Share The Love; Friends of The Urban Forest
This last Valentines Day we exchanged cards, savored specialty chocolates and planted trees in our city.
“Share The Love” was the name of the Valentines Day tree planting event held by The Friends of The Urban Forest. We joined up at 9:00 in the morning with other volunteers and neighborhood residents to plant over thirty trees .
Since 1981 the non-profit Friends of The Urban Forest has overseen the planting of thousands of trees on the sidewalks of San Francisco. Friends of the Urban Forest obtains permits, removes sidewalk concrete, purchases and delivers the trees, supplies, tools and materials. Neighborhood residents select a tree from a list of trees that will do well in the climate and that is appropriate for the situation. On planting day neighbors come together to assist each other in planting the tree that they will be responsible for outside their residence or place of business.
Except for a few neighborhoods, most of San Francisco in the past had few trees on its streets. The city itself is dense with Victorian apartment building and flats, and there are few front yards and other street planting. The Friends of The Urban Forest has transformed the cityscape with thousands of trees, reducing the “heat island” effect and providing habitat for many birds. The group is committed to the belief that trees are a critical element of a livable urban environment.
Volunteer extraordinaire Charlie Starbuck, looking dapper in his green beret, gives a demonstration planting before we break into smaller groups.
I could not help but notice all of the “For Rent” signs in what is normally a very popular neighborhood. One of the residents, Marta, confirmed that all parts of the city have been hurt by the economic downturn. I was impressed looking at this group who had come together in uncertain times: an older couple, the stylish group of Japanese-American young women, gay and straight neighbors who were meeting for the first time.
Planting manager Naomi Le Beau answers our questions.
Should we use planting mix?
No, the existing soil or “backyard dirt” is best
Should we place the bushier part of the tree away from the wind?
The stronger side of the tree with the most branches, if there is one, should be placed into the direction of the wind.
With Naomi’s calm assurance and winning enthusiasm we think to ourselves “Yes, we can do this! Let’s go!”
Our group heads up the hill where Kris, a Friend of The Urban Forest volunteer, is our guide planting the trees for this street.
Kris holds a planting stick, while David, the homeowner, is engaged.
Everyone gets into the act.
An evergreen pear (Pyrus kawakamii) is the tree that has been selected for this location. Native to Asia, this tree is tolerant of poor soil and does well in coastal California. A suitable choice for this location, this tree will not become overly tall and conflict with utility wires. This tree is effective when pruned, an important consideration in a narrow sidewalk. Evergreen in winter, this tree will delight in the spring with a display of white flowers.
A curved saw is used to gently score the roots.
Now that this tree planting has begun, a number of volunteers and residents split up from this group and begin the next tree planting.
Kris uses one of the stakes which will be used later to ensure that the root ball is at the proper height with the sidewalk.
A cardboard tube is inserted and rocks are placed into it. David will water the tree for the first year into this tube, allowing water to get to the roots. The rocks filter dirt, and eventually the cardboard tube will decompose.
Donning a hard hat and climbing a ladder, a volunteer pounds the stakes for the tree with a post driver.
I am struck how when strangers join together in a common purpose, what is needed to be done is achieved naturally and instinctively without language. I cannot help but think that today we are isolated in so many ways: working inside corporate cubicles and behind locked doors watching television. When given the opportunity to join together in a task such as planting a tree, we immediately know what to do. Perhaps working together is what really makes us human.
Ta Da! Now that this tree is planted, this group will join with the other groups in the neighborhood until all the trees are in the ground. Around noon the tree plantings will be done, and the volunteers and residents will enjoy a potluck lunch. I look forward to visiting this tree in the future to see it grow and thrive. I will never forget the people who planted these trees, and in the act of planting a tree, a city becomes a community.
