus, this garden will go a long way to getting them through their day.”

At California ReLeaf, we are proud of the men and women who have served this country. We’re honored to partner on projects like this one completed with the Incredible, Edible Community Garden. We hope you’ll join us in similar efforts throughout California by supporting California ReLeaf today.

May is Water Awareness Month

Ashley — Thu, 16 May 2013 23:20:20 +0000

Yesterday, we hosted a webinar titled, “Making Urban Forestry a Part of California’s Water Conversation.” Our three amazing speakers – Alf Brandt, Edith de Guzman, and Deborah Weinstein – shared current projects, ideas, and challenges with ReLeaf Network members. We all learned so much about water and our community forests.

To celebrate Water Awareness Month, we urge you to listen to yesterday’s webinar to learn more about how urban forests can dramatically change a city’s stormwater management and rainfall capture.

Fruit Trees Double as Art in Tasty Urban Project

Ashley — Tue, 14 May 2013 15:00:47 +0000

By Patricia Leigh Brown
The New York Times

Published: Sunday, May. 12, 2013 – 12:00 am | Page 3A

Last Modified: Sunday, May. 12, 2013 – 7:36 am

DEL AIRE – Fruit looms large in the California psyche. Since the 1800s, dewy images of oranges, lemons and other fruits have been a lure for seekers of the state’s postcard essence, symbols of fertile land, felicitous climate and the possibilities of pleasure.

Now a cheeky trio of artists have turned fruit trees into cultural symbols as well. The group, known as Fallen Fruit, recently planted what is being billed as the state’s first public fruit park in an unincorporated community with neatly clipped lawns outside Los Angeles.

The park is part of a growing “fruit activist” movement, a variation on a theme of urban agriculture. The Los Angeles County Arts Commission initiated the project to “fulfill a civic purpose,” said Laura Zucker, the commission’s executive director, addressing the public health advantage for communities that are so-called food deserts, with few stores and healthy restaurants.

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2013/05/12/5413781/art.html#storylink=cpy

Long-term Study Proves Greenery Makes People Happier

Ashley — Mon, 13 May 2013 23:47:09 +0000

A study by the European Centre for Environment & Human Health draws on 18 years of panel data from over 10,000 participants to explore the self-reported psychological health of individuals over time and the relationship between urban green space, well-being and mental distress. Findings show that urban green space can deliver significant benefits for mental well-being.

To read the full study, visit the European Centre for Environment & Human Health’s website.

Making Urban Forestry Part of California’s Water Conversation

Ashley — Mon, 13 May 2013 21:46:32 +0000

Water can be a contentious issue in California’s communities. With resources becoming more limited and restrictions increasing, it’s important to make sure that urban forestry finds it’s place as one of the solutions Californians turn to to solve their water problems.
Join us on Wednesday, May 15 from 11:00 a.m.-noon to hear from experts in the field and also hear case studies from an organization that has produced superior water conservation programs.

Speakers:

Alf Brandt, Principle Consultant, California State Assembly

Edith de Guzman, Research & Analysis Manager, TreePeople

Deborah Weinstein, Director of Policy, TreePeople