Friday, August 27, 2010
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Yard Sale to Benefit WTI
The Worcester Tree Initiative will be hosting:
- Tree Pruning Demonstrations
- Tree Planting Demonstrations
- Worcester Tree Initiative T-Shirts will be available for a $15 dollar donation
Monday, August 16, 2010
Get 'er done
We have had a very productive week!
Last Thursday we had a meeting with three of the DCR foresters who as in charge of collecting data about all of the trees that have been planted by the DCR and areas where trees are going to be collected this fall. I was able to learn how the program Geolink works. Using a tablet PC I am going to be able to go out throughout the city and mark on a map all of the areas where our trees are and collect information about the trees. I will be recording the health of the tree, if it's being watered, where it is located and who is in charge of the tree. It is exciting to be able to work in collaboration with the other groups to hopefully someday be able to create a map showing all of the areas where trees were cut down, but then the positive off all the places new trees were planted.
Below is a map created with help from Gideon at the Urban Ecology Institute in Boston that is a first draft of some of our points from the 2009 planting season. We hope to eventually be able to have a map showing all of our trees throughout the city and what season they were planted in.
This morning we had a preliminary meeting to discuss the creation of a youth tree stewards program similar to the YouthGrow program that is already established in Main South. The overall goal for the program is to provide jobs and mentor people while teaching the importance of the environment and taking care off all the trees that are being planted throughout the city.
September 11th is quickly approaching marking the start to the fall 2010 planting season!
Last Thursday we had a meeting with three of the DCR foresters who as in charge of collecting data about all of the trees that have been planted by the DCR and areas where trees are going to be collected this fall. I was able to learn how the program Geolink works. Using a tablet PC I am going to be able to go out throughout the city and mark on a map all of the areas where our trees are and collect information about the trees. I will be recording the health of the tree, if it's being watered, where it is located and who is in charge of the tree. It is exciting to be able to work in collaboration with the other groups to hopefully someday be able to create a map showing all of the areas where trees were cut down, but then the positive off all the places new trees were planted.
Below is a map created with help from Gideon at the Urban Ecology Institute in Boston that is a first draft of some of our points from the 2009 planting season. We hope to eventually be able to have a map showing all of our trees throughout the city and what season they were planted in.
This morning we had a preliminary meeting to discuss the creation of a youth tree stewards program similar to the YouthGrow program that is already established in Main South. The overall goal for the program is to provide jobs and mentor people while teaching the importance of the environment and taking care off all the trees that are being planted throughout the city.
September 11th is quickly approaching marking the start to the fall 2010 planting season!
Monday, August 9, 2010
"Lurking in the Trees"
Airing on WGBH 2 in Boston this Sunday August 15th at 1pm!
"Lurking in the Trees" is a 30 minute documentary about what happened to a community infested with an invasive tree killing insect. It is a true story of devastation, cooperation, and renewal. Make sure to watch for the Worcester Tree Initiative Steering Committee Co-Chair Mary Herlihy Knittle.
It started when a sinister-looking bug fell on someones lap in a backyard on a summer afternoon. That chance discovery led to a terrible realization: insect-invaders from Asia were killing trees in New England, and the only way to stop the pests was to cut down and grind up over 25,000 trees. Worcester, MA could be any town in America — not too big, not too small — but it learned that, in today’s world of nearly infinite international trade, an invasive pest can sneak in, become established, and wreak havoc, unless citizens are informed and vigilant.
Trailer for Lurking in the Trees
Lurking in the Trees Website
"Lurking in the Trees" is a 30 minute documentary about what happened to a community infested with an invasive tree killing insect. It is a true story of devastation, cooperation, and renewal. Make sure to watch for the Worcester Tree Initiative Steering Committee Co-Chair Mary Herlihy Knittle.
It started when a sinister-looking bug fell on someones lap in a backyard on a summer afternoon. That chance discovery led to a terrible realization: insect-invaders from Asia were killing trees in New England, and the only way to stop the pests was to cut down and grind up over 25,000 trees. Worcester, MA could be any town in America — not too big, not too small — but it learned that, in today’s world of nearly infinite international trade, an invasive pest can sneak in, become established, and wreak havoc, unless citizens are informed and vigilant.
Trailer for Lurking in the Trees
Lurking in the Trees Website
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Office Work...
Today was a day spent in the office preparing for the fast approaching fall planting season. We worked on a donation envelope, "calendar of events" handouts, memorial tree donation, planning events, updating the website and Facebook and working on imputing data into the tree database.
In the Spring of 2010 we:
*Gave away 250 FREE trees to residents who planted them in their yards *Trained over 600 people on the proper way to plant and care for a tree
*Engaged 2600 school students who planted trees in their schoolyards
*Certified ten "tree trainers"
*Planted 300 trees with 13 schools and community groups
*Displayed at festivals and community events
Sunday, August 1, 2010
BUGGED: The Race to Eradicate ALB
Wednesday, August 4, 2010 at The Worcester Public Library
3 Salem Square, Saxe RoomWorcester, MA508-799-1655
Two Shows: 2:00PM and 6:00PM
ALB Experts Rhonda Santos and Clint McFarland of the USDA Asian Longhorned Beetle Eradication Program in Worcesterwill discuss their roles in the film and answer your questions!
Bugged is "...frankly one of the most comprehensive and best educational documentaries on ALB that has been made to date....Now, more than ever, the general public needs to remain observant and vigilant in case ALB shows up in your city or neighborhood. This short film will broaden one's view of this most important and unwanted pest!"
-Richard Hoebeke, Taxonomic and Survey Entomologist, Cornell University
About the Documentary:Alien invaders live hidden among us. The Asian longhorned beetle (ALB) is one of the world's worst invasive species and could destroy one third of America's trees. Now, for the first time, the ALB infests a city (Worcester) on the edge of a natural forested area. Follow the scientists, USDA officials and private citizens who are the front lines in the Asian longhorned beetle eradication war.
Bugged is the first documentary to present the national story of the ALB infestation in America and to explore the science of eradication.
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