Summer is Gone, but We’re Not Leafing!
It’s fall ya’ll! And the question has been asked a lot: What does Groundwork do when it’s no longer summer and the weather starts to turn? Well, let us be the first to assure you - a little cold never bothered us anyway! We’ve got plenty of exciting projects emerging in our little East corner of Erie, and we can’t wait for you to hear about them. Check it out!
Green Team is Back -
Welcome Tree Crew!
On October 6th, we welcomed back 7 youths to be part of our fall Tree Crew. They’ll be working with Miss Grace and Mx. Camille each Monday, Tuesday, and Saturday to plant trees and other native species throughout our beautiful city. In just their first week, they’ve for sure hit the ground running.
Monday was spent as an education day - learning about what it means to be together on the Green Team Tree Crew, and how to work properly to plant trees and care for them throughout their lifecycle.
Tuesday had the crew out in the neighborhood, checking out some well-planted city trees and getting ready for the weekend’s festivities.
Saturday was our Groundwork Erie East Ave Tree Planting Party! Keep reading to hear more :)
East Ave Tree Planting Party
October 11th took our Tree Crew, Groundwork Erie staff, and volunteering neighbors on an East Ave adventure to kick off the planting season! They spent their Saturday digging holes, planting trees, adding mulch to their bases, and of course, watering them. Not only did Tree Crew utilize the skills they learned earlier in the week, but Erie Center for Arts and Technology had students and volunteers present to help with the painting of tree shelters and decorative stones. A lot of liveliness surrounded this day to support the new life of trees and a community blueberry patch at ECAT. With such care and dedication from everyone involved, these trees will grow and thrive into a divine addition to our urban forest.
Our goal this fall is to plant 200 trees in areas with the greatest potential for impact.
During our East Ave Tree Planting Party, our Tree Crew planted 40 trees!
The map pictured here (compiled by the City of Erie Planning Department with data from American Forests) is a tool that assigns a number from 0 to 100 to Census block groups.
A score of 100 means that an area has enough tree canopy to deliver the expected health and environmental benefits. A lower score indicates a higher need for trees.
The score is computed by combining multiple factors, including:
the existing amount of tree canopy
surface temperature (how hot an area tends to get)
income and employment metrics
demographic variables (race, age, language)
health measures
Groundwork is choosing to plant our trees in these areas with the lowest scores to expand this crucial piece of urban infrastructure. More trees in these areas means more shade, leading to cooler temperatures (up to 10 degrees!) in the hot summer. More trees, with their natural air filtering effects, could also lead to better air quality. Trees and green spaces are also known to be positive factors for good mental health. It’s obvious to us that trees are vital and necessary to human life, and our tree planting party this past weekend was just the first step in honoring that notion.
Air, Soil, and Water Testing
Groundwork Erie has partnered with Gannon University’s Department of Environmental Science and Engineering!
Both parties are committed to safe and healthy environments for all, with this project specifically focused on the topic of air, soil, and water quality. Many neighborhoods in Erie exist in areas of high industry and high traffic, leading to more pollutants. Gannon students will work throughout the semester to collect data in these areas on our city’s air, soil, and water.
Soil sample collection and processing have started this week at the 4th Street Farm, with air and water to follow later this fall.
The data collected from these studies will then be turned into actionable items that both Groundwork Erie and the Department of Environmental Science and Engineering can use to further sustainable community revitalization and reduce pollution exposure across our city.
