Thank You Tree Crew!
The sun has set on our fun-filled fall, and we’re looking back on all we’ve achieved this season - none of which could be possible without our Tree Crew.
Towards the start of fall, Groundwork hired 7 youth, known as the Tree Crew, to plant trees across our city. They worked under mentors, Grace and Camille, learning the best ways to care for trees. These 7 hard workers led the fall with an attitude of joy, determination, and curiosity - always ready to learn and do what needed to be done.
Our goal for this tree planting season was to plant 200 trees…
With the help of Tree Crew,
we ended up planting
230 TREES
this season!
East Ave Tree Planting Party
We started off this tree planting season with a big party! Neighbors gathered one early Saturday morning in October at the Erie Center for Arts and Technology. The day started with coffee and donuts while everyone began painting tree shelters.
These tree shelters then wrapped around the 40 trees that our Tree Crew, Groundwork Erie staff, and volunteering neighbors spent the day planting along East Ave. Earlier in that week, Tree Crew mentors spent time talking to and teaching the youth how to properly plant and care for trees. This knowledge and care for our Earth was strengthened not only on this Saturday, but each time the Tree Crew came in for work.
ECAT Community Blueberry Patch
On this same October day on East Ave., Tree Crew planted 20 blueberries in front of the Erie Center for Arts and Technology. You can see the blueberry patch in the picture below, or anytime you drive past ECAT. These blueberry bushes will serve as a community patch, meaning the blueberries are open to all! Make sure you plan a walk on the newly-shaded East Ave. next summer to pick some fresh, native blueberries for an enjoyable walking snack. (And if you’re on the East side, walk on down to the 4th St. Community Farm where we’ve planted another blueberry patch!)
Growing Roots Across Erie
We extended our Groundwork Erie root system further down and beyond East Ave., as well.
McKinley Park on the east side previously had only 4 street trees between the 2100 to 2300 blocks of East Ave. and the 1000 block of E 23rd St.
After our Tree Crew got ahold of the auger and some shovels, there are now 41 Redbud, Serviceberry, Dogwood, Crabapple, and Yellowwood trees lining the streets to shade McKinley Elementary School students on their routes to and from school.
Reaching over to the west side of our beautiful city, Tree Crew youth and mentors also planted 15 trees around Liberty Plaza. These new trees are a mixture of Ginko, Honeylocust, Black Gum, and Hornbeam. One of Liberty Plaza’s most notable residents, Werner Books, made the planting day go by with ease by offering bagels for breakfast and hot drinks to stay warm. We are ever so grateful for Werner Books and their hospitality.
Tree Crew also worked on multiple orchard projects across Erie.
They created an Apple and Cherry orchard on the corner of E 5th St. and Ash St. Another orchard was planted at the old Burton School on Buffalo Rd. containing Apple and Pear trees. Tree Crew also paired up with SSJNN to add Cherry and Apples trees to one of their existing orchards on 19th St.
LEAF Tree Festival
Tree Crew attended LEAF’s Tree Festival on October 18th.
Donned in Lorax and Leaf costumes, our youth ran the information table to spread the good work that goes on at Groundwork. These teens talked of the importance of tree canopy and other benefits more trees will bring to our city. They talked to passersby about our summer projects and their personal experiences as youth on the Green Team. They explained the Pay What You Can Markets and its connection to the 4th St. Community Farm. But best of all, they got to explore Frontier Park and the other booths and vendors at the festival!
This event was a fun day of work for our Tree Crew that allowed them to showcase everything they had been learning from their mentors, while also sharpening their people skills.
