Tree curriculum: October events

Sept. 29 to Oct. 17 is Tree Steward training with Portland Public Parks & Recreation

Seven session course covers general and advanced arbor care, tree biology, identification, planting and preservation. Once trained, neighborhood tree stewards work with PP&R staff on tree projects. Class is for ages 14 and up and costs $25.

Oct. 3, Sat. 9 a.m. -2 p.m., is Old Apple Tree Festival with Vancouver Urban Forestry

Old Apple Tree Park, 112 Columbia Way, Vancouver, Wash.

Free event celebrates the Northwests’ most famous Apple Tree—aged 182 years—with live music, baking contest, and apple and tree cutting giveaways. Local arborists will also be available for questions.

Oct. 7 is Go Green 2009

Gerding Theater, NW 11th & Davis St., Pearl District

Governor Kulongoski, Mayor Adams and others speak on sustainable business practices. Here are the Top 10 reasons for going. Event runs all day and costs $175.

Oct. 10, Sat. 9 a.m. -1 p.m., is Green Space Initiative (GSI) Planting

Oct. 11-14 is Land Trust Alliance Rally in Portland

National conservation conference is anchored at the Convention Center and features field trips, like one led by the Nature Conservancy that will educate participants about the vanishing oak woodlands in the Willamette Valley. Pre-registration is closed, but walk-ins are available.

Oct. 15, Thu. 10-11 a.m., is the Value of Shade with Geoffrey Donovan

This webcast, sponsored by the Alliance for Community Trees (ACT), features Donovan of the Portland Forestry Sciences Laboratory, who will discuss new findings regarding energy and climate impacts and the use of urban shade trees.

Oct. 16, Fri. 12:15-1:15 p.m., is Urban Ecology with City Club of Portland

The Governor Hotel, 614 SW 11th Ave., downtown

Kathleen L. Wolf, research social scientist in the College of Forest Resources at the University of Washington, will discuss the social, economic and environmental benefits of trees in cities. Lunch is $20, coffee and tea seats, $5. Make a reservation at 503-228-7231.

Oct. 17, Sat. 9 a.m. -1 p.m., is Green Space Initiative Planting

Powers Marine Park, SW Macadam Ave., South Portland Riverbank

Friends of Trees’ GSI program returns to the Willamette River with this planting sponsored by the Bureau of Environmental Services and Portland Parks and Recreation. Planting season runs through April, with many future volunteer opportunities for natural area restoration.

Oct. 21, Wed. 1-4 p.m., is The Benefits of Urban Trees with Washington Dept. of Natural Resources

Pierce County Environmental Services, 9850 64th Street W., Tacoma, Wash.

This free persuasion workshop, featuring Brighton West of Friends of Trees, Donovan (listed above) and Courtney Dillard, strategic communication professor at the University of Oregon, will outline several recent tree studies that can influence public policy and the average homeowner in favor of urban forestry.

Oct. 27, 6-9 p.m., is Portland Eco-districts: A Natural Future

Center for Architecture, 403 NW 11th Ave., Pearl District

Panel discussion on Portland’s eco-districts will include architects, landscape architects and urban designers. Accompanying the panel will be a University of Oregon student exhibition. Free event is part of the Portland Architecture and Design Festival.

October is NeighborWoods Month 2009 with ACT

Join Friends of Trees and dozens of other organizations nationwide as we cultivate diversity in our local communities, one planting at a time.

––For more information on any Friends of Trees events, please contact Andy Meeks at 503-282-8846 ext. 24 or [email protected]. For even more information, please contact Greg Tudor at 503-282-8846 ext. 12, or [email protected]–-

—To submit an event listing, contact Toshio Suzuki at ext. 16, or [email protected]—