In October 2021, I called the Ardmore Initiative asking if they could help me identify business and property owners who would be open to planting trees on their property. I followed that call with an email with some stats like: “Trees are good for business. In districts with trees and green space, shoppers are willing to travel further, stay longer, and visit more frequently, and spend 12% more for goods.” In June 2022, I applied for the open position at Ardmore Initiative and in my interview, I talked about the need for more trees in the business district. I started my job in July. In February 2023, after months of building relationships, I emailed the business owner for Shade & Seeker at 112 Cricket Ave and asked if AI’s Streetscape Committee in partnership with Ardmore Tree Stewards could plant a tree on her grassy corner property. Melissa replied, “I would love a tree or several of them. I can do what I want with the yard. It is very hot and dry there.” So- we planted 2 trees there through the PHS Tree Tenders program. I was part of the planting team that planted those trees- a Kentucky Coffee Tree and a Swamp White Oak. This spring and summer, I’ve been watching the property with interest as they killed the grass and spread seed. I didn’t ask, I just wondered as I biked past on my route to and from work. And now what was a hot and dry grassy corner is a showstopper. I stopped this morning and marveled at the chorus of bird and insect activity. Can you hear it?
And make it fruit trees and you feed the homeless too 🥰
Very Beautiful and Inspiring!
Relentless problem-solver | Civic Leader | Systems Thinker
3moTree planting day! April 22, 2023. Featuring champion Tree Tender Derrick Wu and the always amazing Julie Bender