(Blog) Become a Treekeeper!

We lost the plum tree in the backyard.

It was loaded with fruit— the wind came through and it twisted to the ground. I was so looking forward to plum jam this fall. At least the deer and the bunnies got a tart treat!

I am loving the big ash tree in the front of the house. It shades my house from the hot summer sun, making a very pleasant place to sit and watch the hummingbirds zoom to the feeder and back. I looked at its broad branches and wondered how it would fare in this drought. 

With a grateful heart I started thinking about the value of my little plum and my mature green ash. For me, they provide beauty,  food and shelter, but as I learned from my Trees Forever friends, trees offer value that we can measure in dollars and cents. A new program called Treekeepers is starting in my area and I thought you would like to learn about the value of trees in your area, too.

The Cedar Rapids TreeKeepers program is designed for people who want to become more knowledgeable about urban tree planting and care and who wish to become a stronger voice for trees in their neighborhoods and communities.

Participants in TreeKeepers will take part in nine hours of classroom study and hands-on experience. After completion of the TreeKeepers program, participants will be equipped with the knowledge of how to maintain our urban trees and plant trees for future generations. Trained volunteers will be additional "eyes and ears" for trees in their neighborhoods, and can share their knowledge with neighbors and key influencers.

TreeKeepers will:

• Actively participate in tree plantings in their neighborhood and the community.
• Gain hands-on experience caring for street and park trees.
• Protect community trees and be a tree ambassador.

At a recent farmers market, I happened upon this tree with a gigantic price tag attached to it.  

Did you know there is an app for that? Well, there is an online tool you can use to assess the the monetary value of your favorite tree. Urban Foresters have access to a computer program that can formulate the value of your favorite tree called i-tree.  Give yours a call to see who is helping to preserve the value of trees in your area.

What is your favorite tree worth? How well have they survived this summer’s weather?  Do you have a tree ambassadors effort in your area? Tell us at http://blogs.extension.iastate.edu/isuecofamily/

Kristi Cooper
ISU Extension & Outreach Family Life specialist, Linn County