MARCH 2023: SPANISH-LED EVENT | GREENING WILKES | SPRING TREE CARE
Creando eventos inclusivos de siembra de árboles en el noreste de Portland
Con Verde, Friends of Trees realizó su primer eventodirigidoen español
English version follows.
Mientras plantaba árboles en una casa sobre Going Street en el noreste de Portland, Bella le recordó a su madre María que quería hablar español durante todo el evento. Su mamá sonrió y le pasó su pregunta a la líder de equipo, Ana, en español. Todos los integrantes de este equipo en particular eran bilingües, pero adoptaron el espíritu del evento y lo dirigieron en español.
Si bien Friends of Trees ha tenido equipos dirigidos en español en eventos anteriores, esta siembra fue el primer evento dirigido en español. Friends of Trees se asoció con Verde para planificar el evento y reclutar voluntarios.
Todos los líderes del equipo eran Líderes Verdes, un programa de Verde que apoya el desarrollo de liderazgo de la comunidad latina de Cully. Los líderes de equipo como Ana organizaron las sembradoras, distribuyeron las herramientas y demostraron las técnicas de siembra completamente en español.
“Tenemos muchas personas en nuestros eventos que son bilingües, pero me encanta que le dimos la vuelta y lo dirigimos en español. Nos permite poner a los hispanohablantes de lleno en su zona de confort.”
-Andrew Land, especialista sénior en árboles del vecindario
With Verde, Friends of Trees hosted our first Spanish-language led event
While planting trees at a home on Going Street in Northeast Portland, Bella reminded her mother Maria that she wanted to speak Spanish for the entire event. Her mom smiled, and continued her question to Crew Leader Ana in Spanish. Everyone on this particular crew was bilingual, but they embraced the spirit of the event and led with Spanish.
While Friends of Trees has had Spanish-led crews at past events, this planting was the first ever event to be led in Spanish. Friends of Trees partnered with Verde to plan the event and recruit volunteers. The event’s Crew Leaders were all Líderes Verdes, a Verde program supporting the leadership development of Cully’s Latine community. Crew Leaders like Ana organized planters, distributed tools, and demonstrated planting techniques entirely in Spanish.
“We get a lot of people at our events who are bilingual, but I love that we flipped it on its head and led with Spanish. It allows us to put Spanish speakers squarely in their comfort zone.”
-Neighborhood Trees Senior Specialist Andrew Land, one of many Friends of Trees staff who speaks Spanish.
New funding will develop the Wilkes Creek Headwaters into an accessible natural area
For three planting seasons, Friends of Trees volunteers have been enhancing the natural area at the Wilkes Creek Headwaters in outer East Portland. The 20.7-acre hybrid park is nestled in the neighborhood, and provides opportunities for local residents to connect with nature. The site was jointly purchased by Portland Parks & Recreation, the Bureau of Environmental Services, and Metro in 2011, and it will be preserved and enhanced as a public space for generations to come.
Friends of Trees volunteers have planted thousands of native plants throughout the central part of the park. The natural area is particularly special because it is home to the headwaters of Wilkes Creek, which flows into the Columbia Slough.
“The headwaters can be seen bubbling up from the earth near the midway point of the property,” says Maija Spencer, Senior Community Engagement Coordinator for Portland Parks & Recreation. “Forty bird species, coyotes, and the Stumptown scud—a freshwater crustacean found only in the Portland area—call the property home.”
“We want visitors to feel transported. We’re preserving this natural space as a beacon for birds flying overhead, and wildlife on the ground.”
–Green Space Senior Specialist Harrison Layer
Wilkes Creek Headwaters has received 8 million dollars in funding for its preservation and development through Portland Parks and Recreation. The park is being enhanced as a natural area at the same time it’s being developed into a usable park with benches, trails, and educational signage. In addition to providing the community with more access to green spaces, developing trails and signage will help protect the natural area that the community has worked so hard to develop.
Spring is the perfect time to notice seasonal cycles
Spring has truly come in fits and starts this year. Some of us might still feel like it’s winter, and some are ready to announce that Spring has sprung! Trees are the same way when it comes to breaking dormancy. Some are early risers, and some sleep in. A bunch of factors go into it, including species, daylight, and temperature.
The study of these periodic events in biological life cycles is called phenology. When does a tree go dormant, when do you start to see buds, how long is the growing season? We can see quite a range among species.
“Cornelian cherries normally bloom about this time of year,” says Neighborhood Trees Senior Specialist Andrew Land. “Whereas a few years back, someone approached me about an Oregon white oak that they thought was dead, until it finally broke bud in June.”
You’re worried about a tree being taken down — what can you do?
We get a lot of calls from folks who see a posting that a tree is going to be removed, and they want to know what they can do to stop it. We have assembled some resources for actions you may be able to take.
The first step is to determine if it’s on public or private property, and what’s the reason for removal. Decisions about planting and removing trees can be very complex and involve many governmental and non-governmental agencies. If you are working to engage in tree advocacy for retaining or removing a tree, the process can be confusing.
It’s important to remember that while we want to keep as many trees as possible, removal can be a reasonable decision and there’s almost always some nuance to consider. A few years back, people in Eugene were worried about the removal of some English oaks. But those trees were diseased, and they were occupying one of the few places in Eugene where we can fit giant sequoias!
It’s almost Earth Month and we’re celebrating Community Climate Action. What’s Community Climate Action? It’s planting trees, together, and so much more.
Tackling climate change goes hand-in-hand with community action. Throughout April, we’ll be telling the story of Community Climate Action, and celebrating another successful planting season. Check out our event calendar for volunteer opportunities. Stay tuned to our social media channels for special content.
And you can help with Earth Month Fundraiser! Every Tuesday in April, Deschutes Brewery Portland is donating $1 per pint sold to Friends of Trees throughout the day. Thanks to Deschutes for being our Earth Day Oregon partners this year!
It’s our 34th season of planting and caring for trees – JOIN US!
We still have planting and stewardship events left this season! Whether it’s in a neighborhood or natural area, we would love your help building community with trees. It’s a great way to take climate action, and as a volunteer named Caela puts it, planting trees is the “best reason in the world to wear rubber pants and play in the mud!”
Here are some upcoming volunteer events:
April 1,Neighborhood planting, Oregon City
April 1,Natural area planting, Gateway Green, NE Portland
Crew Leaders and Assistants—watch your inbox for Crew Leader News on the first of the month!Trained Crew Leaders sign-up for eventshere.
YARD SIGNS
Show love for your tree with a Friends of Trees yard sign!
Do you have a tree from Friends of Trees in your yard or planting strip? We want to celebrate your tree and the benefits it provides with a beautiful yard sign! We want people to know how important trees are to their communities, and to see the impact that Friends of Trees and its supporters have made throughout western Oregon and southwest Washington. Visit here to learn more and get in touch.
Our first bilingual planting ~ El Primer Evento Bilingüe de Plantar árboles de Friends of Trees | Get to know our partner: Sandy River Watershed Council